As DV points out below. A good example of climate change.
You seem to chant global warming over and over again like a mantra without ever engaging your brain to think what that means in the real world. Which is why you find weather disconcerting.
I suspect from your previous comments that you’d prefer the the wold operated on simple models like black body radiative models or daisyworld that have no real world equivalents. Then you don’t have to consider that increasing warmth in the artic (the polar regions are those that are warming fastest) provide the energy to push colder air masses to lower latitudes. This is the process of atmospheric and oceanic thermal mixing. It is chaotic and you have to deal with itin terms of probabilities.
Oh and whoever is in the way of a warming polar region pushing out cold air masses will get colder than usual weather..
I think it’s you that are the dumbarse Lprent. Blind to your own ignorance of the cycles of this planet. The circumventing going on at the Polar Regions is nothing more than an after effect of the axial tilt of the earth changing as we go through precession.
Eventually, the polar regions will move to a different area in the northern hemisphere. The way that it’s going means that Greenland will probably become ice free again, but another landmass will no doubt replace Greenland as an ice covered region.
How about opening your blinkers and looking at the long game. Global warming is DEAD. Climate Change is a crock of shit with those two words being bandied about by scientists and people like you, who really have no idea. You can talk all you like about feedback loops and radiative models, but when you ignore the biggest thing that makes us human, intuition, then you’re losing out on quite a bit more that science can’t explain. I’m going to stake my flag quite firmly and say that this country will get a second snowstorm similar to last year again this year.
It’s useless trying to educate those like you, who believe they’re all knowing just because they got a degree in Earth Science in the 1930’s. Newsflash: The Sun is the biggest driver of temperature in our Solar System. Of course you’ve already poo pooed that idea, so I’d love to hear where you think our temperature rates on this planet come from.
Perhaps you should read up a little bit more about precession and axial tilt which causes ice ages and interglacials. It’s no coincidence that the poles have both moved so far from where they originally were a few thousand years ago, and still were until recently. Read here, and get a bit more open minded
It’s not so much “Read here, and get a bit more open minded” but Read here, and lose all tough with reality. I’d suggest you lay off the mind altering substances but it’s obviously already far too late.
Have you looked at the time period that earth’s orbital precession takes? Something like 25k years. Now explain to me how we can see effects in decades? I expect that your “intuition” tells you that it happens almost daily…
Did you read my answer to grumpy about why they’re getting cold air masses moving further south? It is the same reason as it has happened before. Umm here is a post from 2009 A note to the idiots. Weather is not climate. and this was the polar view chart of oddities of heat that month.
Notice that then there were higher than usual temps in the polar areas and colder than usual areas in the continental landmasses adjacent? That is what happens when a pile of cold air gets pushed south at the north pole.
Rather than expending all of that energy on ‘intuition’ and getting my attention. Why don’t you exert enough effort that I don’t have to point out stuff I wrote two years ago.
Suzanne Goldenberg reports for ‘The Guardian’:
(Forwarded from the respected website, ‘Common Dreams’.)
The The Wall Street Journal has received a dressing down from a large group of leading scientists for promoting retrograde and out-of-date views on climate change.
In an opinion piece run by the Journal on Wednesday, nearly 40 scientists, including acknowledged climate change experts, take on the paper for publishing an article disputing the evidence on global warming.
The offending article, No Need to Panic About Global Warming, which appeared last week, argued that climate change was a cunning ploy deployed by governments to raise taxes and by non-profit organisations to solicit donations to save the planet.
It was signed by 16 scientists who don’t subscribe to the conventional wisdom that climate change is happening and is largely man-made – but as Wednesday’s letter points out, many of those who signed don’t actually work on climate science.
In major blow to the fossil fuel industry roading lobby in this country, the Labour Party has just issued a press release attacking the concept of continueing to build more motorways.
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party
The Government’s ‘roads of national significance’ are tipped to become increasingly insignificant as high oil prices take their toll on road use, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford says.
This is a definite policy shift for Labour, considering that when they were in office, they approved the $billions for the unloved Victoria Park tunnel and the, still to be built, gigantic Waterview motorway and tunnel project.
We should praise the Labour Party when they stand up to corporate lobbyists to advocate for sensible public policy.
But as well as this, we have a duty to call on Labour to go a little bit further. And agree to take this new policy direction into the real world.
Now would be the perfect time to get Labour to agree to scrap the Waterview tunnel, and advocate for the $2 billion put aside for this project, to be instead used to fund free and frequent public transport.
This would achieve three public goods.
1) Protect the local community and environment from the wholesale destruction caused by the construction of a motorway and tunnel through houses and sensitive wetlands.
2) Get tens of thousands of Aucklanders out of their private cars, dramatically cutting traffic congestion and fossil fuel use at the same time.
3) Create permanent ongoing jobs
Though Phil Twyford’s concern is peak oil, the need to cut back fossil fuel use intersects with the environmental destruction caused by continued use of fossil fuel.
The Un-aligned Left, Greenpeace, the Green Party and concerned locals, all opposed to the Waterview motorway extension need to link up with the Labour Party to finally drive a stake through the Waterview motorway extension project, and divert the $2 billion already put aside for this project, into public transport, instead.
The Waterview Motorway extension is one of the Roads of National Significance, or RONS that the powerful roading lobby who call themselves “The Well Connected Group” want the taxpayer to shell out for.
Already the self serving “Well Connected Group” have got the public to shell out half a $billion for the boondoggle, that is the Victoria Park tunnel. (The unloved, gold bricked tunnel to nowhere, except under a relatively small corner of Victoria Park.) Even if you like motorways, for a fraction of the cost they could have gone over the surface.
Time to catch a plane to Berlin – my work here is done…………
Talking to people here, Berlin -16c, by the way, they realise they have Ben conned and taxed in the name of global warming.
They are not stupid and see through the rising defensive hysteria of the wealth distribution/global warming activists and their attempt to rename as climate change.
Oh give it a rest grumpy….have you read any of my replies? Or have you reverted to your bad old days of being a fire and forget troll. You know what happens….. Responded to at least some of someone’s replies
Be aware that I am making allowances for the pain of access whilst travelling…
Thanks for your indulgence lprent, but working, living and travelling in -16c conditions does make AGW/Climate Change/Weather/Climate issues float to the top of the heap (as it were).
BTW Waitangi Day made the news over here again. Just finished convincing half a dozen to come over for Christmas but had to do a bit more work after that news item!!!!
If it is better weather, it is difficult to believe that Christmas in Summer needs the hard sell to anyone in Europe this week
It’s all relative, hey? I was up at 05.00 to get my friend Daisy on to the Welly train this morning, and she was wearing a massive parka – she’s just returned from a year teaching in Brazil. It’s Feb 6 and we were both freezing cold. “Summer” this year has been spent in jumpers and coats, even the mosquitoes have found it too cold to appear for the past 3 years (I am thankful, but still, some warmth would be nice!) Ah, but it’s global warming isn’t it? 😀
Try and think of it like this grumpy. The AGW argument hinges around relatively slow climate temperature trends in the order of about 1 degC/decade.
Right now Europe is many 10’s of degC lower than normal… that’s not climate. It simply means that on average while it’s cold in Europe it MUST be warmer than usual somewhere else. Probably the Arctic.
I trust you also understand Conservation of Energy?
And last year there were heat waves and massive peat and grass fires throughout the north. Amazing how extreme the weather gets when quite small amounts of energy are added to the system….
An Economistarticle from the last cold snap in Europe…
Europe’s cold winters and the warmth of the planet as a whole might even be linked. There is some evidence that the summer heat stored in the newly ice-free seas north of Siberia may induce shifts in the atmosphere’s circulation, when the heat is given up to the air in subsequent autumns and winters. Those shifts might in turn encourage seasonal patterns in which the Arctic is warm and the continents below it cold, as in early 2010. Since the sea-ice area looks likely to go on shrinking, such a link, if indeed it exists, would probably mean more cold winters in Britain and much of Europe.
Other analysis of weather patterns show that while it’s cold, it’s not as cold as it might have been.
Yeah but this isn’t like that. That is black body type system.
You have to think vertically and with average densities in the air column. Strong warm air systems tend to push cold air because of evaporated water densities in warmer air are higher in the column. But unlike a evaporative cooler there is also a horiziontal mechanism as well
So rising heat in the poles locks heat in water particles and physically pushes relatively cool air masses down latitude. All driven by the heat locked in water particles
This is the type of commentray now coming up in all the European countries. Perhaps lprent should explain things to them before people start believing it’s all smoke and mirrors.
Basically they live in strange climate caused by the heat transported north by the gulf stream. Because of vitamin D deficiencies which causes neotonous effects…
Delingpole is simple minded idiot who has been proven wrong so any times that the real question is why the mail puts up with him. Helps sell tabloid format papers before they hit the fish and chip shop would be my guess.
I see some are suggesting that UnitedFuture has abruptly changed its position on asset sales since the election, having previously been opposed to all such sales. This is simply not true.
(detailed explanation)
UnitedFuture’s confidence and supply agreement, negotiated with National after the election, confirms all these points and is therefore consistent in every regard with our pre-election policy. That is why UnitedFuture will support the Government’s plans to introduce a mixed-ownership model for the four energy companies and Air New Zealand.
Consistency explained. If the usual suspects are consistent here they will attack people and party and ignore facts. Futile facing facts.
Meh. It’s no surprise that the Hair was committed to selling out Kiwis before the election, Pete. I think that was pointed out to you on a daily basis.
I am not sure of anyone here Petey who thought that the coiffured one had changed his position. I had always thought that his position was supportive of the selling off to overseas interests of our assets it is just he was being a bit disingenuous by suggesting that because only 49% would be sold that things would not change. So your angsty complaint is a bit misplaced.
I see that Dunne is suggesting that this is to allow the power companies to raise capital. So Petey which of it is it? Are the share sales to:
1. Reduce debt,
2. Be spent on schools and irrigation schemes,
3. Allow the power companies to raise capital?
Peter Dunne changed his position, albeit prior to the election, not out of personal conviction, but to accommodate National. He should change his name to Dr Faustus.
Yip. Dunne is on record as saying he personally doesn’t agree with asset sales, but is going to go ahead with them anyway. Because that way he gets a nice ministerial salary.
While wholesale asset sales are not UnitedFuture policy, we had as long ago as the 2005 general election promoted selling shares in selected state assets to promote their expansion. This was similar to the mixed ownership model National was to promote at last year’s election.
All Crown Ministers have access to Beemers, by the way, so I presume you are being typically disingenuous and you were riding in one of his privately owned vehicles at the time, not the Ministerial one.
How much does Dunne pay you to cruise the web making apologies for his selfish choice of policy support? Must be more than just the odd road trip in his car, or is the opportunity to be in the presence of your hero enough?
Hes got you under a spell PG…WAKE UP!
If it’s been “promoted” since 2005, why is the only quote he has from last year?
And the only quote he has is for “expanding the capital base” of the companies, not paying down needless debt.
And, more importantly, why does that quote not actually state whether United Future would support partial asset sales?
He’s done what you do, Pete – asked a number of questions, provided banal answers, and the tried to point out that all the other parties had said pretty much the same thing. This does not indicate a policy platform.
So the question I have is: are you two kindred spirits, or did you pay to go to a Pete Dunne’s Say A Lot But Mean Fuck-all Training Seminar?
As the late Roger Kerr pointed out in 2005, Peter Dunne went into the election that year advocating the 40% selldown of the government’s stake in most SOEs. So Dunne can hardly be accused of not being a consistent advocate of the partial privatisation model – he could more accurately claim that it was his idea in the first place.
Faboo.
Your half-arsed attempt (as a former #3 on list candidate) at providing evidence of party policy pissed me off so much that I actually trawled through scoop – amazingly, you are correct.
Back in the day when United Future had more than one MP, it sold out on policies then, too.
Now, some of us love to follow the minutae of policies and press releases from every single party over the last 2 or 3 elections in order to determine our vote for the upcoming, but I’m not sure many people are like that. Many people tend to follow what people say during the current campaign on the lead issues of the campaign.
SO as a former candidate and current party activist, what indications did United Future give as to their support of National’s asset sales plan during the 2011 election campaign? As far as I can tell, Dunne promised to be a moderating force and drew a line in the sand, as it were (a line that was, luckily, beyond what Key had proposed).
Link summarised previously as “And, more importantly, why does that quote not actually state whether United Future would support partial asset sales?
He’s done what you do, Pete – asked a number of questions, provided banal answers, and the tried to point out that all the other parties had said pretty much the same thing. This does not indicate a policy platform.”.
And, bugger me – number 8? My apologies. Obviously, at number 8 on the list, we wouldn’t expect you to know a damned thing about what your party explicitly promised during the campaign.
Yesterday, he acknowledged he had campaigned on saying that “in principle we were not in favour of the sale of assets”.
“We don’t as a principle think the case can be made across the board for selling state assets.
“But we recognised that the Government had nominated the energy companies and Air New Zealand for partial sale and, on that basis, we said provided there were controls around the level of ownership and the level to be sold, we would support them.”
In principle he doesn’t agree with asset sales, but because the government has chosen specific things and is only going to sell some of it, he’ll go along with the ride (because he’ll get a ministerial salary out of it).
“Because that way he gets a nice ministerial salary”
A friend said to me the other day that Dunne has to be being paid to not go against asset sales. They lived in his electorate for 25 years and everytime they saw him, they raised the run down Johnsonville Mall and Transmission Gully.
Interesting that the Key Group laud the 51% as maintaining control of State Assets.
Yet it is said that Mrs Rheingold in buying 5%+ of Fairfax with the belief that she will have influence over this media. She paid over $200 million in spite of a falling share price. Wonder what she would be able to do with 49% influence?
So National and its supporters continue to beat up the racism/xenophobia angle on the Crafar farms sale. How did we get to this, and why hasn’t there been a more considered and in-depth public debate about the sale of NZ land, especially productive land, to wealthy foreign individuals and corporations?
Fears that China is gobbling up New Zealand land are misplaced, official figures show.
Americans, Canadians and even Liechtensteinians are buying far more land.
Figures released by the Overseas Investment Office show that of the 872,313 hectares of gross land sold to foreign interests over the past five years, only 223ha were sold to Chinese.
People from the landlocked principality of Liechtenstein had purchased 10 times more land than the Chinese – 2,144ha in the same period.
The top buyers were the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Israel. The United States had 194 purchases for a total of 193,208ha.
The figures do not show if there are any New Zealand ownership shares involved.
I am appalled that this much productive NZ land is being sold to wealthy foreign interests, whether it be Liechtensteinians, Canadians or Israelis.
But I also think we should look more closely at the differing impact on NZ from sale of non-productive compared with productive land; and to wealthy individuals versus big coporations; to expats setting up home and business in NZ versus people continuing to live elsewhere; and to independent individuals/organisations compared with sales subsidised by powerful foreign governments.
The big question for me is NOT why Crafar has resulted in such an outcry, but why there hasn’t been similar criticisms of some of the other sales?
As far as I’m aware, there are some specific issues that have resulted in the Crafar sale getting media attention. Some of it is likely related to be anti-Chinese attitudes from some. But also, there have been some Kiwi farmers who were a little peeved they they were not able to buy one of the farms, beacuse they were sold as one job lot.
But also, there was a fair bit of media attention a while back, because the first main contender to buy the farms was a dodgy Hong Kong based outfit that misrepresented themselves.
The alleged web of lies a Chinese consortium wove to try to buy up 16 North Island farms then sell them for a profit has become more tangled, with a third arrest yesterday.
[…]
Wang acted as the face of Natural Dairy in New Zealand when trying to buy the former Crafar farms from receivers through her own company UBAH. She and Chen allegedly conspired to purchase them and on-sell them, for a profit, to Natural Dairy.
Hong Kong officials say Yee worked with Wang and Chen to fudge the earnings of Crafar farms, proffering fake documents to Natural Dairy showing that the farms had made a profit of $18.5 million in the year to May 2009. They actually made a loss of about $30m.
On the basis of this allegedly false financial information, Natural Dairy made a $230m bid to the Overseas Investment Office for the properties.
But lets have more in-depth and critical public debate about the benefits and damages to NZ of the sale of different kinds of land, productive land and other assets to wealthy foreigners, which ever country they are from.
Does what benefits or damages NZ (whatever that construct might actually be) have a corresponding positive or negative impact on you and me? Surely that’s the first question that needs answered.
My initial response might be based on a cursory glance at the impoverished state of British people at the height of empire when Britain was enjoying enormous benefits. Or then again, I might consider the lot of the majority of US citizens given that the US is the worlds most succesful economy. And the conclusion would have to be that what’s good for a country (ie an economy) does not automatically bestow corresponding benefits on a citizenry.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again…it doesn’t matter two hoots who owns land. We are excluded from any and all say over the use of the land and its resources regardless of who the owner is. And all owners (restrictive legislation aside and whether state or private entities) are generally in it for the money.
And that money and any benefits that may flow from it are under the control of the owners (and the state insofar as taxes are paid) We simply don’t have a look in.
So all this stramash about who should own what comes down to expressions of mere emotive preference for particular masters. But aren’t they all more or less the same in the end? And isn’t the position of any and all of them illegitimate in the final analysis?
Bill said: Does what benefits or damages NZ (whatever that construct might actually be) have a corresponding positive or negative impact on you and me? Surely that’s the first question that needs answered.
Yes, good question. As a non-land owner, I do tend to assume that “good for NZ” means good for all the citizenry. IMO, there’s something wrong with an economic analysis or theory that is used to show that a country is economically successful, when there is no widespread benefit to all or most of the people living in that country.
However, as well as the international divisions between the ruling elite and the rest, there is an overlapping and intersecting hierarchy of more and less powerful/wealthy nation states. The results is that there is an added impact on struggling Kiwis (in a country that is somewhere in the middle of the global hierarchy) when wealthy foreigners push up the price of land (and subsequently rents, while lowering wages, employment etc), and siphons off profits overseas.
While globalisation has weakend the power of nation states, it’s still largely through national political processes and struggles that the relatively powerless majority can exercise any influence and control over their circumstances.
But, I agree, such local struggles are set within a wider global struggle against the transnational elites.
. . . and thinking of the way that Ironbridge loaded Mediaworks with debt to finance their purchase, it might also be a good idea to have a look at how overseas buyers structure these investments after the sale goes through.
Are these sales actually contributing to the country’s high levels of private overseas debt that are being used to justify further asset sales to overseas buyers?
Secretary of State Waitangi Day Statement
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
For Immediate Release
February 4, 2012
2012/167
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY CLINTON
New Zealand Waitangi Day
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of New Zealand as you commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, this February 6. This is a time to reflect on New Zealand’s rich history and promising future.
The United States and New Zealand share a vibrant partnership, shaped by the Wellington Declaration and our years of friendship and cooperation. We look forward to continuing to deepen our relationship in the coming year as we work together promoting peace and stability, protecting the fragile Pacific environment, expanding economic opportunity, and standing up for global human rights. The United States stands by New Zealand as you continue to face the challenges brought by earthquakes in the Canterbury region. Your resilience and strength have set an example for the world.
As you observe this special day in New Zealand and in places around the world, I wish all New Zealanders a happy Waitangi Day, and a year filled with peace and prosperity.
Not sure what ‘the conversation’ refers to – the protest of the moment? Bbut who is trying to shut conversations down? Those shouting over invited guests?
I suspect those involved in organising the events at Waitangi get a bit sick of their conversation being hijacked. Free speech is principle that should be applied evenly, yes?
You can’t have a conversation if only a few are allowed to speak. Or, to put it another way, if only those who were organised to speak spoke then there wouldn’t be a conversation.
Maybe those shouting over others are pissed off that they’re not being heard any other way.
Activist Tame Iti and the Maori Party’s Te Tai Tonga MP Rahui Katene accompanied Labour leader David Shearer onto the marae after 11am, by which time most of the protesters had left. Mr Shearer was joined by Labour MPs Parekura Horomia, Shane Jones, and Andrew Little.
I wonder if it may have been Rino Tirikatene, Labour MP for Te Tai Tonga since Nov 26, who was walking with Shearer.
John Key said he wasn’t going to cry… that’s because he ran away instead. Key also said he hadn’t run away because he was scared, however people attending Waitangi said they’d seen fear in his eyes.
Oh dear when that nice Mr Key wants to speak at Waitangi he is unable to be heard due to creating a backlash by not respecting section 9 of the SOE legislation. When he sits in a public cafe and converses he gets upset when he can be heard.
Were there covert police cameras operating at Waitangi?
I personally would not have used my invitation to go to Waitangi to discuss section 9 of the SOE legislation as this was not appropriate. Only a desperate impatient person would be so stupid.
Great that Key said he will return!! because he wont let a few activists put him off. Seem to remember Hulun not returning to Waitangi ,and you guys supporting her fully. Slightly hypocritical one would have to think
Dunno if its working, mik e. The rural red necks down my local have started calling the PM some nasty names of late, mostly variations on Egg Foo John. That’s the most polite one, the others are much less tasteful.
Offshore investors rob local investors of opportunity and resources.
Offshore owners rob control and increase political influence that can lead to local law changes.
Offshore investors also borrow money locally, crowding out and limiting funding for local businesses.
The more profitable the project, the smaller the net inflow of foreign funds and the larger the outflow of profits.
Profits repatriated by offshore investors tend to exceed total funds invested. Exacerbated by transfer pricing and other forms of creative accounting. Often offsetting any claims of large local tax benefits eventuating.
Offshore owners tend to restructure and layoff staff.
In many cases, jobs that are created would be created whether or not the project was offshore or locally owned.
The only benefit seems to be it encourages the transfer of management skills, intellectual property, and technology. However, they can also be bought, hired or developed.
If foreign investment was as good as Joyce claims then he’d be able to prove it with facts & figures from existing foreign investment in NZ. After all, there is over $300billion already invested in this country by foreigners. Perhaps someone should tell Joyce we can see for ourselves how wealthy it has made us all & how the economy is roaring alone because of it.
How much more overwhelming evidence does Joyce want before he wakes up that it’s not doing us any good? Is $400billion enough, maybe a $trillion?
(NB – Aussie investment alone is said to be +$100billion, overseas lenders have invested over $150billion so the final tally must be well over $300billion.)
A new economic recovery tax to address our capital shortfall?
If the Government were to introduce a new economic recovery tax at say a mere one dollar a week, that would produce around two million dollars a week, 8 million a month, or around 100 million a year, to invest in new value added exporting ventures.
A two dollar a week tax would double that amount with most workers not even noticing the loss from their pay.
This would stimulate the local economy (jobs) and generate new wealth while reducing our over reliance of foreign capital.
Three things about that Mr Chairman:
1. It would deny the Government the excuse to make further cuts.
2. It would be too easy.
3. How would the rich get richer.
Much better to hire some investment banking consultants to draw up the contracts you need to sell off the country, you don’t even need your own Ministery staff to do that work, so you can gut the public sector out at the same time.
And all the foreign Banksters money will never be seen in this country again and you can bet your bottom dollar they come from countries that are deliberately keeping their currency low[printing or devaluing theirs + subsidising fuel and agriculture]!
The New Black: is Cut and Run going to be this year’s Smile and Wave?
Political obituaries often feature moments like Key’s cowardice this morning as being pivotal in public perception. Given the inevitability of Key’s departure to Honolulu in this term, I’m picking that we will see the phrases ‘John Key’ and ‘cut and run’ in close proximity right up until the plane leaves. Hell, the title of the cash in biography writes itself: From Smile and Wave to Cut and Run; the John Key story.
Can someone find the TV video clip of John Key ridiculing Helen Clark for refusing to return to Waitangi Treaty celebrations after her experiences? It was well aired at the time – was it 2007? It would be pleasurable to watch again after his ‘cut and run’ this morning!
I bet he blames it on his minders. He will say they made him do it.
Please John Key – just take tomorrow off. There’s nothing to be gained by going back to Waitangi.
Let the rich Maori explain to the poor Maori how they’re going to reduce inequality among their own people. Give them their sovereignty and let them do to each other what their warrior customs proscribe.
Helen Clark was verbally abused by that convicted violent criminal Titiwhai Harawira. You know, the one surgically attached to John Key the minute he steps onto the Marae.
an investigation by a court-appointed liquidator into the relationship between Johnston’s parent company, a plethora of interlinked companies and Ashcroft’s British Caribbean Bank (BCB), is raising as many questions as it answers. Even MPs are taking an interest in an obscure company that only a few weeks ago they had never heard of.
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Catching you up on the morning’s global news and a quick look at the parallels -GLOBALTariffs are backSharemarkets in the US, UK and Europe have “plunged” in response to Trump’s tariffs. And while Mexico has won a one month reprieve, Canada and China will see their respective 25% and 10% ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. Gondolas are often in the news, with manufacturers of ropeway systems proposing them as a modern option for mass transit systems in New Zealand. However, like every next big thing in transport, it’s hard ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkBoth 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm years, at just below and above 1.5C relative to preindustrial in the WMO composite of surface temperature records, respectively. While we are still working to assess the full set of drivers of this warmth, it is clear that ...
Hi,I woke up feeling nervous this morning, realising that this weekend Flightless Bird is going to do it’s first ever live show. We’re heading to a sold out (!) show in Seattle to test the format out in front of an audience. If it works, we’ll do more. I want ...
From the United-For-Now States of America comes the thrilling news that a New Zealander may be at the very heart of the current coup. Punching above our weight on the world stage once more! Wait, you may be asking, what New Zealander? I speak of Peter Thiel, made street legal ...
Even Stevens: Over the 33 years between 1990 and 2023 (and allowing for the aberrant 2020 result) the average level of support enjoyed by the Left and Right blocs, at roughly 44.5 percent each, turns out to be, as near as dammit, identical.WORLDWIDE, THE PARTIES of the Left are presented ...
Back in 2023, a "prominent political figure" went on trial for historic sex offences. But we weren't allowed to know who they were or what political party they were "prominent" in, because it might affect the way we voted. At the time, I said that this was untenable; it was ...
I'm going, I'm goingWhere the water tastes like wineI'm going where the water tastes like wineWe can jump in the waterStay drunk all the timeI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayAll this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure ...
Waitangi Day is a time to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stand together for a just and fair Aotearoa. Across the motu, communities are gathering to reflect, kōrero, and take action for a future built on equity and tino rangatiratanga. From dawn ceremonies to whānau-friendly events, there are ...
Subscribe to Mountain Tūī ! Where you too can learn about exciting things from a flying bird! Tweet.Yes - I absolutely suck at marketing. It’s a fact.But first -My question to all readers is:How should I set up the Substack model?It’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask since November ...
Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
The PSA have released a survey of 4000 public service workers showing that budget cuts are taking a toll on the wellbeing of public servants and risking the delivery of essential services to New Zealanders. Economists predict that figures released this week will show continued increases in unemployment, potentially reaching ...
The Prime Minister’s speech 10 days or so ago kicked off a flurry of commentary. No one much anywhere near the mainstream (ie excluding Greens supporters) questioned the rhetoric. New Zealand has done woefully poorly on productivity for a long time and we really need better outcomes, and the sorts ...
President Trump on the day he announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, unleashing a shock to supply chains globally that is expected to slow economic growth and increase inflation for most large economies. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 9 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 3Politics: New Zealand Government cabinet meeting usually held early afternoon with post-cabinet news conference possible at 4 pm, although they have not been ...
Trump being Trump, it won’t come as a shock to find that he regards a strong US currency (bolstered by high tariffs on everything made by foreigners) as a sign of America’s virility, and its ability to kick sand in the face of the world. Reality is a tad more ...
A listing of 24 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 26, 2025 thru Sat, February 1, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
What seems to be the common theme in the US, NZ, Argentina and places like Italy under their respective rightwing governments is what I think of as “the politics of cruelty.” Hate-mongering, callous indifference in social policy-making, corporate toadying, political bullying, intimidation and punching down on the most vulnerable with ...
If you are confused, check with the sunCarry a compass to help you alongYour feet are going to be on the groundYour head is there to move you aroundSo, stand in the place where you liveSongwriters: Bill Berry / Michael Mills / Michael Stipe / Peter Buck.Hot in the CityYesterday, ...
Shane Jones announced today he would be contracting out his thinking to a smarter younger person.Reclining on his chaise longue with a mouth full of oysters and Kina he told reporters:Clearly I have become a has-been, a palimpsest, an epigone, a bloviating fossil. I find myself saying such things as: ...
Warning: This post contains references to sexual assaultOn Saturday, I spent far too long editing a video on Tim Jago, the ACT Party President and criminal, who has given up his fight for name suppression after 2 years. He voluntarily gave up just in time for what will be a ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is global warming ...
Our low-investment, low-wage, migration-led and housing-market-driven political economy has delivered poorer productivity growth than the rest of the OECD, and our performance since Covid has been particularly poor. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty this ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.As far as major government announcements go, a Three Ministers Event is Big. It can signify a major policy development or something has gone Very Well, or an absolute Clusterf**k. When Three Ministers assemble ...
One of those blasts from the past. Peter Dunne – originally neoliberal Labour, then leader of various parties that sought to work with both big parties (generally National) – has taken to calling ...
Completed reads for January: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson The Black Spider, by Jeremias Gotthelf The Spider and the Fly (poem), by Mary Howitt A Noiseless Patient Spider (poem), by Walt Whitman August Heat, by W.F. Harvey Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White The Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson ...
Do its Property Right Provisions Make Sense?Last week I pointed out that it is uninformed to argue that the New Zealand’s apparently poor economic performance can be traced only to poor regulations. Even were there evidence they had some impact, there are other factors. Of course, we should seek to ...
Richard Wagstaff It was incredibly jarring to hear the hubris from the Prime Minister during his recent state of the nation address. I had just spent close to a week working though the stories and thoughts shared with us by nearly 2000 working people as part of our annual Mood ...
Odd fact about the Broadcasting Standards Authority: for the last few years, they’ve only been upholding about 5% of complaints. Why? I think there’s a range of reasons. Generally responsible broadcasters. Dumb complaints. Complaints brought under the wrong standard. Greater adherence to broadcasters’ rights to freedom of expression in the ...
And I said, "Mama, mama, mama, why am I so alone"'Cause I can't go outside, I'm scared I might not make it homeWell I'm alive, I'm alive, but I'm sinking inIf there's anyone at home at your place, darlingWhy don't you invite me in?Don't try to feed me'Cause I've been ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ star is on the rise, having just added the Energy, Local Government and Revenue portfolios to his responsibilities - but there is nothing ambitious about the Government’s new climate targets. Photo: SuppliedLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
It may have been a short week but there’s been no shortage of things that caught our attention. Here is some of the most interesting. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt took a look at public transport ridership in 2024 On Thursday Connor asked some questions ...
The East Is Red: Journalists and commentators are referring to the sudden and disruptive arrival of DeepSeek as a second “Sputnik moment”. (Sputnik being the name given by the godless communists of the Soviet Union to the world’s first artificial satellite which, to the consternation and dismay of the Americans, ...
Hi,Back on inauguration day we launched a ridiculous RFK Jr. “brain worms” tee on the Webworm store, and I told you I’d be throwing my profits over to Mutual Aid LA and Rainbow Youth New Zealand. Just to show I am not full of shit, here are the receipts. I ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump over Gaza and Ukraine.Health expert and author David Galler ...
In an uncompromising paper Treasury has basically told the Government that its plan for a third medical school at Waikato University is a waste of money. Furthermore, the country cannot afford it. That advice was released this week by the Treasury under the Official Information Act. And it comes as ...
Back in November, He Pou a Rangi provided the government with formal advice on the domestic contribution to our next Paris target. Not what the target should be, but what we could realistically achieve, by domestic action alone, without resorting to offshore mitigation. Their answer was startling: depending on exactly ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guest David Patman and ...
I don't like to spend all my time complaining about our government, so let me complain about the media first.Senior journalistic Herald person Thomas Coughlan reported that Treasury replied yeah nah, wrong bro to Luxon's claim that our benighted little country has been in recession for three years.His excitement rose ...
Back in 2022, when the government was consulting internally about proactive release of cabinet papers, the SIS opposed it. The basis of their opposition was the "mosaic effect" - people being able to piece together individual pieces of innocuous public information in a way which supposedly harms "national security" (effectively: ...
With The Stroke Of A Pen:Populism, especially right-wing populism, invests all the power of an electoral/parliamentary majority in a single political leader because it no longer trusts the bona fides of the sprawling political class among whom power is traditionally dispersed. Populism eschews traditional politics, because, among populists, traditional politics ...
I’ve spent the last week writing a fairly substantial review of a recent book (“Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism: How we crushed the curve but lost the race”) by a couple of Australian academic economists on Australia’s pandemic policies and experiences. For all its limitations, there isn’t anything similar in New Zealand. ...
Mr Mojo Rising: Economic growth is possible, Christopher Luxon reassures us, but only under a government that is willing to get out of the way and let those with drive and ambition get on with it.ABOUT TWELVE KILOMETRES from the farm on the North Otago coast where I grew up stands ...
You're nearly a good laughAlmost a jokerWith your head down in the pig binSaying, 'Keep on digging.'Pig stain on your fat chinWhat do you hope to findDown in the pig mine?You're nearly a laughYou're nearly a laughBut you're really a crySongwriter: Roger Waters.NZ First - Kiwi Battlers.Say what you like ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Climate denial is dead. Renewable energy denial is here. As “alternative facts” become the norm, it’s worth looking at what actual facts tell us about how renewable energy sources like solar and wind are lowering the price of electricity. As ...
SIR GEOFFREY PALMER is worried about democracy. In his Newsroom website post of 27 January 2025 he asserts that “the future of democracy across the world now seems to be in question.” Following a year of important electoral contests across the world, culminating in Donald Trump’s emphatic recapture of the ...
The Government hasn’t stopped talking about growth since the Prime Minister made his “yes” speech at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week. But so far, the measures announced would seem hardly likely to suddenly pitch New Zealand into the fast-growth East Asian league. The digital nomad announcement hardly deserved ...
It's election year for Wellington City Council and for the Regional Council. What have the progressive councillors achieved over the last couple of years. What were the blocks and failures? What's with the targeting of the mayor and city council by the Post and by central government? Why does the ...
Someone defames you anonymously online. Can you find out who it is? Maybe. There are legal avenues to seek a court order that an internet host reveal the identity of the person. One of them is called a Norwich Pharmacal order, but as Hugh Tomlinson KC points out, it only ...
The results of the 2025 Mood of the Workforce survey have been released, with working people revealing deep concerns regarding their work lives, housing, health care, and perceptions of the coalition government in Aotearoa New Zealand.Christopher Luxon has signalled that National may campaign on asset sales in the next election, ...
Hey, hey, heyJust think, while you've been gettin' down and out about the liarsAnd the dirty, dirty cheats of the worldYou could've been gettin' down to this sick beatSongwriters: Taylor Swift / Shellback / Martin Max. Read more ...
Luxon has once again let National’s junior coalition partner, ACT, set the political agenda, dragging him and National into another politically draining debate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, January 29 are:PM Christopher ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Fresh from the maelstrom surrounding the Treaty Principles Bill, and before fury and dust from that toxic piece of rubbish has settled, Act Leader, David Seymour has launched a new narrative into the public ...
Note: This video featuring speakers such as Finlayson, Waring, Kelsey and Little is a long one - 35 minutes. In the first 9 of 80 hours that the Justice Select Committee will spend on Treaty Principles Bill public hearings1, from a smidgeon of the 343,000 record submissions2, in a months ...
When I created a Youtube channel, I labelled the playlist for National: “National Privatize NZ Party”.Now, why did I do that?It’s late and my brain isn’t working at full capacity, so my off the cuff answer is - 1. I follow far too much of this Government’s statements, actions, and ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The battle to contain antisemitism in Australia finds both sides of politics embracing measures they’d otherwise abhor. Spectacularly, the government capitulated this week to include mandatory minimum sentences of between one and six years ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Cutler, Professor and Director, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University This week, the federal government announced it will pay states and territories an extra, one-off, A$1.7 billion for public hospitals. This has been billed as a way ...
From the dawn ceremony to the numerous local performances and powerful words, Waitangi Day 2025 was one to remember, but a highlight would have to be the record turn-out of waka. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Visitor, School of History, Australian National University The Albanese government is trying once more to legislate wide-ranging changes to the way federal elections are administered. The 200-page Electoral Reform Bill, if passed, would transform the electoral donation rules by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorana Bartels, Professor of Criminology, Australian National University Shutterstock Weeks after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced his support for mandatory minimum jail terms for antisemitic offences, the government has legislated such laws. Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke stated the federal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Moninya Roughan, Professor in Oceanography, UNSW Sydney Australia’s sea surface temperatures were the warmest on record last year, according to a snapshot of the nation’s climate which underscores the perilous state of the world’s oceans. The Bureau of Meteorology on Thursday released ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Meyer, Senior Lecturer, Anatomy and Pathology, James Cook University A common anatomical variation is being born with more than ten fingers or more than ten toes. Former Doctor Who actor David Tennant this week confirmed he has 11 toes. He says ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mandy Hagstrom, Senior Lecturer, Exercise Physiology. School of Health Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sokirlov/Shutterstock Callisthenics is a type of training where you do bodyweight exercises to build strength. It’s versatile, low cost, and easy to start. Classic callisthenics moves include: ...
The Mood of the Workforce survey, conducted annually by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, lays bare the brutal reality of life under capitalism in Aotearoa New Zealand. ...
Some aspects of next year’s Waitangi commemorations could be moved back down to Te Tii Marae, with both political leaders and Māori leaders saying the lower marae is an appropriate place for political debates.Waitangi Treaty Grounds Trust chair Pita Tipene said he supported moving some aspects of Waitangi week commemorations ...
Inundated with end-of-year lists, we all had big plans to do a lot of reading-for-pleasure over the holidays. Here’s what we ended up reading. Despite the gazillion end-of-year reading lists and recommendations for the very latest books, summer is often a time for reading wildly. Whether it’s finally pulling a ...
How do I deal with the fact my own flesh and blood would rather listen to Mumford & Sons than Talking Heads? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzKia ora!As a recovering music snob who once preferred the bands’ older stuff, hated “mainstream music” and actively avoided ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Edward Lorenz’s mathematical weather model showed solutions with a butterfly-like shape.Wikimol In 1972, the US meteorologist Edward Lorenz asked a now-famous question: Does the ...
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Lets start off with the effects of Global Warming on the other side of the world……
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2096372/UK-weather-forecast-15cm-snow-way-Met-Office-issues-severe-weather-warning.html
As DV points out below. A good example of climate change.
You seem to chant global warming over and over again like a mantra without ever engaging your brain to think what that means in the real world. Which is why you find weather disconcerting.
I suspect from your previous comments that you’d prefer the the wold operated on simple models like black body radiative models or daisyworld that have no real world equivalents. Then you don’t have to consider that increasing warmth in the artic (the polar regions are those that are warming fastest) provide the energy to push colder air masses to lower latitudes. This is the process of atmospheric and oceanic thermal mixing. It is chaotic and you have to deal with itin terms of probabilities.
Oh and whoever is in the way of a warming polar region pushing out cold air masses will get colder than usual weather..
Dumbarse.
I think it’s you that are the dumbarse Lprent. Blind to your own ignorance of the cycles of this planet. The circumventing going on at the Polar Regions is nothing more than an after effect of the axial tilt of the earth changing as we go through precession.
Eventually, the polar regions will move to a different area in the northern hemisphere. The way that it’s going means that Greenland will probably become ice free again, but another landmass will no doubt replace Greenland as an ice covered region.
How about opening your blinkers and looking at the long game. Global warming is DEAD. Climate Change is a crock of shit with those two words being bandied about by scientists and people like you, who really have no idea. You can talk all you like about feedback loops and radiative models, but when you ignore the biggest thing that makes us human, intuition, then you’re losing out on quite a bit more that science can’t explain. I’m going to stake my flag quite firmly and say that this country will get a second snowstorm similar to last year again this year.
Did you hear about the Black Sea freezing? How do you corroborate that to CO2 causing freezing. Dick.
It’s useless trying to educate those like you, who believe they’re all knowing just because they got a degree in Earth Science in the 1930’s. Newsflash: The Sun is the biggest driver of temperature in our Solar System. Of course you’ve already poo pooed that idea, so I’d love to hear where you think our temperature rates on this planet come from.
Perhaps you should read up a little bit more about precession and axial tilt which causes ice ages and interglacials. It’s no coincidence that the poles have both moved so far from where they originally were a few thousand years ago, and still were until recently. Read here, and get a bit more open minded
Good Star Trek script mate.
Still, I think that general economic collapse will sort out greenhouse gas emissions more effectively than 10 Kyoto Protocols.
It’s not so much “Read here, and get a bit more open minded” but Read here, and lose all tough with reality. I’d suggest you lay off the mind altering substances but it’s obviously already far too late.
Have you looked at the time period that earth’s orbital precession takes? Something like 25k years. Now explain to me how we can see effects in decades? I expect that your “intuition” tells you that it happens almost daily…
Did you read my answer to grumpy about why they’re getting cold air masses moving further south? It is the same reason as it has happened before. Umm here is a post from 2009 A note to the idiots. Weather is not climate. and this was the polar view chart of oddities of heat that month.
Notice that then there were higher than usual temps in the polar areas and colder than usual areas in the continental landmasses adjacent? That is what happens when a pile of cold air gets pushed south at the north pole.
Rather than expending all of that energy on ‘intuition’ and getting my attention. Why don’t you exert enough effort that I don’t have to point out stuff I wrote two years ago.
Peak Oil – Climate Crisis vs. More Motorways
“Yes. Do Panic about Global Warming”
Suzanne Goldenberg reports for ‘The Guardian’:
(Forwarded from the respected website, ‘Common Dreams’.)
In major blow to the fossil fuel industry roading lobby in this country, the Labour Party has just issued a press release attacking the concept of continueing to build more motorways.
http://auckland.scoop.co.nz/2012/02/road-use-falling-yet-roading-a-major-priority/
This is a definite policy shift for Labour, considering that when they were in office, they approved the $billions for the unloved Victoria Park tunnel and the, still to be built, gigantic Waterview motorway and tunnel project.
We should praise the Labour Party when they stand up to corporate lobbyists to advocate for sensible public policy.
But as well as this, we have a duty to call on Labour to go a little bit further. And agree to take this new policy direction into the real world.
Now would be the perfect time to get Labour to agree to scrap the Waterview tunnel, and advocate for the $2 billion put aside for this project, to be instead used to fund free and frequent public transport.
This would achieve three public goods.
1) Protect the local community and environment from the wholesale destruction caused by the construction of a motorway and tunnel through houses and sensitive wetlands.
2) Get tens of thousands of Aucklanders out of their private cars, dramatically cutting traffic congestion and fossil fuel use at the same time.
3) Create permanent ongoing jobs
Though Phil Twyford’s concern is peak oil, the need to cut back fossil fuel use intersects with the environmental destruction caused by continued use of fossil fuel.
The Un-aligned Left, Greenpeace, the Green Party and concerned locals, all opposed to the Waterview motorway extension need to link up with the Labour Party to finally drive a stake through the Waterview motorway extension project, and divert the $2 billion already put aside for this project, into public transport, instead.
The Waterview Motorway extension is one of the Roads of National Significance, or RONS that the powerful roading lobby who call themselves “The Well Connected Group” want the taxpayer to shell out for.
Already the self serving “Well Connected Group” have got the public to shell out half a $billion for the boondoggle, that is the Victoria Park tunnel. (The unloved, gold bricked tunnel to nowhere, except under a relatively small corner of Victoria Park.) Even if you like motorways, for a fraction of the cost they could have gone over the surface.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boondoggle
Grumpy sure doesnt look like Global warming to me (your words) LMFAO
Time to catch a plane to Berlin – my work here is done…………
Talking to people here, Berlin -16c, by the way, they realise they have Ben conned and taxed in the name of global warming.
They are not stupid and see through the rising defensive hysteria of the wealth distribution/global warming activists and their attempt to rename as climate change.
Oh give it a rest grumpy….have you read any of my replies? Or have you reverted to your bad old days of being a fire and forget troll. You know what happens….. Responded to at least some of someone’s replies
Be aware that I am making allowances for the pain of access whilst travelling…
Thanks for your indulgence lprent, but working, living and travelling in -16c conditions does make AGW/Climate Change/Weather/Climate issues float to the top of the heap (as it were).
BTW Waitangi Day made the news over here again. Just finished convincing half a dozen to come over for Christmas but had to do a bit more work after that news item!!!!
Why, were they planning on going to Te Tii with John Key next Waitangi Day?
If it is better weather, it is difficult to believe that Christmas in Summer needs the hard sell to anyone in Europe this week 😉
It’s all relative, hey? I was up at 05.00 to get my friend Daisy on to the Welly train this morning, and she was wearing a massive parka – she’s just returned from a year teaching in Brazil. It’s Feb 6 and we were both freezing cold. “Summer” this year has been spent in jumpers and coats, even the mosquitoes have found it too cold to appear for the past 3 years (I am thankful, but still, some warmth would be nice!) Ah, but it’s global warming isn’t it? 😀
*grin*
Try and think of it like this grumpy. The AGW argument hinges around relatively slow climate temperature trends in the order of about 1 degC/decade.
Right now Europe is many 10’s of degC lower than normal… that’s not climate. It simply means that on average while it’s cold in Europe it MUST be warmer than usual somewhere else. Probably the Arctic.
I trust you also understand Conservation of Energy?
And last year there were heat waves and massive peat and grass fires throughout the north. Amazing how extreme the weather gets when quite small amounts of energy are added to the system….
An Economist article from the last cold snap in Europe…
Other analysis of weather patterns show that while it’s cold, it’s not as cold as it might have been.
…and, BTW……I do know how an evaporative chiller works 🙂
Yeah but this isn’t like that. That is black body type system.
You have to think vertically and with average densities in the air column. Strong warm air systems tend to push cold air because of evaporated water densities in warmer air are higher in the column. But unlike a evaporative cooler there is also a horiziontal mechanism as well
So rising heat in the poles locks heat in water particles and physically pushes relatively cool air masses down latitude. All driven by the heat locked in water particles
I understand the physics and the stored energy in water and like all arguments there are always differing interpretations.
however, after years of predicting rising temperatures and see levels we now have lower temps and stable sea levels.
perhaps the science still has some settling to do.
This is the type of commentray now coming up in all the European countries. Perhaps lprent should explain things to them before people start believing it’s all smoke and mirrors.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2096277/Global-warming-James-Delingpole-claims-green-zealots-destroying-planet.html
Europeans don’t seem to understand much out how unique and fragile their climate is… I wrote about it.
http://thestandard.org.nz/those-childish-people-of-northern-european-descent/
Basically they live in strange climate caused by the heat transported north by the gulf stream. Because of vitamin D deficiencies which causes neotonous effects…
Delingpole is simple minded idiot who has been proven wrong so any times that the real question is why the mail puts up with him. Helps sell tabloid format papers before they hit the fish and chip shop would be my guess.
Having done business in this part of the world for 20 years – I agree with the “childish” bit.
The fridge door has been left open.
Yes that is an excellent example of the CLIMATE CHANGE the earth is experiencing.
Well picked up.
This subject has been raised here so for those who are genuinely interested Peter Dunne explains:
Consistency explained. If the usual suspects are consistent here they will attack people and party and ignore facts. Futile facing facts.
Meh. It’s no surprise that the Hair was committed to selling out Kiwis before the election, Pete. I think that was pointed out to you on a daily basis.
I am not sure of anyone here Petey who thought that the coiffured one had changed his position. I had always thought that his position was supportive of the selling off to overseas interests of our assets it is just he was being a bit disingenuous by suggesting that because only 49% would be sold that things would not change. So your angsty complaint is a bit misplaced.
I see that Dunne is suggesting that this is to allow the power companies to raise capital. So Petey which of it is it? Are the share sales to:
1. Reduce debt,
2. Be spent on schools and irrigation schemes,
3. Allow the power companies to raise capital?
Which is it?
Signed
Confused, Auckland
Peter Dunne changed his position, albeit prior to the election, not out of personal conviction, but to accommodate National. He should change his name to Dr Faustus.
Yip. Dunne is on record as saying he personally doesn’t agree with asset sales, but is going to go ahead with them anyway. Because that way he gets a nice ministerial salary.
This is what he is on record as saying:
I don’t know what record you are claiming.
Dunne is in favour of a Ministerial BMW.
Fallacy. I’ve travelled with him in his car, it’s not a BMW.
How did the chauffeur’s uniform fit, Pete?
All Crown Ministers have access to Beemers, by the way, so I presume you are being typically disingenuous and you were riding in one of his privately owned vehicles at the time, not the Ministerial one.
I don’t know if he uses the BMW service much or at all.
I do know for a fact he self drives a supplied non-BMW. The BMW accusations so far are nothing other than unsubstantiated dissing.
How much does Dunne pay you to cruise the web making apologies for his selfish choice of policy support? Must be more than just the odd road trip in his car, or is the opportunity to be in the presence of your hero enough?
Hes got you under a spell PG…WAKE UP!
Hulun and Heather Simpson signed us up to the BMWS if I remember correctly
Those were the cheap really fuel efficient ones that were remarkably cheap to run.
BTW your spelling is atrocious.
James doesn’t like powerful women. They might take his todger away and leave him nothing to think with.
If it’s been “promoted” since 2005, why is the only quote he has from last year?
And the only quote he has is for “expanding the capital base” of the companies, not paying down needless debt.
And, more importantly, why does that quote not actually state whether United Future would support partial asset sales?
He’s done what you do, Pete – asked a number of questions, provided banal answers, and the tried to point out that all the other parties had said pretty much the same thing. This does not indicate a policy platform.
So the question I have is: are you two kindred spirits, or did you pay to go to a Pete Dunne’s Say A Lot But Mean Fuck-all Training Seminar?
Gordon Campbell on Peter Dunne’s casting vote on asset sales
As the late Roger Kerr pointed out in 2005, Peter Dunne went into the election that year advocating the 40% selldown of the government’s stake in most SOEs. So Dunne can hardly be accused of not being a consistent advocate of the partial privatisation model – he could more accurately claim that it was his idea in the first place.
Referencing: http://m.nbr.co.nz/article/privatisation-a-third-rail
You may recall that United Future was in coalition with Labour from 2005-2008.
Faboo.
Your half-arsed attempt (as a former #3 on list candidate) at providing evidence of party policy pissed me off so much that I actually trawled through scoop – amazingly, you are correct.
Back in the day when United Future had more than one MP, it sold out on policies then, too.
Now, some of us love to follow the minutae of policies and press releases from every single party over the last 2 or 3 elections in order to determine our vote for the upcoming, but I’m not sure many people are like that. Many people tend to follow what people say during the current campaign on the lead issues of the campaign.
SO as a former candidate and current party activist, what indications did United Future give as to their support of National’s asset sales plan during the 2011 election campaign? As far as I can tell, Dunne promised to be a moderating force and drew a line in the sand, as it were (a line that was, luckily, beyond what Key had proposed).
How is providing the single needed vote to pass irreversible policy unaltered going to “keep a government to a reasonable, centrist path“?
what indications did United Future give as to their support of National’s asset sales plan during the 2011 election campaign?
Read the link that was at the start of this thread.
http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/unitedfuture-on-asset-sales/
(as a former #3 on list candidate)
Another incorrect claim.
Link summarised previously as “And, more importantly, why does that quote not actually state whether United Future would support partial asset sales?
He’s done what you do, Pete – asked a number of questions, provided banal answers, and the tried to point out that all the other parties had said pretty much the same thing. This does not indicate a policy platform.”.
And, bugger me – number 8? My apologies. Obviously, at number 8 on the list, we wouldn’t expect you to know a damned thing about what your party explicitly promised during the campaign.
Didn’t take too long to find it, Pete:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6123338/Dunne-holds-key-to-asset-sales-vote
In principle he doesn’t agree with asset sales, but because the government has chosen specific things and is only going to sell some of it, he’ll go along with the ride (because he’ll get a ministerial salary out of it).
“Because that way he gets a nice ministerial salary”
A friend said to me the other day that Dunne has to be being paid to not go against asset sales. They lived in his electorate for 25 years and everytime they saw him, they raised the run down Johnsonville Mall and Transmission Gully.
Interesting that the Key Group laud the 51% as maintaining control of State Assets.
Yet it is said that Mrs Rheingold in buying 5%+ of Fairfax with the belief that she will have influence over this media. She paid over $200 million in spite of a falling share price. Wonder what she would be able to do with 49% influence?
So National and its supporters continue to beat up the racism/xenophobia angle on the Crafar farms sale. How did we get to this, and why hasn’t there been a more considered and in-depth public debate about the sale of NZ land, especially productive land, to wealthy foreign individuals and corporations?
So today Stuff is beating up the racism angle.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6368089/Who-is-really-buying-New-Zealand
I am appalled that this much productive NZ land is being sold to wealthy foreign interests, whether it be Liechtensteinians, Canadians or Israelis.
But I also think we should look more closely at the differing impact on NZ from sale of non-productive compared with productive land; and to wealthy individuals versus big coporations; to expats setting up home and business in NZ versus people continuing to live elsewhere; and to independent individuals/organisations compared with sales subsidised by powerful foreign governments.
The big question for me is NOT why Crafar has resulted in such an outcry, but why there hasn’t been similar criticisms of some of the other sales?
As far as I’m aware, there are some specific issues that have resulted in the Crafar sale getting media attention. Some of it is likely related to be anti-Chinese attitudes from some. But also, there have been some Kiwi farmers who were a little peeved they they were not able to buy one of the farms, beacuse they were sold as one job lot.
But also, there was a fair bit of media attention a while back, because the first main contender to buy the farms was a dodgy Hong Kong based outfit that misrepresented themselves.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/6286635/Third-arrest-over-failed-Crafar-farm-bid
But lets have more in-depth and critical public debate about the benefits and damages to NZ of the sale of different kinds of land, productive land and other assets to wealthy foreigners, which ever country they are from.
Does what benefits or damages NZ (whatever that construct might actually be) have a corresponding positive or negative impact on you and me? Surely that’s the first question that needs answered.
My initial response might be based on a cursory glance at the impoverished state of British people at the height of empire when Britain was enjoying enormous benefits. Or then again, I might consider the lot of the majority of US citizens given that the US is the worlds most succesful economy. And the conclusion would have to be that what’s good for a country (ie an economy) does not automatically bestow corresponding benefits on a citizenry.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again…it doesn’t matter two hoots who owns land. We are excluded from any and all say over the use of the land and its resources regardless of who the owner is. And all owners (restrictive legislation aside and whether state or private entities) are generally in it for the money.
And that money and any benefits that may flow from it are under the control of the owners (and the state insofar as taxes are paid) We simply don’t have a look in.
So all this stramash about who should own what comes down to expressions of mere emotive preference for particular masters. But aren’t they all more or less the same in the end? And isn’t the position of any and all of them illegitimate in the final analysis?
Bill said:
Does what benefits or damages NZ (whatever that construct might actually be) have a corresponding positive or negative impact on you and me? Surely that’s the first question that needs answered.
Yes, good question. As a non-land owner, I do tend to assume that “good for NZ” means good for all the citizenry. IMO, there’s something wrong with an economic analysis or theory that is used to show that a country is economically successful, when there is no widespread benefit to all or most of the people living in that country.
However, as well as the international divisions between the ruling elite and the rest, there is an overlapping and intersecting hierarchy of more and less powerful/wealthy nation states. The results is that there is an added impact on struggling Kiwis (in a country that is somewhere in the middle of the global hierarchy) when wealthy foreigners push up the price of land (and subsequently rents, while lowering wages, employment etc), and siphons off profits overseas.
While globalisation has weakend the power of nation states, it’s still largely through national political processes and struggles that the relatively powerless majority can exercise any influence and control over their circumstances.
But, I agree, such local struggles are set within a wider global struggle against the transnational elites.
Yes they are. Privatisation and capitalism is the cause of the growing poverty that we see in the world.
+1 Carol
. . . and thinking of the way that Ironbridge loaded Mediaworks with debt to finance their purchase, it might also be a good idea to have a look at how overseas buyers structure these investments after the sale goes through.
Are these sales actually contributing to the country’s high levels of private overseas debt that are being used to justify further asset sales to overseas buyers?
A nice shout out from Hillary Clinton:
Secretary of State Waitangi Day Statement
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
For Immediate Release
February 4, 2012
2012/167
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY CLINTON
New Zealand Waitangi Day
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of New Zealand as you commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, this February 6. This is a time to reflect on New Zealand’s rich history and promising future.
The United States and New Zealand share a vibrant partnership, shaped by the Wellington Declaration and our years of friendship and cooperation. We look forward to continuing to deepen our relationship in the coming year as we work together promoting peace and stability, protecting the fragile Pacific environment, expanding economic opportunity, and standing up for global human rights. The United States stands by New Zealand as you continue to face the challenges brought by earthquakes in the Canterbury region. Your resilience and strength have set an example for the world.
As you observe this special day in New Zealand and in places around the world, I wish all New Zealanders a happy Waitangi Day, and a year filled with peace and prosperity.
A pity then that most of the shouting here is disgraceful, and overshadows any good that some are trying to achieve with it.
The bitch spiral seems out of control in Waitangi. Have to look elsewhere for positive aspirations.
Disgracful? Yeah, and that’s without the pitchforks, torches, guillotines and gallows!
Not quite as disgraceful as those who are trying to shut the conversation down.
Not sure what ‘the conversation’ refers to – the protest of the moment? Bbut who is trying to shut conversations down? Those shouting over invited guests?
I suspect those involved in organising the events at Waitangi get a bit sick of their conversation being hijacked. Free speech is principle that should be applied evenly, yes?
You can’t have a conversation if only a few are allowed to speak. Or, to put it another way, if only those who were organised to speak spoke then there wouldn’t be a conversation.
Maybe those shouting over others are pissed off that they’re not being heard any other way.
re Asset Sales :-
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1202/S00046/marchrally-to-oppose-asset-sales.htm
Good one Herald – Rahui Katene does NOT hold the seat of Te Tai Tonga any more: You got the Wrong Maori!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10783561
I wonder if it may have been Rino Tirikatene, Labour MP for Te Tai Tonga since Nov 26, who was walking with Shearer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rino_Tirikatene
Well spotted, CV, that’s a classic. I also like this quote from Key after he was forced to cut and run:
“I come to pay my respects to the elders of the marae and at the end of the day I’m just not a Prime Minister that cuts and runs.”
when he had done exactly that cut and run!
John Key said he wasn’t going to cry… that’s because he ran away instead. Key also said he hadn’t run away because he was scared, however people attending Waitangi said they’d seen fear in his eyes.
Oh dear when that nice Mr Key wants to speak at Waitangi he is unable to be heard due to creating a backlash by not respecting section 9 of the SOE legislation. When he sits in a public cafe and converses he gets upset when he can be heard.
Were there covert police cameras operating at Waitangi?
I personally would not have used my invitation to go to Waitangi to discuss section 9 of the SOE legislation as this was not appropriate. Only a desperate impatient person would be so stupid.
Great that Key said he will return!! because he wont let a few activists put him off. Seem to remember Hulun not returning to Waitangi ,and you guys supporting her fully. Slightly hypocritical one would have to think
Go on post a few links showing that the Standard’s writers supported Helen’s decision not to return to Waitangi. Go on, I dare you …
Key has learned from Dr Maori brash[bash] bad publicity is good publicity get the red necks on side.
Divide and conquer.
Dunno if its working, mik e. The rural red necks down my local have started calling the PM some nasty names of late, mostly variations on Egg Foo John. That’s the most polite one, the others are much less tasteful.
I’ve seen him cutting and running from the House when he couldn’t/wouldn’t answer the questions put to him by the opposition.
Goodness me. It isn’t as if they look very alike, I mean, there is the obvious gender difference, then there is the height and …..
Joyce is trying to lead a debate to gain greater acceptance of foreign investment
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10783089
So let the debate begin:
Offshore investors rob local investors of opportunity and resources.
Offshore owners rob control and increase political influence that can lead to local law changes.
Offshore investors also borrow money locally, crowding out and limiting funding for local businesses.
The more profitable the project, the smaller the net inflow of foreign funds and the larger the outflow of profits.
Profits repatriated by offshore investors tend to exceed total funds invested. Exacerbated by transfer pricing and other forms of creative accounting. Often offsetting any claims of large local tax benefits eventuating.
Offshore owners tend to restructure and layoff staff.
In many cases, jobs that are created would be created whether or not the project was offshore or locally owned.
The only benefit seems to be it encourages the transfer of management skills, intellectual property, and technology. However, they can also be bought, hired or developed.
If foreign investment was as good as Joyce claims then he’d be able to prove it with facts & figures from existing foreign investment in NZ. After all, there is over $300billion already invested in this country by foreigners. Perhaps someone should tell Joyce we can see for ourselves how wealthy it has made us all & how the economy is roaring alone because of it.
How much more overwhelming evidence does Joyce want before he wakes up that it’s not doing us any good? Is $400billion enough, maybe a $trillion?
(NB – Aussie investment alone is said to be +$100billion, overseas lenders have invested over $150billion so the final tally must be well over $300billion.)
A new economic recovery tax to address our capital shortfall?
If the Government were to introduce a new economic recovery tax at say a mere one dollar a week, that would produce around two million dollars a week, 8 million a month, or around 100 million a year, to invest in new value added exporting ventures.
A two dollar a week tax would double that amount with most workers not even noticing the loss from their pay.
This would stimulate the local economy (jobs) and generate new wealth while reducing our over reliance of foreign capital.
Three things about that Mr Chairman:
1. It would deny the Government the excuse to make further cuts.
2. It would be too easy.
3. How would the rich get richer.
Much better to hire some investment banking consultants to draw up the contracts you need to sell off the country, you don’t even need your own Ministery staff to do that work, so you can gut the public sector out at the same time.
That’s what I call efficiency!
And all the foreign Banksters money will never be seen in this country again and you can bet your bottom dollar they come from countries that are deliberately keeping their currency low[printing or devaluing theirs + subsidising fuel and agriculture]!
There ain’t 2 million net taxpayers in NZ
The New Black: is Cut and Run going to be this year’s Smile and Wave?
Political obituaries often feature moments like Key’s cowardice this morning as being pivotal in public perception. Given the inevitability of Key’s departure to Honolulu in this term, I’m picking that we will see the phrases ‘John Key’ and ‘cut and run’ in close proximity right up until the plane leaves. Hell, the title of the cash in biography writes itself: From Smile and Wave to Cut and Run; the John Key story.
Your comment is no better than this “Shearer’s weasel words” post.
Can someone find the TV video clip of John Key ridiculing Helen Clark for refusing to return to Waitangi Treaty celebrations after her experiences? It was well aired at the time – was it 2007? It would be pleasurable to watch again after his ‘cut and run’ this morning!
I bet he blames it on his minders. He will say they made him do it.
Please John Key – just take tomorrow off. There’s nothing to be gained by going back to Waitangi.
Let the rich Maori explain to the poor Maori how they’re going to reduce inequality among their own people. Give them their sovereignty and let them do to each other what their warrior customs proscribe.
Helen Clark was verbally abused by that convicted violent criminal Titiwhai Harawira. You know, the one surgically attached to John Key the minute he steps onto the Marae.
In better news today http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6369711/Soldier-who-collapsed-during-SAS-trial-wakes
promising.
I hope so 🙂
Oh that’s good news! 🙂
The national party’s favourite donor and secret visitor might have to defend himself against financial skullduggery again