It's a strong decision supported 3-0 including by a conservative judge appointed by Bush.
"The judges concluded that longstanding doctrines of “immunity” for presidents from civil lawsuits related to their official duties did not extend to alleged criminal acts — and certainly not for a former president. Similarly, they concluded that the gravity of the specific charges against Trump weighed heavily against declaring him immune, even when balanced against concerns about the chilling effect it could have on future presidents."
The intellectual apologist for low levels of support to sole parents to give them an incentive to work, has no critical comment about the small MW increase, instead …
Also misleads in this statement as right wingers (right whingers) often do by not including the additonal help that someone on average wage can get and is further misleading by mentioning family tax credit which you cannot get on benefit and you can only get if working. It also fails to mention that family tax credit is simply topping up the low shitty wages that employers pay not the fact that there are fewer jobs in Northland and people have returned home as high rents have driven them out of larger urban areas due to areas where rents are cheaper.
In fact, for a sole parent with a couple of children, there is now no gap between income from a benefit (with all the add-ons like accommodation supplement and family tax credits) and an average paying job. By April last year the average benefit income for this family type was $1,057 weekly.
From IRD website.
When you cannot receive the minimum family tax credit
The minimum family tax credit is not available to families receiving the following:
an income-tested benefit
a parent's allowance
a children's pension from Veterans' Affairs New Zealand
That's what bugs me the most about WFF: it's nothing more than thinly disguised subsidy for business that enables them to keep wages down and let the taxpayer foot the bill.
It was Labour's biggest ever betrayal of the working and middle class. And has set any discussion about wages, taxation, and the welfare state back by decades. All any government of any stripe needs to do, is point to WFF and argue we already have a subsidy for working families.
All very reminiscent of the workhouse scene in Oliver Twist. We already have our gruel. Why should be able to ask for more?
What's worse is that the thresholds are set so that if you quality, you probably aren't earning enough to attract a subsidy large enough to make an appreciable difference.
And if you earn enough to make it worthwhile, you either don't qualify or your subsidy is abated away to basically nothing.
1.Labour faced the winter of discontent in 2000 for a modest reform of the ECA
2.Labour was facing in 2005 Don Brash kiwi or iwi and a large tax cut bribe. The WFF tax credits transferred the budget surplus money to families rather than an across the board tax cut unrelated to need.
The 2005-2008 government increased the MW by a dollar per annum for 3 years.
The post 2008 government left WFF untouched, it has won public acceptance – that there should be help to families within the tax system.
That leaves FPA/Industry Awards and more general working conditions – improvements related to parental leave, annual leave (4 weeks), sick leave and regulations related to contract work, casual work etc.
But I see that as Labour trying to solve a pressing political problem and heading off Don Brash (shudder) at the pass, rather than necessarily introducing visionary social policy.
If we can criticize our last 2 left-leaning governments on anything, it was their surrender to cautious, bland, but politically acceptable incrementalism. It's left (pun intended) the working and middle classes materially worse off while they tinker around the edges.
There was a time, not so long ago, where both of our main political parties actually stood for something.
100%. WFF is a subsidy from the public to private business, allowing them to pay their workers less than they need to survive, pocketing the savings as private profit.
(exception only when the employer is a public or charitable organisation)
A group of local sole parents here pretty much runs the kindy. I assuming only commercial state funded childcare while mum works is an acceptable form of early education in a right wing world – unless it is fundy home schooling.
Lindsay's been on this stuck-record crusade for years now. One has to wonder what made her so bitter and twisted towards sole parents, beside just warped ideology.
Yes, sure. David Seymour would have responded "Well, thanks for the 3 Ministers in Cabinet and a bunch of ACT policies, but it's not enough, so I'm off to support Chris Hipkins to form a government, because he'll give us more …"
[/heaviest sarc]
It wasn't a "sticking point", at all. Luxon did it because he wanted to.
In theory, yes. In reality, they were offered 3 Cabinet positions each, and plenty of policy gains.
If they'd walked away there would have been months before the GG would agree to an election (Seymour and Peters couldn't call one, they weren't PM). It could not have happened before this year.
What would Seymour's reward have been for forcing an election on this one issue? The voters in Epsom saying "sure, we care passionately about a bill that our party won't support into law anyway"?
I assume that National will replace Luxon before the election, the usual internal change to be presented as real change (Thatcher/Major, etc).
But then again, I assumed the same before the last election, and was proved wrong. The difference is that he was then only a potential failure, whereas now he's got the job and his limitations are painfully obvious.
Whether Labour can benefit is a whole other discussion, which is on hold until they decide on their leadership.
For a first term MP, to lead and unite the den of snakes that is the National caucus, defeat and overturn a majority Labour government, negotiate a coalition agreement with the biggest 3 egoes known to man (including Shane Jones) then not get booed at Waitangi, an argument can be made for his knighthood now.
Like Ardern, I think it is a grave mistake underestimating this person.
I fully agree, more time and attention is needed in where to now for Labour
Do you really think they are united gsays? I'll bet you a thousand pounds they don't last as a government for 3 years. (Joking-only Sunak would be daft enough to make such a bet)
The problem is that Luxon does not have political eloquence, guile or instincts. This will cause his popularity to plummet, public respect will evaporate within 12 months. It will be similar to the way Sunak has crashed in the UK.
Well done Mihi Forbes handling Shane Jones on RNZ yesterday.. what a slimy character… loved the part where she said “so we shouldn’t believe a word you say?!?!” He tried to weasel out of it, but those were his words…
26:12 SJ:This is electoral politics. You may hear from me, David Seymour, but the god of wind blows our words away. We're politicians, and in the heat of debate, rhetoric is deployed, whether it's left or right of politics. And we shouldn't actually cling and use those words as a justification for remaining angry.
26:36 MF:Are you saying that we shouldn't believe anything you say? Is that what you're saying? SJ:When you're in an election, you are fighting for every iota of attention. And for example, I said that you could kill every cow tomorrow and you wouldn't change the climate. Obviously, that's hyperbole […] And you know, we deploy rhetoric.
Climate change is here. And the people in Hawkes Bay are left to fend for themselves, reliant on community groups to clear silt.
We have farmers carrying about how tough it is as they help us miss our Paris obligations.
We have Simeon Brown focused on culture war, continuing the idea that water infrastructure can be done magically.
We have inflation and a housing market designed to benefit landlords. This is corruption, but the mild NZ type with no guns or dramatic confrontations, just fat cats and desperate people being told to be cheerful and resourceful.
Apart from feeding greedy landlords, the other priority seems to be working as hard as possible for the tobacco companies. And the car industry.
Business spokespeople think it is higher – … all that migrant labour without full-time work, looking for casual work/temp/contract/part-time work …not counted … and or
While the unemployment rise was less than economists were predicting, a business group suspects the picture is actually worse than the statistics show.
"These numbers are from the last three months of 2023. We know anecdotally that the economic situation has further deteriorated, and the real unemployment rate today is likely to be higher," Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald said.
"The numbers released today don't feel right."
McDonald said the business association is increasingly hearing from its members that the economic environment is becoming more difficult, with their advice line seeing calls for restructuring and redundancy support surge by nearly 90 percent compared with this time last year.
Read my lips the OCR will not increase any further. They have already said this and I believe them. Inflation is tracking down – it is 4.7% after a 0.5% quarter. They are on track for their 3% target by the end of 2024.
Unemployment is probably over 4% now and then comes the public sector layoffs and the impact on consumer spending of rents going up faster than wages this year (and mortgage rate pressure still on-going) is on track for 5% by year end.
For mine Orr was lax in 2021 when it was known the economy was doing OK, the housing market overheated as a result (his excuse the Auckland lockdown). But it is about right for this OCR to be the peak.
But SPC, our inflation stayed lower than most countries early on. So Orr probably had it right.
The problem has been that it has been a little slower to fall than some countries recently, but as you say it is down to 4.7%. The predictions I have heard are that NZ will be close to the goal of 1-3% in a year's time-your 5% may be pessimistic.
CPI inflation was not a problem in 2021, but house prices were ridiculous. Action then would have limited inflation later.
Our inflation stayed higher because of things like the gib board market failure and the weather events (and Cook Strait inefficiency) and overdue wage increases (bus drivers etc).
The RB goal of inflation of 3% by the end of the year looks possible, a 0.5% quarter suggests 2%, but rents and maybe power will push it higher.
The conclusion should not be that Orr was correct at all. The OCR increases have in themselves driven up rental prices which form a significant component of the CPI forming a positive feedback loop. The alternative policy of simply leaving the OCR flat at nearly zero would just as likely have resulted in a flatter inflation spike with marginally better unemployment and GDP numbers coming out.
The issue here is we don't know that the OCR is negatively correlated with even house prices. It might be positively correlated by the mechanisms of accruing excess rental income to existing multiple property owners with equity (speeding up second purchases) or just by the mechanism of increasing saving returns (on future deposit funds). The way this actually works depends on the distribution of returns due to the price changes resulting from the OCR and how those sectors respond to that.
If or not there is a positive or negative correlation its certainly quite slight and impacts long after the OCR change (due to mortgage holders fixing for several years typically). A good general description of the relationship between the OCR and house prices seems to be the housing market seems to do what it wants and doesn't respond to the OCR much at all. In particular the bigger (percentage wise) changes in house prices circa 2007-2009 occurred while the OCR was up at 7,8,9%.
Also if 2021 is going to be a strong test of the RBNZ policy we need to take into account that the housing market was effectively shut down for a few months, and for well understood reasons savings rates went through the roof just prior. Once that was opened again of course there is a sudden flood of people back into the housing market then your pretty much guaranteed to get a short term price bidding war coming out from that.
I've actually given too much credence to the RBNZ being able to control excess house prices via its OCR policy choices. This is not however how the RBNZ thinks of it and they don't expect their OCR policy choices to impact first on the housing market or directly. Instead the OCR impacts are expected to flow into the economy via elevated unemployment levels.
As the RBNZ has explained in detail they expect to raise the NZ unemployment rate above their estimate of the NAIRU rate via the OCR and so to lower inflation which is therefore being driven up by a nascent wage-price spiral. They never got unemployment above the NAIRU before the inflation rate turned negative, demonstrating this was not a pertinent cause of inflation. Instead they only managed to slightly elevate unemployment and slightly lower GDP, pushing the impacts on inflation first onto marginal workers in NZ, and the wider low wage sector of the economy who have lower wage bargaining power. In their own terms the RBNZ policy was unnecessary and never worked as described (while having negative distributional impacts on the country).
The problem of this singular blunt method was noted years ago by the RB itself when Bollard asked for other tools – he mentioned a mortgage surtax to better target the housing market without impact on the dollar value.
The focus currently is deposit criteria and income related loan levels.
The OCR increases have in themselves driven up rental prices which form a significant component of the CPI forming a positive feedback loop.
The dominant factor is the market – supply and demand for housing. The recent migrant labour inflow …
The other factor is cost of ownership to cost of rent and that is influenced by the OCR and related mortgage cost.
A good general description of the relationship between the OCR and house prices seems to be the housing market seems to do what it wants and doesn't respond to the OCR much at all. In particular the bigger (percentage wise) changes in house prices circa 2007-2009 occurred while the OCR was up at 7,8,9%.
There is the issue of access to money and anticipation of CG. And fear of missing out if those in jobs get access to mortgages easily.
Whether or not you want to refer to the land lord class as 'the market', many land lords have clearly put their rental prices up as a result of the escalating costs of mortgage repayments. The RBNZ needs to operate within the existing framework of the NZ economy including how their monetary policy will impact the NZ economy through economic behaviors they don't control.
You appear to have a fundamental belief that the OCR is the primary factor and negatively correlated with the housing market, but there are some pretty obvious problems with this. First off, there is a clear positive correlation between real house price changes and the OCR level. The reason for this is that central banks have a long standing tendency to raise the cash rate in response to economic strength and lower it in response to economic weakness, but this lever just is very ineffective at having any impact on the housing market from there.
The next problem is access to credit is not institutionally limited by the OCR, in fact the OCR is the rate at which banks can always borrow the clearance funds to clear payments. As long as they can pass this on profitably because a borrower will (usually) repay their loan at a slightly above OCR interest rate then they can lend profitably. This is related to the reason that the RBNZ does not think of its OCR policy as targeting house prices in any specific way. This is not something the RBNZ can do much about actually, because if the lending is financially sound then its well outside the remit of the RBNZ to be rationing credit for some other policy reasons.
So as I suggested the housing market has the full capacity to determine its direction regardless of OCR policy. Many participants don't really let high interest rates stop them getting into the housing market, maybe because they still get more value from their capital gains than their interest payment costs, but that is the behavior.
This makes a lot of penalty costs come down to the question of if the housing market behavior is economically 'rational'. Those can be higher OCR costs, or CG taxes, or mortgage surcharges (all of which are forms of penalty costs to home ownership). These kinds of policies are however unlikely to work if the housing market doesn't start behaving rationally at some level of penalty costs, they simply become a cost of participation. On the other hand there are plenty of economic analysis describing that housing is already at a level of not pricing the risk in rationally anyway and has not been for some time. I don't really see why some of the proposed taxes are likely to bring an irrational market to its senses anyway. On the other hand as described in relation to the OCR many of these costs are sure to be passed on as rent increases. It was certainly true prior to about 2008 that a lot of land lords didn't worry too much about the rent, or running their property profitably as they were satisfied with the supposed capital gains, anyway.
The other thing about Waitangi is it is where Paheka talk to each other about who they are.
The announcement that Pakeha would be separated into two groups, those who like having Maori in NZ and those who…tolerate them at best. Almost a Jim Crow distinction.
Which is typical of their division between renter and owner, Wellington and elsewhere, (quietly) climate change affected property owners and the rest, smokers and non-smokers…
The bland great divider was at work, ignoring evidence in front of him as he let things happen and not wanting people to be jealous of his success.
But that’s the hidden substance, the disappearance of difference, the Americanisation of the political divide…just beginning here to the point there where Putin is seen as less extreme than Biden. Not opposition, but enemies.
Before Pakeha and Tauiwi all visited on the same day.
This is my reading of the government. For example Luxon was asked not to mention truancies and did, and has also fibbed about having to run ACT’s treaty principles bill.
His transport minister’s priority is not having Maori on signs.
And he was the least controversial.
You look at what’s been said by the government at Waitangi and before, and that they didn’t want the opposition there on the same day.
I’d accept the argument that the current Labour leadership is less pro-Maori than previous leaderships.
But not turning up as one group on one day is a division, requested by the government.
With Luxon's lack of personality and/or charm, his cue card way of speaking, his inability to persuade in a genuine way, leaves New Zealand with a "boring, bland, nothing" type of PM. He tried dressing up as a pirate and being photographed in matching family pyjamas for goodness sake! He is getting more cringeworthy by the week.
The matching nite-attire are cringeworthy…but I was more disturbed by the books on the shelf behind them…books as decoration…the only burr under that saddle is that they are upside down..(it's the little things..!)
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 26 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-us-canada-68023315
The case is now likely to go to SCOTUS.
The politics
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67272569
It's a strong decision supported 3-0 including by a conservative judge appointed by Bush.
"The judges concluded that longstanding doctrines of “immunity” for presidents from civil lawsuits related to their official duties did not extend to alleged criminal acts — and certainly not for a former president. Similarly, they concluded that the gravity of the specific charges against Trump weighed heavily against declaring him immune, even when balanced against concerns about the chilling effect it could have on future presidents."
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/06/trump-is-not-immune-from-prosecution-for-bid-to-subvert-the-2020-election-appeals-court-rules-00139832
Funny how they've never had immunity before and never suffered from any "Pandora's" box backlash. Flawed argument from the orange criminal.
The intellectual apologist for low levels of support to sole parents to give them an incentive to work, has no critical comment about the small MW increase, instead …
https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2024/02/06/lindsay-mitchell-a-terrible-trend-in-desperate-need-of-turning/
Also misleads in this statement as right wingers (right whingers) often do by not including the additonal help that someone on average wage can get and is further misleading by mentioning family tax credit which you cannot get on benefit and you can only get if working. It also fails to mention that family tax credit is simply topping up the low shitty wages that employers pay not the fact that there are fewer jobs in Northland and people have returned home as high rents have driven them out of larger urban areas due to areas where rents are cheaper.
In fact, for a sole parent with a couple of children, there is now no gap between income from a benefit (with all the add-ons like accommodation supplement and family tax credits) and an average paying job. By April last year the average benefit income for this family type was $1,057 weekly.
From IRD website.
When you cannot receive the minimum family tax credit
The minimum family tax credit is not available to families receiving the following:
That's what bugs me the most about WFF: it's nothing more than thinly disguised subsidy for business that enables them to keep wages down and let the taxpayer foot the bill.
It was Labour's biggest ever betrayal of the working and middle class. And has set any discussion about wages, taxation, and the welfare state back by decades. All any government of any stripe needs to do, is point to WFF and argue we already have a subsidy for working families.
All very reminiscent of the workhouse scene in Oliver Twist. We already have our gruel. Why should be able to ask for more?
What's worse is that the thresholds are set so that if you quality, you probably aren't earning enough to attract a subsidy large enough to make an appreciable difference.
And if you earn enough to make it worthwhile, you either don't qualify or your subsidy is abated away to basically nothing.
I totally disagree.
1.Labour faced the winter of discontent in 2000 for a modest reform of the ECA
2.Labour was facing in 2005 Don Brash kiwi or iwi and a large tax cut bribe. The WFF tax credits transferred the budget surplus money to families rather than an across the board tax cut unrelated to need.
The 2005-2008 government increased the MW by a dollar per annum for 3 years.
The post 2008 government left WFF untouched, it has won public acceptance – that there should be help to families within the tax system.
That leaves FPA/Industry Awards and more general working conditions – improvements related to parental leave, annual leave (4 weeks), sick leave and regulations related to contract work, casual work etc.
All of those things are true.
But I see that as Labour trying to solve a pressing political problem and heading off Don Brash (shudder) at the pass, rather than necessarily introducing visionary social policy.
If we can criticize our last 2 left-leaning governments on anything, it was their surrender to cautious, bland, but politically acceptable incrementalism. It's left (pun intended) the working and middle classes materially worse off while they tinker around the edges.
There was a time, not so long ago, where both of our main political parties actually stood for something.
100%. WFF is a subsidy from the public to private business, allowing them to pay their workers less than they need to survive, pocketing the savings as private profit.
(exception only when the employer is a public or charitable organisation)
Minimum Family Tax Credit and Family Tax Credit aren't the same – beneficiaries receive Family Tax Credit but not the Minimum Family Tax Credit.
https://www.ird.govt.nz/working-for-families/about
Apparently bringing up children is not a job in itself…
A group of local sole parents here pretty much runs the kindy. I assuming only commercial state funded childcare while mum works is an acceptable form of early education in a right wing world – unless it is fundy home schooling.
Lindsay's been on this stuck-record crusade for years now. One has to wonder what made her so bitter and twisted towards sole parents, beside just warped ideology.
I'm not going to comment every time our embarrassing PM says something false or foolish, because I'd be doing it every day and we all have lives.
But this is an absolute whopper, on TV3 this morning, talking about the Treaty Principles Bill:
He said it was a "sticking point" for ACT and to form the Coalition Government he had to compromise.
Newshub political editor Jenna Lynch reacts to Luxon's Treaty Bill comments on AM | Newshub
Yes, sure. David Seymour would have responded "Well, thanks for the 3 Ministers in Cabinet and a bunch of ACT policies, but it's not enough, so I'm off to support Chris Hipkins to form a government, because he'll give us more …"
[/heaviest sarc]
It wasn't a "sticking point", at all. Luxon did it because he wanted to.
Yes, Observer, ration yourself to only major faux pas.
Which still means you'll be spending a considerable time commenting here.
As you say – 'sticking point' my arse. He could have called both Seymour's and Peter's bluffs – where else could they have gone. But he caved!
He could have called both Seymour's and Peter's bluffs – where else could they have gone.
The poll booths, presumably.
In theory, yes. In reality, they were offered 3 Cabinet positions each, and plenty of policy gains.
If they'd walked away there would have been months before the GG would agree to an election (Seymour and Peters couldn't call one, they weren't PM). It could not have happened before this year.
What would Seymour's reward have been for forcing an election on this one issue? The voters in Epsom saying "sure, we care passionately about a bill that our party won't support into law anyway"?
Of course not.
Effectively NZ has Liz Truss, a Dinosaur and a young Trump running the country. And they don't get on very well.
Less than one-term government?
Here's hoping.
Let's conspire on what we can do to assist this.
I assume that National will replace Luxon before the election, the usual internal change to be presented as real change (Thatcher/Major, etc).
But then again, I assumed the same before the last election, and was proved wrong. The difference is that he was then only a potential failure, whereas now he's got the job and his limitations are painfully obvious.
Whether Labour can benefit is a whole other discussion, which is on hold until they decide on their leadership.
Don't get me wrong, I am no fan of the man.
For a first term MP, to lead and unite the den of snakes that is the National caucus, defeat and overturn a majority Labour government, negotiate a coalition agreement with the biggest 3 egoes known to man (including Shane Jones) then not get booed at Waitangi, an argument can be made for his knighthood now.
Like Ardern, I think it is a grave mistake underestimating this person.
I fully agree, more time and attention is needed in where to now for Labour
You can't boo if you're asleep.
Do you really think they are united gsays? I'll bet you a thousand pounds they don't last as a government for 3 years. (Joking-only Sunak would be daft enough to make such a bet)
I do think they're united.
Not like a lefty, purity olympics type group. Looking for sell outs, traitors or splinters. Peoples Front of Judea anyone?
They've got a common goal, power. They will hold their nose, smile through gritted teeth, tolerate all sorts of shit and do what it takes to keep it.
With the lightening rod out the front drawing all yr ire, the rest of them can get on with their self serving ways.
The problem is that Luxon does not have political eloquence, guile or instincts. This will cause his popularity to plummet, public respect will evaporate within 12 months. It will be similar to the way Sunak has crashed in the UK.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/07/weak-weak-weak-needy-rish-makes-a-spectacle-of-himself-at-pmqs
"Whether Labour can benefit is a whole other discussion, which is on hold until they decide on their leadership."
And their policy.
And/or..luxon is just totally owned by seymour..(and/or peters..?)
The man can't be sleeping well..
For Weka.
On Saturday 3/2/24 you told me " I don’t like having to moderate on Saturdays. Take the weekend off – weka"
When is the weekend over?
sorry about that, no-one had checked the ban list for a while. You're out now.
Thank you.
Well done Mihi Forbes handling Shane Jones on RNZ yesterday.. what a slimy character… loved the part where she said “so we shouldn’t believe a word you say?!?!” He tried to weasel out of it, but those were his words…
I put together a transcript
Sorry, full name Shane ‘never won on his own steam’ Jones
Electorates know what he is.
He's also in the pocket of the fishing industry – embarrassing us and pissing off more civilised nations
Govt harpoons proposed South Pacific trawling restrictions – Newsroom
New Zealand leadership is pathetic.
Climate change is here. And the people in Hawkes Bay are left to fend for themselves, reliant on community groups to clear silt.
We have farmers carrying about how tough it is as they help us miss our Paris obligations.
We have Simeon Brown focused on culture war, continuing the idea that water infrastructure can be done magically.
We have inflation and a housing market designed to benefit landlords. This is corruption, but the mild NZ type with no guns or dramatic confrontations, just fat cats and desperate people being told to be cheerful and resourceful.
Apart from feeding greedy landlords, the other priority seems to be working as hard as possible for the tobacco companies. And the car industry.
also
fucking up public water supplies so they are easier to flog off
privatising hospitals
shitting on Te Tiriti
wrecking transport plans for Cook Strait and Auckland light rail
mining and oil prospecting on DOC preserves
The December quarter unemployment is 4%.
Business spokespeople think it is higher – … all that migrant labour without full-time work, looking for casual work/temp/contract/part-time work …not counted … and or
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2024/02/new-zealand-s-unemployment-rate-rises-to-4-percent.html
The Nats have been whinging for years that Adrian Orr at the Reserve Bank should be sacked because he lifted interest rates too fast and too high.
Now it turns out that he was right all along they have quietly stopped saying this.
Read my lips the OCR will not increase any further. They have already said this and I believe them. Inflation is tracking down – it is 4.7% after a 0.5% quarter. They are on track for their 3% target by the end of 2024.
Unemployment is probably over 4% now and then comes the public sector layoffs and the impact on consumer spending of rents going up faster than wages this year (and mortgage rate pressure still on-going) is on track for 5% by year end.
For mine Orr was lax in 2021 when it was known the economy was doing OK, the housing market overheated as a result (his excuse the Auckland lockdown). But it is about right for this OCR to be the peak.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/liam-dann-could-todays-low-unemp2loyment-number-mean-another-interest-rate-hike/FUYJDUWD55EKTF6BXANHU7RGDY/
But SPC, our inflation stayed lower than most countries early on. So Orr probably had it right.
The problem has been that it has been a little slower to fall than some countries recently, but as you say it is down to 4.7%. The predictions I have heard are that NZ will be close to the goal of 1-3% in a year's time-your 5% may be pessimistic.
CPI inflation was not a problem in 2021, but house prices were ridiculous. Action then would have limited inflation later.
Our inflation stayed higher because of things like the gib board market failure and the weather events (and Cook Strait inefficiency) and overdue wage increases (bus drivers etc).
The RB goal of inflation of 3% by the end of the year looks possible, a 0.5% quarter suggests 2%, but rents and maybe power will push it higher.
My pick is unemployment at 5% by the end of 2024.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/501422/stats-nz-unemployment-rises-to-3-point-9-percent
The conclusion should not be that Orr was correct at all. The OCR increases have in themselves driven up rental prices which form a significant component of the CPI forming a positive feedback loop. The alternative policy of simply leaving the OCR flat at nearly zero would just as likely have resulted in a flatter inflation spike with marginally better unemployment and GDP numbers coming out.
The issue here is we don't know that the OCR is negatively correlated with even house prices. It might be positively correlated by the mechanisms of accruing excess rental income to existing multiple property owners with equity (speeding up second purchases) or just by the mechanism of increasing saving returns (on future deposit funds). The way this actually works depends on the distribution of returns due to the price changes resulting from the OCR and how those sectors respond to that.
If or not there is a positive or negative correlation its certainly quite slight and impacts long after the OCR change (due to mortgage holders fixing for several years typically). A good general description of the relationship between the OCR and house prices seems to be the housing market seems to do what it wants and doesn't respond to the OCR much at all. In particular the bigger (percentage wise) changes in house prices circa 2007-2009 occurred while the OCR was up at 7,8,9%.
Also if 2021 is going to be a strong test of the RBNZ policy we need to take into account that the housing market was effectively shut down for a few months, and for well understood reasons savings rates went through the roof just prior. Once that was opened again of course there is a sudden flood of people back into the housing market then your pretty much guaranteed to get a short term price bidding war coming out from that.
I've actually given too much credence to the RBNZ being able to control excess house prices via its OCR policy choices. This is not however how the RBNZ thinks of it and they don't expect their OCR policy choices to impact first on the housing market or directly. Instead the OCR impacts are expected to flow into the economy via elevated unemployment levels.
As the RBNZ has explained in detail they expect to raise the NZ unemployment rate above their estimate of the NAIRU rate via the OCR and so to lower inflation which is therefore being driven up by a nascent wage-price spiral. They never got unemployment above the NAIRU before the inflation rate turned negative, demonstrating this was not a pertinent cause of inflation. Instead they only managed to slightly elevate unemployment and slightly lower GDP, pushing the impacts on inflation first onto marginal workers in NZ, and the wider low wage sector of the economy who have lower wage bargaining power. In their own terms the RBNZ policy was unnecessary and never worked as described (while having negative distributional impacts on the country).
The problem of this singular blunt method was noted years ago by the RB itself when Bollard asked for other tools – he mentioned a mortgage surtax to better target the housing market without impact on the dollar value.
The focus currently is deposit criteria and income related loan levels.
The dominant factor is the market – supply and demand for housing. The recent migrant labour inflow …
The other factor is cost of ownership to cost of rent and that is influenced by the OCR and related mortgage cost.
There is the issue of access to money and anticipation of CG. And fear of missing out if those in jobs get access to mortgages easily.
Q4 2001 $61,000
Q2 2007 peak $114,000
Q4 2008 $98,000
Q4 2009 $102,000
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/QNZR628BIS
Of course some markets were different, where expectation of CG was a factor.
For example 2002-2004 50% gains in some markets and then 100% again 2004-2007 (Auckland and Wellington). But even these flatlined 2007-2009.
Whether or not you want to refer to the land lord class as 'the market', many land lords have clearly put their rental prices up as a result of the escalating costs of mortgage repayments. The RBNZ needs to operate within the existing framework of the NZ economy including how their monetary policy will impact the NZ economy through economic behaviors they don't control.
You appear to have a fundamental belief that the OCR is the primary factor and negatively correlated with the housing market, but there are some pretty obvious problems with this. First off, there is a clear positive correlation between real house price changes and the OCR level. The reason for this is that central banks have a long standing tendency to raise the cash rate in response to economic strength and lower it in response to economic weakness, but this lever just is very ineffective at having any impact on the housing market from there.
The next problem is access to credit is not institutionally limited by the OCR, in fact the OCR is the rate at which banks can always borrow the clearance funds to clear payments. As long as they can pass this on profitably because a borrower will (usually) repay their loan at a slightly above OCR interest rate then they can lend profitably. This is related to the reason that the RBNZ does not think of its OCR policy as targeting house prices in any specific way. This is not something the RBNZ can do much about actually, because if the lending is financially sound then its well outside the remit of the RBNZ to be rationing credit for some other policy reasons.
So as I suggested the housing market has the full capacity to determine its direction regardless of OCR policy. Many participants don't really let high interest rates stop them getting into the housing market, maybe because they still get more value from their capital gains than their interest payment costs, but that is the behavior.
This makes a lot of penalty costs come down to the question of if the housing market behavior is economically 'rational'. Those can be higher OCR costs, or CG taxes, or mortgage surcharges (all of which are forms of penalty costs to home ownership). These kinds of policies are however unlikely to work if the housing market doesn't start behaving rationally at some level of penalty costs, they simply become a cost of participation. On the other hand there are plenty of economic analysis describing that housing is already at a level of not pricing the risk in rationally anyway and has not been for some time. I don't really see why some of the proposed taxes are likely to bring an irrational market to its senses anyway. On the other hand as described in relation to the OCR many of these costs are sure to be passed on as rent increases. It was certainly true prior to about 2008 that a lot of land lords didn't worry too much about the rent, or running their property profitably as they were satisfied with the supposed capital gains, anyway.
The other thing about Waitangi is it is where Paheka talk to each other about who they are.
The announcement that Pakeha would be separated into two groups, those who like having Maori in NZ and those who…tolerate them at best. Almost a Jim Crow distinction.
Which is typical of their division between renter and owner, Wellington and elsewhere, (quietly) climate change affected property owners and the rest, smokers and non-smokers…
The bland great divider was at work, ignoring evidence in front of him as he let things happen and not wanting people to be jealous of his success.
But that’s the hidden substance, the disappearance of difference, the Americanisation of the political divide…just beginning here to the point there where Putin is seen as less extreme than Biden. Not opposition, but enemies.
who said that?
Before Pakeha and Tauiwi all visited on the same day.
This is my reading of the government. For example Luxon was asked not to mention truancies and did, and has also fibbed about having to run ACT’s treaty principles bill.
His transport minister’s priority is not having Maori on signs.
And he was the least controversial.
You look at what’s been said by the government at Waitangi and before, and that they didn’t want the opposition there on the same day.
I’d accept the argument that the current Labour leadership is less pro-Maori than previous leaderships.
But not turning up as one group on one day is a division, requested by the government.
With Luxon's lack of personality and/or charm, his cue card way of speaking, his inability to persuade in a genuine way, leaves New Zealand with a "boring, bland, nothing" type of PM. He tried dressing up as a pirate and being photographed in matching family pyjamas for goodness sake! He is getting more cringeworthy by the week.
I googled it..luxon in pyjamas…
The matching nite-attire are cringeworthy…but I was more disturbed by the books on the shelf behind them…books as decoration…the only burr under that saddle is that they are upside down..(it's the little things..!)