Open mike 08/10/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 8th, 2022 - 77 comments
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77 comments on “Open mike 08/10/2022 ”

  1. bwaghorn 1

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/129996098/the-covid-cloud-and-the-silver-lining-was-change-possible

    Pandemic as a portal?

    Re imagineing money?

    A hefty read for your breakfast.

  2. bwaghorn 2

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130102321/max-rashbrooke-sacrificing-50000-workers-on-the-altar-of-inflation-is-madness

    Max Rashbrooke ripping into the arsholes that think we need to chuck 50.000 people on the scrap heap so rich people get to keep spending?

    Go support stuff by the way ,they are doing tremendous work

    • pat 2.1

      Rashbrooke touches on the solution (or at least the best available chance) when he mentions taxation….our domestic inflation can be controlled by taxing that which we want more of less and vice versa, especially if it is progressive.

      Until we openly recognise that 'work' (output) is what supports an economy we will continue to fail…..and speculation isnt 'work' as much as those engaged in it will claim otherwise….make work rewarding (again)

      • mikesh 2.1.1

        “.and speculation isnt 'work' as much as those engaged in it will claim otherwise”

        I don't think anyone is claiming that. There are some, mostly supporters of capital gains taxes, who claim that gains from speculation constitute "income". However those gains are offset by losses on the part of buyers, so don't affect the money supply.

        • pat 2.1.1.1

          Define 'money'…they certainly impact the supply of credit as we have witnessed.

          • mikesh 2.1.1.1.1

            So it is excessive bank lending that is the problem, not the speculation. All I can say is: "so what else is new"

            • bwaghorn 2.1.1.1.1.1

              Finally, some else who think it's the banks that cause housing inflation. it's always sheeted home to the market or the buyers.

              • arkie

                Without a market or buyers speculating how would a bank cause housing price inflation?

                They all play a role.

                Everyone involved is seeking to maximise their return and as pat intimated, the whole process provides very little benefit to the rest of us.

                • bwaghorn

                  Na ,you go get a mortgage the bank tells you how much you can go to on a given property, if they were limited to lending at no more than inflation then house prices couldn't rocket out of control and investors would need to be in it for long term rental profits instead of going for massive capital gain.

                  Houses generally double in price every 10 years, its ridiculous

                  • Cricklewood

                    It's also what helped screw us with dairy, banks happily lending way to much for conversions etc valuing farms based on very high prices for milk solids and outputs based on heaps of fert, irrigation and supplemental feed… the bank doesnt care the bigger the mortgage the more interest paid amd the better their balance sheet.

                    Dangerously close to irresponsible lending if you ask me…

                • mikesh

                  TOP is suggesting a 100% loan to value ratio for rental purposes. This would mean that an intending landlord would not be able to enter the market unless he already owned an available freehold property, or had sufficient funds to be able to purchase one without borrowing. I think he has plagiarized one or two of my earlier comments.

            • Patricia Bremner 2.1.1.1.1.2

              Mikkesh.sadFlippant and fact free.

              Banks and finance companies loan to those with assets and perpetuate a bad system. Greedy asset holders are the problem…they seek out the loans to add to their already large asset bases and inflate asset values.

              A few who have over reached are being impacted by the current credit squeeze and interest rises and revision of values against other commodities.

              Banks and Finance Companies are complicit, but not the whole problem, but are the conduit for Asset Owner's GREED.

              • mikesh

                Patricia

                The process you refer to cannot happen unless finance is available for your so called "greedy asset holders" to access.

                The process is a circular one. The more the banks lend against property the more prices rise, and the more interest the banks earn. And the more prices rise the more money the banks can lend. To put a stop to the process we need to curtail bank lending. We can't blame "greedy asset holders" for taking advantage of the situation as it exists.

                Alternatively we could try to discourage them by making property investment less attractive, e.g. by taxing property ownership.

      • Nic the NZer 2.1.2

        Monetarism: Your soaking in it.

        Shrinking demand via taxation has most of the same problems as shrinking demand via monetary policy. NZs price hikes are due to supply side factors, coming from overseas or are otherwise related to market structure.

        It's possible to shrink the demand side down to match the supply side while that's going on, but its pretty socially destructive. It also damages your economic resilience and productivity for once supply side inflationary pressures abate.

        If domestic inflation was coming from the demand side the understanding would be different.

        • pat 2.1.2.1

          "Shrinking demand via taxation has most of the same problems as shrinking demand via monetary policy."

          And there is your mistake….it depends upon the target of the taxation.

          What is fuelling the RBNZ fear of a price/wage spiral?…the pressures exerted by overpriced assets (property) on both labour and inputs.

          It is not the working poor that are continuing to support the higher prices in NZ…as Rashbrooke notes "If there genuinely is excess cash, it sits in the hands of the well-off. But current policies don’t target them. "

    • Bearded Git 2.2

      The Reserve Bank has to take into account unemployment as well as inflation as part of its remit.

      Rashbrooke's solutions are a bit waffly for me, though he is right about raising interest rates being a blunt tool and in terms of higher pay for workers being seen as a good thing rather than being seen as a cost to business.

      • bwaghorn 2.2.1

        So you think we should raise the unemployment rate to curb inflation?

        • Bearded Git 2.2.1.1

          No. The RB remit has to take into account rising unemployment/the level of employment. If unemployment is judged to be rising too quickly interest rate rises would have to be smaller or even reversed.

          • Incognito 2.2.1.1.1

            The RBNZ should talk to INZ so that that we can open the borders asap and flood the labour markets with poorly checked cheap labour from who-cares. Oh wait, that sounds remarkably similar to National’s second bullet point on their PowerPoint slide that they call Plan for Aotearoa 2023-2024 with the footnote saying We are better managers of the egonomy.

    • Nic the NZer 2.3

      That's an excellent link.

      The better understood, how these policies are supposed to work, are the easier to point out the assumptions involved (such as the assumption, not recorded in the data, that median NZ wages are too high and driving inflation).

      • bwaghorn 2.3.1

        I thought Mr Rashbrooke would be a good fit for the TOP

        • Nic the NZer 2.3.1.1

          Is that the same TOP under which Gareth Morgan proposed taking 1/3 of beneficiaries income and redistributing it to everybody else as a bonus (called UBI sans welfare). Mr Rashbrooke seems more socially responsible than that, to me.

        • Incognito 2.3.1.2

          I think that he's absolutely fine where he is and continue his excellent work outside of Parliament and most certainly not sell his soul to some political cult party.

          • bwaghorn 2.3.1.2.1

            Are they all cults or just top? They come across as more progressive than any other and not blinded by ideology like the rest. although to be honest I haven't given them much attention of late.

  3. Jenny are we there yet 3

    From the Kremlin mouthpiece RT

    30 Sep, 2021 14:53

    Russia puts Bellingcat partner Dobrokhotov on wanted list: Journalist is accused of illegally crossing state border into Ukraine

    The Russian authorities have put Roman Dobrokhotov, the founder of online publication The Insider, on the country’s wanted list, after he fled the country by allegedly illegally crossing the border to Ukraine’s Lugansk region…..

    ….Dobrokhotov was placed on a wanted list after apparently fleeing Russia by crossing the border to Ukraine’s Lugansk region. At the same time, the police raided his parents’ home, and brought his wife in for questioning.

    Following the charges, he announced that he had “had every right to leave the territory of Russia,” despite his passport being seized, calling the criminal case a means of pressuring his relatives.

    https://www.rt.com/russia/536262-russia-puts-dobrokhotov-wanted-list/

    How about that? Last week, 'The Russian authorities' didn't consider the territory of Lugansk, to be part of Russia. This week Putin claimed Lugansk is part of Russia.

    Will the Russian authorities be dropping the charges of illegally crossing into a foreign country brought against Russian journalist Roman Dobrokhotov?

    Somehow, I don't think so.

    • mikesh 3.1

      I don't watch RT, but I suspect that crossing an imaginary border is not the real reason he has been placed on a wanted list.

      • Jenny are we there yet 3.1.1

        In my opinion Mikesh, Roman Dobrokhotov is one of the few people to have crossed the Ukrainian border legally in recent times.

        Guilty of crossing this border illegally, 200,000 Russian troops who illegally crossed this border on February 24, 2022.

        We will see how ‘imaginary’ this border is Mikesh, when they are forcibly pushed back over it.

        • mikesh 3.1.1.1

          As the song says;

          Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Que sera, sera.

          • Jenny are we there yet 3.1.1.1.1

            I can recall that even as a child I remember feeling the saying and song that people have no control over their fate was terribly depressing and fatalistic.
            The opposite is true.
            Ukraine's victory is not fated. It is hard won.

            He tangata, He tangata, He Tangata.

            https://commons.com.ua/en/yak-inozemni-livi-dopomagayut-ukrayini-u-vijni/?

            The future is ours to win.

            • mikesh 3.1.1.1.1.1

              It is hard won.

              Sure. With American weapons, which the Russians seem unable to match. I think the latter will eventually have to resort to their own nuclear weapons in order to defend themselves.

              • Jenny are we there yet

                '

                "….With American weapons, which the Russians seem unable to match." Mikesh

                It is not just the weapons that Russians seem unable to match.

                The willingness to fight and die in Putin’s war, is also something that the Russians are unable to match.

                And as for the American weapons. The people of Ukraine would fight the Russians with sticks and stones if they had to.

                "The arc of history is long but it bends towards justice" Martin Luther King

                All the American weapons have done is shortened the arc of history.

              • Jenny are we there yet

                '

                "….I think the latter will eventually have to resort to their own nuclear weapons in order to defend themselves." Mikesh

                This war is not Russia defending 'themselves', Mikesh.
                Invading and forcibly occupying territory of a neighbouring sovereign country is not defence.

                Mikesh calling for Russia to use nuclear weapons to prevail in this aggression. Is to call for genocide.

                Nuclear weapons are the ultimate weapon of genocide. Killing far more people in less time than any other previous invented method. No need for messy cattle cars or the construction of complex networks of death camps and crematoria.

                Committing and calling for genocide is the hallmark of fascists.

                This is what the Ukrainian people of the Donbas think of people like you and your dirty ilk.

      • aj 3.1.2

        Its not possible to watch RT. In the interest of monopoly propaganda from the West, many alternative sources have been banned, not only from TV but also YouTube and Twitter.

        • Jenny are we there yet 3.1.2.1

          Just google RT and you can watch RT content till your eyes bleed.

        • joe90 3.1.2.2

          RT is streaming live on it's own platform. Right now they're crying about a bridge.

          • Jenny are we there yet 3.1.2.2.1

            As Ukraine advances into Kherson threaten to close the land bridge to Crimea, and with the sea bridge gone. Crimea is about to become physically cut off from Russia.

            I suspect many of the inhabitants of Crimea will be secretly renewing their Ukrainian passports.

  4. PsyclingLeft.Always 4

    RNZ : Guyon Espiner

    For years, Lotto pitched certain stores as "lucky". They weren't. In fact, the chances of becoming a problem gambler far outweigh the chances of winning a big Powerball prize.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/474779/how-nzers-bought-the-lotto-dream

    Government under pressure to change law as 9-year-olds buy Lotto tickets

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/474574/government-under-pressure-to-change-law-as-9-year-olds-buy-lotto-tickets

    And this spin from the ODT? As if lotto needs any free feelgood stories?

    The secret life of New Zealand's kindest Lotto winner

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/secret-life-new-zealands-kindest-lotto-winner

  5. John Irving 5

    King Charles III Conflicted Head of The Commonweath

    Why hasn’t Jacinda, Anthony and Justine (along with the other PMs of 13 Kingly states) stood up to Lizz Truss and insisted that the Head of the Commonwealth, that includes NZ, Australia, and Canada along with 54 other independent states, should be allowed to represent our collective views at COP27. Apparently, Liz’s decision was made is because she has appointed a Climate Denier Jacob Rees-Mogg as her UK Environmental Minister, and she doesn’t want to be embarrassed by her King’s views on the world stage. On the other hand, Global Warning is a serious international issue, Charles III is our King and head of the Commonwealth and apparently well qualified to represent smaller states that are anxious about the impacts of climate change. Moreover in 1961 our former Queen set a precedent for independent action by ignoring Thatcher’s “advice” not a to attend the Commonwealth conference on Apartheid, danced with the PM of Ghana and thereby “saved” the Commonwealth from breaking up. The question we might ask ourselves, if Liz has so much power over our present head of state why do we bother keeping him on?

  6. Janet 6

    No comments have been facilitated for this article in this morning’s NZ Herald.

    Wondering what Kiwi reaction is.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/long-standing-use-of-russian-fishing-crews-on-new-zealand-flagged-boats-raises-questions-as-war-rages-in-ukraine/7ZH2R567XTS7JACL66ALSNHAJ4/

    “ the use of Crimean crews amounted to "indirect sponsorship of Russia's war crimes".

    “there are doubts over the towns and addresses on their official documentation, which places them as being from the Russian Federation and not other contested regions currently, or historically, fought over.

    Crimea is an annexed Ukrainian state so if they were Crimean born not Russian, no problem.

    “Sources claim the crews are "aggressively pro-war and pro-Putin", it's alleged, broadcasting Russian "propaganda" on the fishing boats and allegedly "mandated" to hang Putin's portrait in the galley and wardroom”.

    This activity needs banning on a NZ registered boat until Russia stops its aggression in the Ukraine.

    • Graeme 6.1

      Let's see how many get on the plane to go home when their contract ends.

      They'd all be liable for conscription so would be quite pleased to be tucked away down south for the duration. And is Uncle Vlad's portrait hanging the right way up for here or up north.

    • weston 6.2

      Russians on fishing boats etc

      Yes Janet important too to continue keeping Russian cats out of cat shows also , we shouldnt let our high standards slip by golly !!

      • weka 6.2.1

        Dude, your text box.

        • Drowsy M. KramTak, comrade, never liked Russian fudge as much as the chocolate kind – hope sanctions kick in before the school gala. Rooting for the underdog of the moment. 6.2.1.1

          Sorry weka, I copied the text of my comment before deleting it, and then tried to paste the copied text into a new comment – must have pasted in the wrong place.

    • mikesh 6.3

      I'm sure Russia would be more than happy to talk peace with the Ukrainian government. However the latter seems more interested in saving face rather than agreeing to peace talks. In any case I'm pretty sure Mr Biden would not allow it.

    • Stuart Munro 6.4

      Should've been banned decades ago on legal grounds – they pay illegally low wages – which is the whole point.

      Contemporary NZ politicians are however utterly corrupt. "Slave & trafficked workers? Have as many as you like!" they say. As long as they're off camera, that is.

    • mikesh 6.5

      Crimea is an annexed Ukrainian state so if they were Crimean born not Russian, no problem.

      The majority of Crimea's citizenry are ethnic Russians. From 1954 to the end of the soviet era Crimea was administered from Ukraine, but that did not imply that it "belonged" to Ukraine. I think it was a separate oblast within the soviet system and doubt whether Russia acquiesced in a transfer of ownership – though of course I could be wrong. After the soviet collapse Yeltsin may have handed it over, though I doubt whether Putin would have agreed to a handover had he been in power at the time.

      In 2014 a referendum indicated that a majority of its citizens did not want to be part of Ukraine. It has been suggested that the referendum was phony, but this has never been proved, and foreign observers present in Crimea at the time seemed to think that the result was kosher. This was the basis for Russia's annexation, though the real reason was that ownership of the territory was important for Russia’s defense.

  7. Jenny are we there yet 7

    Another hurdle to overcome for life to emerge has been discovered.

    Waterfalls.

    Some worlds like Saturn's 6th moon Enceladus, may be covered in deep oceans. But without waterfalls, (and land), the emergence of life may not be possible.

    …..amino peptides can spontaneously generate in droplets of water during the quick reactions that happen when water meets the atmosphere, such as when a waterfall crashes down to a rock and the spray is lifted into the air…

    ….Basically, for life to form, it needs water, but also the loss of some water.

    Cooks explained this “water paradox,” to VICE. “The water paradox is the contradiction between (i) the very considerable evidence that the chemical reactions leading to life occurred in the prebiotic ocean and (ii) the thermodynamic constraint against exactly these (water loss) reactions occurring in water….

    ….tiny droplets flying through the air or sliding down rocks, interacting with the air and forming quick chemical reactions. “The rates of reactions in droplets are anywhere from a hundred to a million times faster than the same chemicals reacting in bulk solution,” said Cooks.

    This speedy chemical reactions do not require a catalyst to begin the reaction, which made the evolution of life on Earth possible. The team used “droplet fusion” experiments to reconstruct the possible formation of peptides, that simulate how water droplets collide in the air.

    https://www.popsci.com/science/water-peptide-life-earth/?

    Add this to the growing mountain of evidence already collected, points toward the conclusion that except for this small corner, the universe is as inanimate as it is vast.

    So look after it.

  8. Ad 8

    2 minutes to votes close

  9. Mat Simpson 9

    " Auckland Action Against Poverty is one of those groups with on-the-ground experience, and co-chair Agnes Magele said the report did not give the full picture.

    " She said the government's decisions and actions were partly to blame for keeping people locked in poverty "

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/476277/child-poverty-report-stokes-demands-for-stronger-government-action

  10. joe90 10

    https://twitter.com/NobelPrize/status/1578309539870318603

    Previously on TS

    The Chekist thug has memory-holed his predecessors' atrocities.

    Liquidation of the International Memorial

    12/28/2021

    On December 28, 2021, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decided to liquidate the International Memorial.

    The formal reason stated in the suit of the General Prosecutor's Office is the absence of the label “foreign agent” on some materials. During the hearing, the inconsistency of these claims was clearly demonstrated.

    But today, the court finally named not a formal reason, but the real reason for the liquidation of the International Memorial: the General Prosecutor's Office claims that we are misinterpreting Soviet history, “creating a false image of the USSR as a terrorist state,” “lashing out criticism at the state authorities”. And the state, according to our opponents, is beyond criticism.

    The decision of the Supreme Court once again confirmed that the history of political terror organized and directed by the state authorities remains for Russia not an academic topic of interest only to specialists, but an acute problem of our time. Our country needs an honest and conscientious reflection on the Soviet past; this is the guarantee of her future. It is ridiculous to believe that the judicial liquidation of International Memorial will remove this issue from the agenda. The entire Russian society needs to remember the tragedies of the past. And not only Russian: the memory of state terror unites all the former Soviet republics.

    Of course, we will challenge the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in all ways available to us. And we will find legitimate ways to continue our work. A memorial is not an organization, it is not even a social movement. The memorial is the need of the citizens of Russia for the truth about its tragic past, about the fate of many millions of people. And no one will be able to "eliminate" this need.

    google translation

    https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-29-12-2021/#comment-1847006

    • joe90 10.1

      Today is Poot's 70th. Awarding prizes to a human rights group that he shut down, a Ukrainian rights group documenting his war crimes and a Belarusian rights activist imprisoned by his bestie Lukashenko.

      Genius.

    • mikesh 10.2

      I don't see why the protesters should be awarded the peace prize when they have not succeeded in bringing about an actual peace in Ukraine. The award in this case seems to be just a gimmick to further demonize Russia. Protesters against the Vietnam war were not awarded the peace prize; but of course in that conflict it was the USA and its supporters that were being protested against.

  11. Drowsy M. Kram 11

    Phew, back to ‘normal’ blush

  12. tsmithfield 12

    BREAKING NEWS

    A defining moment in the Ukraine war.

    The Kerch bridge has been taken down. Putin will be pissed. For those who don't know, the Kerch bridge is a key component of the logistics network for getting supplies to the army from Russia and through Crimea.

    • Stuart Munro 12.1

      So… the Crimean pocket is being closed.

      Yet another demonstration of the gifted strategic response of Ukraine to Russian terrorism.

        • tsmithfield 12.1.1.1

          The rail bridge looks unusable due distortion of the metal and likely weakening of reinforcing steel in the rail bridge concrete. Also, I imagine the extreme heat would weld the train wheels to the tracks. So, clearing the train off the bridge is not going to be easy.

          • Stuart Munro 12.1.1.1.1

            I imagine a lot of foreign folk in Kherson, Crimea and Zaporizhzhia are thinking pretty hard about their lines of retreat.

            • tsmithfield 12.1.1.1.1.1

              I am expecting the expected offensive towards Melitopol to start straight away now. It would be a great move to have the Russians fighting on three fronts while their logistics are stuffed.

  13. tsmithfield 13

    A video of the blast. Quite clearly a truck exploding.

    https://twitter.com/GirkinGirkin/status/1578634672753762306

    • weka 13.1

      I fixed the link. If you link to the person's twitter account, the tweet gets lost in the embed as new tweets are posted. Instead, click on the date/time stamp of the tweet you are referring to, then copy and paste the URL.

    • Stuart Munro 13.2

      The span has collapsed. Crimean Bridge Collapses! – YouTube

      • tsmithfield 13.2.2

        From a supply point of view, the key thing will be how badly the rail bridge is damaged. Obviously the train will need to be cleared off. But it might not simply roll off because the heat will have distorted the metal of the rails and the wheels, and may have even welded the rails to some of the wheels if the fire was hot enough. Then, likely rails will need to be replaced.

        So, in the best case, I would say the rail bridge will be out of action for at least a week. But if the heat has damaged the integrity of the bridge itself, then it could be out a lot longer.

        • Stuart Munro 13.2.2.1

          That bridge also pipes water and electricity to Crimea – albeit not enough. As Kherson falls, those utilities are likely to be in short supply.

          The big engineers in the region are Ukraine, not Russia. They built both the Moskva and the Admiral Kuznetsov. A massive floating crane can likely fix the rail part rapidly (about a month) if Russia still have one. I think they're going to have a few too many problems however.

          • tsmithfield 13.2.2.1.1

            A month should be long enough. If the Ukrainians start the third front towards Melitopol the stress on the remaining Russian logistics could be too much.

            The Ukrainians are putting major stress on the Russian logistics in the north at the moment as well. So, I think this is definitely a major turning point in the war.

    • weka 13.3

      it's odd it's being reported as a collapse rather than that someone blew it up. Is it too soon to know what happened officially?

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  • NZDF is still hostile to oversight
    Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Winding Back The Hands Of History’s Clock.
    Holding On To The Present: The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
    1 day ago
  • Sweet Moderation? What Christopher Luxon Could Learn From The Germans.
    Stuck In The Middle With You: As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
    1 day ago
  • A clear warning
    The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Poll results and Waitangi Tribunal report go unmentioned on the Beehive website – where racing tru...
    Buzz  from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example.  This shows National down ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Listening To The Traffic.
    It Takes A Train To Cry: Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
    1 day ago
  • Comity Be Damned! The State’s Legislative Arm Is Flexing Its Constitutional Muscles.
    Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
    1 day ago
  • Ending The Quest.
    Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
    1 day ago
  • Will political polarisation intensify to the point where ‘normal’ government becomes impossible,...
    Chris Trotter writes –  New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, April 30
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:30am on Tuesday, May 30:Scoop: NZ 'close to the tipping point' of measles epidemic, health experts warn NZ Herald Benjamin PlummerHealth: 'Absurd and totally unacceptable': Man has to wait a year for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Worst poll result for a new Government in MMP history
    Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Pinning down climate change's role in extreme weather
    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
    2 days ago
  • Serving at Seymour's pleasure.
    Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Webworm LA Pop-Up
    Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • “Feel good” school is out
    Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
    Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic plan, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago
  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
    3 days ago
  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
    3 days ago
  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
    3 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
    3 days ago
  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • 25
    She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8.  The universe was ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
    4 days ago
  • Policing protests.
    Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • More tax for less
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Real News vs Fake News.
    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 ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    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 ...
    5 days ago
  • Cutting the Public Service
    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 ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago
  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • This is how I roll over
    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 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”…
    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – 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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    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 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • One Night Only!
    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. ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • What did Melissa Lee do?
    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 ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #17 2024
    Open access notables Ice 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 ...
    6 days ago
  • Maori Party (with “disgust”) draws attention to Chhour’s race after the High Court rules on Wa...
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Who’s Going Up The Media Mountain?
    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 ...
    7 days ago
  • “That's how I roll”
    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 ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • “Comity” versus the rule of law
    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 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Aotearoa: a live lab for failed Right-wing socio-economic zombie experiments once more…
    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 ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    1 week ago
  • Water is at the heart of farmers’ struggle to survive in Benin
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére Sosou Market 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 ...
    1 week ago
  • At a time of media turmoil, Melissa had nothing to proclaim as Minister – and now she has been dem...
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government saves access to medicines
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.    “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    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, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    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 ...
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