Open mike 08/08/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 8th, 2022 - 118 comments
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step up to the mike …

118 comments on “Open mike 08/08/2022 ”

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  1. bwaghorn 1
    8 August 2022 at 6:23 am

    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.

    • RosieLee 1.1
      8 August 2022 at 6:43 am

      These "employers" must be named, shamed and prosecuted. It's also interesting to note the nationalities of these exploiters. Deport them.

      • Stuart Munro 1.1.1
        8 August 2022 at 9:47 am

        deported

        That's only thing that will deter them.

        • Descendant Of Smith 1.1.1.1
          8 August 2022 at 10:30 am

          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/

          • Mac1 1.1.1.1.1
            8 August 2022 at 11:12 am

            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?

            • Descendant Of Smith 1.1.1.1.1.1
              8 August 2022 at 1:00 pm

              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.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.2
      8 August 2022 at 7:08 am

      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’’.

      https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/grossly-underpaid-workers-threatened-bodily-harm

      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.

      https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/exploitation-migrants-revealed

      They also alleged Mr Samuel would swear at staff, and throw items around the kitchen after losing his temper.

      “In my last few weeks there I was just shaking the whole time.”

      https://www.odt.co.nz/business/bakery-environment-left-employee-%E2%80%98broken%E2%80%99

      Reckon I know who to believe ! The scumbag (if at all possible) should be booted out of NZ…..

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    8 August 2022 at 7:19 am

    National Party elects Sylvia Wood as new president

    She owns and runs an HR consultancy and is also a member of the Employment Law Institute and the Institute of Directors.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/472372/national-party-elects-sylvia-wood-as-new-president

    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 !

    • Tiger Mountain 2.1
      8 August 2022 at 8:42 am

      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.

      • Jenny how to get there 2.1.1
        8 August 2022 at 5:50 pm

        "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'.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1.2
        9 August 2022 at 8:14 am

        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.

        Keep up the Fight !

    • Visubversa 2.2
      8 August 2022 at 9:06 am

      "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.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.2.1
        9 August 2022 at 8:02 am

        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.

  4. alwyn 4
    8 August 2022 at 9:43 am

    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

    • aj 4.1
      8 August 2022 at 10:44 am

      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.

      "don't spend it all at once"

      https://twitter.com/ClintVSmith/status/1556375880787984384?cxt=HHwWgIDU9cLnrZkrAAAA

      • Bearded Git 4.1.1
        8 August 2022 at 10:57 am

        I wonder in which of his 7 houses Luxon wrote the policy to attack beneficiaries.

        • Incognito 4.1.1.1
          8 August 2022 at 11:13 am

          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.

    • LibertyBelle 4.2
      8 August 2022 at 10:59 am

      I suspect Ms Sepuloni is auditioning for opposition.smiley

      • Bearded Git 4.2.1
        8 August 2022 at 11:09 am

        The latest Roy Morgan has a Lab/Green/MP government, and that is before Jacinda destroys Luxon in the campaign.

        • Robert Guyton 4.2.1.1
          8 August 2022 at 11:23 am

          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.

          • Mac1 4.2.1.1.1
            8 August 2022 at 12:39 pm

            'exposed bits'? Please, Robert, spare us the vision. His bald pate is exposure enough…..

          • JO 4.2.1.1.2
            8 August 2022 at 2:18 pm

            '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.

            • Robert Guyton 4.2.1.1.2.1
              8 August 2022 at 2:29 pm

              He'll try to come in from the sun, like the kamikaze pilots did …

              … oh, hang on!

        • Alan 4.2.1.2
          8 August 2022 at 11:25 am

          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!!

          • Robert Guyton 4.2.1.2.1
            8 August 2022 at 11:29 am

            Contrast with National's campaign –

            "Shambles, shambles, shambles, shambles, shambles, shambles…."

            Crickets…

            Small dogs yapping…

          • LibertyBelle 4.2.1.2.2
            8 August 2022 at 11:40 am

            They have the dead peoples vote though.smiley

            • Mac1 4.2.1.2.2.1
              8 August 2022 at 11:55 am

              LibertyBelle, you might have to enlarge on that statement?

              • Incognito …
                8 August 2022 at 12:03 pm

                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”.

                https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/129491190/cost-of-living-payment-paid-to-people-on-working-holidays-who-have-left-nz

                • LibertyBelle …
                  8 August 2022 at 12:27 pm

                  I think David Parker has a similar sense of humour to minesmiley

                • Mac1 …
                  8 August 2022 at 12:35 pm

                  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.

                  • LibertyBelle …
                    8 August 2022 at 1:17 pm

                    David Parker is one of the very few competent current labour party ministers. That he has a sharp wit is a bonus!

                  • LibertyBelle …
                    8 August 2022 at 2:49 pm

                    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.

            • Visubversa 4.2.1.2.2.2
              8 August 2022 at 12:22 pm

              Is this out of the "Trumpist Dogwhistles 'r Us" publication for beginners?

          • Bearded Git 4.2.1.2.3
            8 August 2022 at 11:43 am

            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…..

            • Mac1 4.2.1.2.3.1
              8 August 2022 at 11:57 am

              Well said, Bearded Git.

            • alwyn 4.2.1.2.3.2
              8 August 2022 at 12:24 pm

              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.

              • Mac1 …
                8 August 2022 at 1:53 pm

                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…..

              • KJT …
                8 August 2022 at 2:47 pm

                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.

                • Poission …
                  8 August 2022 at 3:11 pm

                  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.

                • LibertyBelle …
                  8 August 2022 at 4:44 pm

                  '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.

                  • Incognito …
                    8 August 2022 at 5:28 pm

                    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 😉

                    • LibertyBelle …
                      8 August 2022 at 9:49 pm

                      History not of any interest to you?

                      Edit – ooops yes I see what I did. Apologies, fourth Labour government.

                  • Brigid …
                    8 August 2022 at 6:33 pm

                    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.

                    • KJT …
                      8 August 2022 at 7:50 pm

                      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.

                • LibertyBelle …
                  8 August 2022 at 9:56 pm

                  "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.

              • Craig H …
                8 August 2022 at 5:43 pm

                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).

        • LibertyBelle 4.2.1.3
          8 August 2022 at 11:29 am

          See Alan's comment below.

        • Stuart Munro 4.2.1.4
          8 August 2022 at 11:30 am

          She would never be so cruel.

          She will strive not to smile while he destroys himself.

        • LibertyBelle 4.2.1.5
          8 August 2022 at 10:11 pm

          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?

    • Incognito 4.3
      8 August 2022 at 1:48 pm

      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?

      • alwyn 4.3.1
        8 August 2022 at 2:13 pm

        Has Ms Sepuloni been heard from again?

        Something like "What I meant to say was that I completely agree with the Prime Minister".

        • Incognito 4.3.1.1
          8 August 2022 at 2:22 pm

          Who was being interviewed on Morning Report? What/where was the contradiction? Hint: it’s all in your head.

          • alwyn 4.3.1.1.1
            8 August 2022 at 2:43 pm

            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.

            • Drowsy M. Kram 4.3.1.1.1.1
              8 August 2022 at 2:58 pm

              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."

              https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/472399/national-s-welfare-plan-over-simplified-and-out-of-touch-opposing-parties-say

            • Incognito 4.3.1.1.1.2
              8 August 2022 at 3:02 pm

              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.”

              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

  5. Robert Guyton 5
    8 August 2022 at 11:37 am

    "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

  6. timbeau 6
    8 August 2022 at 1:34 pm

    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?

  8. Herodotus 8
    8 August 2022 at 1:55 pm

    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

    • joe90 8.1
      8 August 2022 at 2:07 pm

      So Megan Woods who has pocketed this $210,000 on each 3 bdroom and why was this allowed ?????

      You could ask Minister rather than JAQing off. Her contact details are online.

    • Herodotus 8.2
      8 August 2022 at 2:09 pm

      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.

      • Mac1 8.2.1
        8 August 2022 at 3:10 pm

        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?

        • Herodotus 8.2.1.1
          8 August 2022 at 3:29 pm

          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

          • Mac1 8.2.1.1.1
            8 August 2022 at 3:41 pm

            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?

            • Herodotus 8.2.1.1.1.1
              8 August 2022 at 4:15 pm

              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/

              • Incognito …
                8 August 2022 at 4:25 pm

                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

                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.

                https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129329077/kiwibuild-will-be-more-expensive-but-housing-experts-say-thats-actually-good

                • Herodotus …
                  8 August 2022 at 5:00 pm

                  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

                  • Incognito …
                    8 August 2022 at 5:44 pm

                    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.

                    • pat …
                      8 August 2022 at 6:11 pm

                      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.

                    • pat …
                      8 August 2022 at 6:30 pm

                      Wherever it comes from it demonstrates a lack of understanding of how Kiwibuild operates and what its objectives are supposed to be.

                    • Incognito []
                      8 August 2022 at 6:32 pm

                      I’m sure it does. Why don’t you fill in some of the blanks for us and rebut the claims made by Herodotus?

                    • pat …
                      8 August 2022 at 6:43 pm

                      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.

                    • Herodotus …
                      8 August 2022 at 6:59 pm

                      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.

                    • Incognito []
                      9 August 2022 at 5:49 pm

                      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.

                      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?

                  • Herodotus …
                    9 August 2022 at 7:18 pm

                    "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 !!!!

                    • pat …
                      9 August 2022 at 7:35 pm

                      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.

                    • Incognito …
                      9 August 2022 at 8:49 pm

                      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.

                    • Herodotus …
                      9 August 2022 at 9:18 pm

                      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

  9. Jilly Bee 9
    8 August 2022 at 3:15 pm

    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/

    • Incognito 9.1
      8 August 2022 at 3:35 pm

      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).

    • Anne 9.2
      8 August 2022 at 4:04 pm

      From the link:

      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.

      • LibertyBelle 9.2.1
        8 August 2022 at 10:18 pm

        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.

        • Anne 9.2.1.1
          8 August 2022 at 11:12 pm

          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.

          • LibertyBelle 9.2.1.1.1
            8 August 2022 at 11:19 pm

            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.

            • Incognito 9.2.1.1.1.1
              9 August 2022 at 8:37 am

              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.

  10. observer 10
    8 August 2022 at 3:26 pm

    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.

    • woodart 10.1
      8 August 2022 at 4:35 pm

      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?

    • William 10.2
      8 August 2022 at 7:57 pm

      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.

  11. Adrian 11
    8 August 2022 at 3:45 pm

    Hypocrisy eh.. the missing middle name in the National….Party.

  12. Reality 12
    8 August 2022 at 4:28 pm

    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?

    • observer 12.1
      8 August 2022 at 4:38 pm

      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.

      • Barfly 12.1.1
        8 August 2022 at 4:45 pm

        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.

      • AB 12.1.2
        8 August 2022 at 5:19 pm

        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."

        • Anne 12.1.2.1
          8 August 2022 at 5:48 pm

          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.

      • RosieLee 12.1.3
        8 August 2022 at 6:32 pm

        yes

    • ianmac 12.2
      8 August 2022 at 7:54 pm

      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?

  13. Adrian 13
    8 August 2022 at 6:03 pm

    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.

    ,

    • Visubversa 13.1
      8 August 2022 at 8:22 pm

      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.

    • LibertyBelle 13.2
      8 August 2022 at 10:30 pm

      "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?smiley

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  • Pretending to talk other people’s languages
    Fakes can come in many forms.A Rolex, for instance.A tan can be fake. Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • What’s new? A social agency with an emphasis on “investment” instead of “wellbeing” – b...
    Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Following the political money
    Bryce Edwards writes –    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Hipkins would rather no one remember that he was Minister of Education
    Alwyn Poole writes –  After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Fashionable follies
    Eric Crampton writes –  A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Justice for Bainimarama!
    In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • March for Nature in June
    Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Thursday May 9
    Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The non-woke $3 Lunch.
    I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Labour’s chickens come home to roost
    The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Calvin Reviews Lord of The Rings
    Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Climate Adam: How to visualise Climate Change (ft. Katharine Hayhoe)
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • The wrong direction
    Some good news on climate change today: the energy transition away from fossil fuels is picking up speed, and renewables now make up 30% of global electricity supply. Meanwhile, in Aotearoa, we're moving in the opposite direction, with Genesis Energy announcing that it will resume importing Indonesian coal. Their official ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • National hates democracy
    Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • No Tikanga Please, We're Lawyers.
    Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Member’s Day
    Today is a Member's Day, and it seems we've entered the slowdown as things emerge from select committee. First up is the committee stage of Greg O'Connor's Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the second readings of Stuart ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Hurrah for coal – Shane Jones welcomes Genesis Energy’s import plans as natural gas production s...
    Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Following the political money
    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • A Left-Right ranking of universities in NZ: a practical guide for students and parents
    Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim. Extreme Left   Auckland University of Technology Evidence The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  •  Inflation and GST thresholds
    Eric Crampton writes –  I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes –  Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • A law school to be avoided – Auckland University of Technology
    Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • 17 people in Malaita stand in way of China’s takeover of the Solomons
    Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the Hamas Ceasefire Offer, and Mark Mitchell’s Incompetence
    With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Wednesday May 8
    Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • A few PT announcements
    There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – Tree ring proxies and the divergence problem
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Nothing to sneer at
    Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Still on their bullshit
    When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Drawn
    A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • A nod and a wink that will unnecessarily cost Aucklanders tens of millions per year
    Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Correcting the Corrections announcement – a fiscal farce that should bother the OECD
     Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  •  Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into ‘Pillar 2’ – or they are going to China
    Chris Trotter writes –  Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • A balanced and an unbalanced article
    David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Deeply unserious country
    Every bit of this seems insane. And people wonder why productivity is falling through the floor. Energy News reports that the Environment Court finally threw out Allan Crafar’s appeal against a solar farm. From the story: Consent was granted in 2022. Crafar appealed November 2022. On what grounds? That ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students
    The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…  Gary Judd KC writes –  I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/?p=77196
    The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, May 7
    TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • HM Prison Aotearoa.
    A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Get Your Webworm Merch!
    Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Top OECD economist puts Willis between a rock and a hard place
    The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Media Link: “A View from Afar” on the moment of friction, and more.
    After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago

  • Preposterous priorities – politicians preferred pastry
    Newsroom writer Aaron Smale, in an article triggered by the High Court’s ruling on whether a sitting MP must respond to a summons to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal, reports on issues underpinning the tribunal’s urgent inquiry into the Government’s intention to remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs less
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Report provides insights into marine recovery
    New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ to send political delegation to the Pacific
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.   The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.    “New Zealand has deep and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Low gas production threatens energy security
    There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co.  Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Defence industry talent, commitment recognised
    Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry
    Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data Summit
    It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.  I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Ceasefire agreement needed now: Peters
    New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Daily school attendance data now available
    A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour.  The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Ambassador to United States appointed
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America.    “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says.    “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New permit proposed for recreational gold mining
    The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiations
    Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to sign
    New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Next stop NASA for New Zealand students
    Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • $1.9 billion investment to keep NZ safe from crime
    New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • OECD reinforces need to control spending
    The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for Auckland
    The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Gaza and the Pacific on the agenda with Germany
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today.    "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Decision allows for housing growth in Western Bay of Plenty
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to New Zealand China Council
    Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.    Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi households
    The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government recommits to equal pay
    The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Transforming how our children learn to read
    Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.  “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
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