Open mike 10/02/2020

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, February 10th, 2020 - 92 comments
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92 comments on “Open mike 10/02/2020 ”

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  1. Sacha 1
    10 February 2020 at 7:22 am

    Former news boss at TV3 Mark Jennings writes about the proposed merger of TVNZ and RNZ: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/02/07/1024615/tvnz-and-rnz-now-in-a-waiting-game

    The question Faafoi has failed to answer, or at least answer convincingly, is this: what are the benefits of creating a single organisation from scratch and scrapping TVNZ and RNZ?

    • Sacha 1.1
      10 February 2020 at 7:24 am

      RNZ's Mediawatch tackles the topic: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018733220/minister-lifts-the-lid-on-public-media-plan-a-little

      They’re already struggling in a market now occupied by Facebook, Google and Netflix as well as other local media competitors.

      The minister also said we would have to wait and see what the impact might be on commercial media companies which will co-exist with what's been described as a "super-sized" single new public media company from 2023.

        • Muttonbird 1.1.1.1
          10 February 2020 at 11:37 am

          Last vestiges of the right wing at RNZ undermining the government for their own ends?

          Clearly the management there would rather be the ‘commercial broadcaster’ like TVNZ, rather than the ‘public broadcaster’ they have historically been.

          • Anne 1.1.1.1.1
            10 February 2020 at 12:09 pm

            Yes.

            Brought up on market place commercialism and 'brandism' with no knowledge or understanding of complimentary public broadcasting ideals.

          • OnceWasTim 1.1.1.1.2
            10 February 2020 at 1:33 pm

            Except that I'm not so sure they're the "last vestiges" (part of the resaon I keep harping on about the state of many in the senior ranks of our public service).

            Not sure its that they're necessarily 'left or right wing' either, but in most cases probably. More to do with Master of the Universe and Impressive C.V. Syndrome

            The problem with 'nice people' as politicians at times is that they don't usually have very sophisticated bullshit detectors.

            I'm tempted to have another rave on a number examples but I'll give you just one:

            Imagine if Kris Faafoi (after his discussion with Mr Thompson) had disclosed publicly the concerns prior to Thompson and his side-kick's announcement – i.e. the bit where JA and others' view was that it didn't have to be an either/or situation).

            But there are other examples across the PS (in areas such as immigration, exploitation et al, and generally to do with social services).

          • SPC 1.1.1.1.3
            10 February 2020 at 3:08 pm

            Yes, the same faction wanting the merger wants the commercialised model – the future are the youth etc. And a big merged commercial model adds value to their CV.

    • OnceWasTim 1.2
      10 February 2020 at 8:08 am

      The whole sorry saga is becoming a bit of a bugger's muddle @Sacha.

      JA revealed what I had already suspected as far as ConcertFM proposals (i.e. that Faafoi had discussions with Thompson and Macalister), and they went a head anyway.

      Problem is, Faafoi has probably got too much on his plate – as have a couple of other Ministers for that matter.

      But I guess it's what you get when you corporatise government and public institutions and stack them with people that worship at the altar of the market the market.

      Thankfully (as far as Concert FM and a 'yoof' network – which should really be about an alternative network not necessarily based on 'age'), JA made it clear she didn't think it needed to be an either/or situation.

      As for the rest – Jennings makes some good points

    • Muttonbird 1.3
      10 February 2020 at 8:25 am

      Cross-platform brand identity and increased efficiency through shared services, I would have thought.

      • OnceWasTim 1.3.1
        10 February 2020 at 1:50 pm

        Fuck 'brand identity'! As a public service broadcaster, I couldn't care if you called it Red, Pink, Mauve, Brown or Green Radio, or whether its RNZ or RadioNZ. The stuff it produces is what's important, and given its resources it was doing a mighty fine job until someone rode in on a Vespa wanting to make his mark. (So far, a bit of a skid mark)

      • SPC 1.3.2
        10 February 2020 at 3:16 pm

        Just no. It's not worth the risk.

        First bump up funding for RNZ – it was budget pressured by National. Protect the public service model by keeping it separate.

        Second, appreciate that TVNZ is of a dying free to air broadcast model and help it manage its decline (its gone on-line, it has on-line content from which it extracts commercially valued data about users) by ensuring it has the funding to continue with public service roles.

        At some point, when it has lost the ability to extract significant advertising, then merge it with RNZ as a public service broadcaster.

        Otherwise the need is to expand NZ On Air with financial support for local, regional and national news and community service (whether print/on-line or broadcast).

    • veutoviper 1.4
      10 February 2020 at 1:11 pm

      The PM was very blunt on Morning Report this morning making it clear that, as Minister for Arts and Culture, she was:

      • not prepared to consider the proposed dropping of Concert FM and its replacement by a channel for younger generation music as merely an internal operational programming issue;
      • frustrated with RNZ management in that Faafoi had specifically asked them for time for discussions to try to find a solution that would provide access to all NZers and not deny access/programming to one sector in favour of another – but they had gone ahead and announced their proposals re dropping Concert FM anyway.

      She was very clear that that conversation would held; ad that she was not prepared to see one generation/sector of the community being pitted against another.

      Well worth a five minute listen – https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/news-extras/story/2018733433/jacinda-ardern-on-rnz-concert-changes

      Horror of horrors, I actually agree with Matthew Hooton who said on RNZ Nine to Noon later this morning that this interview was one of the clearest, most blunt ones he had heard from Ardern – and fully supported her position as do I!

      In fact Hooton and Neale Jones agreed that Ardern's stance this morning pretty much ensures that Concert FM will not be dropped as proposed. I hope they are right.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018733432/political-commentators-hooton-and-jones

  2. Cinny 2
    10 February 2020 at 7:53 am

    Just after the poll announcement last night, simon took to twitter to defend his result.

    Note the Newshub poll was before I ruled out NZ First and I’ve no doubt that will have an effect, providing certainty and choice to NZers upfront.

    Who does that? Too funny, especially considering there was only one point between Labour and national.

    Meanwhile…. it's be beginning to look a lot like Christmas 🙂 Red and Green all the way 🙂

  3. Herodotus 3
    10 February 2020 at 8:09 am

    And once the votes are casted Winston doesn’t follow any of the public swells. throws a few bites to his voters to keep them complainant eg $50 winter power subsidy. Then in 3 years time, complain about our immigration policy and does …….. nothing.

  4. pat 4
    10 February 2020 at 8:10 am

    "New Zealand will emit a million more tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2020 than previously forecast, new figures from the Ministry for the Environment show."

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/02/10/1024337/greenhouse-emissions-projections-jump-in-latest-report

    wrong direction

    • Poission 4.1
      10 February 2020 at 1:54 pm

      The reports forecasts will be wrong,due to the fallout and aftermath of Cov.The immediate cessation of logging would need to be factored in,the reduction in tourism and flights and shipping from China etc.

      Globally the significant decrease in emissions from China demand around 3 million barrels a day,plus cessation of LNG imports have forced significant reduction in the cost of carbon emissions around 15% since December 23 (with most of the fall in the last 2 weeks)

      https://www.investing.com/commodities/carbon-emissions

      • pat 4.1.1
        10 February 2020 at 2:13 pm

        the forecasts will indeed be wrong (as they usually are), however the trend is key and while the even the trend may be impacted if the economic fall out from nCV is large and sustained enough, that trend is in the wrong direction and demonstrates the disconnect between the act and the rhetoric

  5. Blazer 5
    10 February 2020 at 8:24 am

    the core…

    'Banking was conceived in iniquity and was born in sin. The bankers own the earth. Take it away from them, but leave them the power to create money, and with the flick of the pen they will create enough deposits to buy it back again. However, take away from them the power to create money and all the great fortunes like mine will disappear and they ought to disappear, for this would be a happier and better world to live in. But, if you wish to remain the slaves of bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, let them continue to create money."

    J.Stamp.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 5.1
      10 February 2020 at 6:46 pm

      Completely correct, and not on the radar of the two main parties in NZ – at all.

      • Blazer 5.1.1
        10 February 2020 at 7:56 pm

        not on the radar of anyone who want's to..'survive'..unfortunately…all the big issues in the world incl climate change can be addressed by real..banking reform.

  6. Sanctuary 6
    10 February 2020 at 8:34 am

    Irrespective of the merits or otherwise of RNZ's proposals the whole concert FM business is an unedifying spectacle of entitled elite fury in action.

    People who can barely be bothered to do anything beyond offer feeble blandishments on social media about issues ranging from child poverty to mental health to the housing crisis are issuing outraged squeals, immoderate threats and frankly and proudly exercising class privilege by pulling every string they can think of in any elite circle they can think of to protect a station listened to largely by privileged, aging white people.

    • JanM 6.1
      10 February 2020 at 10:35 am

      Remembering, of course, that elderly pakeha who enjoy classical music are a valid tribe of this country like any other and have every right to fight for something they value – for some, living lonely and isolated lives, this may be their contact with the outside world.

      • Anne 6.1.1
        10 February 2020 at 11:00 am

        +1 JanM

        Classical music is universal. It is not confined to "privileged aging white people." I was lucky enough to have parents who introduced us to classical music from an early age and have enjoyed countless hours listening since.

        • Sanctuary 6.1.1.1
          10 February 2020 at 12:49 pm

          I am not commenting on the merits of the change. IMHO, robbing Peter to pay Paul is not a good idea – I read Concert FM employees the princely total of 17 people and probably cost less than 1.5 million dollars to run per year, so sending it's encrusted cultural value and baked on entitled boomer fan base to the knackers yard hardly seems worth it to me.

          I actually support a government youth radio network. Gordon Campbell makes a mistake today by saying the 18-35 age group is already well served by private radio – width and quality are not the same thing. I just don't understand why they don't fund both. Just make the Skypath a few metres shorter and use that money or something.

          The whole RNZ saga has some pretty weird bubble politics going on around it. Presumably Labour are terrified private news networks will go completely troppo on them if they do to much to tip the playing field their way and are treading so lightly they keep tripping over their own shadow.

          • SPC 6.1.1.1.1
            10 February 2020 at 3:24 pm

            Concert FM and youth radio on-line was and is the obvious way to go. There is a place for informed comment and publicising of new music that commercial radio is just not interested in doing. It's not as if youth are not able to find ways to get quality music listening from an online service.

    • Adrian 6.2
      10 February 2020 at 11:31 am

      Maybe they are just picking fights they think they can win.

    • OnceWasTim 6.3
      10 February 2020 at 1:09 pm

      I think you might find that many of the people that ARE actually trying to do something about child poverty, high rates of suicide, housing shortages. indigenous representation, improving education and various other things (rather than just bleating about it) are also in support of Concert FM as it stands. But if that's your definition of class privilege and elitism then I'm all for it.

  7. Sacha 7
    10 February 2020 at 8:50 am

    Greens pushing within coalition government for strong labour laws: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119360655/greens-push-for-most-powerful-labour-law-as-government-negotiates-on-fair-pay-agreements

    Green Party workplace relations spokeswoman Jan Logie said the party wanted the strongest measures, including a threshold requiring negotiations when 10 per cent or 1000 employees in a sector call for an FPA.

    Also being backed by the Greens: union representatives in contract negotiations, the inclusion of training and career pathways for workers within agreements, and an independent arbiter for when negotiations break down.

    "If we're to really to get to the heart of the problem that's seeing people stuck on minimum wage for 30 years, working 16 hours days … We've got to take a strong legislative response," she said.

    Let's see where it ends up after Winston's bunch and the right of Labour are done with it..

    • weka 7.1
      10 February 2020 at 9:37 am

      is it just me or have the Greens recently stepped things up in terms of being publicly stronger on their own policies that differ from the rest of the government?

      • Sacha 7.1.1
        10 February 2020 at 10:22 am

        Certainly getting more oxygen.

      • McFlock 7.1.2
        10 February 2020 at 1:21 pm

        They always campaign well. Even when they had the fracture, it wasn't because of lack of campaigning ability.

        • weka 7.1.2.1
          10 February 2020 at 5:56 pm

          what I'm seeing in the past week or so has me actually hopeful. That they're going to go strong on values and the policies rather than playing it safe (although presumably they learnt a few things from what happened in 2017). I guess this isn't a surprise, it's just been a while since I've seen them stepping up like this.

          • pat 7.1.2.1.1
            10 February 2020 at 5:58 pm

            I fear you will be disappointed…the Greens may well improve their election result but I doubt that will lead to improved action on CC

            • weka 7.1.2.1.1.1
              10 February 2020 at 6:04 pm

              I wasn't meaning election results so much (that's dependent on so many things, many unpredictable), but more that the Greens stepping up on values and policy changes the debate (which is why Turei was right to do what she did even though it cost the Greens dearly).

              • weka …
                10 February 2020 at 6:05 pm

                eg the Greens going strong on climate will match the leadership outside of parliament and lead to a stronger climate action movement.

                The Greens have always been good at shift the debate and bringing the cutting edge into the mainstream. Time is right for them to push this further now.

              • McFlock …
                10 February 2020 at 6:14 pm

                Yeah. I reckon it'll be a hopeful year this year – noises are being made about free dental care for the needy, and the bushires really brought climate change to the fore.

                That's the starting ground that even the nats aren't dismissing out of hand. And the Greens are well placed to leverage even more policy changes than this time, especially if Lab need them and NZ1 would be insufficient assistance (not wishing them out, but lab/nats in high thirties with NZ1 @5-6% and greens 10% would be the ideal zone. Sure, some tory will whinge that current polls make it unlikely, but we'll see how the campaign goes).

            • Sacha 7.1.2.1.1.2
              10 February 2020 at 6:04 pm

              Reducing Winston's relative influence is the key.

              • weka …
                10 February 2020 at 6:06 pm

                That's Labour's job?

                • Sacha …
                  10 February 2020 at 8:52 pm

                  If the Greens are a larger force than Winston First, Labour should be under pressure to adjust accordingly (including their internal factions).

              • pat …
                10 February 2020 at 7:40 pm

                as said I fear you will be disappointed…Winston is a convenient excuse.

                • weka …
                  10 February 2020 at 8:53 pm

                  disappointed over what exactly?

                  • pat …
                    10 February 2020 at 9:02 pm

                    . "That they're going to go strong on values and the policies"

                    as they did previous to the last election.

                  • pat …
                    11 February 2020 at 11:48 am

                    on the contrary…the Greens will again go strong on values and their policies during campaigning…the disappointment will be in whats achieved post election.

                    • weka …
                      11 February 2020 at 12:08 pm

                      You don't know what my expectations are for post-election, which is why your comments here irk somewhat. I'd rather have people respond to what I'm actually saying, rather than projecting their own views onto that.

                • Sacha …
                  10 February 2020 at 8:53 pm

                  I believe it will improve climate action but not nearly enough. That will take some unavoidable catastrophes, sadly.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 7.2
      10 February 2020 at 6:53 pm

      I was at one of NZ's larger companies the other week. They actively sabotage all union negotiations, ensuring that any union members get lower pay than non-union members in any part of the business where unions participate – while paying miserably everywhere else where there are no unions. A deliberate (and apparently legal) strategy to drive down and eliminate union involvement.

  8. mauī 8
    10 February 2020 at 10:25 am

    The implosion of the Dems.



  10. Sabine 10
    10 February 2020 at 12:26 pm

    oh well, at least they are not Antifa, right.

    Maybe we can call them brown pants, or blue shirts, or white face masks – after all 'brown shirts' is already taken.

    Good to know that voting for the shitstain is so much better then voting for the women with the emails.

    https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/2/9/1917916/-Led-by-a-22-year-old-image-obsessed-white-nationalists-in-masks-march-on-Washington

    • McFlock 11.1
      10 February 2020 at 12:55 pm

      lols

      Apparently the photographer's only sin in the original pic was to tweak the colour balance a bit. Now I know where to look, that damned makeup line (either that, or he tans in a hijab lol) is obvious in so many different images of the jerk

  12. adam 12
    10 February 2020 at 1:20 pm

    Odd I'd have thought there be support for a popular left here victory on the standard – but more and more I get the feeling that will never be the case and to many hard core supporters of liberalism voices are dominate here. And if nothing else, a economic left victory is somthing they really don't want.

    On the good news front – Sinn Fein have cracked the Irish elections way open. More counting to do, but a left wing party has had a good whack at the liberal establishment.

    https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/general-election-results-ireland-2020-21460799

    • SPC 12.1
      10 February 2020 at 3:03 pm

      The left have 1/3rd support…the liberal capitalist 1/3rd and the conservatives 1/3rd – meh. And the other 2 would rather work together than with them … A long way to go.

    • ScottGN 12.2
      10 February 2020 at 5:37 pm

      Sinn Fein will be kicking themselves for only standing 42 candidates.

  13. Chris T 13
    10 February 2020 at 1:20 pm

    Looks like Winston might be slightly in the poo

    "Electoral Commission refers NZ First Foundation donations to police, says donations should have been declared"

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119393435/electoral-commission-refers-nz-first-foundation-donations-to-police-says-donations-should-have-been-declared

  14. joe90 14
    10 February 2020 at 1:32 pm

    Monday, and this is probably the most fucked up thing I'll read all week.

    Donald Trump wants to be president forever. He made that clear again with his tweet on Wednesday that featured campaign signs of Trump for President extending from 2020 to 2048. But that scenario is not going to happen, barring Trump being able to somehow suspend the 22nd Amendment of our Constitution.

    It’s clear though that regardless of how long Trump remains in the White House, he and many in his base want Trumpism—a celebration of cruelty, bigotry, and sexism—to continue long after he’s gone. That helps explain Trump’s support for anti-Muslim bigot Laura Loomer, who is running for Congress in Florida’s 21st District—and, incredibly, is increasingly the likely GOP nominee. After all, anti-Muslim bigotry is one of the cornerstones of Trumpism.

    https://www.thedailybeast.com/laura-loomer-trumpy-bigot-embraced-by-the-florida-gop-could-actually-get-to-congress

    • pat 14.1
      10 February 2020 at 3:53 pm

      The biggest threat Trump (and to an extent Boris) poses is his undermining of 'faith' in the system….for everything relies upon that faith.

      When it is lost there will be no warning.

  15. Ad 15
    10 February 2020 at 2:58 pm

    Big ups to Taika Waititi for the Academy Award.

  16. A 16
    10 February 2020 at 3:58 pm

    Bob Jones (if they won't revoke the Knighthood I don't have to participate)

    …says the column for which he says he was branded a racist was "a harmless joke" and not to be taken seriously.

    Jones was the first witness in his defamation claim against theatre and film writer and director Renae Maihi.

    Let's remember exactly what the remarks were that precipitated Renae Maihi calling for that knighthood to be removed

    In February 2018 he wrote a column for National Business Review which included a suggestion of changing Waitangi Day to Māori Gratitude Day.

    "I have in mind a public holiday where Māoris bring us breakfast in bed or weed our gardens, wash and polish our cars and so on out of gratitude for existing," he wrote.

    Alan Duff is apparently going to convince the Judge how this is humorous. Because he obviously Maori, and therefore a good example of how inoffensive this actually is. God.

    • McFlock 16.1
      10 February 2020 at 4:41 pm

      All good humour is about people. You can't make jokes about trees or fish. The very best are about human differences thus the familiar, 'a Scot, an Englishman and an Irishman went into a pub'. Alternatively religion, 'a priest, a rabbi, and a vicar'.

      Of course you can make jokes about trees, but the delivery has to be wooden.

      I had an awesome one about fish on the line, too, but it got away before I could show anyone.

      On a more esoteric note, one of the most durable explanations about humour I read about ISTR comes from Darwin, who wrote that "laughter is the collision of two emotions". It might not cover every joke I ever heard, but the template of setting up an expectation and then overturning it and going in an unexpected direction is very common. It has even been paired down to one-liners (Henny Youngman) and tends to explain (through implicit expectations of conventional comedy at the time) why Monty Python's more surreal things like the fish-slapping dance maybe haven't aged quite so well as some of their other material.

    • Muttonbird 16.2
      10 February 2020 at 5:53 pm

      Unbelievably, his lawyer (who I know personally!!!) claimed the sub-headline in the article, "time for a troll", as a defence.

      I can only assume trolling, in the opinion of Mr Pilditch and Mr Jones, is nothing more than harmless banter.

      I do hope the editors/owner of the NBR will be called to explain why they did not stand by the article if it was 'just a joke'.

      Alan Duff will be Uncle Tomming his way into Bob Jones’ Men’s Club at this rate.

    • weka 16.3
      10 February 2020 at 5:59 pm

      Likes to give shit, can't take it. Wimp.

  18. Observer Tokoroa 18
    10 February 2020 at 6:12 pm

    To: Sanctuary

    You are clearly a big asset to Aotearoa. The rest of us I regret to say, are lazy and useless in comparison to you Sanctuary.

    Could you endeavour to teach us your profound success ?

    Mind you, some of us are young and some are old. They listen to Music. But you don't need to count those.

  19. Sabine 19
    10 February 2020 at 8:50 pm

    i guess they have found their hand …..

    https://youtu.be/WRd-IHyCV7I

    • weka 19.1
      10 February 2020 at 8:55 pm

      Sabine you’re in premod until I figure out if there’s one Sabine or two commenting atm. Please see these three comments and reply there or here, thanks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Half a million people use tax calculator

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