Open mike 08/03/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 8th, 2021 - 117 comments
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117 comments on “Open mike 08/03/2021 ”

  1. gsays 1

    I thought I would be cheeky and group-source some ideas for a trip round West Coast/ Malborough. Must visit towns, places etc. Neither of us are enthusiastic walkers. An hour each way at the most (he said a little shamefully).

    We are headed to the Wild Foods Festival In Hokitika then go have a look at Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers. Then we have a week or so to meander to Nelson. (I want to check out a few cideries and find any craft beer breweries).

    Thanks, in advance for any input.

    • weka 1.1

      not exactly what you are asking, but on the Coast slow down and spend more time in fewer places. If you find the really cool place to stay, then stay an extra night rather than trying to pack it all in. I've lived and worked in remote tourism places and it's the people that are moving more slowly and really getting a place that makes the connections special.

      • Sabine 1.1.1

        +1

      • gsays 1.1.2

        Too true weka. I have made that boo-boo once or twice before, cramming a lot into a small amount of time and you just feel like yr constantly leaving and driving.

        From the suggestions that follow below, we are going to miss a few things. Good excuse to return though.

    • The Al1en 1.2

      The Greymouth to Westport road is well worth an hour of your time, for the stunning coastal views and scenery alone, not to mention the drive itself. Stop at the pancake rocks at Punakaiki, about halfway between the two, for a 20 minute easy walk to the blowhole and back.

      Pancake rocks

      The Great Coast Road

      The seal colony in Tauranga bay can be got at from two directions. The cape foulwind lighthouse end trek is the longest and more difficult of the two, so look at doing the shorter easier walk.

      Cape Foulwind seal colony

    • Matiri 1.3

      You will be amazed at how much land is being converted to hops around Tapawera and now starting in Murchison.

      Townshend Brewery and taproom located in grounds of Toad Hall cafe in Motueka. Best beer outside the UK imo. Cafe is pretty good too.

      Hop Federation brewery and tasting room just outside Motueka at Riwaka.

      Free House Nelson – awesome beers on tap in an old church.

      Eddyline Brewery and Pizzeria between Richmond and Nelson.

      • satty 1.3.1

        We always go to Eddyline for a beer and pizza after a walk / run. Recommended.

      • gsays 1.3.2

        The hop harvest has come up once or twice. I'm keen to check the hops out.

        We are familiar with The Free House from previous cider festivals.

        Thanks for the heads-up of Hop Federation and Eddyline.

    • Rosemary McDonald 1.4

      We've enjoyed a few trips around The South in our Bus…and your " Neither of us are enthusiastic walkers. An hour each way at the most (he said a little shamefully)." caught my attention.

      Had my man not broken his neck some fifty years ago he would have been an enthusiastic walker. In order to give him a wee taste of what others take for granted we have taken the Bus into the hinterlands and dragged the wheelchair as far as my strength will allow.

      Standouts include "doing" both ends of the Heaphy Track. A river stopped us from the Kohaihai end…and sandflies just about airlifted us back to the Bus. You might as well check out the Oparara Arches on the way. The drive through the valley, (and a visit to the famous Bainham Store) and a drive across the very dodgy looking bridge knocked off the other end. And while you're in the vicinity a visit to Farewell Spit, Port Puponga and a diversion down the west coast through the Little Whanganui Harbour and on down to Paterau would be on our 'must do' list.

      Walking the entire length of the Mole at Aramoana (after literally squeezing the wheelchair through the narrow gate) was fun…but seal shit does pong a bit and gets stuck in the tyre treads. Back in the day they built a wharf and railtrack to load ballast from the quarry a little way back towards Port Chalmers.

      If you're taking a car, rather than a camper vehicle, do buy/beg/borrow a little tent and some very basic camping gear. DOC camps are all over the place, and though basic have what you need for a civilised overnight stay. Biggest mistake is rushing….as Weka says…slow down.

      Enjoy.

    • mac1 1.5

      Good ideas above. For Marlborough, big selection of craft beers at Dodson's in Blenheim including the Renaissance Brewery beers next door; also enjoy his German style food

      Visit the Omaka Aviation Museum for a great display of war planes. Take a ride on a steam train and visit the Marlborough Museum and displays at the Brayshaw Heritage Park.

      The Sounds- worth a day from Havelock on the mail boat.

      Walk for an hour round the Grovetown lagoon and count the swans and see other aquatic birds there or at the Wairau lagoon where you can also see forty kilometres of Māori dug canals and be on/near the site of Aotearoa's first Polynesian settlement.

      Stop and see the Pou Whenua at the new bridge at the northern entrance to Blenheim and read the history of the area which is truer and more accurate than, shall we say, Michael Bassett's version of pre- and early European times.

      Take a train trip to Kaikoura. Some of the best scenery in the world where mountains and sea are in close proximity- see whales and seal colonies. Craft beer brewery in Kaikoura.

      Travel to Kaikoura from the West Coast via the Lewis pass, Hanmer with its hot springs and then via the Inland road to Kaikoura, then north to Blenheim. Nelson is then only 100 km away and return from there to Blenheim and Picton via Tophouse and the trip down the Wairau Valley.

      Been here fifty years, and there's still stuff to see and do…..

      • gsays 1.5.1

        Thanks Mac, Rosemary and Stuart, plenty to choose from.

        Looks like more wage slavery for me as this trip has used up all my annual leave…

    • Stuart Munro 1.6

      The Last Resort in Karamea is worth a visit.

  2. Foreign Waka 2

    Obviously, its retail and hospitality that will have the greatest impact in terms of unemployment. But still, I cant help but think we are going backwards in the evolution of equality for women.

    Not only are they still earning less, they are also first to be "let go" as there is still the dinosaur belief that men are the bread winners.

    So far I haven't seen anyone of the younger generation standing up to be counted on that issue. It was in times past the achievement of "boomers" and their mothers to make progress and it took decades to make inroads only to see this now eroded in a very fast pace.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/300244506/were-all-in-this-together-but-women-taking-the-burden

    • Sabine 2.1

      when we stand up to say something about this 'inbalance' we are shut down with 'identity politics'.

      We don't even mention that women have a higher unemployment rate, nor that on average we earn less, and in the current rejoicing about wages going up, we don't mention the fact that we have lost so many jobs on the bottom that the average goes up while nothing has actually changed, other then a lot of people – err women – have lost their low paid, part time, casual, temporary min wage jobs.

      so as long as we can shut down discussions about parts of the population with calls of 'identity politics' it will not change.

      • DukeEll 2.1.1

        Wouldn't that be the same identity politics that shuts women down for wanting to be women and treated with equality?

        • Sabine 2.1.1.1

          Dude, So i guess you too don't want to talk about the fact that female unemployment is 1% higher then the national average (and that was 3 month ago at the seasonal peak of employment) and no one cares to comment on that fact. Nor the fact that women earn less while they work, and those that lost jobs may not even get any benefit at all cause they have a partner or family to pick up the slack, leaving said women totally at the mercy – yes mercy – of whom ever houses, feeds and clothes them and maybe even provides her with petty cash. And those women that are lucky to get a benefit need to bend themselves into a 12 pleat yeast bread in order to get them. And the fact that earning less will take care of us being poorer in old age, less likely to afford a mortgage, get decent health care and and and.

          At the end of the day, let me put it plainly, it sucks.

        • Foreign Waka 2.1.1.2

          If we only would! It sometimes feels like the 50's never stopped. The real bastard in all that is that, in todays climate you need 2 earners to live somewhat secure as a family and we wont even talk about singe women and the elderly who most likely have worked more than their fair share but have to continue because it would be bread and water under the bridge otherwise.

          It will be the male population that will bring about the hunger games for the women and children with their demands being first to be met. Reality will soon enough bite.

          • Descendant Of Smith 2.1.1.2.1

            Definitely been some improvements since the 50's – DPB means you can more easily leave violent and abusive relationships (though the imposition of state requirements by national and left in by labour has just transferred some of the abuse from the husband to the public/state), benefits got split in half so it didn't all go to the husband and it is no longer legal to rape or beat your wife.

            But yeah lots of things that went forward have slipped backwards in recent years.

  3. Anker 3
    • Glad to see the PM has canceled her regular spot with Mike Hoskings. A waste of her time.
    • hope this gives her a few extra minutes with Neve

    have a feeling Mike will be stewing. Hell has no fury like a narcissist/rich man scorned

    • Sanctuary 3.1

      lol Hosking will be pissed – clearly the government has decided they don't need the ZB audience for successful comms, and a slap in the face for ZB management who clearly haven’t managed Hosking well enough.

      More generally, an interesting move – perhaps a harbinger that social media is regarded as more useful?

      • Enough is Enough 3.1.1

        I think its a silly move. The only way to counter Hosking and his one sided commentary is to get on his show and give it to him. Like Jacinda generally did.

        Now he gets to preach with no one from the 9th floor countering his bullshit.

        Hosking has the biggest commercial breakfast audience in the country. The Prime Minister needs to be talking directly to that audience.

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/commercial-radio-ratings-newstalk-zb-and-zm-hit-highest-ever-audiences/2IX4YG6YO4L24HSC4UP2PAAKCQ/

        • Anne 3.1.1.1

          Except that she will be fronting his show as special issues or developments arise. It simply won't be a regular spot anymore and I think we'll find its going to be more or the less the same across all the broadcasting outlets.

          Sounds sensible to me because she's got more important things to do in these days of uncertainty.

          • mary_a 3.1.1.1.1

            I shall give you a double thumbs up for your sentiments there Anne.

            Hosking is a wasted space anyway. Since stating she will not appear on his show regularly now, Hosking has gone on a rant, accusing the PM of not wanting to be held to account. Pathetic and petulant on his part.

            Well done Jacinda. A poke in the eye for Hosking!

          • alwyn 3.1.1.1.2

            "she will be fronting his show".

            Just how will that work do you think? Will she simply demand the time or will she have to plead with him to be allowed on?

            • McFlock 3.1.1.1.2.1

              Husk's producers will beg for it in order to keep up the pretense that he's a news personality rather than a shock jock.

        • David 3.1.1.2

          It is a silly move.

          I tuned in to that part of the show to hear the PM give her views in what was one of the very few unscripted regular appearances the PM gives.

        • Sanctuary 3.1.1.3

          RNZ has by far the biggest morning audience. Hosking over-stepped the mark on numerous occasions last year with bullying and patronising questioning that amounted to misogyny.

          I would guess that Prime Minsters department has raised the issue of his unacceptable behaviour with his employers and either they can't control Hosking (likely) or they couldn't come to an agreement on how these interviews were proceed in a civilised manner.

          Either way, this decision would be driven by Hosking's behaviour rather than the PM's robustness to debate him.

        • Rosemary McDonald 3.1.1.4

          Hosking has the biggest commercial breakfast audience in the country.

          Christ, that's a sad and depressing statistic. There truly is no hope for us.

          • woodart 3.1.1.4.1

            breakfast radio very much like breakfast tv. most of the audience are only catching snippets as they do there morning routines. therefore to keep audience attention(for the advertisers,the really important part of the equation) the talking heads have to resort to shock jock tactics. while newdorkzb might be the biggest comical radio show, that is still a small percentage of the team of five million. no doubt, the p.m. department has done the sums, and pandering to sad old white whingers isnt a biggie. codgers like hoskings are on a downward spiral from nightly prime time tv to breakfast audio wallpaper to? midnight to dawn with mike lol.even granny seems to have given him the push. advertisers dont want to be associated with sour grippers, dont hear much talk of disintering banks, plunket etc.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 3.1.1.5

          The Prime Minister needs to be talking directly to that audience.

          Hooray, the PM has realised that there's little point dignifying Hosking's "partisan hackery" with a response. An excellent decision, imho, and the shock jock's reaction confirms this – why have anything to do with such an oily tick, and a lightweight pimple-brain to boot.

          Newstalk ZB breakfast host Mike Hosking says the Prime Minister is "running for the hills" and lacks a backbone after Jacinda Ardern cancelled her regular weekly interview with him.

          • mac1 3.1.1.5.1

            The PM fronts press conferences and answers tough questions in the House, as no doubt she will tomorrow at 2 pm.

            Judith Collins disparaged the PM today in a tweet- "all those tough questions". Judith Collins knows how to ask tough questions in the House, after all. "Does the PM stand by all her statements….?"

            • Jimmy 3.1.1.5.1.1

              Don't forget, in the house she has Mallard to protect her.

              • McFlock

                pfft.

                Nice excuse for the opposition's crap performance, I guess

              • mac1

                Oh, it's bias from the Speaker now being alleged, plus a good dose of mysogyny?

                Questions in the House, general debates, written questions, press interviews, post Cabinet briefings, being out and about in the street and meeting constituents and the public, facebook discussions, public meetings with the local Chambers of Commerce.

                Oh yeah, she's hiding alright. That meme has as much credibilty as media criticism causes earthquakes. Pffft, indeed.

                • Incognito

                  I have to say, Ardern does do a lot less overseas travelling than her predecessors. Why fly when you can Zoom?

        • Jimmy 3.1.1.6

          I agree, I think it is silly of her to cancel. She needs to be better prepared and actually answer questions and 'give it to him' as you say.

          • David 3.1.1.6.1
            • 100% agree.
          • woodart 3.1.1.6.2

            no, wasting time and effort on a monday morning, only helps legitimize hoskings as someone important. much better to ignore him and talk directly to us.

            • McFlock 3.1.1.6.2.1

              I also wonder what effect this regular spot had on his behaviour. If it gave him a weekly reminder to tone it down and pretend to be a serious interviewer, left largely to his own devices I wonder if he go all John Banks and accidentally end his own career anytime soon.

            • Herodotus 3.1.1.6.2.2

              That is the problem "Talk directly to us" So who determines the topics and who challenges the PM/govt as to what their actions are ? Or are you happy for the govt to control any and all messaging ? e.g. Sunday last night on the state of the fish stocks within the Hauraki Gulf – Minister declined opportunity to speak.

              We are allowing our leaders IMO to hide and let the problems go away. Another example was our Fin Min pass on the housing problem to the reserve bank. Min Roberston you have been in this position for 3.5 years and had 9 years in opposition to formulate responses, and we belatedly get this !!!!

              To many out there on the left – Just be wary what we accept today one day will pass to National.

              • woodart

                dont think that any morning radio host has uncovered anything and made it stick . they might have ruffled a couple of feathers, but mostly its a wasted five minutes. to actually do anything worthwhile the interview needs to be 20 minutes plus, like morning report etc. hoskings morning phonecall is a soundbite, worth more to the shows advertisers than the gov(any gov).

                • Herodotus

                  I am sure about a year ago the owners of businesses benefited from Mike Hoskins insistence that council and govt agencies were feeding the PM and others fause info about the road works on Hobson street and that there was no remediation awarded to those business inconvienced by the continual works that limited foot traffic. From memory it was found that what the PM was being told regrading all businesses be communicated was not the case. Just 1 case of where the small people benefited from these morning phone calls.

                  • Herodotus

                    "But, when pressed again on the issue yesterday, Twyford was unable to provide much detail as to what that meant.He told Newstalk yesterday that his advice from CRL was that it had been talking to affected businesses about the issue.

                    When asked how many, he said a "handful" bit was not able to answer with any more specificity as he didn't know."

                    I think once Mike Hoskins brought this to the attention of our PM eventually the matter progresses after as few weeks of having the PM having this brought to her attention.

                    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/delayed-city-rail-link-taking-enormous-toll-on-businesses-impacted-by-its-construction/F5H27YDGNZW7AXFDRW7TZ4X56I/

                  • Drowsy M. Kram

                    Just 1 case of where the small people benefited from these morning phone calls.

                    If there was just one case over the course of a year, then either the "small people" (?) need a better shock jock than Hosking, or the legends of 'Teflon Jacinda' are true.

                    Ardern quickly dispelled any establishment fears that she was about to storm the citadels of capitalist power. For Ardern, ‘transformation’ merely means tinkering with the policy settings of neoliberalism, not overturning it. While this might still upset hard right wingers like Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking, it has caused few ripples elsewhere.

              • McFlock

                It's not like Ardern has just invented the concept of not continuing previously-frequent interview slots.

                John Key with Morning Report, and Helen Clark with John Campbell post-corngate come to mind.

    • AB 3.2

      Has Mike started whining about being 'cancelled' yet? As the holder of an extraordinarily powerful platform that is undeserved in the first place because it is not underpinned by any record of journalistic achievement, insight, investigation or even by mere rationality – it will he highly amusing if he does wheel out the "c" word.

      • Robert Guyton 3.2.1

        The Prime Minister kept away from Sean Plunkett as well and he wheedled about it endlessly, delighting his wheedle audience but impressing those who voted for Labour and The Greens (if any were listening) not one whit! Peter Williams went full-wheedle when Grant Robertson said, "Sayonara" and probably won't stop until he too is retired from his position on Magic Radio (not a recommended listen).

        It's the same old pattern of behaviour. The PM will have known/been advised that the gains from snubbing Hosking would be greater than any harm done. In my opinion.

        • Anker 3.2.1.1

          I see Kate H has an opinion piece in the Herald which isn't paywalled, Headline "Why Jacinda and Meghan are the same" or some such nonsense. Didn't read as wouldn't want to give her a click.

          Maybe Mike feels affronted that Meghan snubbed him and went with Oprah instead!!!s
          How dare these women exercise some choice and control! Fancy snubbing Mike!

          Oh dear, what a shame, never mind!

    • Herodotus 3.3

      I was commenting last night as we watched the documentary regarding the health of the fishing stocks within the Auckland harbour and that how ministers do not front or make comment anymore. Not since Holmes and to a lesser extent Cambell did we have government ministers fronting, and the comment was passed that perhaps programmers should make time available to The Greens, Act and National to embarrass not fronting ministers to front and not hide (In the current govts case, the PM's cult of personality)

      So who is to determine what "Instead, Ardern says she and and other ministers will now appear on the country's top-performing commercial radio show "as and when issues arise". covers or is warranted ?? FFS we really don't want to challenge any government to change do we 🤢

      Will this government do anything to arrest the path that we are currently travelling down ??? We are left with such soft reporting as.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/irish-schoolgirls-letter-from-new-zealand-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern/5I7OFM6BXTXI2DUSO7DFXAUEH4/

  4. Anne 4

    It's not the most pressing issue to face the world, but I love the way everyone is passing judgement on the Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey that nobody has yet seen.

  5. Anne 5

    Picked up on this:

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/brian-tamaki-suggests-criticism-his-lockdown-flee-caused-earthquakes-tsunami-warnings

    And talking of raving lunatics:

    A small booklet was left in my letterbox called "National Sunday Law" and written by an American, A. Jan Marcussen. It's the most grotesque load of garbage I've ever seen. It revolves around a theory that “The Papacy” is really Satan and we are all going to die terrible deaths etc. etc. etc….

    Its dangerous stuff and no doubt the kind of people who revel in such conspiracies are feeling enabled by recent developments in the US.

    I'd be interested to know if the book is being spread elsewhere in NZ.

    • Janice 5.1

      I got one in Waiuku. It went straight in the recycling as I realised that there must be conservative religious money behind it.

      • Anne 5.1.1

        That's interesting Janice. I live in Auckland. Looks like it is being distributed widely. There are many gullible people out in the community and we have seen how much trouble and confusion they can cause. Indeed the ChCh massacre is a prime example of what can happen when stuff like that is allowed to spread far and wide.

        I know it would be fraught with problems, but I think broader based legislation preventing the distribution of such damaging hate material – be it religious or whatever – is overdue.

        • Nic the NZer 5.1.1.1

          Let me just stop you there Anne, but who are you claiming should not be able to distribute such material. Especially as most did not receieve it as a pamphlet from the Tamaki's (or their Church) but read it on RNZ. Should we prevent RNZ from writing about this incident?

        • Rosemary McDonald 5.1.1.2

          ….but I think broader based legislation preventing the distribution of such damaging hate material – be it religious or whatever – is overdue.

          I guess you're going to sit in judgement as to what constitutes 'damaging hate material'? You'd start with the Book itself, right?

          https://www.gotquestions.org/Lots-daughters.html

          The bigger threat is that twerp Hoskings enjoying such popularity.

          https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08-03-2021/#comment-1782246

          Silencing/banning/deplatforming simply won't work. These tactics merely cast an aura of mystique … encouraging folk to actually go looking for such material. Oh the thrill!

          (And I'm not entirely sure it is entirely PC these days to refer to folk as "raving lunatics". Akin to using 'retard' methinks.)

        • Robert Guyton 5.1.1.3

          Riverton too.

      • alwyn 5.1.2

        It was distributed in Wellington as well a couple of weeks ago.

    • Ed1 5.2

      I got it in Wellington; I read enough to see that there was no obvious NZ organisation inviting people to enquire . . . then straight to recycling collection.

      • greywarshark 5.2.1

        Yes Nickthenz there is a difference between Tvnz and RNZ and their worth to thinking people. Vive la difference. Long may it continue but beware says Tom Frewen about the dullards in politics who don't know the value of anything the country has but only what their salary and perks can buy.

        On the state we are in with Radionz – Tom has written 1-5 series about this. Here is #5 which will lead you to others.

        https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2103/S00022/concert-bungle-the-sequel-part-5.htm

    • Graeme 5.3

      Got one in Queenstown RD too, which would have helped the RD contractor’s cashflow. So can presume most letterboxes in the country got one delivered (if the postie was conscientious) as well.

      The world is probably pretty safe though, I found it the almost completely unreadable, so I doubt many would take much notice. Granted reading time waa less than time taken to walk directly to the recycling bin with the rest of the junk mail delivered that day.

      • RedBaronCV 5.3.1

        Judging by the above posts that is a lot of copies distributed over a wide area. It can't have been cheap so who on earth actually funded it?

    • mac1 5.4

      Unbelievable. Brian Tamaki says the cause of the earthquakes and tsunami warnings was criticism of his fleeing Auckland.

      Equally valid would be the assertion that the Bishop caused the earthquakes etc by fleeing Auckland……..

      As for Marcussen's polemic, it arrived in Blenheim, too. It says that 36 million copies have been printed. That's big money.

      Amused by the assertion of this Seventh Day Adventist minister that "Vicarius Filii Dei" adds up to 666, and that therefore the sign of the Beast applies to the Pope, I read that the name of the founder of his church, one Ellen Gould White, also adds up to 666.

      That's as far as I want to go down that rabbit hole.

    • McFlock 5.5

      Tamaki's promoted himself to "Apostle", now? And seems to be claiming apostolic infallibility? It took hundreds of years for Catholicism to get to that level.

      He'll be god by 2030, cult mass suicide a few years after that.

    • Incognito 5.6

      Yes, I got it too. I thought it was from Brash and the Brethren. Haven’t looked at it yet.

  6. Tiger Mountain 6

    Air NZ link to recent COVID outbreaks?

    Frank Macskasy has put together a damn good, and rather convincing, citizen journalist style piece. He sent an OIA to the Ministry of Health and constructs his article around their reply and many other sources. Did you know about the Heartland Hotel Air NZ used in proximity to the airport, and certain cool stores linked to other COVID cases?

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2021/03/08/does-oia-evidence-confirm-possible-air-nz-link-to-recent-covid-outbreaks/

    • RedBaronCV 6.1

      Yes I read that. Appears to confirm that AirNZ would rather run lax covid protocols than increase the number of people employed at relatively small cost so that quarantine can be correctly observed. After all it's so much more important that the bottom line is good and those executive bonuses keep flowing when the costs of covid in the hundreds of millions fall on the rest of the community.

      It's frankly unbelievably selfish and at this point the majority shareholder could perhaps look at sacking the board and all the executive management.

      • Tiger Mountain 6.1.1

        NZ Taxpayers have contributed many millions over the years to the airline, including a $900 mill COVID loan, and Govt. still have 52% ownership–hopefully that means they should understand if they are read a “safety card” involving MIQs.

      • greywarshark 6.1.2

        Maybe what would be good is to request all possible AirNZ executives to give thought to assisting the country by giving to the blood bank which is often in need. They are well paid and should be healthy and well fed and this is a thing that money can't buy, but goodwill provides. Put something back where the people need it I think. It would be a good look if the execs could give an example of caring to our needy nation.

    • Sabine 6.2

      why was this isolation facility secret? Heartland Hotel? And do we have other secret isolation facilities?

  7. Byd0nz 7

    Looks like the Americans proxy rabid dog israel is getting set to start WW3 with their anti Iranian threats about Irans non existant nukes. This is pure hypocrisy by a loose cannon nuclear weapon State.

  8. greywarshark 8

    Heart sinks once again about our poor standards of dealing with polluting waste. Our disdainful attitudes to the quality of management of our resources are irresponsible beyond understanding.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/437878/plastic-clips-from-freezing-works-washing-up-on-beaches

    [Auckland University biotechnology researcher, Dr Emily] Frost, who studies plastic pollution, has herself picked up the clips from beaches in Wellington and the Firth of Thames.

    Most cow stomachs are rendered to make fertiliser or animal feed. Because a small amount of plastic contamination is allowed in these byproducts, some of the clips get ground up with the offal in the rendering process, Frost says.
    The rest should be caught in freezing works' effluent traps.
    "But some are obviously getting through," she says.

    A champion NZr for the environment! Perhaps every traveller can do a bit of picking up and have a bag ready for it like carrying a doggy bag?

    Since early 2019, [Des] Watson’s been circumnavigating the country’s coastline, picking up rubbish to highlight the level of plastic pollution in our seas.

    After collecting a small haul of oesophagus clips from Hawke’s Bay beaches last month, he rang the regional council’s pollution hotline. When he didn’t get any satisfactory answers, he rang the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

    “MPI said they would investigate,” he says.
    MPI did, but decided it’s a matter for regional councils to deal with.

    A good snappy slogan for that answer from MPI – Bulldust and buck passing!

  9. greywarshark 9

    This book sounds interesting.

    Leah Kaminsky
    The Hollow Bones
    Vintage

    Cover image for Leah Kaminsky’s The Hollow Bones

    Your book in your own words: The Hollow Bones is based on the bizarre, true story of Ernst Schäfer, a little-known zoologist and explorer, who was chosen by Heinrich Himmler to lead an expedition of young German scientists into Tibet in 1938. Although their official aim was to explore the local flora and fauna, charting hitherto unmapped terrain, the secret reason behind their SS-funded mission was to find the true origins of the Nordic Aryan race, in a bid to claim more territory for the Reich.

    The story brings together the perils of pseudoscience, cultural fascism, humankind’s relationship with nature and our obsession with the categorisation of all sentient beings. It explores the small missteps taken that lead to a slippery slope of perilous moral decline. At the heart of the book is the romance between Schäfer and his loyal childhood sweetheart, Herta, who becomes dangerously entangled in her lover’s obsession with furthering his own career. She is the true voice of compassion and beauty, a constant and uncomfortable reminder to Schäfer of the Faustian bargain he has struck.

    What were you reading when you wrote it? I read widely while researching the novel. I was particularly taken by Anthony Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See and the way it examines the internal terrain of human beings caught up in the vagaries of war, exploring the moral choices they make.

    https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/17/carrie-tiffany-ean-higgins-dominic-kelly-and-more-on-what-theyre-reading-in-march

  10. Muttonbird 10

    'I might get cancelled': Collins in disbelief at Ardern dropping weekly interview with Hosking.

    Umm, she was cancelled. On 17 October, 2020.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/03/national-s-judith-in-disbelief-at-jacinda-ardern-dropping-weekly-interview-with-newstalk-zb-s-mike-hosking.html

    • Robert Guyton 10.1

      She limps on, all crooked and pinched.

    • mac1 10.2

      She was cancelled, by an absolute majority, despite fronting the public with Ardern who answered her 'tough questions'. That same majority had access to Hosking's 'reckons', Hannah Tamaki's nuttiness, J-L Ross's stupidity, and Billy Te Kahika's sermons from a rabbit hole.

    • greywarshark 10.3

      National's Judith Collins needs to be careful that the wind doesn't change and set her face permanently in a sour, aggrieved appearance. That old parents response to grizzly children actually applies to the whole Gnashional Party.

      Now Judith is suggesting a report on the performance under the Covid19. Why? Anything that hasn't gone right should be tabled for discussion, but we don't want paralysis by analysis. This is a changing forward-moving situation, and unfortunately National is in reverse. Pity that their gears are stuck so they can't show relevance in these demanding times. And ACT their mouthpiece, flaps all the time yet isn't as useful as an airsock – don't take notice of it when landing on any policy!

      Priceless from ACT! – “ACT says you can’t deliver better public policy if you don’t show humility, and this Government’s arrogance is getting in the way of solving problems and helping people,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2103/S00040/governments-super-majority-creating-extreme-arrogance.htm

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/437856/covid-19-govt-rejects-nats-push-for-outbreak-inquiry

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-national-leader-judith-collins-wants-inquiry-into-latest-cluster/D4WL7SSIJGAHWVKS7ZF4X6RC4A/

    • Drowsy M. Kram 10.4

      'I might get cancelled'

      Anyone see what Collins' eyebrows were doing when she said that?

      I think what you’re seeing is the absolute arrogance of this Government,” Collins told Magic Talk on Monday, echoing Hosking who said the Prime Minister was “running for the hills“.

      I have as much respect for ‘shock jock Hosking‘ and Judith ‘Eyebrows‘ Collins has they have shown for PM Ardern. C’mon Hosking, you brought this on yourself – man up.

    • Incognito 10.5

      Yeah, nah. Collins is not cancelled. I see her face and reckons almost as much as I see Meghan Markle’s and she, at least, has a story to sell tell, I’ve been told (by the media). However, I’ve stopped almost completely paying any attention to National MPs and their Leader. Polemics with a parsnip are more entertaining and informative. Is National not overdue for another dead cat bounce on the table? Oh, the report is due tomorrow. Let’s leak it!

  11. greywarshark 11

    Seems like NZ needs this? Uninterruptible Power supply (UPS) or have we got one already?

    https://powertec.co.nz/battery-backup/

    'Research firm Venture Insights points out that in south-east Australia’s 2019-20 bushfires, about 88% of the telecommunications outages were caused by loss of power outages and only 1% were due to direct fire damage, which implies that better power backups could significantly reduce outages.1'

    After more than 1000 mobile towers and other facilities were disabled as a result of bushfires last summer, the Commonwealth Government announced a $37.1m funding package to strengthen telco resilience, including $10m for the Mobile Blackspot Program and battery backup solutions.

    Repairs to damaged power lines can take time, especially if many poles must be replaced. So, battery backup solutions are important for maintaining communications in times of disaster.

    The key to a successful backup battery solution is an Uninterruptible Power supply (UPS), which is an on-demand, instant switch battery back-up.

  12. KJT 12

    After our discussion about the net affects of covid including tourism and jobs. This from Barry Thompson at

    Powerboat Magazine. Home – Power Boat News (powerboatmagazine.co.nz)

    "IT'S GOOD AND IT'S BAD

    New Zealand trailer boat builders are experiencing their best times ever, but it does come at a cost for consumers. Order a boat today from a dealer, and you are probably going to be waiting 12 months or, in some cases, 18 months more before you get it.

    We are all aware that boat sales, like cars, houses, and swimming pools, have gone ballistic, and when you walk into a boatyard these days, it's hard to find a new boat on display. Plus, if it is, then it's almost guaranteed that it is already sold and await fitout. I talked to several manufacturers last week about their current build situation, and almost everyone had the same answer…maxed out till next year.

    Engine, electronics, and marine equipment suppliers are also reporting delays in obtaining stock, which certainly impacts the boat builders. Air freighting parts to enable a boat to be finished adds cost, and somewhere along the chain, that has to be added into the charges.

    I read somewhere that it was estimated that somewhere around $NZ18 billion had stayed in the country due to Covid-19 and closed borders. I am not sure that was correct, but I know how much I have not spent on overseas trips. I can't say saved, as my wife did find ways of spending it, such as a new bed, bathroom and travels around the country."

  13. Sanctuary 13

    Oh my God, if you want an example of a bitter piece of writing from a bewildered boomer reduced to waving his fist at clouds as he struggles with being sidelined for the first time in his life then I can give you Barry Soper…

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/barry-soper-jacinda-ardern-is-treading-water-the-master-of-soft-flattering-interviews/4GKJG4UBCLIKKX4POQWHK4EXD4/

    • Barfly 13.1

      Entitled self-righteous prat

      • woodart 13.1.1

        didnt realise that soper was still alive.thought he had been pickled and preserved years ago.

    • McFlock 13.2

      I'd really like to see his metrics for how many of hosking's listeners switched their vote to Labour last election despite listening to hosking.

      But then key invited the press gallery for drinkies, as well as doing swimming shots for metro, so Ardern is awful.

    • In Vino 13.3

      Agree. I find it ironic that the iconic commentator Soper commits an obvious English error in the very paragraph where he snidely snipes at her degree in communications.

      "Having worked with the past 10 prime ministers, Jacinda Ardern would be the most removed from the media than any of them." No, Barry Soper – Jacinda Ardern has not worked with the past ten PMs.

      Soper was trying to say that he himself had done so, but incompetently ignored the rule that following a participial clause should be the subject of that clause. He should have written, "Having worked with the past 10 prime ministers, I would place JA as…"

      Poor quality language as well as biased analysis.

      A similar error –
      “As a Leftie, Soper is wrong”
      “As a Leftie. I think Soper is wrong.”
      Soper is not a Leftie, so the first example is very poor use of language, like Soper’s.
      The second example is correct.

      • woodart 13.3.1

        soper hasnt "worked with the last ten P.M.s'" running around, after a poli, and interviewing your keyboard isnt working with a P.M. Im sure if you asked those ten P.M.s about their working relationship with soper, they would all say, :who?: way to talk yourself up. must be contract renewal time.

      • mac1 13.3.2

        Since we're being critical of one whose career is writing, how's this paragraph of Soper's for making one sentence out of two?

        "She's commanded the Covid pulpit to such an extent that the virus has become her security blanket, without it she'd be forced to face the reality that her Government has been moribund."

        Two main clauses joined by a comma. Tsk tsk.

        What of course is worse is the claim that this government would be moribund without Covid-19.

        What a stupid statement. This government would be far down the track of social reform without having had to deal with a disease that has killed half a million Americans.

        To what country in the world can Soper point that has managed to keep its citizens safe, its economy running and carry out meaningful social reform.

        For God's sake, keeping the pandemic controlled and lives saved is a huge social achievement.

        What does the US Preamble say? "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".

        And the first is? Life.

        How do 500,000 Americans enjoy liberty and the pursuit of happiness in their Covid graves, without life?

        Soper says 'moribund' . The word comes from the Latin for death and means dying or expiring, at the point of death.

        Soper is hyper-exaggerating, and has joined others of the media fraternity, journalists, political commentators and party spin merchants in a new attack orchestrated by last year's defeated pundits upon the PM.

        Surprise, surprise. It has to happen, but let's recognise it when it occurs.

        There's more than grammar at stake.

        • Anne 13.3.2.1

          "She's commanded the Covid pulpit to such an extent that the virus has become her security blanket, without it she'd be forced to face the reality that her Government has been moribund."

          Ahhh… but dunnit sound awful good. Real clever hyperbole – Covid pulpit, security blanket, moribund. So impressive. 🙄

          Btw, he hasn't joined other of the media fraternity… he was one of the founders some 25 -30 years ago.

          • In Vino 13.3.2.1.1

            Quite right both Mac1 and Anne.

            I missed the egregious run-on sentence because I was so outrageously aggrieved by the misrelated participial clause.

            I think what he meant to write was: ",without which' instead of what he did write.

            Can't even proof-read his own rubbish before he sends it in, and, obviously, the Herald can no longer afford to hire good proof-readers. (Unless the humble proof-readers dare not question the linguistic excellence of the most elevated Barry Soper..)

            Yes, obviously, the hyper-exaggerated emotive terms are what counts for approval, and good language no longer counts.

        • Peter 13.3.2.2

          It is more than grammar.

          Soper seems pissed off that Ardern hasn't established some sort of 'old boys club' way of working, cosying up to the likes of him, "Jacinda Ardern would be the most removed from the media than any of them. (The 10 previous Prime Ministers.)

          "All of her predecessors got to know the parliamentary media by inviting them to their ninth floor Beehive office, at least a couple of times a year. It puts a human face on the public performer."

          How unsettling, things are being done differently.

          The boys, Hosking and Soper are throwing little NZME tanties.

          'The Prime Minister's press conferences usually begin with a sermon – it took eight minutes for her to get to the fact that she was moving the country down an alert level last Friday. When it comes to Question Time in Parliament her forearm stiffens and her hand flicks to those she'll take a question from. Some of us are left barking from the sidelines."

          It must be terrible to be his age and be pissed off because you're not teacher's pet. At least he got part of it petulant.

          • RedBaronCV 13.3.2.2.1

            Given that a lot of the MSM used to feel like the Nat party PR machine – I can understand why the "best buddies " schtick isn't quite where Labour is at. So why does that surprise our Barry?

      • Incognito 13.3.3

        Silly Soper sounds so sad since she smilingly soared staring sternly at star-struck Soper.

    • Muttonbird 13.4

      The most bitter of alt-right tears.

      Remember, Soper is the one who went into bat for the parliamentary harasser.

  14. greywarshark 14

    I hope NZ Farmers are coming together like the Australians are with their practices and learnings so all can move forward together.

    https://www.facebook.com/TheMulloonInstitute/

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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
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    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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