Open mike 08/04/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 8th, 2015 - 90 comments
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90 comments on “Open mike 08/04/2015 ”

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  1. Tracey 1
    8 April 2015 at 7:19 am

    Won’t watch TV3 Brekkie show cos of Henry.

    Partner wanted to watch news at 6am, so reluctantly went to TV1

    Rawdon being a superior kind of person with two women giggling at his utterings. Is it always like that? Even my partner said let’s go to SKY weather so I don’t have to keep watching this. It is actually really sad seeing women demean themselves to a position of second fiddle and giggles.

    John Key heading off criticism that we are not so rosy with a high dollar by saying, we have diversified so not as reliant on Aussie and China. I am afraid if you look at the stats over the last 6 years we are still heavily reliant on Aussie and China.

    • Gosman 1.1
      8 April 2015 at 7:28 am

      Note he stated not so reliant. There is still a large risk but the nation has been moving towards a more diversified export destination. However short of government dictating who exporters sell to there isn’t much more that could be done.

      • Tracey 1.1.1
        8 April 2015 at 7:40 am

        Note that I stated he said not so reliant.

        Note the impression he was giving was false, namely that we are not substantially reliant on tohse two markets and so their decline is not likely to impact us

        And you can pretend that isn’t the impression he was giving but he was, and it is why he remains so popular. He is past master at making kiwis feel comfortable and inert.

        If there is nothing to be done does that mean a govt cannot take claim or blame from it because the dollar is largely externally driven.

        • Gosman 1.1.1.1
          8 April 2015 at 10:16 am

          Wow! You have discovered politicians present information in a way that is favourable to them. Congrats /sar.

          If ypu have a problem with John Key’s spin there was an interesting interview with Bill English on Morning Report today where he acknowledged both the negative and positive aspects of a higher exchange rate. Perhaps you should select your media options more wisely.

    • ScottGN 1.2
      8 April 2015 at 7:40 am

      When I moved south to Queenstown five and a half years ago Tracey I got rid of the telly. You couldn’t get the free to air channels because of topographical interference and I didn’t want to pay for Sky. I found I didn’t miss it at all really, happily managing with National Radio and the Concert Programme and watching whatever I wanted on the computer. When we went digital a couple of years ago I got a Freeview box and duly trundled off to Noel Leeming and bought a snazzy flat screen tv. It sits in the corner of my sitting room beaming out National Radio and the Concert Programme and whatever I want from the computer via apple tv. The only thing I’ve watched on it in months is the Cricket semi final and final. I doubt I’ll ever watch TVNZ and TV3 again.

      • Tracey 1.2.1
        8 April 2015 at 7:42 am

        I hear you Scott. On the occassions I am lucky enough to travel I don’t watch tv at all, and my life is the better fo rit. I am a bit of a sports nut so keep it for that…

        Now I am pleased to have access to al jazeera.

        • Kevin 1.2.1.1
          8 April 2015 at 8:09 am

          Apart from the occasional viewing of Campbell Live, my tv remains as my link to cycle races around the world. And long may that continue 🙂

        • Philip Ferguson 1.2.1.2
          8 April 2015 at 8:19 am

          Al Jazeera certainly points up just how poorly served we are by “news” programmes from TV1 and TV3.

          Phil

          • Rosie 1.2.1.2.1
            8 April 2015 at 9:26 am

            Agree re Al Jazeera Philip

            • Philip Ferguson 1.2.1.2.1.1
              8 April 2015 at 11:57 am

              A couple of years ago I spent a few days staying at a mate’s cabin in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It was a chilly autumn and I spent the days wrapped up watching TV. It was the first time I had systematically watched Al-Jazeera and I also watched Press TV (Russian?). I couldn’t believe how superior they were to the crap served up here. Press TV was great on anything apart from Russian domestic politics but, even there, they weren’t simply slavish about Putin.

              I think TV1 is worse than TV3. One benefit about TV3 being in private and largely overseas hands is that it has less of a vested interested in serving the requirements of the government in power in Wellington, whereas TV1 is much more slavish.

              However, the general level of both is pretty shocking compared to anything other than Fox News. I’d be embarrassed to be associated with TV1 in particular. So much dross and so little substance.

              The fact that they’ve brought back a buffoon like Paul Henry says it all. (Although he seems to be a little less right-wing these days than he used to be.) As does the presence of Mike Hoskings on that 7pm thing on TV1.

              John Campbell can be an awful ass-kisser – I still recall with embarrassment his fawning over the Pike River head who turned out to be partly responsible for the deaths of 29 mine workers! – but imagine you’re the TV1 bosses – do you seriously imagine the way to compete with ‘Campbell Live’ is to put Mike Hoskings up against Campbell in the 7pm slot. It’s almost like the TV1 bosses are a fifth column, employed secretly by TV3!

              And the way TV1 bosses show complete disregard for the public (especially the older and woring class public) by continually mucking around with the ‘Coronation Street’ time slot in order to destroy its ratings (presumably, so they can then take it off) is a total frigging disgrace.

              Phil

        • Rosie 1.2.1.3
          8 April 2015 at 9:24 am

          Yep.

          Our TV is just used to view Al Jazeera, TV3 news for a laugh, Campbell Live and any BBC Simon Reeves shows on Choice tv on freeview. (Last night he was in Cuba looking at their changing regime but has focused quite a bit on climate change in his other shows) There’s 7 days on Friday night which can swing between absolutely cringey and actually funny. The “Yes Minister” section is always worth a laugh.

          The other thing we do is download shows like Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe and Dara O Briain’s Mock the Week, Borgen and comedy and plug the usb into the telly. Much more comfy watching from the couch than on a computer screen.

          When there’s poor quality brain numbing stuff filling the screen, like competitive cooking, competitive house building, competitive dating and competitive singing you have to rely on the interwebs for information and entertainment.

          • TheContrarian 1.2.1.3.1
            8 April 2015 at 11:26 am

            The only “TV” I watch (by which I mean broadcast NZ TV) is One News at 6 and only because it provides the background ambiance to the “back from work, cooking dinner and playing with my daughter.”

            The actual TV I watch is GoT, House of Cards, Breaking Bad etc etc which is online. My TV is used primarily for movies and PlayStation

          • Paul 1.2.1.3.2
            8 April 2015 at 1:44 pm

            The Trews is good too

      • weka 1.2.2
        8 April 2015 at 9:11 am

        Nice story Scott. I don’t have a tv either. If I did have one I’d probably watch Coro, and events like the election coverage, and some of the Campbell/6 o’clock news coverage when something specific was happening (often to see how the MSM are covering it as much as anything). I rely on twitter and ts now to let me know what is going on and then go further online if I want more detail.

    • halfcrown 1.3
      8 April 2015 at 9:41 am

      There’s been some very good replies to you comments Tracey, and I agree with the majority of them, I also have been made aware of some other sites that need a visit by me.
      One station I do watch is RT. Have to take it with a pinch of salt at times but I find the discussions on Cross Talk are excellent. At least you do get different points of view, Also as I said the other day I get a lot of news from The Standard. There are some brave souls on here that go and look on sites like the Herald, and inform us of the bullshit written by the likes of Armstrong.

  2. b waghorn 2
    8 April 2015 at 7:40 am

    @ ipent the edit function was showing on gosmans comment above .
    I did try to edit it just to see if it would and it wouldn’t allow it .

  3. Philip Ferguson 3
    8 April 2015 at 8:14 am

    It looks as if, on May 22, the south of Ireland will be the first country on the world in which has voted for gay marriage.

    On that a referendum is to be held on same-sex marriages and all the polls indicate a big victory for gay marriage. In what was once Holy, Catholic Ireland polls indicate 70-80 percent support for gay marriage.

    While I doubt the vote will be as high as 80%, because the Catholic Church will turn out its lay organisations and have its priests sermonising in the pulpits up until May 22, I think a big win is on the agenda.

    All the parliamentary parties, including the most viciously anti-working class ones, favour gay marriage. And southern Irish society has changed dramatically in the past 20-25 years.

    For a look at the referendum and societal changes see, Irish society and politics and the referendum on gay marriage: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/irish-society-and-politics-and-the-referendum-on-gay-marriage/

  4. Jones 4
    8 April 2015 at 8:21 am

    A good Russell Brand rant to start the morning with, on the limits to growth and capitalism at the This Changes Everything gathering in the UK last month…

    • ianmac 4.1
      8 April 2015 at 8:43 am

      “Capitalism and Conservation are diametrically opposed.”
      So true Russell. And in NZ Nick Smith is working hard to make sure Capitalism triumphs over Conservation by changing the RMA. Whoa there Nick!

  5. Paul 5
    8 April 2015 at 9:13 am

    Great cartoon by Emmerson today about watching Paul Henry.
    A brain removal necessary.

  6. Pasupial 6
    8 April 2015 at 9:33 am

    4 days remaining until the scheduled return of the Rawshark 2.

    • Chooky 6.1
      8 April 2015 at 9:45 am

      +100 Parsupial

    • Tracey 6.2
      8 April 2015 at 11:45 am

      Isn’t CV back posting?

      • Pasupial 6.2.1
        8 April 2015 at 2:23 pm

        He hasn’t written under the Colonial Viper tag since February, and even then it seems to have been a lapse from the; Rawshark variant name, that many adopted at the time of the Hagar raid (including myself now that I think of it; but got distracted by meatworld life, and since I came back I’ve been using the older pseudonym). Colonial Rawshark did indeed make a comment last night:

        http://thestandard.org.nz/dollar-parity/#comment-996788

        When I checked my facebook account there was a message dated a couple of days ago saying he was ok with us ending the vigil (I dislike FB, so hadn’t checked since the weekend). So that just leaves it up to; phillip ure.

  7. Coffee Connoisseur 7
    8 April 2015 at 9:46 am

    How would you feel about a 21 hour working week.

  8. infused 8
    8 April 2015 at 10:28 am

    Everyone complains about Paul Henry. Yet I bet everyone’s watching it.

    Saw part of this morning. Not too bad. More suited to radio I think. Good microphones. Need to get one of them.

    • weka 8.1
      8 April 2015 at 10:38 am

      “Everyone complains about Paul Henry. Yet I bet everyone’s watching it.”

      So people keep saying, and yet here we are, many of us, that are not watching him. Capiche?

      • Ffloyd 8.1.1
        8 April 2015 at 12:27 pm

        We made a point of only watching JC last night. Gone off Hilary Barry as well. What on earth was she thinking!?. TV1 news was ok until MHosking appeared at the end. I cannot believe that NZ is inflicted for three hours daily by that idiot that’s been kicked out of every village he’s been in. Insult to all New Zealanders.

        • Tracey 8.1.1.1
          8 April 2015 at 1:23 pm

          and hosking is on radio too… Has anyone ever seen Henry and Hosking in the same roo together? And if they did, was it a circus sized tent, with just them and their egoes in it?

      • Rodel 8.1.2
        8 April 2015 at 7:36 pm

        Weka-No he doesn’t capiche and probably never will. Don’t lose any sleepover it.
        I know about a dozen who would rather eat wetas than watch PH.

    • Rosie 8.2
      8 April 2015 at 10:43 am

      No infused, I’m not watching Paul Henry. Why would I want to watch that racist, sexist gobshite?

    • Tracey 8.3
      8 April 2015 at 11:46 am

      “I bet everyone’s watching it”

      You lost, lucky you didnt have the courage to actually bet.

    • felix 8.4
      8 April 2015 at 1:14 pm

      Nah, not me either.

      Never found that blowhard entertaining, regardless of his political barrow.

      What are the mics though infused? Ribbons?

    • Paul 8.5
      8 April 2015 at 1:41 pm

      No I don’t watch or listen to him.
      This Emmerson cartoon is perfect.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/news-cartoons/news/article.cfm?c_id=500814&objectid=11429096

    • tc 8.6
      8 April 2015 at 3:16 pm

      not watched it but from a shot in the newspaper the mic’s looks like neumann’s so prepare to part with a few $k each but you’ll not be dissapointed.

      Or could be mocked up neumanns with shure’s or something else inside doing the actual work….overkill at it’s just Talking heads TV not a concerto performance etc.

    • Rawsharkosaurus 8.7
      8 April 2015 at 6:00 pm

      “Yet I bet everyone’s watching it.”

      Go see Fizzy then, s/he might still be spruiking his/her favourite Internet gambling site.

  9. Puckish Rogue 9
    8 April 2015 at 10:48 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503451&objectid=11428814

    Once again Bob Jones (votes Labour more then he votes National) has come up with the solution

    National seem a bit stupid about this so heres an opportunity for Little but will he take it…

    • b waghorn 9.1
      8 April 2015 at 11:02 am

      It’s a good idea especially if every time the government sold a house they built a new one.

      • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1
        8 April 2015 at 11:18 am

        Heres a bombshell, if Little announced this (or something basically the same) I’d probably end up voting Labour

        This is probably the cheapest, easiest to understand, simplest to implement idea that would lift more kiwis out of renting into home ownership and is something that would have broad support over the entire political spectrum

        • b waghorn 9.1.1.1
          8 April 2015 at 11:40 am

          The only problem is how to make it affordable to the average hnz tenant and how to stop some of them selling up at a future date and ending up back on a waiting list.

          • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.1.1
            8 April 2015 at 11:53 am

            Thats the big question isn’t it, Littles full of hot air over small businesses but heres a good chance to show what Labour can do

        • Skinny 9.1.1.2
          8 April 2015 at 12:05 pm

          Expect Little/ Labour to announce something along these lines tomorrow at their Housing forum in Auckland. Of course National will be cursing having to consider such an idea, their property speculator mates want the thick end of the wedge not the skinny end.

          Given Jones is good mates with Mallard why the fuck hasn’t Trev pushed this through to the policy team.

          • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.2.1
            8 April 2015 at 1:09 pm

            The only party more dysfunctional than National would be Labour or is it more likely that Labour (like National) is out of touch with what NZ wants?

    • Tracey 9.2
      8 April 2015 at 11:47 am

      what does that mean “votes Labour more than National”?

      • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1
        8 April 2015 at 11:50 am

        He votes Labour more often then he votes National which is interesting dont you think

        • Skinny 9.2.1.1
          8 April 2015 at 12:16 pm

          That’s because property tycoons like Jones do far better under a Labour Government than a Tory outfit. A lot of blue ribbon Aucklanders are very annoyed the foreign invasion of rich are picking the cream out of Auckland and beach property.

          I actually heard a Key cheerleader, a bigger cheerleader than Fissy ( actually not quite) speaking fondly of Peters in this regards, when I asked but would you vote for him? Answer absolutely if Key doesn’t cut foreign ownership. So there ya go the love affair is over.

          • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1.1.1
            8 April 2015 at 1:06 pm

            I will never vote Winston (I just can’t) and thats the only major party I can confidently say that about however if some other party was to take on board some of his policies then who knows…

            • Tracey 9.2.1.1.1.1
              8 April 2015 at 1:27 pm

              Interestingly, when Herald (I think it was them) did that voting thing pre election where you looked at policy questions and it decided which party fit your needs), I know many who fit NZF but still voted for National. Also Nats and Labs were closer in percentages for many of them but NZF was best fit.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                8 April 2015 at 1:36 pm

                Its not the policies, its the man. I just can’t vote for him, when he leaves and someone else takes over (Shane Jones, Ron Mark maybe) maybe I can have a look at NZFirst.

                • Tracey …
                  8 April 2015 at 1:44 pm

                  I understand that.

                  It shows how important personality has become for voters, over policy. My post above suggests some vote against their own interests cos its Winston.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    8 April 2015 at 1:53 pm

                    I agree with you.

                    At the moment Winston is the darling of the left because hes sticking it John Key yet hes now the defacto leader of the opposition and no one on the left seem to realise it but once he starts dictating to Key and Little…

                    Or does anyone here think Winston will be dictated to by someone that can’t win an electorate seat?

                    • Tracey …
                      8 April 2015 at 2:15 pm

                      I vote based on policy and what I know about integrity of candidates likely to get in.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      8 April 2015 at 2:39 pm

                      Exactly its about the integrity and on that Winston fails, I simply cannot trust the man as everything he does is to ultimately benefit himself and any benefits to NZ are simply a happy coincidence

                    • Tracey …
                      8 April 2015 at 3:28 pm

                      Wow… when did you begin to dislike him?

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      8 April 2015 at 3:34 pm

                      It just really bugs me that Winston can say anything he likes and no one in the media will try to call him on it, he hints about certain things and could use parliamentary priviledge to do so but won’t…but just enough insinuation to get the point across

                      Seriously people on here think John Key is teflon, Keys teflon is nothing compared to Winston

                      He got the winebox right and hes dined out on it ever since but racing interests, fishing interests…oh no we won’t mention that

                      No means No except when its yes of course

                      Grrr rant over

                      (I do admire his political skill though)

                    • TheContrarian …
                      8 April 2015 at 7:53 pm

                      “Seriously people on here think John Key is teflon, Keys teflon is nothing compared to Winston”

                      Interesting. I wonder how long a Blip list would be on Winston.

                • felix …
                  8 April 2015 at 8:22 pm

                  So you won’t vote for Winston because integrity and fishing interests, but Shane Jones might be your guy.

                  It’s because of shite like this, PR Hack, that no-one should ever take anything you write here seriously at all.

              • ianmac …
                8 April 2015 at 3:16 pm

                A couple of elections ago there was an online “quiz” the result of which would indicate which party suited.
                I answered every question with the very opposite of what I believed in. The result was that apparently NZF would be best for me. Aha!

            • Skinny 9.2.1.1.1.2
              8 April 2015 at 1:29 pm

              NZF are in a good head space after the forgotten regional/rural win in Northland. Expect Peters NZF to mop up plenty more votes there.

              For National it is a now a problematic issue trying to win back rural support. The increasing slide in milk powder prices won’t be helping. Add the wary eyes of the public and other political party’s to pork barrel politics and winning back the vote look a tough ask.

              The big city’s will probably keep them in the game especially Auckland, however as explained the traditional Auckland blue ribbon voters are feeling aggrieved by foreigners buying our cream land pickings is the worry. I will add the big block land owners who don’t like the Nat’s considering forced freeing up of their golden egg.

        • Tracey 9.2.1.2
          8 April 2015 at 1:24 pm

          Based on what? His word and that he voted for Labour when? Which period of time (cos that is important if you are claiming some kind of ideological curiosity)?

          • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1.2.1
            8 April 2015 at 1:34 pm

            Why would he lie?

            http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11317510

            “When I wrote recently that this election was done and dusted, a storm of protest erupted on the New Zealand Herald’s website from Labour’s deeply unattractive, rabid tribalists.

            Abuse aside, the common theme was that I’m a die-hard National supporter. That gave great amusement given that I last voted National in 1981. Excepting the New Zealand Party in 1984 and later Act twice, I’ve voted Labour ever since.”

            • Tracey 9.2.1.2.1.1
              8 April 2015 at 1:41 pm

              I didn’t say he would lie. I was asking. I don’t hang on his every word so just wanted more information.

              Cool, so the Last 10 elections he has voted ACT twice and LP 8 times.

              I liked his party’s demob the military… get rid entirely policy.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                8 April 2015 at 1:47 pm

                Getting rid of the military would have to be one of the dumbest ideas ever, it proves that someone smart in one area doesn’t mean they’re smart in others

                • Tracey …
                  8 April 2015 at 2:13 pm

                  Maybe, but re-read the thinking behind it…

                  BTW way John Key proves that (the smart in one thing (currency trading) but stupid in others)

            • Skinny 9.2.1.2.1.2
              8 April 2015 at 1:46 pm

              I am sure he said prior to the 2014 election he was giving Trevor his candidate vote and National his party vote.

              Edit yes it says in the NZH link.

    • millsy 9.3
      8 April 2015 at 5:09 pm

      Even a broken watch is right twice a day.

      Home ownership is the best way out of poverty when you look at.

  10. BassGuy 10
    8 April 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Think Sydney’s expensive? Try Auckland.

    Don’t think there’s too much to say about that.

  11. ScottGN 11
    8 April 2015 at 2:28 pm

    Time to gird our loins (again) to save yet more of our trees from petty officialdom.
    http://jury.co.nz/2015/04/07/taonga-the-yellow-pohutukawa-on-the-waitara-river-bank/

  12. Herodotus 12
    8 April 2015 at 3:03 pm

    With the concerted comments regarding allowing the freeing up of Easter Trading laws I ask Has not the protection of the work force been eroded enough ?
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11429095
    we also have Larry Williams (Wine) & Mike Hoskin (Eating Out) being caught out and having THEIR lifestyles inconvenienced. So it is ok for everyone to have their work places closed to observe the holiday but Not Retail.
    How long have these and other commentators lived in NZ ? And leading the discussion from an informed position ?? and yet are caught out by having the shops close down for 3&1/2 days per year.
    Should there be a change in the law to allow retail to operate, why halt at easter why not remove the protection from all of the 3 &1/2 days that the shops are compelled to be closed?
    Perhaps we should expect the proponents of change to also work their normal hours on these days and for the MP’s to open their electorate offices?
    I for one appreciated have the family all together, and the shops were open the following day and no one in my family suffered from this.

  13. adam 13
    8 April 2015 at 4:25 pm

    Question

    Are AT (Auckland transport) designed to kill off public transport?

    When they took over in 2012 fairs were $1.80 for one zone for an adult. As of now they are $2.50 per adult. That is just under a 40% price hike in just 3 years. Let me repeat that – a almost 40% hike in fare prices in just 3 years. How can they justify that. When we are the people funding the system in the first place?

    AT = Auckland Traitors?

    AT = Auckland Twits?

    AT = Auckland truning people of public transport since 2012.

    No wonder the figure are not climbing and the kids are jumping on the trains and not paying fares. This is a joke.

    When the average pay packet barely went up 3%, how the hell can a AT justify a 40% price increase.

    AT needs to be disbanded, and everyone who works for them needs to be fired. This is unacceptable. Private companies bleeding the public for profit.

    • Molly 13.1
      8 April 2015 at 5:23 pm

      Hi Adam,

      Went to a Generation Zero workshop a couple of years ago. Matt from Transport Blog was there along with a councillor talking about public transport during one of the sessions.

      In the discussion, someone brought up the cost of public transport putting people off from using it. To my surprise both Matt and the councillor, along with an AT rep all said that studies have proven that reducing the cost does not make a difference to usage.

      An intrepid member of the audience disagreed, but they dismissed any notion that this could be the case. In our case, the cost for my family to travel into town by train/bus is prohibitive – around $60 one way. Compared to the cost of taking our hybrid in, and parking in Aotea Centre for $11 we have to be running flush on our budget to use public transport option. We do use it when one of us is travelling alone, but I don’t think it is a consideration that is being made by AT.

      Also, given that automatic ticketing is something that has happened for decades overseas they seem to have made a hash of the AT Hop service. Student fares are not included on the display (you are supposed to know to choose child) and Hop cards are only available from a couple of stations. A debacle.

      • adam 13.1.1
        8 April 2015 at 9:19 pm

        Hi Molly,

        I wonder how they would feel about what has happened in Adelaide – with most fares being a gold coin. My guess is they were selective in their studies, and the studies are asking the wrong questions, or looking for specific monetarist based results.

        My favourite is – it costs more, to catch public transport into Auckland City – than it costs to catch a bus to Whangarei – Or Taupo – Or Rotorua. That is a sick joke being played on Auckland rate payers. The whole charging kids fares – when the over 65’s pay nothing – I find a very cruel joke as well.

        The automatic ticket is a massive disaster – I was on a train when a women’s card was not reading properly – and the ticket inspectors called her all names under the sun. They accused her of manipulating with the card. Then they called her a thief. I intervened, and ask them for there names whilst pulling out a pen and paper – they ran for the next coach.

        I’ve also seen them throw teenagers off the train for not tagging on – when they should just provide the service on the train. Like a ticket machine – or better yet a ticket seller. I’ve also witness a women being threatened with physical violence, because she was one stop over her ticket. (still within zone mind) I reported that one.

        AT is a disaster – Pathetic, incompetent and danger to public transport.

    • tinfoilhat 13.2
      8 April 2015 at 9:38 pm

      Private (and public) companies bleeding the public for profit. Pack of crooks the lot of them.

      https://at.govt.nz/media/1043070/nzta-internet-contract-award.pdf

  14. logie97 14
    8 April 2015 at 5:46 pm

    Is there a watchdog in place to monitor currency trading?
    With the fluctuations over the past few weeks, presumably the trading
    floors have been busy.
    Do we know which institutions / private individuals who might be making “killings” as a result?
    Are there money traders who make lots of money these days?
    Is there a registry?
    Are MPs required to declare interests in this area?

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    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    24 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
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    1 day ago
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