Open mike 05/04/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:55 am, April 5th, 2014 - 70 comments
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openmike Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

70 comments on “Open mike 05/04/2014 ”

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  1. karol 1
    5 April 2014 at 7:33 am

    Never underestimate the fashion industry for trying to jump on any initiative that they can embrace as an upcoming money earner. But, if this is something a bit more spontaneous from well off young men, is it a sign they are keen to embrace and flout wealth and status – to promote themselves as some rising aristocracy?

    Once all classes embraced denim and (alleged) casual attire as a sign that class no longer exists, Now some are attempt to promote class privilege?

    • Zorr 1.1
      5 April 2014 at 10:45 am

      urg – it makes me sick reading some of that stuff

      But hey, at least it’ll be easy to tell who will be going up against the wall when the revolution comes? 😛

  2. Ad 2
    5 April 2014 at 8:28 am

    I’m not entirely sure why, but I woke up early and felt like we’re going to win.

    • Te Reo Putake 2.1
      5 April 2014 at 8:29 am

      Me too. I love the first day of the football season!

    • karol 2.2
      5 April 2014 at 8:32 am

      It’s going to be a long day. You could have used the extra hour in bed. Tomorrow you’ll probably wake even earlier.

      • veutoviper 2.2.1
        5 April 2014 at 9:03 am

        LOL. You just reminded me that daylight savings ends at 2am tomorrow morning.

    • tc 2.3
      5 April 2014 at 9:54 am

      Its very winnable if the turnout lifts from the 67% in 2011.

      encourage everyone to vote as the mantra from the msm will continue to be the same as 2011 being that the polls say nats will win, cunliffe is tricky, the greens are communists and KDC is hitler reincarnated.

  3. Bearded Git 3
    5 April 2014 at 9:17 am

    The Nats must be real worried about KDC to continue this kind of smear.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11232532

    • tc 3.1
      5 April 2014 at 9:37 am

      Yes its almost as if they know that KDC has the evidence and probably images to prove Johnny boy has been lying yet again in his use of state devices for political means.

      Why else would they be going so hard to devalue him.

      • veutoviper 3.1.1
        5 April 2014 at 10:09 am

        “Yes its almost as if they know that KDC has the evidence ..”

        There have been a number of people who have recently commented here that they think KDC does not have the evidence – and that if he had, he would have released it already.

        There is that possibility, but having followed the KDC situation quite closely because of its unique legal complexities and its ramifications, I find it unlikely that he does not have some form of evidence that Key knew about him much earlier than the day before the raid, as Key claims. KDC has repeated said and tweeted that he has evidence; and I do not believe that his extensive and highly qualified team of legal advisors would have allowed him to repeatedly claim this if they did not have some evidence that they holding back as they are intending using this in the extradition proceedings.

        PS – IIRC KDC tweeted in late January/early Feb something to the effect that Warren Tucker, head of the SIS (until end of April when Kitteridge takes over), was involved in briefing Key. This tweet appeared to go unnoticed at the time, and I don’t have time right now to search his extensive tweets to recheck this.

        • Stephanie Rodgers 3.1.1.1
          5 April 2014 at 11:05 am

          This one?
          https://twitter.com/KimDotcom/status/439218686969126912

          (You can use Topsy.com to search through a specific user’s Twitter feed for keywords.)

          • veutoviper 3.1.1.1.1
            5 April 2014 at 11:21 am

            That’s the one. Thanks Stephanie. My memory is not too bad; timing off slightly.

            And also thanks for the Topsy.com tip. I am a novice with Twitter; don’t belong/use, but find it a useful tool (sometimes).

            • Anne 3.1.1.1.1.1
              5 April 2014 at 3:00 pm

              When you think about it, it is the job of the SIS director to keep the Prime Minister of the day informed of any upcoming event – whether they’re directly or only indirectly involved.

              I wonder how the director felt watching him on the telly lying through his teeth then? He can’t comment of course, but it must have left him feeling uncomfortable. At least I damm well hope it did!

    • ianmac 3.2
      5 April 2014 at 9:45 am

      Hitler condemned and burnt books. Thomas condemns a book and the owner.
      Is Thomas so different in principle from the actions of the Hitler?
      I have written a comment to the Herald on those lines re the Thomas/National post.

      • Disraeli Gladstone 3.2.1
        5 April 2014 at 10:41 am

        Oh for crying out loud. This is the argument that most frustrates me. It’s like we lose all concepts of subtleness when this type of conversation comes up.

        No one is saying that Kim Dotcom can’t own the book. We’re not saying that it should be burned. We’re not saying that people who own Mein Kampf should be thrown into prison.

        All that is being said is that people should perhaps judge a person who decide to buy a signed copy of it for something besides being a historical researcher. Just as Dotcom has the right to buy it, we have the right to judge him for it.

        But no, there’s a lot of crows flying around in the sky, you keep building that straw-man.

    • veutoviper 3.3
      5 April 2014 at 9:46 am

      My reaction also, BG. A lightweight and shallow piece, as is this (imo failed) attempt at spoofing KDC also in the opinion section today.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11230943

    • David H 3.4
      5 April 2014 at 4:37 pm

      but this fools 5 days late. The storm in a teacup is all over before he got to write about it, what a shame. All together now AHHhh

  4. veutoviper 4
    5 April 2014 at 9:26 am

    I decided to make one of my rare visits to KB this morning and found this posted in General Debate

    Comical Ali – oh the memories! A light spot in a very sad situation. I wonder what happened to him? IIRC the last I heard was that he left Iraq and was in one of the Arab countries.

  6. Bearded Git 6
    5 April 2014 at 9:45 am

    Colon Craig going for ex-Destiny candidates. Labour should shout about this if Key tries to gift him a seat.

    This from Dom Post today:

    “Conservatives name two candidates

    Colin Craig’s Conservative Party has named two South Auckland candidates, Edward Saafi and Elliot Ikelei. Saafi, who has previously sought selection for National and the Destiny Party, will stand in Mangere, while Ikelei will stand in Manurewa.

    The Conservative Party has been targeting the South Auckland seats and believes it can pick up National and Labour voters disaffected with the major parties over gay marriage and other issues.”

  7. travellerev 7
    5 April 2014 at 9:50 am

    This morning an article appeared int the NZ Herald. A Lobby group wanted to lower the $ 10 million investment to attract more rich people to NZ. John Key went to China recently and it appears a lot of what are called “naked” officials are keen to leave China as the plebs are raising their pitch forks in order to pry some of that filthy lucre back from their loving leaders. I can’t help but wonder what John Key has been talking about while in China?

    • tc 7.1
      5 April 2014 at 9:58 am

      Probably about donations to his favourite charity, himself.

    • Tracey 7.2
      5 April 2014 at 4:29 pm

      if we are going to do favours for foreign developers who dont want to meet english language requirements, how do we ensure they are around within the building act ten year period in case they build crap?

  8. kiwigunner 8
    5 April 2014 at 10:00 am

    I wonder how many school boards of trustees understand that they are quietly being replaced by these so called executive principals? Schools run by their communities will soon be a thing of the past and the new boot boys will ensure strict adherence to govt policy like nationals standards, a narrow testing based curriculum and a do as you are told one size fits all system. Is that what parents want for their kids?

  9. Jrobin 9
    5 April 2014 at 10:57 am

    Did anyone else watch The Nation. Shane Jones is certainly playing a dangerous game. For every male potential voter he has just impressed though are a whole lot of more diverse swinging voters who are totally put off by his macho posturing. Sue Kedgely summed up the negatives. Gower of course emphasising the nanny state aspect of his comments on Lotto. Is this Labour strategy or just Jones wanting to go into coalition with NZFirst and speaking to his fans. Jones excellent fight with Progressive Enterprises unfortunately got lost in the midst of these other distractions.
    Anyway we’ve never had a more interfering and authoritarian Government than this one. Constant bullying of ordinary citizens in favour of big business interests. A dictatorial attitude to education, allowing us to be spied on, making protests on oil drilling illegal, takeover of University Councils, beneficiary bashing, arresting Student Loan debtors at airports etc etc. The average overworked kiwi may have slept through these though and wake up instead full of outrage at Jones comments on Lotto. And why did he not challenge Gower on Labour being at 29% in polls. That was about four polls ago. The situation has shifted back to neck and neck between left right blocs. Gower bouncing up and down on his own biased commentary is becoming farcical.

  10. tricledrown 10
    5 April 2014 at 11:04 am

    Destiny has been funded by the National party to the tune of $800,000 in the past to buy their
    Votes. National are. Sneaking around the fundamentalist churches on the quite getting their leaders to promote National at congregaytions.
    Even as National promoted the gay marriage bill.
    Exclusive bretheren tricks again.

    • alwyn 10.1
      5 April 2014 at 2:08 pm

      Do you have a reference for this claim?

    • Tracey 10.2
      5 April 2014 at 4:32 pm

      link please

    • fisiani 10.3
      5 April 2014 at 9:45 pm

      Making a wild accusation like that means that you have to show some proof. You are not using hyperbole but making a specific claim which I know to be false. No such payment has ever been made. Apologise.

      • Stephanie Rodgers 10.3.1
        5 April 2014 at 10:14 pm

        I commend the calls for tricledown to substantiate their claim, but I also have to note fisiani’s adamant tone. Tell us, fisiani, exactly how close are you to the Destiny Church’s financial team that you can be so certain?

        • fisiani 10.3.1.1
          5 April 2014 at 11:16 pm

          What makes you think I have anything to do with Destiny? I have made no such claim. It appears that any scurrilous claim against National can be made with impunity. A specific figure has been claimed with no backing. I am the third person to ask for a link. I suspect however that someone who cannot spell congregation may not be the brightest.

          • Stephanie Rodgers 10.3.1.1.1
            6 April 2014 at 10:59 am

            fisiani, you plainly said ‘You are … making a specific claim which I know to be false. No such payment has ever been made.’ I have merely asked how you can be 100% certain no such payment has been made. It’s very difficult to prove a negative statement like that, so the most probable explanation is that you are affiliated with Destiny or their finances in some way.

            As to tricledown’s statement, it’s possible they’re referring to the $860,000 of government funding paid to Destiny for social programmes. It’s not quite the same thing that they implied in their comment, but could give some people food for thought:
            http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5111665/Govt-gave-860-000-funding-to-Destiny-Minister

    • Awww 11.1
      5 April 2014 at 11:42 am

      A study conducted by the Medical University of Graz in Austria found that the vegetarian diet, as characterised by a low consumption of saturated fat and cholesterol, due to a higher intake of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products, appeared to carry elevated risks of cancer, allergies and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

      The issue is with the study – wheat is dangerous, grains are better but not optimum and most fruits would spike blood sugar.

      Remove the wheat, tweak the fruit intake and take out sugar and you have a healthy diet. Wheat Belly Blog is a good information source. Don’t take the governments word for it, try it out by researching Wheat Belly the book by Dr Davis + his blog and you will see.

      Especially important for those with inflamatory conditions such as asthma or pain but a must if you are to be really healthy over the long term.

    • weka 11.2
      5 April 2014 at 11:54 am

      At least that article links to the actual study (none of the articles I looked at on google yesterday did).

      From the study report

      Our results have shown that vegetarians report chronic conditions and poorer subjective health more frequently. This might indicate that the vegetarians in our study consume this form of diet as a consequence of their disorders, since a vegetarian diet is often recommended as a method to manage weight [10] and health [46]. Unfortunately, food intake was not measured in more detail, e.g. caloric intake was not covered. Hence, further studies will be necessary to analyze health and its relationship with different forms of dietary habits in more detail.

      Looks like the MSM is still illiterate when it comes to medical science. Their reporting is negligent at best. Dumb fucks.

      • Belladonna 11.2.1
        5 April 2014 at 1:07 pm

        The last study these people did showed the complete opposite and espoused the benefits of a meat free diet. There are heaps of reliable studies on the benefits of veganism online. Start by watching Forks Over Knives which is online or reading The China Study if you want some research from well qualified researchers rather than the rubbish from this study.

        • weka 11.2.1.1
          5 April 2014 at 1:14 pm

          Plenty of evidence that shows eating meat is healthy too, or that being vegan puts one at risk. Or the opposite.

          The point I was making wasn’t that eating meat or not is right or wrong, but that we are really bad at doing research on diet and really, really, really bad at reporting it. Which is why people like you insist that the world should be vegan when the evidence shows that many people would do badly on a vegan diet. Or the paleo crowd insist that we’d all better off on no carb/high meat protein diets, when that’s patently no possible or desirable or healthy for many (despite being great for others).

          There is no one size fits all, and the sooner we get our heads around that the better.

          (betting I can pick holes in Forks over Knives, or the China study too).

          • marty mars 11.2.1.1.1
            5 April 2014 at 1:44 pm

            From a sustainable planet point of view is eating meat justified. We need to think differently about the land and water and the factory farming practices that commodify living entities into food units and destroy our environment. Personally i think the violence in our society (to/between people/countries) is related to our treatment of animals but it is difficult to know which is the chicken and which is the egg.

          • bad12 11.2.1.1.2
            5 April 2014 at 4:23 pm

            Yep weka, there are a number of the major vitamins and minerals that CANNOT travel round the body doing their various functions that require FATS as the mode of transport,

            So, while vegans might be eating all the required dietary intake of these vitamins without the fats to carry the nutrients they simply pass them by way of bowel movement down the toilet,

            As at least one of the major group vitamins that require such a mode of transport is one that supports brain function it then becomes easy to see why a study has shown up a less than feeling good factor in those that are strict vegans,

            While raw nuts and avocados are a good source, nearly the only source, that vegans are going to source any fats from their daily intake of such nits and avacados would have to be at least 20% of their daily diet by volume to ensure the bodies need for fat was supplied enough to transport the vital vitamins and minerals around their bodies,

            http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/vitamins_and_minerals.htm
            http://www.nutristrategy.com/nutritioninfo2.htm

            There are still some that do not buy into the ‘animal fats are bad for us argument’, simply arguing that it is the modern farming methods that are altering the food we eat,

            http://www.drwilson.com/articles/FATS.htm

            Interesting in the link above, besides all the info on nutrients, is the fact that we can eat an almost fat free vegan diet and still add weight to our bodies obviously suggesting that the body can convert vegetable matter to fat and store it,

            i am coming to the conclusion,having adopted a vege/fish diet that the real arbiter of how healthy we are when diet is the indicator is not found by excluding any particular food group but is simply defined by a far far simpler calculation,

            That calculation i suggest is simply one of food in energy out, if we can match exactly(within reason), the amount of energy we burn with the amount of food we ingest then there may be very little left such as calcium able to be laid down as harmful plaque in our arteries…

  12. tricledrown 12
    5 April 2014 at 11:27 am

    No Bull nakered man.
    Even the reseacher has admitted that his research is not very robust.
    Where the Latest research shows that 7 plus a day helpings of fruit and veges is going to reduce the chance of getting cancer or heart disease by 42%.
    Balanced diets moderation in meat.

  13. ianmac 13
    5 April 2014 at 11:36 am

    Review of funding decision says two panellists could have unduly influenced other members’ scoring. (Problem Gamblers funding.)

    ‘…..Two of the six panel members who made the shock decision to stop funding the Problem Gambling Foundation had conflicts of interest, a review has found….

    …But the review found that, in eight of the 13 regions, the panel selected providers “ahead of providers whose proposals had scored higher in the proposal evaluation results”.

    Furthermore, the panel provided “no documentation for the method used by the panel to moderate the proposal evaluation results”.

    So much for the trumpeted clarity of funding review.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11232557

    • George 13.1
      5 April 2014 at 11:38 am

      in eight of the 13 regions, the panel selected providers “ahead of providers whose proposals had scored higher in the proposal evaluation results”.

      How incredibly dodgy. This stinks.

    • Awww 13.2
      5 April 2014 at 11:44 am

      WTH?? This is an outrage.

  14. Morrissey 14
    5 April 2014 at 12:24 pm

    Question: “Are there any real democracies?”
    Answer: Yes, but not if the United States has anything to do with them.

    After the eleven o’clock news this morning, Kim Hill had a very interesting talk about a range of topics with thespian Yannis Simonides. Unlike the brain-dead, tanned, coke-snorting halfwits that infest Hollywood, this guy actually reads books, thinks deeply, and has something interesting to say. At one point, the vexed subject of democracy was raised. Simonides commented on the unsatisfactory state of democracy in Greece, prompting Kim Hill to ask: “Are there any real democracies?”

    Sadly, however, she didn’t give him any time to answer and sped onto the next question. I sent off an email in the usual fashion….

    “Are there ANY real democracies?”

    Dear Kim,

    You asked Yannis Simonides whether he could think of any real democracies. Unlike incurious, poorly read Hollywood celebrities like Kevin Spacey and Jared Leto, Yannis Simonides, judging by the considered tone of his discourse, seems to have thought deeply about many issues. I’m sure if he had been given time to think about it a little more, he would have given the example of Venezuela.

    Unfortunately for Venezuela’s democracy-loving people, they are currently under the gun of a democracy-hating superpower to the north. Time will tell if it will crush this example of South American democracy like it crushed democracy in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Chile, to name just a few of the “troublemakers” it has dealt to in its “backyard.”

    Yours sincerely,

    Morrissey Breen
    Northcote Point

    • Draco T Bastard 14.1
      5 April 2014 at 2:37 pm

      Question: “Are there any real democracies?”
      Answer: Yes, but not if the United States has anything to do with them.

      US against Venezuela: Cold War Goes Hot

      Political analysts are paying attention to the timing of America’s efforts to replace the government in Venezuela and Ukraine. Washington wants to show the world that a superpower is still capable of directing the course of events in different parts of the world in whatever direction it needs. Obama would like to conclude his presidency with spectacular victories in Eastern Europe and Latin America: turning Ukraine into a satellite state, which would ensure America’s military presence on Russia’s borders, and carrying out a significant regime change in Venezuela in order to put paid to all independent Latin American integration projects…

      Of course, that could just be more misreporting but considering the US’s actions in overthrowing regimes it doesn’t like over the last century or so…

    • ExKiwiforces 15.1
      6 April 2014 at 6:43 pm

      It’s been report that Mr Putin wants Finland back because it was a mistake to give Finland its independence in the 1917 armistice with Germany and I also heard (now this could’ve been a April Fool’s Day joke) that there is a petition calling for that Russia demands the return of Alaska as it was a mistake to sell it to the USA after the last Crimean War in the late 1800’s.

      To most native Russians the Baltic nations, the eastern part Poland have been and always should n be a part of the Russia Empire. It’s no wonder the Poland are asking NATO to station 10,000 troops in Poland and those eastern European nation have very long memories when it comes to Russia.

  16. marty mars 16
    5 April 2014 at 1:07 pm

    Wise words from Neil Young on Kurt Cobain

    ”Well, you know, it’s a hard thing to deal with,” Young said. ”I guess Kurt felt too much. I think it’s sad that he didn’t have anybody to talk to that could’ve talked to him and said, ‘I know what you’re going through, but it’s not too bad. It really isn’t bad. Just (expletive) blink and it will be gone. Everything will be all right. You’ve got a lot of other things to do. Why don’t you just take a break? Don’t worry about all these (expletive) who want you to do all this (expletive) you don’t want to do. Just stop doing everything. Tell them to get (expletive) and stay away.’ That’s it. That’s what I would have told him if I had the chance. And I almost got a chance, but it didn’t happen.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/9906001/Twenty-years-on-musicians-remember-Kurt-Cobain

    Pity it didn’t happen but wasn’t meant to be. Love their music.

    Come as you are

  17. Kahukowhai 17
    5 April 2014 at 1:45 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9907383/Henderson-gets-apology-for-email-bungle

    Tell you what Henderson, paying back the $140 million would be a good start, have you paid anything back yet? How is it believable that your business activities could have incurred such an enormous debt and you could be considered a credible businessman?

  18. Penny Bright 18
    5 April 2014 at 2:50 pm

    Seen this?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9907241/Bankss-lawyer-applies-for-discharge

    In my considered opinion, this is DESPERATE stuff from a ‘cornered rat’?

    (As it were – meant of course in a caring (to rats) way)

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151956813471790&set=a.435980066789.221068.727511789&type=1&theater

    Kind regards

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’

  19. Penny Bright 19
    5 April 2014 at 3:14 pm

    How many folks are aware of ‘The Financial Secrecy Index’?

    Secrecy is an essential ingredient for corruption.

    NZ is ranked 48th.

    http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/introduction/fsi-2013-results

    errrr….. wouldn’t you think given that New Zealand is ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ – that we arguably should be the MOST ‘transparent’ and the LEAST financially secret?

    http://www.transparency.org/cpi2013/results

    Does that mean that Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perception Index’ – is actually a CROCK – and not worth the paper upon which it is written?

    That’s my considered opinion.

    Penny Bright

    ‘Anti-corruption /anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’

    • Chooky 19.1
      5 April 2014 at 10:00 pm

      +100 Penny…corruption is the crux of the matter under this NACT government !…..they are trading on all our yesterdays when New Zealand was NOT so corrupt …..because we are perceived to be so CLEAN is probably the very reason why we are now a magnet for corruption

      ….Agreed incredibly the index does seem to be a ‘CROCK’!…maybe it is CROOKED …or has been CORRUPTED..!!!!!…or maybe they just think we are stupid….an investigation is called for by John Campbell TV3

  20. amirite 20
    5 April 2014 at 3:30 pm

    Awww it’s touching how much effort the MSM is putting in to help their mates National get reelected. Now they are trying to pin any interest rate rise on Labour and Greens ‘spending’ policies. Who cares that the Nats heaped up $70+ billion debt already, eh?
    It’s getting ridiculous really.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9907509/Nationals-fiscal-lockdown-a-risk

  21. captain hook 21
    5 April 2014 at 6:20 pm

    Honiara, Solomons greatest natural disaster? No. Deafforestation is a man made disaster.
    welcome to the monkey house.

  22. Draco T Bastard 22
    5 April 2014 at 7:00 pm

    How economics became a science

    Economics has become the secular equivalent of religion. It includes an entangled network of scriptures (textbooks), disciples (students) and preachers (professors), trained to believe without questioning the supremacy of the free market and devotedly working to prove it in each and every context, defending it against non-believers. Like the Church and the priests before them, establishment economists will not change on their own. They can only become obsolete, relics of the past, as the world around them changes. And fortunately this seems to be happening sooner rather than later.

    • Murray Olsen 22.1
      5 April 2014 at 8:20 pm

      The way economics is carried out, it’s patently not a science. Even though there can be problems with the way it’s used, Popper’s idea of falsifiability is often useful. With economics, nothing is ever considered to be falsified. If something doesn’t work, they do it again, twice as hard. They never accept that the hypothesis might be wrong. It has far more to do with psychiatric disorder than it does with science.

      • Draco T Bastard 22.1.1
        5 April 2014 at 9:27 pm

        Personally, I think it’s got more to do with politics than science. Today’s economics is used to justify capitalism and inequality despite the evidence.

        • Stuart Munro 22.1.1.1
          6 April 2014 at 5:48 am

          An economist is the kind of scholar that in the company of mathematicians pretends to be a philosopher, and in the company of philosophers pretends to be a mathematician.

          • Murray Olsen 22.1.1.1.1
            6 April 2014 at 11:04 pm

            I love that.
            An elegant way of saying confidence trickster or fraudster.

  23. Philj 23
    5 April 2014 at 8:55 pm

    Xox
    Economics is a pseudo science. A dodgy theory that only sheep believe is true.

  24. geoff 24
    5 April 2014 at 9:08 pm

    Here’s a comment from under a ken loach article in the guardian.


    What good is it to be unelectable? We’ve been here before, many times, since the Seventies; a spin-off group of high-minded idealogues aghast at traditional Labour’s selling-out. None of them has ever achieved anything.
    Sorry – one of them has. It was that group who span-off rightwards to form the SDP.
    Otherwise, though, any Labour spin-off is doomed to impotent squawking on the sidelines.
    I wish it wasn’t; I’d love to see a real socialist party with a real chance, of government, but it ain’t going to happen. To see why, plonk a copy of the Morning Star and the Daily Mail together on a bus seat, and see which one gets picked up and read.

    It doesn’t completely translate to NZ but there is some resonance.

  25. North 25
    5 April 2014 at 10:44 pm

    Shane Jones on The Nation. Sorry but I just can’t deflect these words flooding into my mind –
    “Snake Oil Salesman”.

    • Stuart Munro 25.1
      6 April 2014 at 4:22 pm

      You can see these guys (snake oil salesmen) at Moran market in Seoul, where the oil is a popular traditional remedy for arthritis.

      Way more trustworthy than NZ politicians.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

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

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

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

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

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