A Marlborough businessman has been ordered to pay more than $22,000 in unpaid wages to a migrant worker, with an additional $10,000 fine, by the Employment Relations Authority.
Ajay Gaur, owner of Marlborough businesses Vine Strength and SP 2007 Limited, was ordered to pay $22,716 to former employee Pushpinder Kumar.
Mr Gaur lost a media complaint against the Blenheim Sun.
There is a group of ethical employers in Marlborough who do look after their RSE workers. The unethical and exploitative actions of some employers has many effects. Firstly, of course, it is a disgrace in itself. Secondly, some employers of the offending contractors do not seem to be concerned. Thirdly, local contractors have to compete with these rogues. Fourth, local wages and conditions are affected detrimentally. Fifthly, the local housing market is affected as housing is taken up by seasonal workers who are not housed in purpose built and satisfactory accommodation, but crammed into old houses, which are not brought up to sufficient standard. Some are, and the ethical group have set good standard here with their accommodation.
A suggestion has been made by RosieLee at 1.1 to name and shame the contractors.
I'd also like to know who the employers of these contractors are, who they supply and which brands are produced by exploited labour.
Then those growers/producers could be shamed and boycotted. I am feeling a sense of shame just living in the same area, and have views of a plain full of vines with workers out there now in a very cold southerly having worked through one of the wettest July months in years.
Labour has always been in short supply, even more now, but who would come to work in these conditions as supplied by such contractors and employees?
I noticed the same with the slavery case over in the Hawkes Bay region. The orchardists using the contractor were not named. They were paying the contractor in cash as well which I thought had been stopped by IRD to ensure PAYE got paid.
New details have emerged in the case against Anesly Joy Samuel, who owns Romeeco Bakery, after the full Employment Relations Authority (ERA) judgement was released this week.
Samuel was stung with a bill of more than $392,000 – contrary to initial reports the figure was $299,000 – after the Labour Inspectorate found a vast array of employment breaches
One of the employees provided recorded phone conversations in which Samuel suggested he could have someone cut off a staff member’s limbs and harm his family.
When suspicion fell on another man as an informant, the business owner told him ‘‘he needs to prepare for his parents’ funeral in Sri Lanka’’.
Weeks later there was another call from an associate of Samuel telling the former bakery employee to drop the case, advising him ‘‘people were watching him and that it would be ‘very bad’ for he [sic] and his wife if [he] went ahead with the case’’.
After months of silence, Mr Samuel’s partner, Wadduwage Nirosha Dilrukshi Perera, spoke publicly about the case this week for the first time.
In a tearful interview from Knox Cafe, which the couple still owns, she staunchly maintained her partner’s innocence and claimed the three aggrieved employees had plotted against them.
"They had a plan, a long-time plan. I feel so bad because I know how I treat them," she said.
HR ? aka InHuman Resources. In my experience (long working career) By the Company and For the Company…Totally ! Employees? Shafted regularly by these slime. So …anyway true to the Blue form Ha !
Sylvia “would if she could”, ex Pres. Mr Goodfellow is still there anyway for a term as a Director on the NZ National Party Board.
HR people are 99% company suck ups in my experience as a union site delegate and executive member, going back many years in various industries, they are basically flak catchers and crawlers of the first order.
The natzos would be done for by now without their media life support system–Mi C**k skin, Heather DPA, Kate Hawkesby, Katherine Ryan, Fran O’Sullivan, Ryan Bridges and a score of others. Finance Capital do their bit too to keep National in play for obvious reasons as we have seen lately with Sirkey popping his head up again.
The 2020 General Election was extraordinary for the fall of Michelle Boag, & Simon Bridges during COVID round 1, and departure of the talent NZ National did have, along with some of the “Don't you know who I am” brigade like Mr Falloon and others.
"Human Resources", says it all. Resources get it, not human beings. Consumables like coal, or oil, or natural gas, or bags of cement or flour,
Consumable, expendable, replaceable, exploitable, profitable.
Not human beings at all.
As arch capitalist and nazi sympathiser Henry Ford once said, "How is it, when all I want is pair of hands, I get a human being along with it"
An unwanted side product, that if he could have got away with it, Ford would have turned into soap.
To deal with the unwanted human being that comes along with a pair of hands, just as they would for any other volatile resource, employers sought the professional services of specialist experts trained in the manipulation and channeling of this 'resource'.
HR people are 99% company suck ups in my experience as a union site delegate and executive member, going back many years in various industries, they are basically flak catchers and crawlers of the first order.
HR, while Company Focused, are mainly working for a very important person. Themselves ! Never mind their pretences, every action they do…..has that prime directive.
Quite often…very NASTY people.
I def relate to your battles against them. (been in some myself !)
So Sylvia is a fit for the nats.
Thing is, matey…..I really dont want the nat slime getting back in power. The clock…would go back in time so fast. All the things Labour have done for Workers….(particularly Youth/Apprentices etc) will be eroded.
HOW to get these Young to Vote ? I am trying..my Utmost.
"Human Remains" people – IMHO – a bunch of overpaid 25 year olds with Polytech degrees in advanced prattery. In my last job, we are working hard in my area to get someone to do a checking job of incoming applications to ensure that the information required for a certain part of the job was complete before it was allocated. The job was not front facing – or safety critical. It dealt with Civil Engineering matters so appropriate experience was required. We tried to lure back – on a part time basis, a person who had retired 3 years ago after 15 years experience in the section. He had more than the required qualifications and experience. After some persuasion, he agreed. All was well until some idiot in HR said he had to take a drugs test. He told them to get stuffed. End of story. I left not long after.
The Government Ministers are really going to have to try and get their stories straight.
On Morning Report today, just after 7am we had a story quoting Ms Sepuloni saying that the National plan won't work and then we had the Prime Minister telling us that the National Party plan was exactly the same as what the current Government was doing. Well if it doesn't work why are the current Government still doing it?
I suspect Ms Sepuloni will get a rap across the knuckles. Don't ever contradict your Boss is the rule.
He didn’t write it; he found it in John Key’s top drawer in the Beehive, with all the dirty finger marks and other stains from previous National Party Leaders – a forensic examination would reveal it is National’s DNA.
The National Party strategists will be pouring over video from the House, looking for vulnerabilities in Jacinda's responses to Opposition questions, looking to train Luxon to apply his meagre skills to those weak points.
Labour's strategists will be doing the same; looking closely at their Leader's performances, in order to plug those gaps; that is, so Jacinda can see them and prepare herself to counter Luxon's advances.
The National Party strategists will not be trying to train Luxon to guard his own exposed bits, coz, not adroit or able enough to manage such a nuanced undertaking. Imo.
Revenue Minister David Parker declined in Parliament to estimate how many dead people might have had the Cost of Living Payment paid into their bank accounts.
He said it was “probably around the same number as deceased people’s bank accounts that get superannuation or unemployment or other payments – or perhaps even National Party pamphlets”.
Just to be clear, competence can be found without wit. For example Shane Reti is a highly intelligent and competent individual, but I wouldn't want to be trapped in a lift with him
Parker just happens to have both competence and wit. He's also not an ideologue, which helps.
Your link is good, I use a 'would I have a drink with them' test, and not many pass. Maybe Parker, Robertson (even though I don't share their politics), Seymour, Stanford. That would make a good night out.
Both the 3 waters and health reforms are necessary-the "do nothing" Key government should have done/started these.
An almost record number of houses have been built in the last 2 years. This from StatsNZ:
"The annual number of new homes consented in the year ended January 2021 was 39,881, up 5.8 percent from the year ended January 2020, Stats NZ said today. The all-time high for any 12-month period was 40,025 in the year ended February 1974"
Labour has added significantly to the stock of state houses while Key/English sold them off to finance tax cuts while lying about it.
You do realise that the number of consents isn't the same thing as the number of houses built don't you?
You can't really, unless you are a true Labour Party loyalist, claim that the evidence for your claim that "have been built in the last 2 years" is really demonstrated by a statement that "new homes consented in the year" is up.
After all, on that basis you will probably tell us that 40,000 or so houses have been built by KiwiBuild because that was the number that Twyford said would be built by now.
And I guess you will tell us that Chippies' claim that merging the Polytechs will save money is true even if the loss has doubled after his move.
Considering that building consents are so bloody expensive these days, a legacy of Nationals leaky homes, and they now have a time limit, not many consents aren't actioned.
The rate of both compliance completion certificates and electrical connection (icp) has decreased,this is due to both apartments and infill housing requiring demolition of existing property(the ICP is the best metric for actual available units) in Auckland the ICP rate is around 68% of the previous years consents.
In addition there is the high cost of building in NZ with m2 rate increasing by around 30-40% in the last 40 months,even worse for high rise apartments with the cost doubling to around 5k m2.This latter being very problematic for Lab/greens as policy is to increase the rate of high density housing,increasing costs and debt.
The problems actually began with the (re) emergence of monolithic cladding with no cavities during a Labour government in 1987. They were made worse by the introduction of kiln dried timber under National in 1996, which survived throughout the first 6 years of the third Labour government.
You don’t say, “the third Labour government”!? The call of the 70s is strong with you conservatives.
I do like the way you seem to insinuate that both major parties are equally culpable, as it suggests that you have a distorted view of the past. This is not odd considering that you’re still stuck in the 70s.
Don’t forget the deregulation introduced by National 😉
The use of kiln dried timber did not exacerbate the leaky homes crises. Boric treated timber will rot if not protected against the elements just as quickly as kiln dried timber will. The purpose of kiln drying is to prevent borer infestation just as Boric treatment us.
Interior framing of 'leaky' houses rots because it gets wet. The treatment type for interior framing is not designed to prevent rotting because the framing will never get wet if the cladding is fixed properly ffs.
That is actually incorrect. I've pulled enough houses apart, and fixed enough leaky homes, to see the difference between boric or tanilised timber and untreated. Boric doesn’t rot anywhere near as fast as untreated timber, in real life. Not theory
The problem was Nationals privatisation of building inspections. Canny old tradesmen that used to be council building inspectors before Nationals privatised cowboys took over would have spotted developing problems before it got so far.
Lucky when I was building, being a suspicious old bugger, we still flashed sealed and drained our claddings properly, no matter what the theoreticians said.
"I've pulled enough houses apart, and fixed enough leaky homes, to see the difference between boric or tanilised timber and untreated. Boric doesn’t rot anywhere near as fast as untreated timber, in real life. Not theory'
Here we agree. You might know the answer to this, but my understanding was that kiln dried timber was introduced so pine could be harvested younger? Is that correct? I've been told by builders that harvesting the timber younger also made the timber less 'strong'?
"The problem was Nationals privatisation of building inspections."
Here we disagree. If that was true, we wouldn't have leaky buildings dating back to the 1980's.
Code of compliance is a proxy for completed builds and not all territorial authorities provide data to Stats NZ, so it's an experimental indicator as it says at the link.
That said, the second table/graph on that page shows pretty clearly that the numbers have been on the upward trend once the effects of the GFC were past and the Christchurch earthquake rebuild picked up. Not surprising given our population has also increased significantly since those events (net migration over 400,000 plus natural population growth).
It’s obvious that you hadn’t listened to it and/or that your head was still under the covers; there was no such contradiction at all and this was all wishful thinking from you. Perhaps you can spot the key difference between what the Labour Government is doing and what the National shambles pretends to be doing?
Are you saying that RNZ were incorrectly quoting Ms Sepuloni when they said, immediately before the interview with the PM that "Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says there's no evidence the plan would work, and it turns young people into villains."?
That was said, by the RNZ presenter, immediately before the interview with the PM who basically claimed that the Labour Government was already doing all the things that Luxon was proposing. That is in spite of Sepuloni's quoted statement that they don't work.
Thanks for letting us know what Corin Dann said, but your 'case' would be better made if you were quoting the Minister – must be difficult for you.
It was the "same old, same old, really, with regards to turning these young people into the villains and acting like they don't want to work", Sepuloni said.
"In reality, the vast majority do, they just need some support to make that happen, and we've been giving them that support."
Context is everything and thus is checking that what you think you heard is actually correct. Of course, your bias is as strong as ever.
Those who have been receiving welfare for more than a year – but then stay off for a year – would be eligible for a $1000 payment.
Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni said there was no evidence that would work.
It was the “same old, same old, really, with regards to turning these young people into the villains and acting like they don’t want to work”, Sepuloni said.
“In reality, the vast majority do, they just need some support to make that happen, and we’ve been giving them that support.”
With the US Senate having now passed the Inflation Reduction Act, I'm curious from those in the know about whether there will be good ripples to assist reduction of carbon emissions in NZ? Awaiting the House vote, of course, but how much impact will $360 billion passed into the US economy have on prices and uptake of solar panels, turbines, etc?
Recently it was announced that kiwibuild ceilings had increased from $650k to $860k.
19A Freeland Ave Mt Roskill ballet has just come out. "These brand new terraced homes are priced at $860K, offer 99m2 and include the following features:…"
Who has justed pocketed $210k ??? When the tender for subcontractors went out the ceiling for Kiwibuild was $650k and the successful tender for the contractor was such that the $650k sales price ceiling could be achieved. The subbies were on strict completion dates AND contract $ value. From my contacts NO sub contractor was paid above the tendered amount. Land price was known. So Megan Woods who has pocketed this $210,000 on each 3 bdroom and why was this allowed ?????
The full email for those that seek proof of any claim and just fro those without a calculator the increase in price has meant ONLY a $3.36MILLION windfall for someone that as of the 19 July 2022 before the ceilings were raised was not there !!!
More KiwiBuild homes, brought to you by Neilston Homes, will soon be available in the Mount Roskill neighbourhood. This new release will consist of 16 three-bedroom homes located at 19A Freeland Avenue, Mt Roskill, and will be exclusively available to eligible KiwiBuild buyers.
These homes will be sold by ballot. The ballot will open on 11 August 2022, and closes on 18 August 2022 at 11:59pm. The ballot will be drawn as soon as possible after the close date and successful entrants will be notified.
These brand new terraced homes are priced at $860K, offer 99m2 and include the following features:
· Only 7km from Auckland CBD
· Homestar 6 rating
· 12 month warranty period
· 3 generous sized bedrooms
· Open plan living downstairs opening to a deck or patio
p style=”text-align:center”>If you’re keen to have a look around the Neilston Homes Information Centre, it’s located on 23 Freeland Ave, Mount Roskill, Auckland. Open Saturday & Sunday between 11am and 3pm.
Who owns the houses now, before sale? Who set the price? Do they get the profit? Is this how the market works?
Or should the government set the price?
If the price was set at $200,000 less, as you seem to be wanting, how long do you think the house would remain before going on the market for $200,000 more?
From below link "21 Our objective is to deliver quality, well-located homes that are inherently affordable, by virtue of their modest design, efficient land use and innovative production. That is, the market price for the homes should reflect the cost to build (including land) and an appropriate development margin, but should nonetheless still meet our desired price points."
When developers and contractors tender for Kiwi Build work that was well before construction commenced. Fixed $$ contracts. Now the price magically increased as I mentioned before land price was already set, subbies tenders were accepted (fixed price) so they was no change there that was when the max level was $650k.
YES the government SETS the price – That is why we are progressively being told of the lift in Kiwi Build prices from $600k to $650 now $860k. Pity our minister has no idea as to what affordability is. $860k for a 1st home, she has NO IDEA of reality.
The government underwrite/tenders for completed developments. The developer then pockets any profit between the price sold and the cost to build. In this case $3.6M extra profit thanks to a minster's announcement, IMO she knew this was going to happen and JUST happened to make an announcement before these properties entered for tender. Yet the under writing from the government was 1-2 years ago, very questionable devious behaviour.
You’d better quickly e-mail Megan Woods because she forgot to increase the price of 14 other homes becoming exclusively available by ballot one day earlier to eligible KiwiBuild buyers. We, the Taxpayers, would miss potentially miss out on another $2.94million, which would be a real shame, wouldn’t it?
Both Davidson and Kellow noted that the new price caps were below the median property price, suggesting that KiwiBuild would continue to offer houses relatively cheaper than what the open market was providing.
She is crap at her job and understanding of the industry. And after 6 years (2012) in opposition telling us that Labour had the solutions. We find out that they made the Kiwibuild targets up was 50,000 but then decided 100,000 was a better number. Only to find out that a reset was in order. In other words Labour did not know and making FALSE promises and solutions, but to lie is ok in your books ??
But don't worry evidence is not what you are seeking with your 🙉🙊🙈 view on the world, and it is ok to WASTE taxpayer $$ that could be utilised into our health system, good to see your values !!!!. Perhaps you should email Megan to tell her what a wonderful job she is doing despite contrary evidence ???
LOL! You’re all over the place (aka unhinged). Woods reset KiwiBuild about 2 months after becoming Housing Minister, which suggests that she was and is actually very good at her job.
That ‘windfall’ is not going to go up in smoke in a bonfire; it will be used to build more KiwiBuild homes. The Government could set an even higher sale price but would then make it even harder for eligible KiwiBuild buyers, so they compromised. And it is not across the board, as my first link has already shown.
It is an underwrite mechanism whereby the Gov agrees that any unsold properties that meet the kiwibuild criteria will be purchased by the Crown at the agreed price level so as to enable financing from the private sector….the fact they are (currently) below median pricing levels should be expected as first home buyers are not usually purchasing in the middle of the market but at entry level.
Raising the caps (especially in a declining market) simply puts a floor under prices as the gov is financially supporting both sides of the deal….contrary to the stated goal of more affordable housing.
Are you for real ?? "The Government could set an even higher sale price but would then make it even harder for eligible KiwiBuild buyers, so they compromised. Year $860k is really making many eligible 1st home buyers. Perhaps (like most Labour MP's) you need to enlarge your social circle from those elite privileged have try to get an understanding of what most kiwi's daily experiences are.
Your understanding of Kiwibuild is at best extremely limited. Educate yours before before throwing darts randomly.
I am sorry that you considering this as whining, I see from your comments that like many ministers you have no idea, and some advice Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
My social circle is hardly “elite privileged”, and you have already heavily speculated about my “🙉🙊🙈 view on the world” and my “values”, talking about “throwing darts randomly”.
However, I have indeed limited understanding of KiwiBuild, but even I know that an eligible KiwiBuild buyer is not necessarily a first-home buyer. The criteria clearly state that you must
be a first home buyer or previous homeowner
If there are two or more buyers, regardless of the number of dependents, you must have a total before tax income from the last 12 months of $200,000 or less.
"However, I have indeed limited understanding of KiwiBuild, but even I know that an eligible KiwiBuild buyer is not necessarily a first-home buyer." – Yet your link from stuff refer ONLY to 1st home buyers !!!
Please re read my initial comments – They were centred on how subbies have been screwed by their contracts. At the time when the consent and the under writing were signed – was at a time when the $650k cap was in place. Everyone was working within this constraint to deliver the finished product for $650k. I know subbies and their staff delivered on their contractual obligations, and in some cases it cost them more than what they were paid; as they had to cope with increased costs, difficulty with covid, managing staff and issues with material availability, yet these additional costs were not able to be recovered. Then the price increases by $210k. So as I asked Who pocketed this? The developer ?? Because again, those small sub trades paid in terms of both financial and in their health. But you appear to miss that when throwing the darts !!!!
It will depend on the terms of the contract…I would expect that any development agreed to prior to the raised cap will be subject to the previous cap as agreed whereas subsequent contracts will be at the increased caps…so there will likely be no windfall, unless the Kiwibuild lawyers are incompetent…there may be a contingency clause .
It is important to remember it is an underwrite and only comes into effect IF the property is unsold.
Yet your link from stuff refer ONLY to 1st home buyers !!!
So??? Did I write that Stuff piece? Do you take everything you read in the newspaper at face value???
I doubt that you can turn your biased head around it, but this from the Stuff link again (did I write it???):
The KiwiBuild programme relied on developers partnering with the Government to build houses for residential sale. Kāinga Ora would underwrite a portion of the houses being build, so developers could access financing. The Government itself is not building the houses.
And
Hours after the announcement, Kellow and NZMS announced $600 million worth of loans would be made available for developers to start KiwiBuild projects over the next few months.
I hope that answered your question, but you can always play dart the donkey with your darts.
Inco still at your games of trying to divert from the point I was making !!!
We can see that there are those out there who couldn't give a crap about those who are suffering and I gather the government has rewarded the developer by increasing the kiwibuild ceiling. From "Private developers still make their normal margins on Kiwibuild houses and the government builds in an administrative margin of about 1 percent, Twyford said, so will sell them "basically at cost" As I have stated and you have ignored those supporting the build (subbies) who have been held to still deliver on a price. Yet the developer had also at the time entered a price that was to be delivered $650k. Subbies had no right to escalations, yet it appears the developer is selling at close to market rates – They are selling for $950k 3 bedrooms in the same development. But what do you care ? I believe is a valid concern that no one within govt has industry experience so has NO understanding to how unfair the kiwi build is to sub contractors.
I gather unlike you have not been involved in a kiwi build sub tender ? I have some industry involvement in the subject.
In a moment of abject weakness one evening last week I received a cold call from N Z Herald asking me to reconsider my subscription to their tawdry rag with a wee sweetner of a rediculously cheap price for the first 4 weeks, which I reluctantly accepted as there are some articles I would like to read, particularly by Simon Wilson. I've had a daily glance at it and I haven't been surprised by the same old, same old anti government rhetoric and have pretty much decided not to continue at the end of the 4 week period. Imagine my surprise this morning stumbling onto this opinion piece by the Christchurch Newstalk ZB morning host – I did wonder for a while whether he had walked into a door on his way to the studio, but as I hadn't heard of or ever listened to him, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/opinion-national-party-policy-is-any-job-better-than-no-job/35IIIA5L2QV6QS3U7AESXDKSNY/
This morning, party leader Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB that these sanctions would start with state control of beneficiaries' spending and then eventually their unemployment benefit would be out the window if they didn't toe the line and get a job.
That's called Communism isn't it? Or something out of Mao Tse Tung's 'Little Red book".
That kind of simplistic thinking went out the door decades ago. He's a complete ignoramus – a dinosaur.
No. Communism is when the government takes everything you own and uses it to suppress you. Putting conditions around what the government gives you for doing precisely nothing is called good policy.
Contrary to what some people think, I don't believe state dependency is a good thing. This government has turned a huge swathe of the population into being beneficiaries of state support. Some of those people are dead. Others were embarrassed to get it. Whatever, all state handouts should have conditions.
I should add if we were all judged by our actions as school kids then many of us would be apologising, me included.
But that's not the issue here. It's the adult decisions that matter. The failure to front up, to tell the story before the media (and before people vote). So, so stupid – and so very National.
being in a group of 16 yr olds bashing up a sleeping 13 yr old in an expensive private boarding school is a sign of many personalitiy defects. which has he overcome?
Not just National, possibly it's just more common from the right of the political spectrum. Don't forget David Garret from Act, he had apparently told Rodney Hide of his conviction prior to the election but nothing was disclosed to the public. That certainly accelerated Rodney's demise as leader.
Sam Uffindell's description of himself being "stupid" when he was involved in beating up a younger student at Kings College in my mind very much downplays what was actually vicious bullying by a group attacking a much younger boy.
National really has history in the second rate candidates it picks. Do these candidates think they are such a cut above others they are entitled to behave however they like?
It was nasty behaviour but I don't think that is the main focus here. National would like it to be a story about school bullies decades ago, when it really should be about National's behaviour now.
To recap: Uffindell told the party hierarchy before he was selected. The party then told the public … nothing.
So either they thought it didn't matter, or they thought it wouldn't come out. Then Luxon was either not told, or he was told and has kept quiet.
That incident could even be regarded by a National Party selection committee as a positive – as a willingness to 'punch down' seems to be a prerequisite for a National MP.
Luxon would have said: "Hey listen Sam, now that you are an MP you can deliver, have a plan, power up the vision, follow through and get results at scale. No need to whack kids with bed legs, you can make laws that have the same effect. Here in Nashnool we call it social investment."
You forgot the final bit: "its far more important to go forward not backward. Move on to the next chapter. After all we boys will be boys." followed by slap on back.
Bullies/thugs like Uffindell seems to have been, seldom have just one offence. And surely you wouldn't be sent down for one isolated event. Any other victims out there?
Is this Goodfellows last goodbye present to the National Party, another one of his exceptionally dodgy picks out of the damaged goods bin?. The crime here is not the historical stupidity and quite frankly appalling lack of judgement and restraint for even a 16 year old, but most alarmingly to paraphrase the Jesuits and Sheila Lashlie, “ Show me the boy and we’ll show you the man.”, but after being told by the Nat recruiters, Goodfellow no doubt, to clean up anything in the past he has the temerity and lack of honestly to lie about it.
I do notice as well that the rejunification of the Nats is going to plan by the new president looking old enough to have been exhumed from some medieval crypt.
No, I’m not being ageist, I’m 72, I don’t think anyone over 60 should be allowed to stand because it is not our world anymore and we old buggers should not be extending our reach further into the future, we’ve fucked it up enough as it is.
Bugger that – I am 72 as well and I am not about to hand over the future to a bunch of kids with purple hair and pronouns who cannot make even the simplest of decisions without crowdsourcing for the information on social media.
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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 ...
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. ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
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 ...
Asia Pacific Report A score of Palestine solidarity protesters draped themselves in white shrouds with mock blood in a sombre “die-in” demonstration at Te Komitanga Square — the heart of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city — today as speakers urged people to take a stronger boycott against Israeli products. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tackling violence against women will be the sole agenda item for a national cabinet meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened for Wednesday. The meeting, held remotely, follows thousands of Australians attending rallies across ...
The protest outside the White House correspondents’ dinner hotel. Image: Anatolu video screenshot APR More than two dozen Palestinian journalists had called for a boycott of the dinner, writing an open letter urging their American colleagues not to attend. “You have a unique responsibility to speak truth to power and ...
“Our exporters should, therefore, be deeply concerned that the Fast-track Approvals Bill was not assessed for consistency with any of our free trade commitments prior to being introduced to the House,” says Gary Taylor, Chief Executive of the Environmental ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on all political parties to support the new Member’s Bill from Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich MP that would ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
A historian with a track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go wrong for him. ...
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https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/129496019/blatant-exploitation-migrant-workers-packed-in-freezing-damp-rooms-for-150-a-week
I can't believe this shits still happening, take everything these bosses have under the profiting from crimes act.
These "employers" must be named, shamed and prosecuted. It's also interesting to note the nationalities of these exploiters. Deport them.
deported
That's only thing that will deter them.
Has a poor track record yet MBIE still allows him to be an RSE employer.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/66432024/businessman-fined-over-unpaid-wages
A Marlborough businessman has been ordered to pay more than $22,000 in unpaid wages to a migrant worker, with an additional $10,000 fine, by the Employment Relations Authority.
Ajay Gaur, owner of Marlborough businesses Vine Strength and SP 2007 Limited, was ordered to pay $22,716 to former employee Pushpinder Kumar.
https://www.employment-law.co.nz/some-employers-and-employees-deserve-each-other/
And in 2015.https://www.mediacouncil.org.nz/rulings/ajay-gaur-against-the-blenheim-sun/
Mr Gaur lost a media complaint against the Blenheim Sun.
There is a group of ethical employers in Marlborough who do look after their RSE workers. The unethical and exploitative actions of some employers has many effects. Firstly, of course, it is a disgrace in itself. Secondly, some employers of the offending contractors do not seem to be concerned. Thirdly, local contractors have to compete with these rogues. Fourth, local wages and conditions are affected detrimentally. Fifthly, the local housing market is affected as housing is taken up by seasonal workers who are not housed in purpose built and satisfactory accommodation, but crammed into old houses, which are not brought up to sufficient standard. Some are, and the ethical group have set good standard here with their accommodation.
A suggestion has been made by RosieLee at 1.1 to name and shame the contractors.
I'd also like to know who the employers of these contractors are, who they supply and which brands are produced by exploited labour.
Then those growers/producers could be shamed and boycotted. I am feeling a sense of shame just living in the same area, and have views of a plain full of vines with workers out there now in a very cold southerly having worked through one of the wettest July months in years.
Labour has always been in short supply, even more now, but who would come to work in these conditions as supplied by such contractors and employees?
I noticed the same with the slavery case over in the Hawkes Bay region. The orchardists using the contractor were not named. They were paying the contractor in cash as well which I thought had been stopped by IRD to ensure PAYE got paid.
Reckon I know who to believe ! The scumbag (if at all possible) should be booted out of NZ…..
I believe that he deserves a long, all expenses paid holiday courtesy of Correction Services
The correction services of Sri Lanka – pulling this kind of crap is a kind of proof of not having assimilated well enough to be a citizen.
HR ? aka InHuman Resources. In my experience (long working career) By the Company and For the Company…Totally ! Employees? Shafted regularly by these slime. So …anyway true to the Blue form Ha !
Sylvia “would if she could”, ex Pres. Mr Goodfellow is still there anyway for a term as a Director on the NZ National Party Board.
HR people are 99% company suck ups in my experience as a union site delegate and executive member, going back many years in various industries, they are basically flak catchers and crawlers of the first order.
The natzos would be done for by now without their media life support system–Mi C**k skin, Heather DPA, Kate Hawkesby, Katherine Ryan, Fran O’Sullivan, Ryan Bridges and a score of others. Finance Capital do their bit too to keep National in play for obvious reasons as we have seen lately with Sirkey popping his head up again.
The 2020 General Election was extraordinary for the fall of Michelle Boag, & Simon Bridges during COVID round 1, and departure of the talent NZ National did have, along with some of the “Don't you know who I am” brigade like Mr Falloon and others.
"Human Resources", says it all. Resources get it, not human beings. Consumables like coal, or oil, or natural gas, or bags of cement or flour,
Consumable, expendable, replaceable, exploitable, profitable.
Not human beings at all.
As arch capitalist and nazi sympathiser Henry Ford once said, "How is it, when all I want is pair of hands, I get a human being along with it"
An unwanted side product, that if he could have got away with it, Ford would have turned into soap.
To deal with the unwanted human being that comes along with a pair of hands, just as they would for any other volatile resource, employers sought the professional services of specialist experts trained in the manipulation and channeling of this 'resource'.
HR, while Company Focused, are mainly working for a very important person. Themselves ! Never mind their pretences, every action they do…..has that prime directive.
Quite often…very NASTY people.
I def relate to your battles against them. (been in some myself !)
So Sylvia is a fit for the nats.
Thing is, matey…..I really dont want the nat slime getting back in power. The clock…would go back in time so fast. All the things Labour have done for Workers….(particularly Youth/Apprentices etc) will be eroded.
HOW to get these Young to Vote ? I am trying..my Utmost.
Keep up the Fight !
"Human Remains" people – IMHO – a bunch of overpaid 25 year olds with Polytech degrees in advanced prattery. In my last job, we are working hard in my area to get someone to do a checking job of incoming applications to ensure that the information required for a certain part of the job was complete before it was allocated. The job was not front facing – or safety critical. It dealt with Civil Engineering matters so appropriate experience was required. We tried to lure back – on a part time basis, a person who had retired 3 years ago after 15 years experience in the section. He had more than the required qualifications and experience. After some persuasion, he agreed. All was well until some idiot in HR said he had to take a drugs test. He told them to get stuffed. End of story. I left not long after.
Company End result? They keep HR. But lose two Valuable People. But at least with your self worth still Intact. Onya.
He don't plant taters he don't pick cotton
Millionaire huxster wants impoverished slaves to work harder without a break.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/sean-hannity-wants-low-income-americans-to-have-no-lives?
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=old+man+river+song&&view=detail&mid=522E5955AEFDFDF9DA50522E5955AEFDFDF9DA50&rvsmid=A6DE485C76DA5D8E30E3A6DE485C76DA5D8E30E3&FORM=VDQVAP
Right wingers are are always gonna wing.
The Government Ministers are really going to have to try and get their stories straight.
On Morning Report today, just after 7am we had a story quoting Ms Sepuloni saying that the National plan won't work and then we had the Prime Minister telling us that the National Party plan was exactly the same as what the current Government was doing. Well if it doesn't work why are the current Government still doing it?
I suspect Ms Sepuloni will get a rap across the knuckles. Don't ever contradict your Boss is the rule.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018852556/national-party-out-of-touch-with-welfare-plan-labour
National's benefit plan was put out for only two reasons. Deflect from the taxation policy debacle of last week, and keep them in the headlines.
https://twitter.com/ClintVSmith/status/1556375880787984384?cxt=HHwWgIDU9cLnrZkrAAAA
I wonder in which of his 7 houses Luxon wrote the policy to attack beneficiaries.
He didn’t write it; he found it in John Key’s top drawer in the Beehive, with all the dirty finger marks and other stains from previous National Party Leaders – a forensic examination would reveal it is National’s DNA.
National very seldom come up with anything new, mostly they take inspiration from the Victorian era.
I suspect Ms Sepuloni is auditioning for opposition.
The latest Roy Morgan has a Lab/Green/MP government, and that is before Jacinda destroys Luxon in the campaign.
The National Party strategists will be pouring over video from the House, looking for vulnerabilities in Jacinda's responses to Opposition questions, looking to train Luxon to apply his meagre skills to those weak points.
Labour's strategists will be doing the same; looking closely at their Leader's performances, in order to plug those gaps; that is, so Jacinda can see them and prepare herself to counter Luxon's advances.
The National Party strategists will not be trying to train Luxon to guard his own exposed bits, coz, not adroit or able enough to manage such a nuanced undertaking. Imo.
'exposed bits'? Please, Robert, spare us the vision. His bald pate is exposure enough…..
'so Jacinda can see them and prepare herself to counter Luxon's advances.'
Gah! She's more than well prepared for that sort of carry on.
He'll try to come in from the sun, like the kamikaze pilots did …
… oh, hang on!
Hopefully not at the controls of Air NZ B777-300ER…: )
Yes, the campaign
Kiwi build – awesome result
Merger of the poly techs – going so well
Healthcare merger – bound to be a success based on the two results above
Three waters – success assured!!
Crime stats, – excellent!!
Contrast with National's campaign –
"Shambles, shambles, shambles, shambles, shambles, shambles…."
Crickets…
Small dogs yapping…
They have the dead peoples vote though.
LibertyBelle, you might have to enlarge on that statement?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/129491190/cost-of-living-payment-paid-to-people-on-working-holidays-who-have-left-nz
I think David Parker has a similar sense of humour to mine
You’re as funny as David Garrett.
Liberty Belle I believe that you have more in common with your namesake the Liberty Bell other than your names – you are both cracked.
That 'crack' first appeared in the early 1840's, and yet here we are 180 years later.
Yes, I heard the dead-pan Parker deliver that riposte in the House. We have some good speakers in the House at QT ('pop-corn time') especially.
David Parker is one of the very few competent current labour party ministers. That he has a sharp wit is a bonus!
Here is an interesting article on wit, intelligence, politics and charisma.
https://psmag.com/social-justice/a-quick-wit-and-a-silver-tongue
Who in Parliament would score well here?
Wit is probably a bit overrated. Robbo probably thinks he's witty– I would much prefer a Min o Fin who didn't drop the inflation ball.
Just to be clear, competence can be found without wit. For example Shane Reti is a highly intelligent and competent individual, but I wouldn't want to be trapped in a lift with him
Parker just happens to have both competence and wit. He's also not an ideologue, which helps.
Your link is good, I use a 'would I have a drink with them' test, and not many pass. Maybe Parker, Robertson (even though I don't share their politics), Seymour, Stanford. That would make a good night out.
Is this out of the "Trumpist Dogwhistles 'r Us" publication for beginners?
Crime stats show crime is falling.
https://www.justice.govt.nz/about/news-and-media/media-releases/nzs-largest-crime-survey-shows-burglaries-on-the-decline/
3.3% unemployment is pretty impressive.
Both the 3 waters and health reforms are necessary-the "do nothing" Key government should have done/started these.
An almost record number of houses have been built in the last 2 years. This from StatsNZ:
"The annual number of new homes consented in the year ended January 2021 was 39,881, up 5.8 percent from the year ended January 2020, Stats NZ said today. The all-time high for any 12-month period was 40,025 in the year ended February 1974"
Labour has added significantly to the stock of state houses while Key/English sold them off to finance tax cuts while lying about it.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/32421/total-state-housing-stock
and so on and on and on…..
Well said, Bearded Git.
You do realise that the number of consents isn't the same thing as the number of houses built don't you?
You can't really, unless you are a true Labour Party loyalist, claim that the evidence for your claim that "have been built in the last 2 years" is really demonstrated by a statement that "new homes consented in the year" is up.
After all, on that basis you will probably tell us that 40,000 or so houses have been built by KiwiBuild because that was the number that Twyford said would be built by now.
And I guess you will tell us that Chippies' claim that merging the Polytechs will save money is true even if the loss has doubled after his move.
https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-30-06-2022/#comment-1898022
How many consented houses are not built?
How many non-consented houses are built in New Zealand?
I suspect that there is a somewhat high correlation between consent and actuality…..
Considering that building consents are so bloody expensive these days, a legacy of Nationals leaky homes, and they now have a time limit, not many consents aren't actioned.
The rate of both compliance completion certificates and electrical connection (icp) has decreased,this is due to both apartments and infill housing requiring demolition of existing property(the ICP is the best metric for actual available units) in Auckland the ICP rate is around 68% of the previous years consents.
In addition there is the high cost of building in NZ with m2 rate increasing by around 30-40% in the last 40 months,even worse for high rise apartments with the cost doubling to around 5k m2.This latter being very problematic for Lab/greens as policy is to increase the rate of high density housing,increasing costs and debt.
'Nationals' leaky homes? I don't think so.
"The leaky homes crisis is an ongoing construction and legal crisis in New Zealand concerning timber-framed homes built from 1988 to 2004 that were not fully weather-tight. "
The problems actually began with the (re) emergence of monolithic cladding with no cavities during a Labour government in 1987. They were made worse by the introduction of kiln dried timber under National in 1996, which survived throughout the first 6 years of the third Labour government.
Both major parties are culpable for this mess.
You don’t say, “the third Labour government”!? The call of the 70s is strong with you conservatives.
I do like the way you seem to insinuate that both major parties are equally culpable, as it suggests that you have a distorted view of the past. This is not odd considering that you’re still stuck in the 70s.
Don’t forget the deregulation introduced by National 😉
History not of any interest to you?
Edit – ooops yes I see what I did. Apologies, fourth Labour government.
The use of kiln dried timber did not exacerbate the leaky homes crises. Boric treated timber will rot if not protected against the elements just as quickly as kiln dried timber will. The purpose of kiln drying is to prevent borer infestation just as Boric treatment us.
Interior framing of 'leaky' houses rots because it gets wet. The treatment type for interior framing is not designed to prevent rotting because the framing will never get wet if the cladding is fixed properly ffs.
That is actually incorrect. I've pulled enough houses apart, and fixed enough leaky homes, to see the difference between boric or tanilised timber and untreated. Boric doesn’t rot anywhere near as fast as untreated timber, in real life. Not theory
The problem was Nationals privatisation of building inspections. Canny old tradesmen that used to be council building inspectors before Nationals privatised cowboys took over would have spotted developing problems before it got so far.
Lucky when I was building, being a suspicious old bugger, we still flashed sealed and drained our claddings properly, no matter what the theoreticians said.
"I've pulled enough houses apart, and fixed enough leaky homes, to see the difference between boric or tanilised timber and untreated. Boric doesn’t rot anywhere near as fast as untreated timber, in real life. Not theory'
Here we agree. You might know the answer to this, but my understanding was that kiln dried timber was introduced so pine could be harvested younger? Is that correct? I've been told by builders that harvesting the timber younger also made the timber less 'strong'?
"The problem was Nationals privatisation of building inspections."
Here we disagree. If that was true, we wouldn't have leaky buildings dating back to the 1980's.
https://www.stats.govt.nz/experimental/experimental-building-indicators-march-2022-quarter/
Code of compliance is a proxy for completed builds and not all territorial authorities provide data to Stats NZ, so it's an experimental indicator as it says at the link.
That said, the second table/graph on that page shows pretty clearly that the numbers have been on the upward trend once the effects of the GFC were past and the Christchurch earthquake rebuild picked up. Not surprising given our population has also increased significantly since those events (net migration over 400,000 plus natural population growth).
See Alan's comment below.
She would never be so cruel.
She will strive not to smile while he destroys himself.
Right on cue.
"Political poll: National and Act can form government, Labour at lowest since 2017"
I sense an election bribe coming on. I wonder if Labour can top interest free student loans?
How much are you being paid to troll TS with your distorted crap LB?
The opinion poll is public record. Labour's election bribe is hardly earth shattering news.
It’s obvious that you hadn’t listened to it and/or that your head was still under the covers; there was no such contradiction at all and this was all wishful thinking from you. Perhaps you can spot the key difference between what the Labour Government is doing and what the National shambles pretends to be doing?
Has Ms Sepuloni been heard from again?
Something like "What I meant to say was that I completely agree with the Prime Minister".
Who was being interviewed on Morning Report? What/where was the contradiction? Hint: it’s all in your head.
Are you saying that RNZ were incorrectly quoting Ms Sepuloni when they said, immediately before the interview with the PM that "Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says there's no evidence the plan would work, and it turns young people into villains."?
That was said, by the RNZ presenter, immediately before the interview with the PM who basically claimed that the Labour Government was already doing all the things that Luxon was proposing. That is in spite of Sepuloni's quoted statement that they don't work.
Thanks for letting us know what Corin Dann said, but your 'case' would be better made if you were quoting the Minister – must be difficult for you.
Context is everything and thus is checking that what you think you heard is actually correct. Of course, your bias is as strong as ever.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/472399/national-s-welfare-plan-over-simplified-and-out-of-touch-opposing-parties-say
So, what I’m saying is: listen carefully, know the context, and engage your brain.
There is no contradiction!
QED
Quod et demonstratum – got to love it
"Several of the protesters could be seen displaying Z symbols – which are regarded as denoting support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – either on their skin or clothing."
Great effort from the dags that trail in Tamaki's wake.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300655526/tensions-between-rival-groups-at-antigovernment-protest-in-auckland-domain
With the US Senate having now passed the Inflation Reduction Act, I'm curious from those in the know about whether there will be good ripples to assist reduction of carbon emissions in NZ? Awaiting the House vote, of course, but how much impact will $360 billion passed into the US economy have on prices and uptake of solar panels, turbines, etc?
Life's tough.
https://twitter.com/EASpenser/status/1555657472794312705
Recently it was announced that kiwibuild ceilings had increased from $650k to $860k.
19A Freeland Ave Mt Roskill ballet has just come out. "These brand new terraced homes are priced at $860K, offer 99m2 and include the following features:…"
Who has justed pocketed $210k ??? When the tender for subcontractors went out the ceiling for Kiwibuild was $650k and the successful tender for the contractor was such that the $650k sales price ceiling could be achieved. The subbies were on strict completion dates AND contract $ value. From my contacts NO sub contractor was paid above the tendered amount. Land price was known. So Megan Woods who has pocketed this $210,000 on each 3 bdroom and why was this allowed ?????
https://www.kiwibuild.govt.nz/about-kiwibuild/home-price-caps/
https://roskilldevelopment.co.nz/for-sale
You could ask Minister rather than JAQing off. Her contact details are online.
The full email for those that seek proof of any claim and just fro those without a calculator the increase in price has meant ONLY a $3.36MILLION windfall for someone that as of the 19 July 2022 before the ceilings were raised was not there !!!
More KiwiBuild homes, brought to you by Neilston Homes, will soon be available in the Mount Roskill neighbourhood. This new release will consist of 16 three-bedroom homes located at 19A Freeland Avenue, Mt Roskill, and will be exclusively available to eligible KiwiBuild buyers.
These homes will be sold by ballot. The ballot will open on 11 August 2022, and closes on 18 August 2022 at 11:59pm. The ballot will be drawn as soon as possible after the close date and successful entrants will be notified.
These brand new terraced homes are priced at $860K, offer 99m2 and include the following features:
· Only 7km from Auckland CBD
· Homestar 6 rating
· 12 month warranty period
· 3 generous sized bedrooms
· Open plan living downstairs opening to a deck or patio
· Close to public transport services
Ballot Open: 9:00am, Thursday 11th August 2022
Ballot Closed: 11:59pm, Thursday 18th August 2022
Sign up for 19A Freeland Avenue updates
Visit the Neilston Homes Information Centre
<
p style=”text-align:center”>If you’re keen to have a look around the Neilston Homes Information Centre, it’s located on 23 Freeland Ave, Mount Roskill, Auckland. Open Saturday & Sunday between 11am and 3pm.
Who owns the houses now, before sale? Who set the price? Do they get the profit? Is this how the market works?
Or should the government set the price?
If the price was set at $200,000 less, as you seem to be wanting, how long do you think the house would remain before going on the market for $200,000 more?
The government underwrites the development
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/389669/underwrite-triggered-more-unsold-kiwibuild-houses-bought-by-govt
https://www.interest.co.nz/property/103493/kiwibuild-stock-take-govt-currently-26-million-out-pocket-buying-and-selling
From my dealings there are no escalation clauses. I am not "wanting" the price to be $200k less. I am commenting that at the time the contract was signed to deliver this Kiwibuild the desired price point was maxed at $650k. So all calculations were based on that. So who pockets this $210k windfall??? And for your understanding THE GOVERNMENT DOES SET THE PRICE !!!!!
From below link "21 Our objective is to deliver quality, well-located homes that are inherently affordable, by virtue of their modest design, efficient land use and innovative production. That is, the market price for the homes should reflect the cost to build (including land) and an appropriate development margin, but should nonetheless still meet our desired price points."
When developers and contractors tender for Kiwi Build work that was well before construction commenced. Fixed $$ contracts. Now the price magically increased as I mentioned before land price was already set, subbies tenders were accepted (fixed price) so they was no change there that was when the max level was $650k.
https://www.hud.govt.nz/assets/Urban-Development/f093fc6b80/Proposal-Commencing-the-Implementation-of-KiwiBuild.pdf
So the government sets the price.
Who gets the profit? The government?
Who then builds $3.6 million worth of houses and so on. Is that how it works?
YES the government SETS the price – That is why we are progressively being told of the lift in Kiwi Build prices from $600k to $650 now $860k. Pity our minister has no idea as to what affordability is. $860k for a 1st home, she has NO IDEA of reality.
The government underwrite/tenders for completed developments. The developer then pockets any profit between the price sold and the cost to build. In this case $3.6M extra profit thanks to a minster's announcement, IMO she knew this was going to happen and JUST happened to make an announcement before these properties entered for tender. Yet the under writing from the government was 1-2 years ago, very questionable devious behaviour.
https://www.kiwibuild.govt.nz/about-kiwibuild/information-for-developers/
You’d better quickly e-mail Megan Woods because she forgot to increase the price of 14 other homes becoming exclusively available by ballot one day earlier to eligible KiwiBuild buyers. We, the Taxpayers, would miss potentially miss out on another $2.94million, which would be a real shame, wouldn’t it?
https://www.kiwibuild.govt.nz/available-homes/show/72/coronation-rise
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129329077/kiwibuild-will-be-more-expensive-but-housing-experts-say-thats-actually-good
She is crap at her job and understanding of the industry. And after 6 years (2012) in opposition telling us that Labour had the solutions. We find out that they made the Kiwibuild targets up was 50,000 but then decided 100,000 was a better number. Only to find out that a reset was in order. In other words Labour did not know and making FALSE promises and solutions, but to lie is ok in your books ??
But don't worry evidence is not what you are seeking with your 🙉🙊🙈 view on the world, and it is ok to WASTE taxpayer $$ that could be utilised into our health system, good to see your values !!!!. Perhaps you should email Megan to tell her what a wonderful job she is doing despite contrary evidence ???
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/113641010/how-kiwibuild-fell-down-and-whether-anything-can-be-saved-from-the-wreckage
LOL! You’re all over the place (aka unhinged). Woods reset KiwiBuild about 2 months after becoming Housing Minister, which suggests that she was and is actually very good at her job.
That ‘windfall’ is not going to go up in smoke in a bonfire; it will be used to build more KiwiBuild homes. The Government could set an even higher sale price but would then make it even harder for eligible KiwiBuild buyers, so they compromised. And it is not across the board, as my first link has already shown.
Please stop your whining.
There is no 'windfall' for the gov to reinvest in housing from increased caps …unless you want to count GST.
It does however place further support under overpriced housing.
Not my phraseology, see # 8.2 (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08-08-2022/#comment-1904232) and # 8.2.1.1 (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08-08-2022/#comment-1904248).
KiwiBuild homes are sold below median property price, apparently (cf. https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08-08-2022/#comment-1904255).
Wherever it comes from it demonstrates a lack of understanding of how Kiwibuild operates and what its objectives are supposed to be.
I’m sure it does. Why don’t you fill in some of the blanks for us and rebut the claims made by Herodotus?
It is an underwrite mechanism whereby the Gov agrees that any unsold properties that meet the kiwibuild criteria will be purchased by the Crown at the agreed price level so as to enable financing from the private sector….the fact they are (currently) below median pricing levels should be expected as first home buyers are not usually purchasing in the middle of the market but at entry level.
Raising the caps (especially in a declining market) simply puts a floor under prices as the gov is financially supporting both sides of the deal….contrary to the stated goal of more affordable housing.
Are you for real ?? "The Government could set an even higher sale price but would then make it even harder for eligible KiwiBuild buyers, so they compromised. Year $860k is really making many eligible 1st home buyers. Perhaps (like most Labour MP's) you need to enlarge your social circle from those elite privileged have try to get an understanding of what most kiwi's daily experiences are.
Your understanding of Kiwibuild is at best extremely limited. Educate yours before before throwing darts randomly.
I am sorry that you considering this as whining, I see from your comments that like many ministers you have no idea, and some advice Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
My social circle is hardly “elite privileged”, and you have already heavily speculated about my “🙉🙊🙈 view on the world” and my “values”, talking about “throwing darts randomly”.
However, I have indeed limited understanding of KiwiBuild, but even I know that an eligible KiwiBuild buyer is not necessarily a first-home buyer. The criteria clearly state that you must
If there are two or more buyers, regardless of the number of dependents, you must have a total before tax income from the last 12 months of $200,000 or less.
https://www.kiwibuild.govt.nz/assets/Downloadable-pdfs/KiwiBuild-Eligibility-Criteria-July-2022.pdf
The asset test was dropped, so an eligible KiwiBuild buyer can have a few million in the bank.
Why don’t you educate yourself before you start throwing darts randomly into your own feet in your mouth?
"However, I have indeed limited understanding of KiwiBuild, but even I know that an eligible KiwiBuild buyer is not necessarily a first-home buyer." – Yet your link from stuff refer ONLY to 1st home buyers !!!
Please re read my initial comments – They were centred on how subbies have been screwed by their contracts. At the time when the consent and the under writing were signed – was at a time when the $650k cap was in place. Everyone was working within this constraint to deliver the finished product for $650k. I know subbies and their staff delivered on their contractual obligations, and in some cases it cost them more than what they were paid; as they had to cope with increased costs, difficulty with covid, managing staff and issues with material availability, yet these additional costs were not able to be recovered. Then the price increases by $210k. So as I asked Who pocketed this? The developer ?? Because again, those small sub trades paid in terms of both financial and in their health. But you appear to miss that when throwing the darts !!!!
It will depend on the terms of the contract…I would expect that any development agreed to prior to the raised cap will be subject to the previous cap as agreed whereas subsequent contracts will be at the increased caps…so there will likely be no windfall, unless the Kiwibuild lawyers are incompetent…there may be a contingency clause .
It is important to remember it is an underwrite and only comes into effect IF the property is unsold.
Subbies will be treated as they always have been.
So??? Did I write that Stuff piece? Do you take everything you read in the newspaper at face value???
I doubt that you can turn your biased head around it, but this from the Stuff link again (did I write it???):
And
I hope that answered your question, but you can always play dart the donkey with your darts.
Inco still at your games of trying to divert from the point I was making !!!
We can see that there are those out there who couldn't give a crap about those who are suffering and I gather the government has rewarded the developer by increasing the kiwibuild ceiling. From "Private developers still make their normal margins on Kiwibuild houses and the government builds in an administrative margin of about 1 percent, Twyford said, so will sell them "basically at cost" As I have stated and you have ignored those supporting the build (subbies) who have been held to still deliver on a price. Yet the developer had also at the time entered a price that was to be delivered $650k. Subbies had no right to escalations, yet it appears the developer is selling at close to market rates – They are selling for $950k 3 bedrooms in the same development. But what do you care ? I believe is a valid concern that no one within govt has industry experience so has NO understanding to how unfair the kiwi build is to sub contractors.
I gather unlike you have not been involved in a kiwi build sub tender ? I have some industry involvement in the subject.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1806/S00712/twyford-hopes-kiwibuild-will-drive-down-construction-costs.htm?from-mobile=bottom-link-01
In a moment of abject weakness one evening last week I received a cold call from N Z Herald asking me to reconsider my subscription to their tawdry rag with a wee sweetner of a rediculously cheap price for the first 4 weeks, which I reluctantly accepted as there are some articles I would like to read, particularly by Simon Wilson. I've had a daily glance at it and I haven't been surprised by the same old, same old anti government rhetoric and have pretty much decided not to continue at the end of the 4 week period. Imagine my surprise this morning stumbling onto this opinion piece by the Christchurch Newstalk ZB morning host – I did wonder for a while whether he had walked into a door on his way to the studio, but as I hadn't heard of or ever listened to him, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/opinion-national-party-policy-is-any-job-better-than-no-job/35IIIA5L2QV6QS3U7AESXDKSNY/
If you’re based in Auckland, get an Auckland Library card, as explained by Stephen D (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19-07-2022/#comment-1900983).
From the link:
That's called Communism isn't it? Or something out of Mao Tse Tung's 'Little Red book".
That kind of simplistic thinking went out the door decades ago. He's a complete ignoramus – a dinosaur.
No. Communism is when the government takes everything you own and uses it to suppress you. Putting conditions around what the government gives you for doing precisely nothing is called good policy.
An arrogant right winger with a sense of entitlement and no sense of humour has found it's way onto this site. Waste of time and space.
Contrary to what some people think, I don't believe state dependency is a good thing. This government has turned a huge swathe of the population into being beneficiaries of state support. Some of those people are dead. Others were embarrassed to get it. Whatever, all state handouts should have conditions.
Just as well they all do. You do sound like a RW propagandist spouting meaningless waffle that’s deliberately misleading aka disinformation.
Same old National party … pick the candidate, and hope nobody finds out.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300656643/national-mp-sam-uffindell-asked-to-leave-prestigious-kings-college-after-violent-nighttime-attack-on-younger-boy
I should add if we were all judged by our actions as school kids then many of us would be apologising, me included.
But that's not the issue here. It's the adult decisions that matter. The failure to front up, to tell the story before the media (and before people vote). So, so stupid – and so very National.
being in a group of 16 yr olds bashing up a sleeping 13 yr old in an expensive private boarding school is a sign of many personalitiy defects. which has he overcome?
Not just National, possibly it's just more common from the right of the political spectrum. Don't forget David Garret from Act, he had apparently told Rodney Hide of his conviction prior to the election but nothing was disclosed to the public. That certainly accelerated Rodney's demise as leader.
Hypocrisy eh.. the missing middle name in the National….Party.
Sam Uffindell's description of himself being "stupid" when he was involved in beating up a younger student at Kings College in my mind very much downplays what was actually vicious bullying by a group attacking a much younger boy.
National really has history in the second rate candidates it picks. Do these candidates think they are such a cut above others they are entitled to behave however they like?
It was nasty behaviour but I don't think that is the main focus here. National would like it to be a story about school bullies decades ago, when it really should be about National's behaviour now.
To recap: Uffindell told the party hierarchy before he was selected. The party then told the public … nothing.
So either they thought it didn't matter, or they thought it wouldn't come out. Then Luxon was either not told, or he was told and has kept quiet.
Both options are very bad for National.
That incident could even be regarded by a National Party selection committee as a positive – as a willingness to 'punch down' seems to be a prerequisite for a National MP.
Luxon would have said: "Hey listen Sam, now that you are an MP you can deliver, have a plan, power up the vision, follow through and get results at scale. No need to whack kids with bed legs, you can make laws that have the same effect. Here in Nashnool we call it social investment."
You forgot the final bit: "its far more important to go forward not backward. Move on to the next chapter. After all we boys will be boys." followed by slap on back.
Bullies/thugs like Uffindell seems to have been, seldom have just one offence. And surely you wouldn't be sent down for one isolated event. Any other victims out there?
Is this Goodfellows last goodbye present to the National Party, another one of his exceptionally dodgy picks out of the damaged goods bin?. The crime here is not the historical stupidity and quite frankly appalling lack of judgement and restraint for even a 16 year old, but most alarmingly to paraphrase the Jesuits and Sheila Lashlie, “ Show me the boy and we’ll show you the man.”, but after being told by the Nat recruiters, Goodfellow no doubt, to clean up anything in the past he has the temerity and lack of honestly to lie about it.
I do notice as well that the rejunification of the Nats is going to plan by the new president looking old enough to have been exhumed from some medieval crypt.
No, I’m not being ageist, I’m 72, I don’t think anyone over 60 should be allowed to stand because it is not our world anymore and we old buggers should not be extending our reach further into the future, we’ve fucked it up enough as it is.
,
Bugger that – I am 72 as well and I am not about to hand over the future to a bunch of kids with purple hair and pronouns who cannot make even the simplest of decisions without crowdsourcing for the information on social media.
"Is this Goodfellows last goodbye present to the National Party, another one of his exceptionally dodgy picks out of the damaged goods bin?."
Oh no. I have it on excellent authority that there is one more candidate that Goodfellow has lined up. I believe it is the Duke of York?