Open Mike 09/12/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 9th, 2018 - 183 comments
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183 comments on “Open Mike 09/12/2018 ”

  1. Robert Guyton 1

    Plans for a post titled, “How to get there” and intended as a platform for TS readers and commenters to display their ideas and aspirations for improving the chances for each and every one of us (humanity that is) to “get there” have been floated over the past couple of weeks and today might be, by the grace of the TS authors and tech people, the moment for it to surface, glistening and quivering, into the light of day. Fingers crossed.

    • Stunned mullet 1.1

      Blueberry recommendations Robert?

      I’m wanting to put in around 15 up Auckland way and wanted any advice on best variety.

      • Robert Guyton 1.1.1

        Hey Stunned. Which ever you choose (I grow a high bush variety), grow them as a group, in a “block” rather than line, as they fruit far more prolifically that way. If you place them all about the garden, they’ll do less well (it’s a pollination thing). The birds, blackbirds in particular) will take them all, unless you net.

      • Molly 1.1.2

        Apparently, the rabbiteye varieties are good for Auckland. Can’t remember where I read it, but was looking into the same issue a few weeks back before going nursery shopping.

    • WeTheBleeple 1.2

      The ‘water article’ I’m working on looks like it might need to be split up a little. A lot to cover even skimming over it. That pun was wet. What a drip. I’d stop it if I had a bung.

      The book is shaping up nicely and several chapters will make relevant materials for ‘how to get there’. I’m very happy to announce I finished the n-fixer data base last night, so nice playing with good data. Categorised ground covers, shrubs and trees, then by North and South Islands, then by water requirements, habitat type, light requirements… I’ll keep juggling it about to see if anything interesting emerges, while I figure how to present the bulk data in digestible chunks. Icons and a key will be key to it I think… Although we don’t have a lot of endemic n-fixers, we have some really interesting and beautiful specimens.

      I’ll also be paraphrasing some of the PDC course for how to get there. Many great topics as they arise. And my project for the PDC will be the book – so as to not get overstretched – see how it all organically fits together…

      Have also been practicing not feeding the trolls. 2 days no bites! Hehe.

      It’s time to bring out the jazz hands

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPh53BCJQKE

    • Jenny 1.3

      Goodbye Gridlock

      Imagine driving over the Auckland Harbour Bridge or down the Southern Motorway at rush hour, and other than service and delivery vans and trucks, finding yourself virtually the only private car on it.

      Meanwhile thousands of commuters are whizzing by you on the dedicated bus lanes not needed for cars anymore.

      Why?

      Because everyone loves something if it is free!

      Luxembourg Just Made Public Transportation Free for Everyone
      Kristin Houser – Futurism, December 6, 2018

      Mass Appeal
      The tiny European nation of Luxembourg has landed itself in the international spotlight.

      On Wednesday the country’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel, was sworn in for his second term. At that time, his governing coalition announced a plan that would set Luxembourg apart from every other country in the world: by summer 2019, all public transport in the nation will be completely free.

      Traffic Woes
      Luxembourg is smaller than Rhode Island, and more people live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, than within the nation’s borders. In other words, it’s a tiny country — but that doesn’t prevent it from having a big traffic problem.

      • cleangreen 1.3.1

        Hi Jenny,

        Yes it seems that the head trucking lobby group (RTA) are always operated by retired National and Act party MP like today (RTA) Chief is Ken Shirley who was an Act Pary MP. https://www.rtanz.co.nz/

        In 2000 Tony Friedlander was the (RTA) ‘Road Transport Association’ boss, – so they are powerful with the oil companies behind them as oil companies make far more money from truck freight than rail does for them so they fight to save the road freight and always fight to kill rail as they use five to eight times less oil fuel product to haul ‘each tonne every one km’ than trucks do.

      • Ad 1.3.2

        If Auckland had the collective wealth of Luxembourg we could consider it.
        We don’t and we never will.

        We are concentrating on CAPEX not OPEX in transport mode shift.

        For example, only two years ago the whole length of Dominion Road was just a slow carpark. Then Waterview Tunnel opened, and Dominion Road is livable again.

        And it was only because of that Waterview job being completed and alleviating Dominion Road that light rail can even be contemplated.

  2. James 2

    HDPA on Trev the protector:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12172869

    He needs to raise his game.

    • Grey Area 2.1

      No he doesn’t. National does.

      Do you believe everything Duplicity-Allan writes?

    • Robert Guyton 2.2

      People admire a man who protects a woman and in this case, the woman is the very, very popular and much loved Jacinda. The man protecting her, Trevor, will be quietly thanked and supported by New Zealanders throughout the country. Good man, that Trevor.

      • James 2.2.1

        Nice you agree that he’s protecting her?

        Why is it so you think she needs protection?

        Not up to the job?

        Or perhaps Trev is sweet on her?

        • marty mars 2.2.1.1

          You’re a sick wee puppy there james but we already know that.

          The Prime Minister is doing a fantastic job and it is no wonder rwnj’s like you poo your pants daily with the prospect of many many many years of this leadership.

        • solkta 2.2.1.2

          I don’t know, given the quality of the Soyman’s questions it would seem more reasonable to argue that the Speaker was protecting him.

        • patricia bremner 2.2.1.3

          James Jacinda Ardern is so able hard working and informed, she is not vulnerable to the petty jabs from trolls like you. Your suggestions are uncouth and graceless

      • Wayne 2.2.2

        Presumably not the 46% who support National. They would not expect the Speaker to protect her.

        In any event from what I see, she doesn’t need it. She is the best of the Labour MP’s. Even when she doesn’t have much of an answer to a question in the house, she manages an adequate answer. Most of her colleagues can’t do that.

        • Robert Guyton 2.2.2.1

          You’re right about one thing, Wayne; she’s good. Your poll figure’s pretty suspect though (we’ve all heard 41% but in any case, it’s to low to be of any use). And I think you’ve mucked up your second sentence, but it’s Sunday and kinda early still, for some. I was up at 6:30 and have coffeed.
          Edit: you spotted it yourself! Well done, Wayne. Have a coffee.

          • Kat 2.2.2.1.1

            Wayne knows the real number is 38%. He has to dispute it publicly of course. But hey let him and the Nat supporters believe its 46% and that Santa is on his way. Its largely irrelevant for the govt going into the new year which with some high performing MP’s emerging will only get stronger.

        • Ankerrawshark 2.2.2.2

          Cheers Wayne.. I think that is big of you to say that.

          I find Ms Ardern extremely clear and articulate.

          I think Simon was trying to score some points over the sroubec issue, which is what an opposition tries to do.

          He was trying to hold her to account for what Winston said about the ex working on behalf of the National party. As ardern plays fair, this put her in a tricky situation………while the intent was to catch her out, Simon didn’t…….She focused on when she first heard of the ex’s connection to National, which was on the news. She of course couldn’t answer the questions about the police, immigration and the ex address “was that ok …left ex feeling vulnerable “, because that was an operational matter. I remember she did the same with the roast busters, but asked for a police review.

          I particularly remember John key being shocking at answering questions. Turning the oppositions questions into jokes, the one that sticks in my mind most was that when Cunliffe was asking key about the housing CRISIS and key flipped it into a retort about Cunliffe living in Herne Bay…….this is my mind is a disgrace. So was the complete inability to do anything about the escalating crisis under the key government until they were shamed into it by a news hub item on homelessness. As National achieved very little in9 years, other than creating a surplus by hiding a chronic underfunding in health, housing education and policing numbers, in my view any criticism from them on this govt falls on deaf ears……..and no Ms ardern neither needs nor gets Trevor’s protection. She is miles ahead of all is national……

        • Tricledrown 2.2.2.3

          Wayne yellow press 46% with mates Nationals internal polling 42% with leaking about the drip simple soimon who continues his popularity drop down the gurglar!

        • Incognito 2.2.2.4

          Are you trying to protect the National brand, Wayne? You have your job cut out for you 😉

    • Ad 2.3

      “…Here comes the protection” is the one thing Bridges can’t say of anyone behind him.

    • Fireblade 2.4

      David Carter protecting John Key.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j7qrpzPyMo

      • cleangreen 2.4.1

        Fireblade So cool was that clip was so impressive as David carter was one of the most arrogant speakers of this 21st century I have had to suffer through.

        Thanks for that brilliant compendium of the often nastiness side of David Carter as John Key’s Government..

      • Ffloyd 2.4.2

        Carter did that just about every time parliament sat. Sometimes blatantly. His way around things was to say that ‘the minister had *addressed* the question. Usually this meant that the minister hadn’t *answered* the question but didn’t need to as it had been addressed. Worst speaker ever. Did he get a gong?

  3. Robert Guyton 3

    Trevor doesn’t like Simon Bridges’ whiney nonsense. And neither does most of the country. Just look at the popularity polls. Jacinda – 1trillion, Simon – 0.

    • James 3.1

      Even you know Robert that the popularity numbers mean nothing.

      National are polling at 46% – higher than labour.

      That’s the number that matters.

      Nzf are under 5% and the loopy greens are only 1% away from falling under as well.

      • Sabine 3.1.1

        National may poll at 46% but without Mates that will leave them short of a majority every single time.

        And it would do you well to remember that really your party, its “leader” and his backstabbers should not insult any other parties, no matter how small or unimportant you might think they are, cause with 46% National is and will always be 5% short of a majority. And considering that the No mates Party still has no friends, its 46% are not enough.

        And that is the only thing that matters. Your party does not have enough support to win even a charity baking event.

        • James 3.1.1.1

          You forget that (under current polling) should the greens drop 1% then labour has no mates either.

          And labour poll behind national.

          • Sabine 3.1.1.1.1

            well that may be so, but not for the next two years, and somehow i doubt the Greens will fall away. They have been called dead many many times, and yet they always show up.

            In the meantime, the No Mates Party has not even got mates it could kill off. It did the killing the support parties so well the last time around that on election night the penny finally dropped. No mates, no coalition, no glory, no nothing but Mr. No Bridges, Paula Benefit, and Judith “oravida’ Collins. Sad!

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.2

        Popularity is everything when you want popular support and Trevor will have popular support for caring for Jacinda (and Neve). Unpopular Simon will not win any popularity by whining about the man who’s protecting the lovely Jacinda from the likes of unpopular Simon. And *shudders, Paula.

      • cleangreen 3.1.3

        James,

        Watch the next poll; – and you will see a swing away from your beloved National ‘sell all’ party.

        Folks are now awake to see “a kinder gentler Labour coalition Government who will stop the ‘selloff’ your mob have been doing to NZ for nine years.

        NZ has stopped the ‘John key”NZ Inc’ selloff.’

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/7637382/The-business-of-NZ-Inc

        • James 3.1.3.1

          “Watch the next poll”. – lefties have been saying that for 10 years.

          Still not happened.

      • Anne 3.1.4

        Except they’re not polling at 46%. 🙂

        Two polls, UMR and National’s internal poll came out at the same time and one was 41% and I believe UMR was either 41% or 42%. That makes a liar out of the CB poll which has been biased towards National for years.

        I believe they conduct their polls at the Remuera Shopping Centre – not far from where most of them live.

        • veutoviper 3.1.4.1

          In National’s latest internal Curia poll National was at 41%; and at 37% in Labour’s internal UMR poll. Hence the Colmar Brunton is really the outlier at 46%.

          I have also heard, but cannot verify, that Colmar Brunton has also been experimenting with different mixes of landline/mobile polling, and now also a proportion of online polling. This may well affect the results they are getting.

          • Anne 3.1.4.1.1

            My comment re- Remuera Shopping Centre was tongue-in-cheek.

            If CB is experimenting then it could explain the difference. Working people don’t have the same amount of time as the idle rich to go surfing online. I’m idle because I’m retired. 😉

            • veutoviper 3.1.4.1.1.1

              Realised that re the Remuera Shopping Centre, LOZ: but wanted to point out that the UMR was down at 37%.

              I am also retired but don’t feel idle!

          • rod 3.1.4.1.2

            I think Colmar Brunton is protecting the National Party, as always.

            • Anne 3.1.4.1.2.1

              Despite all their protestations to the contrary, I also suspect there’s an element of pro-National bias in their processes.

      • Ffloyd 3.1.5

        As you probably well know Jimmy the 46% is highly debatable. Nationals own internal polling was 41% according to the leaker. Simons polling is heading to the negative. History in the making, what?

    • Wayne 3.2

      The speaker is not there to diss Simon. All good speakers cut a bit of slack to the main Leaders of each party. From what I can see Trevor doesn’t, but he needs to.

      • Robert Guyton 3.2.1

        Simon’s pedantic, plodding speaking style would challenge the tolerance of any Speaker, I reckon. Trevor should ask him to make his questions a bit more interesting , perhaps pep them up a little with a bit of twinkle – anything but that prosecutor’s drone, or whatever it is Simon does!

      • solkta 3.2.2

        But shouldn’t leaders be setting a good example and showing the greatest respect for Parliament?

      • Ankerrawshark 3.2.3

        Give examples Wayne, if you are going to say speaker not there to diss Simon…..that implies he does withou backing your statement up.

      • Anne 3.2.4

        @ Wayne
        You do bullshit yourself. He’s let the Simon get away with murder since he became leader.

      • Anne 3.2.5

        The speaker is not there to diss Simon. All good speakers cut a bit of slack to the main Leaders of each party. From what I can see Trevor doesn’t, but he needs to.

        That is rubbish Wayne. If it appears that way, it is because Simon often traverses the line of what is acceptable conduct and what isn’t. Jacinda doesn’t. She always answers questions in a respectful way even when the question or questioner doesn’t deserve it. If she crossed that line she, too, would be pulled up by Speaker Mallard.

        He’s trying to improve the standards even if he was once one of the transgressors. Everyone can change you know.

      • Chris 3.2.6

        How do you rate John Carter? In your book was he straight down the middle fair to both sides?

        • David Mac 3.2.6.1

          Speakers are the referees that run onto the field wearing the jumper of the home team.

          A subtle bias comes with the role.

          It’s a formula that favours getting things done, moving forward. Most of us are cool with that.

          To the victor the spoils.

          • Chris 3.2.6.1.1

            Carter wasn’t subtle. Wayne must know that. The nats complaining about Mallard is sickening after Carter’s performance during his four years or how ever long it was. His behaviour around Key’s “backing rapist” remarks and kicking the female MPs out of the House was disgraceful, but that wasn’t his worst. Carter was a disgrace to democracy over his whole time as Speaker. And now Bridges and his band of idiots feel hard done by. After what Carter did and got away with they can just fuck right off.

  4. marty mars 4

    Some history – good article allowing some light through to illuminate.

    When dates were being considered for the first Rā Maumahara commemorating the New Zealand Wars, one suggestion was December 3. That day doesn’t mark the anniversary of any particular battle or conflict. Instead, it’s the day in 1863 that Governor George Grey signed into law the New Zealand Settlements Act.

    It’s an innocuous-sounding piece of legislation but it had devastating consequences for many Māori communities. The Settlements Act provided the primary legislative mechanism for raupatu — sweeping land confiscations that were supposedly intended to punish acts of “rebellion” while also recouping the costs of fighting the wars.

    It declared that where “any Native Tribe or Section of a Tribe or any considerable number thereof” had committed acts of “rebellion against Her Majesty’s authority” since January 1, 1863, their lands could be declared subject to the Act and seized for the purposes of settlement.

    It was part of a package of measures passed by the all-Pākehā parliament to crush Māori independence.

    https://e-tangata.co.nz/history/a-dark-tale-of-dispossession-and-greed/

    • veutoviper 4.1

      Thank you so much for posting this, marty mars.

      It was something I would have missed if you had not done so, and reading that and seeing the photo has left an indelible mark on me. Follow-up reading is now on my Summer Recess Watch and Read list.

      It is a real pity that it does not seem to have been noticed much, but it was a busy day here yesterday. I am maintaining an open mind on the new regular post, and will be watching from the sidelines initially at least.

      I did think about reposting your comment and link again today in the hopes others might at least read it and the link, but will leave you to decide whether to do so.

      It did get an unintentional plug here, but without any response! Think he meant 5 not 4 …

      https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09-12-2018/#comment-1560313

  5. Ed 5

    We can choose to allow rwnjs to derail this thread or we can ignore them.

    • Sabine 5.1

      Seriously?

    • marty mars 5.2

      Maybe go with the flow and stop trying to control stuff. It doesn’t matter really ed – life still happens, and out of control is actually the norm not an aberration.

      • Robert Guyton 5.2.1

        Nicely put, Marty. Re trolls, it’s best, I reckon, to use the platform the’ve thoughtfully provided, to fold back their issue onto themselves and take a good-hearted swipe their gods and heroes at the same time – all for fun, mind, never unkindly 🙂

      • Ed 5.2.2

        I just find the distraction that James creates prevents discussion of the important issues.

        • marty mars 5.2.2.1

          and if the distraction works then he has succeeded – fuck him ed he isn’t worth it – just a nobody gnat supporter who hides bad behaviour behind a facade of respectability – we know the type – they have to be real low riders to come and spend their days here – no mates just like simon. Laugh at them for they are weak examples of the species.

        • Robert Guyton 5.2.2.2

          Hey Ed, don’t be distracted by that stuff, it’s just padding. If we only discuss pressing and critical matters, we’ll all be exhausted by day’s end. Fluff from trolls (troll fluff) gives us a chance to make them dance a little, lightening our moods and giving us a well deserved laugh. Taking them seriously, upbraiding them, only gives them substance; let’s hold them in their frothy state and bat them around the show for our own pleasure 🙂

        • Sabine 5.2.2.3

          good grief, let it be.

          Please, post a video or something. But let it be.

          Let people be.

        • solkta 5.2.2.4

          Yes, but you find anyone discussing anything other than your three issues an intolerable distraction.

        • Ankerrawshark 5.2.2.5

          I agree about James.

          It’s interesting, I count if someone genuine on here by whether they respond to challenging questions or just disappear. BM and James seem to disappear and James comments are often provocative eg after “good news” for National eg after the 46% polls result.

          Wayne answers questions and also I think puts up with quite a lot. I think he might be generally interested in the debate and from the little I’ve seen of kiwiblog he ain’t going to get it there.

          Punish, well he keeps it light hearted and is sometimes funny in his adoration of Judith, but it may become a little tedious like a friend who has a six month crush on someone.

          Best response to James is “you comment is consistent with your purpose for commenting on this website”. I think if he always got this comment unless he made a decent contribution he might just get a little tired of us

          • Puckish Rogue 5.2.2.5.1

            “adoration of Judith”

            Is it that obvious, I thought I was being subtle 😉

            • Ankerrawshark 5.2.2.5.1.1

              Ha ha PR. No I have to say your not too subtle when it comes to your adoration of Judith.

              I enjoy your presence on this website even if we likely disagree on ……..well everything

              • Puckish Rogue

                “I enjoy your presence on this website even if we likely disagree on ……..well everything”

                Challenge excepted 🙂

        • gsays 5.2.2.6

          From where I sit Ed, there seems to be more aggro and ‘playing the man not the ball’s from folk who would identity as ‘lefties’.

          I agree with the idea of letting them be or ignoring them.

        • greywarshark 5.2.2.7

          Yes Ed but that is the way that the site operates, whether James provokes useful discussion that matches his negativity I don’t know – is it a net gain? You are worth having Ed so let’s keep hearing from you but with some slight adjustments as suggested.

    • I’m not sure it’s possible to ‘derail’ Open Mike. It’s intended to be fluid and nobody has to reply to anyone.

      I’m also not sure that we get regular visited by RWNJ’s. Most of the commenters here who are from the other end of the political spectrum are rational and articulate and not outright trolls.

      TS would be a dull place if we only had left wing opinions expressed here, so try thinking of our righty friends as the grit in the oyster of thought that helps produce the pearls of wisdom that make TS special.

    • mauī 5.4

      Ed, thank you. I have missed you.

  6. Ad 6

    With John Kelly departing the White House by the end of this year, it looks like the Mueller inquiry is leaving only core of family loyalists and trolls.

    The 2020 White House after the trials is the Democrats’ to lose.

    • Sabine 6.1

      There are no trials before 2020. Look at Nixon and the work it took to get him out of the Presidency, and Trump is no Nixon. Heck Nixon is a choir boy compared to Trump.

      As for Kelly leaving, good riddance. Don’t you get the warm and fuzzies knowing that Bolton is now the serious adult in the office, and that Kelly will be replaced with a spare part from Fox News? Maybe Tucker Carlson.

      so yeah, the republican party is not done yet.

      • Ad 6.1.1

        The trials will be for Manafort, Cohen, Kushner, and Trump jr.
        Looking forward to it.

        No impeachment since no Senate majority.

        D TRump will stay in there and ensure Biden has a pretty easy path in.

        Once President Trump goes however, the IRS will take him down on tax fraud.

        • Sabine 6.1.1.1

          yep, i agree with you, but gosh i hope the Dems come up with someone younger then Biden. to fucking old, too white, too much baggage of assholery see Anita Hill.

          Trials for Trump jr is a bit premature.

          • Wayne 6.1.1.1.1

            “Too white”, what does that mean?

            Are the Democrats no longer allowed to have white male candidates for president, with the expectation that the Republicans only have white male candidates.

            Surely in a democracy as diverse as the United States, or ours for that matter, ethnicity is not really an issue on whether a person can attain high office. For instance both National’s Leader and Deputy leader are Maori (though with other ethnicities as well). It goes almost completely unremarked.

            Although the social and economic statistics still disadvantage Maori, there are probably hundreds of thousands of Maori who have suffered no particular disadvantage, and who are succeeding in a large number of fields. For instance forty years ago there were almost no Maori lawyers, with only two women Maori lawyers. Today there would be hundreds.

            • Sabine 6.1.1.1.1.1

              two white means too white.

              the democratic grass roots are people of colour. The democratic voters are people of colour.
              If you care to have a look at the last exit polls posted on CNN that i have linked to at a previous thread you will see that the much vaunted white working class/middle class/upper class, all of them with economic anxiety – and men, voted for the Republicans.
              so it would behoove the democratic party to choose leaders and even presidents that reflects their voting block, rather then chase the white evangelic male working class/middle class/upper class with economic anxiety voter who is not gonna vote democrats anywhich way and if it is only cause ‘abortions’ and such.

              so yeah, Biden, too white – again if you could be bothered look at his past – Anita Hill and the Seating of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He can whinge and whine all to his hearts content, fact is he behaved like an entitled ass then, and to some extend still has not understood just what an entitled ass he is today. Just in case you don’t know what i speak of https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=biden+anita+hill&oq=Biden+Antia+H&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l3.4897j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
              And at 75 he is too fucking old. Full stop here. IF you don’t have to live the consequences of your actions you should not be allowed to run for President, imo.

              The world needs someone at the helm of that country that actually has to loose something when and if he/she fucks up By voting geriatrics in its only the world that is gonna loose.

              As Bush the younger once famously said when asked how history will judge him : I will be dead then. And that is precisely the mindset that gave us Iraq Invasion two.

              So yeah, too old, too white, too much bagage.

              IF you can’t find people under seventy to represent your country your country is fucked.

              • Pat

                “The world needs someone at the helm of that country that actually has to loose something when and if he/she fucks up By voting geriatrics in its only the world that is gonna loose.”

                The reality has always been that the elites dont lose irrespective of the result and that is not age/gender/race dependent…..take any issue you care to consider and the poor are invariably the hardest hit.

                • Sabine

                  well i hope that the new crop of ‘the elite’ that was just voted in will consider your points.

                  the poor are always invariably the hardest hit as they generally have nothing to shelter them. That does not mean that we have to continue to nominate and vote for old, white, rich people. As i said, the last midterm got the house back to the dems, and those that got elected for the largest part were as far removed from your elite as they could possibly be. Be it that young women from NY, or the native Indian from Kansas, or that native indian New Mexico and so on and so on.

                  As for losing, we are all going to lose if we don’t finally get our heads out of our asses and realize that the change must come from us, not from any elected overlord. It is up to us to opt out of the system to the point where it collapses. No strong man is gonna do that, no cheap slogan about making shit great again – it never was for some and it never will be for many – can do that. People need to opt out of capitalism, over consumption, cheap shits from dollar shops to make up for empty hearts and minds, crap food cause its “convenient” , etc. No one forces us to participate, like smoking, we will have to quit.

                  Unless people understand that nothing is gonna change and the same people continue to whinge about how nothing is changing.

          • alwyn 6.1.1.1.2

            ” i hope the Dems come up with someone younger then Biden. to fucking old, too white”.
            Ouch. Well it is pretty clear that Sabine is not going to support Bernie Sanders for President.
            He is even older than Biden, after all.

            • Sabine 6.1.1.1.2.1

              I don’t.
              I also don’t support Clinton for that same matter.

              Too white, too old. Too much baggage. What was your point? OH, you don’t have one.

              • Morrissey

                Too white, too old.

                That’s an utterly invalid and inane reason to reject Clinton. She is a terrible person, but it has nothing to do with her ethnicity or her age.

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlz3-OzcExI

              • alwyn

                My point?
                You are rejecting someone for completely irrelevant reasons.
                What are your sensible reasons? Oh, you don’t have any.

                • Sabine

                  My point?
                  Too old. The country needs someone who is younger, preferably much younger in their fifties no older. That way they actually have a stake in the future as the future will affect them.

                  Too old. Dementia, Alzheimers, Standard old age issues. Reagan comes to mind.

                  Too old, could keel over at any moment due to any reasons old people keel over and thus leave the job ot someone like Mike Pence and his wife Mother – who in my mind would be even worse then Trump – and I stated that before the election of the orange shitstain.

                  Too old. Why would anyone vote for someone who does not understand the issues of young people, people of colour, people who are not heterosexual vanilla, has a studentloan, wants to marry and have children, does not own their own home, has not got a job nor a chance of getting a job etc etc etc etcetc.

                  I have reasons for wanting a younger person, someone who more looks like the electorate, someone who looks more like the people getting the vote out, raising the funds, doing the door knocking, the phone banking and any other of hte myriads of ways to get people to vote.

                  And then comes the baggage. Clinton, Sanders, Biden all have lived their life in white privilege. And literally know very little other then white privilege. Biden has his with Anita Hill, Sanders went to one demonstration for civil rights and then lived his whole life in the whitest state of the US – Vermont, where the last black female lawmaker resigned due to incessant bullying https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/26/us/politics/kiah-morris-vermont.html – , and Hillary Clinton……emails, bengazi, cooties, female, clinton, blowjob, emails, lock her up blahblahblahblah.

                  So i really hope that the Democratic Party will have a come to god moment as did the Labour Party in NZ and choose a leader that actually can inspire more then just a small segment fo their voters, and above all get these voters in such large numbers to the polls that they will outvote any gerrymandering, voter suppression tactics and what nots. And considering the mid term elections i think i am on to something here.

                • Morrissey

                  She comes from Germany, alwyn. That’s Ground Zero for Stupid.

                  Even the Greens in Germany are moral reprobates.

                  • McFlock

                    Shit, moz, I know you like to lay it on with a trowel, but that’s pretty darned close to calling all Germans stupid (at best). And not in an “Aussies are koala-shaggers” sort of way, either.

                    • Morrissey

                      No, of course there are thoughtful and intelligent Germans. Our friend Sabine is normally one of them.

                      Germany produced Beethoven, Goethe, Einstein, and [insert your favourite German genius here] but it also produced Hitler, Goering, Goebbels, Hess and their terrible legacy. The baleful spectacle of the German legal system, academia, churches, and every other institution in the country being corrupted by that regime had a truly devastating effect on Germany’s intellectual and moral life—resulting in the distasteful phenomenon of moral imbeciles such as Uwe Becker.

                      https://jewishjournal.com/analysis/243133/mayor-frankfurt-leads-german-pro-israel-activism/

                      Sabine’s contention that Hillary Clinton is not a suitable candidate for President because she is old and white is horribly wrong, and stupid—Beckerian, almost.

                    • McFlock

                      Oh, so some of them are good people. How very dolt-45 of you.

                  • Sabine

                    Bless you dear.

                  • greywarshark

                    Morrissey
                    Hippo hit-the-fan stuff. All being included in your wide-ranging criticism, that is not on. Don’t be like this hippo –
                    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfnZMRRHrwI

          • DJ Ward 6.1.1.1.3

            After having the most qualified Presidential candidate in history it can only be a downgrade for the dems. They need to find a human skin coloured person who is not cis male, never run a Buisiness, never served in the military, vegan, uses the word comrade, solo parent in an open relationship, born in the US to illegal immigrants, a degree in social sciences, never had a real job, and White Ribbon ambassador.

            JA only just misses out. Damn.

        • alwyn 6.1.1.2

          “No impeachment since no Senate majority.”.
          You don’t need anyone at all in the Senate for an impeachment to take place.
          The Senate doesn’t actually impeach anyone. The Impeachment is the responsibility of the House of Representatives where the Democrats have a majority.
          The Senate then try anyone who has been impeached. They certainly aren’t going to find him guilty of course. That requires a 2/3 majority of the Senators.
          Thus both Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached but at their trial by the Senate they were not convicted.

        • DJ Ward 6.1.1.3

          That’s a complete load of rubbish.

          Donald Trumps taxes as a corporate are continually assessed by the IRS. How the hell you come to the conclusion he is committing tax fraud is beyond me. If you think the most scrutinised person on the planet is knowingly committing tax fraud you have a clear case of TDS.

          Trials for what?
          Having Buisiness in foreign nations.

          The meeting with the Russian women lying she had info on Clinton was not an offence.
          The Moskow business deals have extensively been examined and there is no collusion.

          I myself are looking forward to the prosecution of the desperate Mueller for extorting people into making false statements. He’s got form.

          Why haven’t the people who did conspire with foreign nationals to interfere in the elections being prosecuted. Like Clinton and her golden shower political assassination. If rigging the debate is a test of Clintons willingness to cheat, it’s no supprised she deleted her emails and smashed her hard drives. She’s got form.

          The sooner this TDS nonsense from the cry baby snowflake revenge filled Clinton supporters ends the better. Then the democrates can get on with writing a book with another 200 reasons why, that nobody can be bothered reading.

          Why rush things anyway. It’s not like the democrates have any candidates that people actually like, or are genuinely Presidential.

          Last time the Democrates had power Obama promised change. I was a supporter. I liked what he was saying and McCain would have made Bush Jr look like someone that deserved the peace prize. But when you become President the real world and rhetoric meet. Obama was a disappointment.

          Trump is actually making change. He is confronting long standing issues that traditional politics has failed to address. Obama will be forgotten, Trump will leave a legacy of fighting and achieving for the people he represents. The citizens of the US.

          For example Obama a socialist helped the car industry with a bailout. Obama fixed nothing and large job loses have just occurred. Trump attacked China on trade and China has conceded, agreeing to drop the 40% Tarif on US vehicles. The socialist (other people’s money) approach vs that’s bullshit, let’s do a deal, or else.

          If a person with the drive and style of Trump was in charge of fixing Climate Change we would see a revolution on that subject. Sadly his position on that issue is his biggest fault. Don’t be supprised however if he pulls the rug out from under the Democrates election chances with a capitalist style solution out of “left” field. IE pro US worker.

          • Ad 6.1.1.3.1

            It’s his personal tax returns that will get Trump into jail not his corporate ones.
            The rule you need to familiarize yourself with is:
            “The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.”

            The offenses of whether he or his team were infected by the Russian state are now well documented by the evidence in US courts that multiple persons have already pleaded guilty to. You can now look them up yourself.

            Trump is certainly making change, in the same way that gangrene makes change to a limb with an open wound.

            If a person with the “drive and style of Trump was in charge of fixing climate change” we would probably have a plan for climate change. Instead we have Trump.

  7. OnceWasTim 7

    It was only a matter of time…………..
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-09/labor-government-would-dump-plan-to-outsource-visa-processing/10597606

    Watch for the gNats here try and do something similar if we’re ever unlucky enough to see them back in government.

    And they’ll do so on the basis that the private sector can’t do any worse than INZ has done, and because of the likes of this:

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/09/company-director-who-underpaid-staff-is-approved-as-an-immigration-adviser.html

    But what they won’t tell you is that the reason INZ, the Labour Inspectorate and the IAA has been such a fuckup is because for 9 years they were under-funded, under-resourced, politicised by way of ‘whispers’, and brought under a Ministry for everything that has a commercial and business focus. Same thing true of NZQA of course.

  8. marty mars 8

    Some history and great symbolism. I really struggle with christianity – I like individuals but I have major difficulties with most other bits including the part christianity played in stealing the land.

    On Saturday, though, in Tauranga, the serious work of putting things right entered a new, profound and personal dimension.

    Because the church — our church, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia — said sorry, publicly, for its part in dispossessing Tauranga Moana people of their birthright.

    With heads hung low, two of the most senior bishops of the Anglican Church apologised for an 1866 decision by the Church Missionary Society to give the Crown most of 1333 acres of land which had been entrusted to them by two Tauranga Moana hapū — Ngāti Tapu and Ngāi Tamarāwaho.

    True, the CMS had come under intolerable pressure from the Crown to sell out. But that land was not CMS’s to sell, nor to give away. But, once given, it was gone forever, and the hapū were thrown into poverty.

    Yesterday’s apology was read, slowly, in te reo by Pīhopa Ngarahu Katene, and in English by Archbishop Philip Richardson.

    Then the day reached its pivotal, unscripted, and most solemn moment — when Archbishop Philip sank to his knees in the grass.

    He raised the General Synod-mandated apology above his head and, with eyes down, he offered the document, which is sealed with the Primate’s seal, to Ngāti Tapu kaumātua Puhirake Ihaka and Ngāi Tamarāwaho kaumātua Peri Kohu.

    https://e-tangata.co.nz/history/with-heads-hung-low/

  9. KJT 9

    https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/12/against-teaching-kids-to-code-creativity-problem-solving.html?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits

    Agree totally with this article. Creativity, problem solving, communication, persistance and resilience will beat learning a narrow range of, soon to be, outdated, skills.

    Old style metalwork, woodwork and cooking taught me those things. Not coding.

  10. cleangreen 10

    In German last week the biggest ‘right wing “Grand coalition” party have just elected who will be the next chancellor for Germany, – who is reported to be a hard right woman who resembles the character of Adolf Hitler we hear.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/12/angela-merkels-power-is-weakening-who-could-be-germanys-next-leader.html

    Experts believe there are a handful of possible replacements, ranging from Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the new general secretary of the CDU who shares a lot of Merkel’s practical approach to politics (earning her the nickname of “Merkel’s mini-me”)
    “I think she’ll carry on for another 18 months to two years but her authority and popularity is lower now, so what will decide her future is not the state of the coalition but the state of her party — that’s where the revolt will come from.”

    • Sabine 10.1

      The CDU is nothing without the CSU, they are two pods of the same plant and the CDU needs it Coalition Partner. The CSU is literally only found in Bavaria, nowhere else in Germany – it is a single state Party and literally the only one in the country like that. Keep also in mind that Bavaria is a ‘free state’ within the federation of germany and thus has a status quite different from the other states within the federation.
      Also Seehoefer is a too old white man and an ass who should go and retire already.

      Also the poll referred to in this publication was by the “Handelsblatt” which is a very conservative commercial interest newspaper. So i can see why their respondents would be unhappy if Merkel is not gonna spend all that tax money surplus on some big business projects, cause they would be very unhappy were she to spend it on social welfare and the likes.

      As for that comment that she hangs on for another 18 month or so? Hopefull wishing by someone who wants that tax surplus spend on big business projects.

      The CSU is never gonna be anything but a Bavarian Party, has never been anything else. Augsburg, a city my family hails from, one of the three cities in Germany created by the Romans is notoriously conservative even if it were to kill them. And in the times fo my coming of age the 80.s, this city was a dead fish in the water until the Bavarian government finally started to spend some money on it, lest they completely go over to Die Gruenen and SPD. Due to its ‘free state’ status Bavaria is one of the highest income, highest business density and highest cost of living places in Germany. And guess what, that is what is ailing Bavaria. The workers so badly
      needed can’t afford to live there. Sounds like something we know something of?
      So i put my money on Merkel for now. She wants to make people happy? She will loosen the string of the purse a bit, and go ‘social’ and ‘green’.

      As for the migrant problem? Worldwide, and this includes us here, we will have to make a decision. Cause with global warming, raising sea levels, increasing droughts, fires etc we will have migrants. Millions of migrants everywhere, anywhere, at all times. Add in a bit of war for water, land and food, and voila, time to realise that we will never resolve the migrant problem unless we are happy to watch them die in their boats, in locked up shipping containers, or shoot them on sight. Cause they will keep on coming, as that is all they can do to stay alive. And why? Because we will never change, not give up our nice life without a fight and someone somewhere will whinge that is Dad pulled his boat three hundred kilometers to some lake somewhere and then back, and gosh darn it, it is my right and i too shall do that cause its my right! And the same is true for Germany, the US, Italy, France, England, OZ and NZ and anywhere else.

  11. Morrissey 11

    17,000 empty seats in a 20,000 seat arena.
    “Could the Clintons be bigger assholes?”

    “They can’t fill a stadium but they sure can fill a graveyard.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faGjgYgD-Iw

    • Thanks for the link, Moz. Like you, I totally trust everything the Daily Mail promotes, particularly their sensible support for that Austrian chap, Herr Hitler. Hurrah for the Blackshirts!

      • Morrissey 11.1.1

        The Daily Mail? This was Jimmy Dore—a far more intelligent commentator than anyone at the Wail or the Grauniad.

        Do you think there were 20,000 people there? Dressed as empty seats, maybe?

        • te reo putake 11.1.1.1

          I take it you didn’t even watch the video. Sad!

          • Morrissey 11.1.1.1.1

            I certainly did watch it. How does the fact that the coverage of this Clinton failure was from the Wail invalidate it?

            Hell, even Noam Chomsky, who with Ed Herman definitively analysed the propaganda function of the New York Times, says that most of the stuff it prints is good, solid, reliable journalism.

            Same goes for the Wail and the Grauniad, surely. In spite of employing such second- and third-rate talents as Cathy Newman, James Ball and Luke Harding, most of what is printed in those propaganda sheets is unexceptionable.

            Or, to bring it back to a Kiwi example: it’s like Mike Hosking, or Leighton Smith: probably 90 per cent of what they say is fine; it’s that last ten per cent where the trouble starts….

  12. mauī 12

    Only on RT. Haven’t seen Ad do a post on how successful Macron has been lately..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bDLHVWKKY8

    • joe90 12.1

      Only on RT.

      Well, only if the Chekist thug’s personal propaganda outlet is your only source.

      /

      • joe90 12.2.1

        Bannon’s and big data’s stickies are all over this.

        In an interview with the Observer, Cohn-Bendit, now a friend and adviser to President Emmanuel Macron, said: “This movement is very different to May 68. Back then, we wanted to get rid of a general (Charles de Gaulle); today these people want to put a general in power,” he said, referring to calls by certain gilets jaunes for the former chief of defence staff General Pierre de Villiers, who resigned after falling out with Macron in July 2017, to be made prime minister.

        “And nobody in 68 made death threats against those who want to talk. This is the power of force. All those on the left thinking this is a leftwing revolution are wrong: it’s veering to the right. To hear that gilets jaunes who want to negotiate are receiving death threats is evidence of this authoritarian right.

        “I hear people from la France Insoumise (hard left), talking about this being a great people’s revolt and how the people are speaking, but these are the same ordinary people who pushed Trump into power.

        “We saw in Germany in 1933 what ‘ordinary’ people did. Not all ordinary people are good … it’s not an accident that this movement has proposed General de Villiers as an alternative leader.”

        https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/08/daniel-cohn-bendit-gilets-jaunes-macron-may-68-paris-student-protest

        • Sabine 12.2.1.1

          i believe for both to be active atm. The movement that is popular, i.e. people put on their gilet jaune and protest – a day, a week, a few hours, and agent provocateurs.

          I still have family and friends in france – i lived there for quite a few years before moving to NZ with my kiwi husband – and the movement is based on the issue mentioned, i.e. Gasoline to expensive, cuts to all services, increase in living costs, essentially the same malaise that we have here in NZ. To some extend the movement is supported by Police, Fire fighters, Ambulance drivers etc, so not really those that would cause a ruckus.

          i have heard nothing about installing a General, but one of the most often named points is to go to a system as in Switzerland where laws are voted for in popular referendums.

          I have heard of he abolition of any retirement payments to ex politicos that are still of working age, or have income.

          I have heard of the demand to fire Macron and send him packing.

          But this is the first time i hear about the general. I will ask my friends to see what this is about.

          • joe90 12.2.1.1.1

            Google translation of a statement from what appears to be a broad cross section of French people.

            The yellow vests movement puts the entire social policy of the government in public debate. More broadly, the neoliberal policies implemented by successive governments for decades are at stake. More and more difficult months of the month, increased precariousness of work, tax injustice, expensive housing, deteriorating living conditions, such is the situation faced by the majority of the population. This particularly affects women, very many to mobilize in this movement. At the same time, tax evasion has never been so important and the richest have been offered multiple tax breaks: the elimination of the ISF, flat tax of 30% for capital income that is not more subject to progressive tax, lower corporate tax … In these circumstances, the increase in fuel taxes appeared as “the last straw that broke the camel’s back.”

            Despite an attempt by the far right to take control of the movement, it is characterized by its horizontal self-organization and the demand for real democracy against an authoritarian and contemptuous presidency. At a time when COP 24 is taking place in Poland and where the fight against global warming is urgent, this movement also highlights the link between the social issue and ecological imperatives: the biggest polluters are exempt from any effort, the main causes of global warming are not dealt with, the breakdown of public services and local shops and urban sprawl continue, alternatives to public transport are not developed. The model of social housing in France is endangered by its commodification for the benefit of large private groups. In these circumstances, it is certainly not up to the middle and lower classes to pay for the ecological transition.

            Government policy does not respond to social anger or ecological imperatives. The government is letting the multinationals and the productivist lobbies do their best by always favoring their own interests and those of their shareholders to the detriment of the greatest number and the future of the planet. For days, the government stuck on an uncompromising stance, refusing any action and claiming that it was staying the course, despite the fact that a huge majority of the population supported this movement. This attitude has led to increasing exasperation that has led to acts of violence that the government could hope to take advantage of. This was not the case and the support of the population remained massive.

            The government has announced, among other things, the freeze and subsequent cancellation of the fuel tax increase. This is a first step backwards but it is too little, too late, because it is the whole social policy and its economic and ecological consequences that must be discussed. Even though youth has decided to set out to challenge the educational choices of power, it is a change of course that must be imposed. To begin, we must respond to union demands by increasing the minimum wage and returning to the cap of the increase in pensions to 0.3%, restore the ISF and tax multinationals, including Total, Gafa and banks that finance fossil fuels to invest heavily in thermal insulation of buildings and renewable energies.

            This is why the undersigned, trade unionists, associative and political leaders, researchers, academics, artists, etc., support the demands of fiscal and social justice brought by the movement of yellow vests. They call on the population to mobilize to impose a policy that allows better living, and to demonstrate peacefully in the street massively December 8, international mobilization day for climate justice, in convergence with the fourth day of mobilization of yellow vests.

            The petitioners

            https://www.liberation.fr/debats/2018/12/06/justice-sociale-justice-climatique-c-est-un-changement-de-cap-qu-il-faut-imposer_1696384

            • Sabine 12.2.1.1.1.1

              Yes, this is more what my friends talk about.

              As i said, that thing with Le General….thats new.

              as for now, this is going to be a European wide movement. As the gilet jaune signifies, this is an accident and we are securing the site to keep people safe. That is why you have to have one of these jackets in the car, by law, and that is why they wear them.

              I hope that the Bannon Brigade will very quickly overstay their welcome.

          • joe90 12.2.1.1.2

            Joint trade union statement translation.

            It is a text that should never have existed. When they arrived at the headquarters of the CFDT to discuss the social news on Thursday morning, two days before the fourth act of the yellow vests, the secretaries general of major trade unions had not planned to take the pen. However, coming out of this informal meeting which, explains one of them, “should not have been public”, the CFDT, the CGT, FO, the CFE-CGC, the CFTC, the Unsa, and the FSU have adopted a joint statement. “Writing this text has become obvious,” says François Hommeril of the GSC, the union of executives, who welcomes “this strong signal to the government.”
            “Out
            ground”

            In this statement of about fifteen lines, the signatories are worried about the “very degraded climate” and point the responsibility of the executive, remained deaf for “months” to their call for more “social justice”. Taking note, however, of a change of tone with, on Tuesday, the promise of the Prime Minister to launch a dialogue, the power plants undertake to participate in this dialogue, “each with [their] own demands and proposals, in common whenever it will be possible. But no matter how.

            Cooled by nineteen months of complex relations with a president who pretended to listen to them without paying much attention to their opinions, the unions demand something else: “real” negotiations, both “broad, open and transparent” on the purchasing power, wages, housing, transportation and utilities. But they do not give more indications on the calendar and the method wanted for this eventual Grenelle version 2018. Nor do they make strong proposals or calls to act in concert. “Everyone has their culture. We focused on the essential, what we could say together today, “says Luc Bérille, Unsa. Not very much, retorts Eric Beynel, spokesperson for Solidaires, present at the meeting but did not want to initial the text, considered “off the ground”. Signatory, however, the appeal initiated by Attac and the Copernicus Foundation for a convergence of mobilizations of yellow vests and the march for the climate (read above), it annoys: “Our responsibility of trade unionists n ‘ is not to write an incantatory text, but to call to be present in the street. ”

            The common statement is, on the contrary, very cautious towards yellow vests. While their mobilization is described as “legitimate anger,” the signatories also denounce “all forms of violence in the expression of claims.” A sentence that follows the request to “launch a call for calm” that had sent them, the day before, the executive. Not a word on the other hand on police management, sometimes violent, mobilizations. What ended to convince Solidaires not to sign. And led the CGT, which calls for a day of action on December 14, to draft a statement denouncing an “inadmissible repression”, including youth: “The CGT can not accept that the power strikes and tape our children. ”
            “Grand
            gap ”

            The power station of Philippe Martinez, also a signatory of the appeal launched by Attac, also calls for “the immediate opening of negotiations on the social emergency”. In passing, the CGT also announces that it will not participate in the meeting proposed by the Minister of Labor, this Friday, to launch the project of the consultation. What to disconcert his co-signatories of the joint statement. “This shows the big internal gap that the CGT is doing,” notes a secretary general.

            Transis, the others wait for clarifications of the executive. “We will see if what is proposed is acceptable. It would be simpler if we could move together in this framework, “says one at the CFDT. But caution remains in place. “When we hear some people in the government say that we have to stay the course, there is enough to doubt,” says François Hommeril of the GSC. The following ? “Every day is enough for him,” he breathes. After the excesses of Saturday, the eyes are on the day 8. “We do day to day, notes the head of Unsa. On the razor wire.”
            Amandine Cailhol

            https://www.liberation.fr/france/2018/12/06/gilets-jaunes-les-syndicats-a-mots-prudents_1696465

            • Sabine 12.2.1.1.2.1

              They – le gilet jaune – did raise a guillotine in Paris. Just in case they – the nobles and rich – forgot 🙂

  13. greywarshark 13

    National and Simon counting all the money that Labour is spending on gathering information, consulting, etc. Labour is not considered to be doing anything, just being told by others what to do. Hahahahahah – just what National knows most about! Labour’s bad is first reference on the news.
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/programmes/news-bulletin/story/2018674795/radio-new-zealand-news

    • OnceWasTim 13.1

      The figures are contested @ geywarshark, but in light of my comments above that relate to immigration, and others the other day, it does show that they’re increasingly desperate to find something to hang their credentials (such as they) on.

      Sroubek is not going to work
      MPI is not going to work
      NZTA is not going to work
      DHB’s circumstance is not going to work
      HCNZ is not going to work,

      And we’ve not even started on Krekshuns or Soshul ‘Development’ (going forward) despite the claims of best practice in each/all of the above.

      and all that is GIVEN the under-resourcing and under-funding in all the above, AND allowing for complete and utter muppetry and senior levels in each of those enetities.
      (and they supposedly advocated for performance pay ffs).

      It’s actually amusing to watch in a black humour sort of way

    • greywarshark 14.1

      The Waiwera Pools are a local asset that should be owned by a local Trust as with so many of our resources! Are Waiwera Properties Ltd local? It seems that at present it is a pocket-plaything for overseas bastards.

      arbitration between the former managers and the property owners will take place in February.
      That will mean no waterslides or swims at Waiwera until at least then.

      Local businesses that rely on tourists who visit the pools have also told RNZ that Waiwera is a key part of their summer trade.
      Waiwera Thermal Resort Limited has owned the lease to use the resort since 2010.

      It is owned by California-based diamond tycoon Leon Fingerhut, who earlier this month bought the shares of his business partner, the Russian billionaire Mikhail Khimich.

      The property owners, Waiwera Properties Limited, previously said they had expressions of interest by potential new managers for the pools.

  14. greywarshark 15

    Tauranga DHB unable and unwilling to provide modern services to the big city people flocking to the area. They have refused to provide surgical abortion services.

    https://www.theweekendsun.co.nz/news/5403-abortion-topic-sparks-prolife-response.html

    To deny humanity of an unborn child is appalling. That’s the opinion of pro-life advocates who are applauding the Bay of Plenty District Health Board for not providing a surgical abortion service in Tauranga.
    The conversation comes after The Weekend Sun published a story on November 23 discussing whether there is a need for surgical abortion services in Tauranga.

    Right to Life spokesman Ken Orr says pregnancy is not a disease, and abortions should not be used as a form of health care for women.
    “We take no pleasure in seeing women inconvenienced,” says Ken. “However, because we see abortion as a violation of the human rights of the child, we support the DHB refusing to provide a killing service.”
    He says nobody has the right to kill another human being because their continued living is an inconvenience.
    “The unborn child is a patient that should be respected and protected,” he says. “Women who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy, that is imposing a burden on the mother, deserve all the help and support from the community they need to choose life for their child.”

    • Janice 15.1

      Why am I surprised that is yet another man (who will never need abortion services) spouting this crap?

      • greywarshark 15.1.1

        Too true Janice. One who is bound by rectitude and safe from the dangers of falling into the slippery puddle of unwanted motherhood, can feel so superior and noble and didactic. That also applies to some women who get their jollies in life finding fault with other, lesser, women.

  15. greywarshark 16

    Why would a farming group be doing responsible, positive things to prepare for a sustainable farming future and clean, efficient farming practices? National thinks they must have been weakened by Labour’s bad influence into doing the right thing. And brings up that dirty, polluting word ‘tax’, as a scare taxtic!

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/377590/landcorp-apologises-for-not-telling-minister-of-tax-submission
    The Tax Working Group accepted Landcorp’s submission anyway, which talks of the agriculture sector needing to take a strong lead on reducing New Zealand’s environmental footprint.

    National’s agriculture spokesperson Nathan Guy said Landcorp must have been told to submit as it was advocating for a water tax, nitrogen fertiliser tax and was not opposed to a capital gains tax in its submission.
    “They’ve obviously been leaned on. This government wants to bring in environmental taxes. They want to tax the hell out of hardworking farmers in New Zealand.”

    But a spokesperson for Mr Jones rejected that, saying he was not even aware a submission had been made until it was reported by media on 28 November.

  16. halfcrown 19

    And now something completely different.

    Has anyone read Pratchett’s book “Good Omens”? If so is it worth reading?

    I see Amazon is bringing out a video of it next year but I sooner read than see.

    Thanks

    • Sabine 19.1

      All of Pratchetts books are good reading.

      Good Omen is good. And i am very much looking forward to the series. It will be epic.

      • greywarshark 19.1.1

        Pratchett wrote one of his Discworld books centred on Australia called The Last Continent or the Lost can’t remember. I’ve yet to read it,; getting round to it.

        He is/was a wonderful whimsical author with reality always at his fantastical elbow.
        Here is a great summary of his style.
        https://theconversation.com/a-beginners-guide-to-terry-pratchetts-discworld-55220

        • Sabine 19.1.1.1

          Going postal is great entertainment on any rainy, sunny or foggy day 🙂

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKSfel7Bj_E

          • halfcrown 19.1.1.1.1

            Thanks, Sabine and Grey for your response. I will get that book to read. Also thanks for the other sites you have listed to visit I have read several Discworld novels, One of the best bits was the BIG BANG Theory. in “Mort” I think
            The problem I have is, There are so many good books I want to read and now beginning to run out of years to read them in, so I have to be selective and cannot waste time on ones that may not be good. I know it is a matter of choice but have selected some duds lately though I did enjoy Iggulden’s novels on the War of the Roses and the Genghis Khan Dynasty.
            Thank you all and compliments of the season

            • greywarshark 19.1.1.1.1.1

              Compliments too halfcrown and fellow reader
              Love that bit of getting more books for tight timing to read. Let’s say while you can read you will stay on top of the brain fade and so you will never leave us. Perhaps it could be said ‘Old readers never die they just can’t turn the page’.

  17. ianmac 20

    James is paid $10 for every bite that he can muster on The Standard. The National Party do pay for this from their own funds.
    Today he has earned over $300 and is sniggering all the way to his favourite shop.
    Remember this as each time you respond to his bait he gets richer.

  18. Ad 21

    Top work to Greg Presland for being awarded his Labour Party life membership this afternoon.

    Well deserved after so many campaigns, so many decades of hard political work.

  19. joe90 22

    The authoritarian thug quashes any dissent.

    A Moscow court on Wednesday sentenced a 77-year-old rights activist to 25 days in jail for calling for protests against a growing crackdown on young people.

    Lev Ponomaryov, one of Russia’s most respected activists, told AFP that the powerful FSB security service was behind his detention.

    “They are taking revenge against me because I am waging a war against the FSB,” the head of the For Human Rights movement told AFP by phone as he was being driven to a detention centre.

    “The country is gradually inching towards mass political repressions,” he said, referring to the peak of Stalin-era purges.

    https://sg.news.yahoo.com/russia-jails-elderly-activist-protest-call-173726882.html

  20. David Mac 23

    Stuart Munro, are you still about? I miss you.

  21. eco maori 24

    Kia ora the Am Show Chris its is cool that we have a lot more people giving help to the poor people who need it.
    simon what about all the money shonky took from the poor and gave to the rich that will equate into millions a day into the rich hip pocket I will not raise gst.
    land line polls are not a accurate take on the views of all kiwis run a poll on your religious views based on landline users and you will get a totally different result.
    Rodger the buff kangaroo condolences to all the people whom cared for him.
    Andrew we all no the trickle down effect is non existent as some wealthy people use any move they can to keep all the lollies to them selves .
    duncan you would not see any of the improvement of poor peoples lives with your head high up in that ——– you never see the poor people Trust me I can see the common poor people with smile’s on there faces that tells a big story there Te tangata whenua culture and tangata and minority cultures are receiving the respect we deserve .
    Aotearoa is one of the safes places on Papatuanuku to live and the greatest risk is strangers. This is the capitalist society have the people feel unsafe to worried to see the big picture that is our democracy is being undermined from the wealthy.
    Ka kite ano P.S I see

  22. eco maori 25

    Some Eco Maori music for the minute
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKprXO-f2pM

  23. eco maori 26

    Eco Maori is about leavening behind our grandchildren a healthy prosperous future
    hence my post educating the tangata about our worlds reality’s and trumps reality .
    The Republican Congress absolutely tried to shield the president,” he said. “The new Congress will not try to shield the president. It will try to get to the bottom of this in order to serve the American people and stop this massive fraud on the American people.”New court filings show Donald Trump was “at the center of a massive fraud” against the American people, the incoming chair of the House judiciary committee said on Sunday.
    Mob mentality: how Mueller is working to turn Trump’s troops
    Read more

    Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat set to take over the panel in January, said Trump would have committed impeachable offenses if it is proven that he ordered his lawyer to make illegal payments to women to keep quiet about alleged sexual encounters.

    “What these indictments and filings show is that the president was at the center of a massive fraud – several massive frauds against the American people,” Nadler said on CNN’s “State of the Union There’s a very real prospect that on the day Donald Trump leaves office, the justice department may indict him – that he may be the first president in quite some time to face the very real prospect of jail time,” Schiff said on CBS’s Face the Nation.

    The California Democrat said the “powerful case” prosecutors made for Cohen to serve a prison sentence would apply “equally” to the man identified in filings as “Individual 1”: the president.

    “To have the justice department basically say that the president of the United States not only coordinated but directed an illegal campaign scheme that may have had an election-altering impact is pretty breathtaking,” he said. Ana to kai links below.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/09/donald-trump-michael-cohen-payments-impeachment-jerrold-nadler P.S the go oil party are all idiots who are so short sighted

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXe_6EYvWJA

  24. eco maori 27

    Lets not let the worlds media turn one tragedy into a double whammy that will damage Aotearoa reputation as a safe place to come for a holiday there are citys the size of Aotearoa in America that have 500 murders a year .
    Positive we have a Lady prime minister we have turned the corner to Equality our lady sports stars are getting more good publicity and some are getting payed for there great effords Maori and Pacific cultures people are getting more respect than we did in the past we have a government that is committed to fight Climate Change and inequality there are many more positive phenomenons happening in Aotearoa now than in the past .Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland: New Zealand’s bizarre landscape that’s ‘hell on earth ka kite ano link below .

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/109219315/waiotapu-thermal-wonderland-new-zealands-bizarre-landscape-thats-hell-on-earth

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3W595WQw4E

  25. greywarshark 28

    Deciding on a possible strike on 21 December?: Shades of the unconscionable Cooks and Stewards strikes on the Cook Strait ferries.
    NO! Not now, later get tough if you are sure you are justified.
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/377896/air-nz-unions-begin-urgent-talks-as-strike-looms

    Get back, stay back, at work and you unions don’t start that neo lib nonsense that has brought so much despair to a mass of ordinary people when used by business and consultative government (with useful business cronies). There has been crookedness in government, so don’t let us have it occurring in unions too that show no community with the other workers in the nation. If that happens, then we are completely encircled by grasping people with dollars for eyeballs, unworthy of respect and support.

    There should be no strikes held at times that upset people’s lives and time for getting together with family or children; the important times that we all live and breathe for. There is no excuse for this holiday threat, by the airline and other sector engineers who are not on the bones of their bums. But now seem to care nothing about others, some of whom are on the edge, and union behaviour like this shows they are prepared to put the nation’s economic functions under stress at their whim.

    Unions that want fairer wages and conditions, must respect the meaning of fairness themselves, and when they put stress on the word and meaning of ‘fair’ they must follow and respect that understanding.

  26. eco maori 29

    GWS get off Eco Maori’s coat tail use your own mana to float your views puppet muppet. because we have nothing incommon.

  27. eco maori 30

    Its good that a lot of business can see past the veil of deceit money and lies to see that if we don’t dump carbon our Descendants Papatuanuku will turn into a nightmare on epic proportions.
    The group of 414 institutional investors with $31 trillion under management say governments must take serious steps to cut emissions The largest ever group of institutional investors has called on governments around the world to urgently increase their efforts to meet the Paris climate change agreement goals.

    The 414 global investors – which represent US$31 trillion of assets-under-management – say they are deeply concerned about the “ambition gap” that exists between governments’ commitments and what is needed to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels.

    They say that gap is increasing the physical risks from climate change and hampering investors’ ability to properly allocate trillions of dollars needed to support the much-needed transition to a low carbon economy.

    They have signed a “Global Investor Statement” to be handed to world leaders this week at the COP24 – the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Poland.
    Sign up to the Green Light email to get the planet’s most important stories
    Read more

    The signatories include some of the world’s largest pension funds, asset managers and insurance companies, including Australian investors BT Financial Group, Australian Super, Cbus, HESTA, IFM Investors, Local Government Super, and VicSuper.

    It is the single largest intervention from investors on climate change, surpassing even the one issued in Paris. Links Below ka kite ano. P.S green energy creates more jobs than carbon based energy.
    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/10/largest-ever-group-of-global-investors-call-for-more-action-to-meet-paris-targets

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0y9df4Hp50

  28. eco maori 31

    I could see that putin was playing the popular card on climate change this oil baron don’t give a ——– about our descendants future all he wants to do is turn back time to were Russia was a super power as for Saudi Arabia they are in the same waka they were playing the popular card to till the last minute and showing there true colors a power hungry regime who will let there descendants burn for that power

    US and Russia ally with Saudi Arabia to water down climate pledge
    The US and Russia have thrown climate talks into disarray by allying with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to water down approval of a landmark report on the need to keep global warming below 1.5C.

    After a heated two-and-a-half-hour debate on Saturday night, the backwards step by the four major oil producers shocked delegates at the UN climate conference in Katowice as ministers flew in for the final week of high-level discussions.

    It has also raised fears among scientists that the US president, Donald Trump, is going from passively withdrawing from climate talks to actively undermining them alongside a coalition of climate deniers.
    ‘We live in a lobstocracy’: Maine town is feeling the effects of climate change
    Read more

    Two months ago, representatives from the world’s governments hugged after agreeing on the 1.5C report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), commissioned to spell out the dire consequences should that level of warming be exceeded and how it can be avoided. Links below ka kite ano .P.S the rest of the world need to be strong and the will of the people will prevail he tangata he tangat he tangata that count in 2018.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/09/us-russia-ally-saudi-arabia-water-down-climate-pledges-un

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8A1_rL0d1c

  29. eco maori 32

    Kia ora Newshub Ka pai to our Prime minister for apologizing for the murder of that young lady holidaying in Aotearoa.
    I totally agree with Lizzy men needs respect Wahine I will give a story on this later.
    simon this show me that national is use to having the police dance to there tune with shonky tack ticks.
    Yes most of the movie we watch promote alcohol way to much for my liking .
    The NZ Transport agency CEO has stepped down I still say six monthly WOF should not have been scrapped for modem vehicles.
    There you go if it smells like one look’s like one & behaves like one than he’s a cheating bulling lair .
    Mike that’s working outside the square box in advertising to OUR Guest what they are doing wrong in NZ is being a respectful responsible host country Ka pai.
    Here we go another man disrespecting Wahine jarod hanes .
    shonky & bills poverty tsunami effect is still rolling in the trickle down effect is a big con job being played out on a world scale buy capitalist.
    Ken is a good kiwi bloke and Kati Kati is a beautiful little place.
    Ka kite ano

  30. eco maori 33

    Kia ora James & Mulls from the Crows Goes Wild our cricketers all have a sore face ka pai
    Our winter sports stars are having a great time at world events .
    Our Allblacks 7 team don’t have to worry about that minor hickup in South Africa .
    She is amazing that young Asian girl singing there national anthem James
    Steven is a good coach all the best to the Warriors.
    Looks like some one is damaging the brand of America.
    Ka kite ano

  31. eco maori 34

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvTqknDobU

  32. eco maori 35

    Kia ora the Am Show may brexit is doom to fail now everyone knows who created it to distract Europe on climate change and Equality for all foreigners interfering in Europe.
    I say that all boards should have maori & Wahine representation on them I see some people were making fun of our ancient story’s and culture the big picture is our culture respects the ancestors and the decedents and Papatuanuku unlike some who live for the now and only respect themselves with that grain of thought they are stuffing up OUR future.
    That’s the Chrismas spirit Jacinda you have achieved a enormous feat against the tide of neo capitalist money that distorts reality to conform with there elitist greedy short sighted view’s .
    I say our government is thinking long term at least we have started changing the law so people who need medical weed will be able to use it legally.
    The whole world needs to show the Wahine more respect .
    There you go duncan automatically giving a tohu to a man over wahine if he had the best brain why is he leaving A. because his party made a big mess of Aotearoa with his votes chris finlayson .
    All the best to Marina on her new Journey in life.
    Ka kite ano

  33. eco maori 36

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgVVG5EknuI

  34. eco maori 37

    To scotty morrison you will need a big box of tissues after the Australian elections next year carbon pro fool running around after another fool trump scotty cannot even see some thing if it was right under his nose
    Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to coal – and its unwavering support for the United States – by appearing at a US government-run event promoting the use of fossil fuels at the United Nations climate talks in Poland.

    Australia was the only country apart from the host represented at the event, entitled “US innovative technologies spur economic dynamism”, designed to “showcase ways to use fossil fuels as cleanly and efficiently as possible, as well as the use of emission-free nuclear energy”.

    Its panel discussion was disrupted for several minutes by dozens of protesters who stood up suddenly during speeches, unfurling a banner reading “Keep it in the ground” while singing and chanting “Shame on you”.
    How America’s clean coal dream unravelled
    Read more

    Patrick Suckling, Australia’s ambassador for the environment, and the head of the country’s negotiating delegation at the climate talks, spoke on the panel. His nameplate bore a US flag. Ka kite ano link below P.S the sandfly have been stuffing with my computer again muppets

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/11/australia-only-nation-to-
    join-us-at-pro-coal-event-at-cop24-climate-talks
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_MoI6bUTXE

  35. eco maori 39

    The big picture is the kocoal brothers have trump on a string like a puppet and he is dancing to there tune.
    US undermining ‘last chance’ climate talks, experts charge
    The American delegation came to promote coal.
    And the kids laughed in their faces.
    That was the bizarre and symbolic scene that unfolded Monday at the UN COP24 climate talks at a spaceship-shaped conference center in Polish coal country.

    The nations of the world are meeting here to hash out a “rulebook” to help ensure the viability of humanity — preventing runaway global warming from causing even greater calamity in the form of superstorms, searing droughts and deadly heat waves.
    Ka kite ano links below.
    https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/10/world/climate-change-us-coal-cop24/index.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClU3fctbGls

  36. eco maori 41

    Here you go our truth seeking scientist have been intimidated & suppressed by some state agency’s and big business groups they have been warning us about our wai and awa becoming to toxic to swim in we need to look after our wai .There are very strong disincentives for speaking out,” Death said.

    “For those of us who do speak out, our funding is clearly impacted, and we don’t get as much funding as we would get [if we didn’t] speak out about various industry bodies in New Zealand.

    “We do have to speak out, and we are allowed to speak out, but we speak out at our peril and our cost.”

    In his address, Death said New Zealand’s water quality was not “something to be overly proud about,” citing its rate of endangered native freshwater species – which was the highest in the world – and its rate of waterborne disease, which was among the highest in the western world.

    He also cited deaths related to contaminated drinking water, as seen in the Havelock North disaster in 2016, in which an outbreak New Zealand’s freshwater scientists had done valuable, at times world-leading research, Death said, but scientists – as well as the Society itself, for which he had been a member for 30 years – needed to stand up and push aggressively for their science to be practically applied.

    “I think we really do need to do better,” Death said. “We are the expert body of freshwater science in New Zealand, and we are the people that can have an effect.

    “I like to think we could be a little more supportive of those of us who speak out. I think Mike Joy in particular has been vilified for speaking out – a lot of us congratulate him for doing it because we’re scared to do it ourselves. ka kite ano links below

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/109213762/we-speak-out-at-our-peril-science-on-water-quality-has-been-ignored-scientist-says

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4DFXUndvbw

  37. eco maori 42

    Kia ora Newshub yes we need everyone to give our wahine more respect I have a story about the police’s response to one complainant.
    There you go this is just a start to the cannabis reforms its a pity we did not get it passed to limit Helen Kellys pain ????? .
    seenothing the regions have been farmed and starved of money from the goverment you supported for the last nine years they poured the money into bill south island M8 to the tune of hundreds on millions .
    Yes a warming tangaroa is bad for our fishes we have seen big changes in fisheries over seas red algae blooms killing of fishes to and still we have climate change deniers .
    Samantha yes trumps smocking gun well its is affecting America quite negatively the last time a go oil party president got the wheel he caused a world financial crises this one is doing more damage in a quarter of the time.
    That is great news to stop company’s bottling our water and exporting it with little financial gain for Aotearoa.
    Its good to see that the IPCA is doing its job finding that the first police investigation of that 13 year old girl and a teacher from Gisborne was differently not on you see what it tell me that the law is dish out unfairly its who you know Ka kite ano

  38. Eco Maori 43

    Kia ora James & Mulls good waiata with Marina James it sounds like our tennis stars need more Tau toko.

    That was a awesome try that won the Wahine 7 gold medal at the games guy Ka pai.
    I see Hartley has Porse backing him for there E racing team he said there was a lot of politics in Formal 1 racing ECO Maori could see that he has a quick lap times. Electric cars are the future I see some big car companies did not jump on the bandwagon of Ecar why because they make more profits off enternal combustion car parts than they make off there cars.
    Storm the snoop sports reporter the net ball Wahine stars will shine bright.
    Steven Adams is cool showing the aroha to the children on a good day I can hear a Haka from some of his biggest fans.
    Ka kite ano P.S I have to switch device you know why

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    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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