Open Mike 05/09/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 5th, 2016 - 90 comments
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90 comments on “Open Mike 05/09/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    5 September 2016 at 6:29 am

    Black Eyed Peas
    ‘Where is the love?’
    Updated for 2016.

  2. Penny Bright 2
    5 September 2016 at 7:38 am

    Fighting mainstream media effective censorship.

    FYI.
    ______________________________

    FREE!

    Screening of the film of the recent play “Bright – beyond belief” , together with a live interview of Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright.

    WHEN: Thursday 8 September 2016.

    TIME: 7pm

    WHERE: Tiny Theatre, Garnet Station Cafe,
    85 Garnet Rd, Westmere.

    Places will be confirmed for the first 34 people who book
    for this FREE event 🙂

    Here’s where you book:

    http://garnetstation.com/

    “Ballot papers for the local body elections will be in the mail between 16-21st Sept so this is an opportunity to get more informed about who to vote for, and why.

    Bright Beyond Belief, a Tiny Theatre Production written and performed by Lisa Prager & Verity George to a sold out season last month, will be screened prior to Ms. Anne Speir interviewing Mayoral Candidate Penny Bright”

    FYI – here is a review of “Bright – beyond belief”

    http://www.gayexpress.co.nz/2016/08/review-bright-beyond-belief/

    Arts & Culture
    REVIEW: BRIGHT BEYOND BELIEF

    Cheers!

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    ‘Her Warship’ 😉

    ‘Activists – get things done’.

  3. jcuknz 3
    5 September 2016 at 8:46 am

    I heard an American say on Morning Report that he couldn’t understand why 35<40% were for Trump as he knows little or nothing about o'seas matters.
    I guess he forgot that a large proportion of Americans simply do not know there is anything outside the USA.

  4. Colonial Viper 4
    5 September 2016 at 9:33 am

    who’s afraid of Wolf Blitzer?

    The Atlantic tries to explain why Hillary Clinton hasn’t held a press conference in ~272 days and why she prefers comfortable preagreed one one settings, or chats with small town local news reporters.

    http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/whos-afraid-of-wolf-blitzer/498434/

  5. save nz 5
    5 September 2016 at 10:11 am

    Water Is Not A Human Right: Nestlé

    In the 2005 documentary We Feed the World, then CEO of Nestlé Peter Brabeck-Letmathe made an astonishing claim that there is nothing to worry about with GMO foods, that profits matter above all else, that people should work more, and that human beings do not have a right to water.

    http://anonhq.com/water-is-not-a-human-right-nestle/

    • Psycho Milt 5.1
      5 September 2016 at 11:48 am

      …then CEO of Nestlé Peter Brabeck-Letmathe made an astonishing claim that there is nothing to worry about with GMO foods…

      What’s astonishing about that claim?

  6. Colonial Viper 6
    5 September 2016 at 10:29 am

    Merkel’s CDU falls third, behind the anti-immigrant AfD party in her home state elections, according to exit polls.

    More than 20% of voters voted AfD according to the exit poll.

    • Psycho Milt 6.1
      5 September 2016 at 11:54 am

      As with France and the UK, if a large section of the electorate is filing mass immigration under DO NOT WANT and the major parties pretend that actually mass immigration is wonderful and you lot are just racists, large numbers of voters start looking for a party that doesn’t sneer at them.

      • b waghorn 6.1.1
        5 September 2016 at 12:01 pm

        ” large numbers of voters start looking for a party that doesn’t sneer at them.”

        Sneering and accusing people of racism is what the nats are doing to anyone who suggests we tai ho on immigration

        • Psycho Milt 6.1.1.1
          5 September 2016 at 1:09 pm

          And by doing that it will eventually drive a significant proportion of its support to NZ First. Takes quite a while to have an effect, though.

      • McFlock 6.1.2
        5 September 2016 at 12:15 pm

        The old conflict between a government doing what is right as opposed to what is popular.

        • Psycho Milt 6.1.2.1
          5 September 2016 at 1:14 pm

          Whether it’s right for a government to impose mass immigration on its electors is a matter of opinion – hence the change in party support.

          • McFlock 6.1.2.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 1:24 pm

            Whether to provide succour to hundreds of thousands of hungry and defenceless people who are in fear of their lives isn’t a matter of opinion.

            It’s a matter of how history judges us.

            • marty mars 6.1.2.1.1.1
              5 September 2016 at 1:37 pm

              +1 Nice comment

            • Psycho Milt 6.1.2.1.1.2
              5 September 2016 at 1:52 pm

              Germany’s already at well over 200 people per sq km and the number of people in the world who could do with a nicer place to live is in the hundreds of millions. Many German voters unsurprisingly fail to see their country as the solution to this problem. History will most likely see it the same way.

              • McFlock …
                5 September 2016 at 2:34 pm

                Reducing the refugee crisis to people looking for a “nicer place to live” is classic minimisation. These people are looking for relative safety from a particularly brutal war zone or internment camps in Turkey which aren’t much better.

                Germany alone has a population of 82 million. Half a million more isn’t the cause of their hardships. Frankly, history will most likely judge Europe, Australia, and even NZ in a similar light to the countries that turned away ships full of Jewish refugees and sent them back to Germany just before the war. Only on a bigger scale.

                • Psycho Milt …
                  5 September 2016 at 4:05 pm

                  People looking for relative safety take it where they can get it. People who must make it to Germany or the UK at any cost are looking for a nice place to live.

                  You personally may feel that it’s fine to bung into an already-crowded country an extra half mil people (and the rest) who in many cases have no idea of how to live in western society and no great interest in learning how, but the citizens of said country are entitled to take a different view.

                  Future historians will probably note that Germany, the UK and various Middle Eastern countries took heaps of refugees from Syria while a lot of other developed countries (NZ included) refused. The fact that Germany experienced a voter backlash over the numbers involved and the long-term social problems that will inevitably result from it won’t either surprise or offend those historians.

                  • McFlock …
                    5 September 2016 at 4:49 pm

                    You personally may feel that it’s fine to bung into an already-crowded country an extra half mil people (and the rest) who in many cases have no idea of how to live in western society and no great interest in learning how, but the citizens of said country are entitled to take a different view.

                    Personally, I feel that if Germany or any country had taken so many refugees that it was causing problems beyond escalating xenophobia in already marginialised communities (whose problems have nothing to do with immigration and much to do with the prevailing socioeconomic structure of the country post-reunification), you wouldn’t have to rely on false-framing in order to make your point.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      5 September 2016 at 6:47 pm

                      Your confidence that mass immigration isn’t causing any problems in Germany and only a few xenophobes are concerned about it is very reassuring. Perhaps you could let the SPD and CDU know? They seem concerned about their falling vote share.

                    • McFlock …
                      5 September 2016 at 7:46 pm

                      Reply button definitely a bit loopy…

                      Your confidence that mass immigration isn’t causing any problems in Germany and only a few xenophobes are concerned about it is very reassuring.

                      Again, that’s not even close to what I said. Never said “only a few”. You’re also welcome to point out how Merkel’s home region has been unduly affected by swarms of refugees being settled there.

                      In the meantime, here’s an interesting wee map. It’s in the northeast of germany, good old GDR territory.

            • b waghorn 6.1.2.1.1.3
              5 September 2016 at 2:46 pm

              History will see that the so called powers failed completely to stop the mess that is the middle east in the first place , attacking every day europeans because they voted for a bit of self preservation is pointless.
              We need to start laying failures at the feet of those who deserve it .

              • McFlock …
                5 September 2016 at 3:17 pm

                meh.

                At the risk of being a fucking hippy, I’m more holistic about the entire blame thing. We each are responsible for our portion, each time we acted rashly or failed to act.

                So yeah, Sykes and Picoult have their share, Bush/Obama/Putin have theirs, Merkel has hers, and we have ours. There’s no reason we couldn’t each do more to, say, lobby Key to half the low skilled immigration and take in 30,000 more refugees this year.

  7. mosa 7
    5 September 2016 at 10:30 am

    Its official there will not be an early election because John Key thinks that we dont want one.
    Nice of him to ask me, i didnot know he had, i must have missed the phone call.
    The election is on schedule for the latter part of next year when we might be ready for one.
    One year to go….at this stage.

    • Colonial Viper 7.1
      5 September 2016 at 10:35 am

      I still think it will be sightly early eg August, not November.

      • Muttonbird 7.1.1
        5 September 2016 at 1:33 pm

        At the tail end of what will be a very hard winter for a lot of Kiwis?

        Don’t think so.

        The current issues around housing affordability, homelessness, HNZ waiting lists, poor housing quality, and high power prices will have deteriorated and winter is when the people affected will be at their most discontent.

        • Enough is Enough 7.1.1.1
          5 September 2016 at 1:54 pm

          Those affected people do not and will not vote National.

          So they don’t come into Key’s calculations

          • Muttonbird 7.1.1.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 2:05 pm

            But if those people could be motivated a winter election is a real risk for the current government.

            As Spring breaks even those most deeply affected by Key’s poverty and class-splitting agenda tend to forget the worst of it.

            I’m just suggesting the disenfranchised are at their most angry during winter and the media is at its most vocal on such topics.

      • mosa 7.1.2
        5 September 2016 at 2:25 pm

        Early August CV ? i wonder what excuse he will use for not going full term through to November ?
        Someone might pull the plug and force his hand..interesting still a lot of water with campylobacter in it to go under the bridge just yet.

  8. save nz 8
    5 September 2016 at 10:38 am

    Real or Manufactured tensions???

    Barack Obama ‘deliberately snubbed’ by Chinese in chaotic arrival at G20
    The US president was denied the usual red carpet welcome and forced to ‘go out of the ass’ of Air Force One, observers say

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/04/barack-obama-deliberately-snubbed-by-chinese-in-chaotic-arrival-at-g20?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+main+NEW+H+categories&utm_term=188879&subid=13842748&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      5 September 2016 at 11:10 am

      It’s extraordinary not to have VIP air stairs on hand to meet Air Force One.

      Just as extraordinary was Chinese officials yelling at and jostling White House senior staff.

      This is about as blunt and public a diplomatic message as the Chinese have ever sent.

      Especially contrasting with the 5 star red carpet treatment they afforded Putin shortly thereafter.

      The Americans will be pissed.

    • joe90 8.2
      5 September 2016 at 12:16 pm

      The regime leaning South China Morning Post tries to put the fire out.

      Speculation has been flying about whether China was deliberately snubbing Obama since media reports on Saturday showed the US leader exiting the Air Force One through the small stairway.

      But this was not the case, according to the Chinese official involved in the diplomatic arrangements.

      “China provides a rolling staircase for every arriving state leader, but the US side complained that the driver doesn’t speak English and can’t understand security instructions from the United States; so China proposed that we could assign a translator to sit beside the driver, but the US side turned down the proposal and insisted that they didn’t need the staircase provided by the airport,” the official told the South China Morning Post on Sunday.

      http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2014484/staircase-snub-obama-was-united-states-decision-reveals

      • save nz 8.2.1
        5 September 2016 at 1:51 pm

        The good news is Obama went to China. Maybe they don’t get along culturally, but diplomacy is a lot better for everyone than war.

        When it comes to human rights they have more in common that they think.

  9. Olwyn 9
    5 September 2016 at 10:54 am

    This quote from Winston Peters, in reference to Chester Burrows, succinctly captures a couple of points about the neoliberal right, “…common sense people with a bit of experience and an academic background and practical approach to life are not popular in the new age neo-liberal National party.” http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/83870392/winston-peters-targeting-whangarei-and-whanganui-seats-in-2017-election

    While they have to put up with competence in some fields if they are to function, like IT for instance, neo-liberals seem overall to privilege ambitious mediocrity over ability, perhaps because there is a risk that a capable person might start thinking independently, or give rise to the idea that usefulness has value. The “new age” reference in the quote is pertinent as well. If you listen to the words they use, and the way they frame things, many neo-libs seem to subscribe to some sort of positive thinking cult, and a belief that association with negative things (like homelessness) poses a risk to one’s confidence. Take the word “learnings” for instance – a “lesson” is imposed on me, whereas I myself take “learnings”, and thus manage to avoid negative association in the face of my failures. It is amazing that this cocktail of ambition and silliness has gained such a strong hold on public discourse.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 9.1
      5 September 2016 at 3:10 pm

      Interesting comments.

      I’m impressed Winston used the word ‘neoliberal’. Not a word used that much by mainstream politicians – despite describing our whole system of politics and society right now.

  11. Anne 11
    5 September 2016 at 11:51 am

    Given the similarities between the property boom in Vancouver and Auckland, this is an interesting story:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/312550/vancouver's-property-market-slumps-after-new-foreign-buyers-tax

  12. Muttonbird 12
    5 September 2016 at 12:04 pm

    Key has another crack at beneficiaries and vulnerable Kiwis.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/312562/immigrants-needed-due-to-nzers'-work-ethic,-drug-use-pm

    I’m left wondering if even lazy and stoned locals could do a worse job at fibre installation than Chorus’ van loads of cheap imported Indians you see driving around Auckland bewildered.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 12.1
      5 September 2016 at 12:39 pm

      An utterly despicable statement from Key.

      Vulnerable people are struggling – so the solution from Key is to blame them and also to make it even worse, by flooding the labour / housing market with more struggling people. How about allowing the market to act to increase wages instead?? Or better still – intervene and increase wages?

      • Bearded Git 12.1.1
        5 September 2016 at 12:55 pm

        @ uncooked Agreed-I didn’t think Key could reach new depths..but he has.

        There was a text on Morning Report in response to the Key interview saying roughly “surely it is easier to get unemployed people in NZ to move to where there is work in NZ rather than bringing people in from the other side of the world.”

        • Graeme 12.1.1.1
          5 September 2016 at 1:49 pm

          I wonder what’s going to happen when the penny drops with a lot of the lower income immigrants when they discover that they’re actually going backwards working for minimum wage in New Zealand. And they’ve done what savings they had buying their way here.

          • Psycho Milt 12.1.1.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 2:01 pm

            You underestimate the forces that have driven them here. I worked in the Middle East with Indian colleagues who were being paid US $100 per month. Accommodation, meals and transport to and from work were provided, but as you can imagine none of those approached a level we’d be willing to put up with. The Bangladeshi cleaners were paid a fraction of that, and the provided “meal” was a bag of rice they had to spread over the week. We westerners used to go over to the mess hall to get take-out meals even though we’d brought our own food, so we could feed the cleaners. Despite all of that, every one of these workers lived in fear of being sent back where they came from – that really did my head in.

      • Ad 12.1.2
        5 September 2016 at 1:39 pm

        “But go and ask the employers, and they will say some [New Zealand workers] won’t pass a drug test, some of these people won’t turn up for work, some of these people will claim they have health issues later on. So it’s not to say there aren’t great people who transition from Work and Income to work, they do, but it’s equally true that they’re also living in the wrong place, or they just can’t muster what is required to actually work.” – John Key

        If you go ask the employers, that’s often the answer that you will get – and there is some truth to it. Only takes one failed drug or alcohol test these days to get you kicked off site, and very difficult to hire again once word gets around about you.

        A good government would work really, really hard to bring those people out of drug and welfare dependency and into work, with the hard, hard social work that entails.

        Instead, he uses a punitive social welfare system to suppress many of the poor back into the black economy, and use mass immigration as a tool to essentially dilute the negative drag of existing underclass.

        • BM 12.1.2.1
          5 September 2016 at 2:16 pm

          Nothing to do with drug dependency,certain people especially younger guys rate smoking weed more important than having a job.

          If they can’t smoke dope they’d rather pass on work, dole life can’t be that bad if you can take that option.

          • b waghorn 12.1.2.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 2:41 pm

            Of course it’s dependency , if those same kids had never run into weed or what ever it is that’s holding them back their life would have been entirely different,
            What is it with kiwis who can’t make the link between a society and parents that fail to protect the young ones ,resulting in lost kids.
            Then to make it worse they turn around and pin that failure onto the kids who have been let down.

            think a little deeper ffs

            • BM 12.1.2.1.1.1
              5 September 2016 at 3:02 pm

              In not a dependency you fucking idiot, it’s a life style choice.

              Christ, do you think they’d be legalizing marijuana all over the US if that was the case.

              If people can’t stop smoking weed once they’ve started, there’s no why in hell it should become legal and main stream.

              • b waghorn …
                5 September 2016 at 8:27 pm

                You’re either full of it or have lived in a bubble , weed is at least as addictive as drink , i’ve seen people grovel in ash trays for slobberstained roachs and smoke the grotty tar they have removed from the stem of their pipes. some fucking lifestyle choice ah.
                Legalization for me is about getting the crooks out of the game , but it would be stupid to have it as widely available as booze.

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 12.1.2.2
          5 September 2016 at 2:43 pm

          “A good government would work really, really hard to bring those people out of drug and welfare dependency and into work, with the hard, hard social work that entails.”

          Exactly. Making things better for the poorer end of society will reduce these problems. Instead Key seems to think that making it worse will somehow fix the problem?

      • mauÄ« 12.1.3
        5 September 2016 at 1:45 pm

        Its not surprising that kiwis don’t want to take orchard work that isn’t on an hourly rate and where there’s the chance you won’t earn the min wage.

        • Muttonbird 12.1.3.1
          5 September 2016 at 2:14 pm

          Agree. Seasonal work is suited to travellers, students, young people, and temporary immigrants. It’s not an industry for resident communities to be based upon because the employers just don’t want you for 9 months of the year.

          But here Key is using this industry to attack HB Maori and as a defence for providing cheap offshore labour to employers in a bid to keep costs down. He his also then projecting this onto the wider labour market.

          It’s disgraceful.

          • Blackcap 12.1.3.1.1
            5 September 2016 at 2:47 pm

            We could have the same system as in Holland where if you are a seasonal worker ie work 9 months of the year full time, you can then get the dole for the 3 months that you do not have work. So you work for the orchadist for x months and are entitled to welfare for the remaining 12-x months in the year.
            That would be better than the current system I think.

            • b waghorn 12.1.3.1.1.1
              5 September 2016 at 3:00 pm

              If the made it so jumping on and off the benefit was just a phone call to winz. i bet more people would take casual work when its available.

        • b waghorn 12.1.3.2
          5 September 2016 at 2:31 pm

          The fact pickers kids are not allowed on orchards any more makes it hard for some kiwis to go picking to,

    • rhinocrates 12.2
      5 September 2016 at 12:58 pm

      Labour could run a mini-campaign along the lines of “This is what he thinks of you” (and station someone with a taser next to Mumblefuck in case he feels the compulsion to renew his attacks on the poor and vulnerable).

      • b waghorn 12.2.1
        5 September 2016 at 2:33 pm

        ooh now your talking , i’ll do it we’ve got a cattle prodder and i’ll work for free.

  13. Draco T Bastard 13
    5 September 2016 at 12:15 pm

    I’m having some really weird issues.

    The ‘Reply’ button has been playing up and breaking the page so that the Comments, Replies, Opinions tabs disappear and the Reply window doesn’t show. Working ATM though.

    The Gravatar image up in the top right hand corner isn’t my one. In fact, it keeps changing.

    I’d say some sort of caching issue but I couldn’t say where. Either my machine (deleted cache and cookies though), my ISP (2 Degrees) or the site itself.

    • Siobhan 13.1
      5 September 2016 at 12:36 pm

      To whomever ‘controls’ these things….All day I’ve had issues with the Standard taking an extraordinary length of time to load. Everything else is fine, and other sites are loading as per usual….and being a Luddite i have no idea what the issue is.

      • Muttonbird 13.1.1
        5 September 2016 at 12:43 pm

        Perhaps you should ask for your money back.

      • Bearded Git 13.1.2
        5 September 2016 at 1:03 pm

        @Siobhan same here-The Standard very very slow to load today. Not a criticism, just for info. I would miss my Standard fix terribly if it wasn’t around.

      • Anne 13.1.3
        5 September 2016 at 1:07 pm

        There’s a problem Siobhan. I’m the same. lprent is ‘away seeing his parents’ but he said the other day he will work on it when he retrurns.

    • Puckish Rogue 13.2
      5 September 2016 at 2:37 pm

      I don’t know if its related but todays open mike only became available for me about 10 minutes ago

  14. save nz 14
    5 September 2016 at 1:28 pm

    Good article from Mike Lee, bit late in the debate really… or maybe the right wing coup was persuading the lefties that somehow the unitary plan was going to deliver something to them…. even though all those human rights, environmental and social standard bits were removed by the government appointed process…

    GUEST BLOG: Mike Lee – The Unitary Plan – it’s about profits for the big developers not decent housing for all Aucklanders

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/09/05/guest-blog-mike-lee-the-unitary-plan-its-about-profits-for-the-big-developers-not-decent-housing-for-all-aucklanders/

  15. joe90 15
    5 September 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Barking…..
    /

    In case anyone is unsure as to who will be our next #POTUS, the Lord has chosen the people's messenger. pic.twitter.com/wopcDc7IVM— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) September 4, 2016

  16. Scott 16
    5 September 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Sad to hear about Nikki Kaye’s breast cancer diagnosis. Hope she has a fast and full recovery.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11703857

    • Ovid 16.1
      5 September 2016 at 4:01 pm

      A family member under 40 just went through breast cancer treatment over the past year. She’s fine now and awaiting reconstructive surgery, but it takes a hell of a toll.

      Best wishes to Nikki Kaye for the journey ahead.

  17. Puckish Rogue 17
    5 September 2016 at 2:34 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/83895815/british-mp-reportedly-paid-for-male-escorts–while-head-of-prostitution-investigation

    Its refreshing to see an MP get to grips with a problem in such a forthright manner, like he wanted to get a hands on feel for the problem 🙂

  18. whispering kate 18
    5 September 2016 at 3:53 pm

    I also have slow pick up but that’s okay I realise the site is under going work on it. My problem is the search engine tool has disappeared from the leader page and hasn’t been there for well over two weeks. Does anybody else have this problem, when I want to search for different replies to different posts I am no longer able to do it. Would appreciate comments from others if they have experienced this.

  19. Brutus Iscariot 19
    5 September 2016 at 4:11 pm

    Why are these daily threads called “Open Mike”?

    Last time i checked, you use a Microphone, not a Mike-rophone.

  20. Takere 20
    5 September 2016 at 4:51 pm

    Will Nicky Kaye go … State or Private Health Care?

  21. Cinny 21
    5 September 2016 at 5:23 pm

    Gower believes he has something on Winny… the leader of the new NZ Peoples Party, Rohan Nauhria gave a donation to NZ First… oh it’s scandalous lolz …. is that it Gower? Sharpen up your act son, find a real story, that little tid bit won’t change a thing, we all know there are other closets that you should be digging around in.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/revealed-winston-peters-in-3k-indian-donation-controversy-2016090516

    • Rodel 21.1
      5 September 2016 at 8:32 pm

      Gower’s glee thinking he’d caught out Peters on 3 News was a sight to behold. The stupid eruption of his long standing hatred of Peters is journalism at it’s most childish level.

  22. Cinny 22
    5 September 2016 at 5:27 pm

    All the best Mr Kevin Hague, what a great new role you are taking on. Fantastic

    Dear Greens no need to put up a candidate for West Coast/Tasman, and please use the MOU to decide on a spectacular candidate for Nelson, that seat has been the wrong colour for way to long.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/312597/green-mp-kevin-hague-resigns-from-parliament

  23. McFlock 23
    5 September 2016 at 7:41 pm

    Reply button might be a bit loopy…

    Your confidence that mass immigration isn’t causing any problems in Germany and only a few xenophobes are concerned about it is very reassuring.

    Again, that’s not even close to what I said. Never said “only a few”. You’re also welcome to point out how Merkel’s home region has been unduly affected by swarms of refugees being settled there.

    In the meantime, here’s an interesting wee map. It’s in the northeast of germany, good old GDR territory.

  24. The Chairman 24
    5 September 2016 at 8:06 pm

    “We have about 70,000 members nationwide to mobilise to protect that democratic right if we need to,” Grey Power president Tom O’Connor said.

    Grey Power is the latest organisation to add its voice to the chorus of complaint about the Government’s proposed changes to local government laws.

    See more here: http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/grey-power-joins-bid-to-defeat-councils-bill-2016090515

  25. Stunned mullet 25
    5 September 2016 at 8:52 pm

    Why do you want to know ?

  26. Iron Sky 26
    5 September 2016 at 9:39 pm

    “The right for Spy’s to break the law, bill.”

    Noticed the post, you can’t even access it?

    Is that just me or……

    http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-37232329

    In pictures: The Prisoner at 50

    He said that the “the village” was both an external and interior concept, reflecting the individual’s lack of freedom on many levels. He told author Alain Carraze: “We are all prisoners of this or that, many things, each in his own ‘Village'”.

    F them

  27. Iron Sky 27
    5 September 2016 at 10:06 pm

    http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/scotland-wind-energy-renewable-power-electricity-wwf-scotland-a7183006.html

    For the first time on record, wind turbines have generated more electricity than was used in the whole of Scotland on a single day.,,,,,,

    Oil…… it’s time to leave

    Slavery through energy……….

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  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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