Open mike 10/05/2024
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6:00 am, May 10th, 2024 - 84 comments
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- Leading Labour Off The Big Rock Candy Mountain.
He’s Got The Moxie: Only Willie Jackson possesses the credentials to meld together a new Labour message that is, at one and the same moment, staunchly working-class, union-friendly, and which speaks to the hundreds-of-thousands of urban Māori untethered to the neo-tribal capitalist elites of the Iwi Leaders Forum.IT’S ONE OF THE ...1 hour ago - Priority is given to powerlines – govt strikes another blow for the economy while Jones fends off ...
Tree-huggers may well accuse the Government of giving them the fingers, after Energy Minister Simeon Brown announced new measures to protect powerlines from trees, rather than measures to protect trees from powerlines. It can be no coincidence, surely, that this has been announced at the same as Fisheries Minister Shane Jones ...5 hours ago - Climate Change: The question we need to be asking
One of National's first actions in government was to dismantle climate change policy, scrapping the clean car discount and overturning the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry, which had given us Aotearoa's biggest-ever emissions reduction. But there's an obvious problem: we needed those emissions reductions to meet our carbon budgets: ...6 hours ago - Bryce Edwards: Could Willie Jackson be the populist leader that Labour need?
Willie Jackson will participate in the prestigious Oxford Union debate on Thursday, following in David Lange’s footsteps. Coincidentally, Jackson has also followed Lange’s footsteps by living in his old home in South Auckland. And like Lange, Jackson might be the sort of loud-mouth scrapper who could take over the Labour ...6 hours ago - The Tikanga challenge for law schools, the rule of law – and Parliament
Barrister Gary Judd KC’s complaint to the Regulatory Review Committee has sparked a fierce debate about the place of tikanga Māori – or Māori customs, values and spiritual beliefs – in the law.Judd opposes the New Zealand Council of Legal Education’s plans to make teaching tikanga compulsory in the legal curriculum.AUT ...9 hours ago - The Huge Potential Benefits of Charter SchoolsAlwyn Poole writes – In New Zealand we have approximately 460 high schools. The gaps between the schools that produce the best results for students and those at the other end of the spectrum are enormous.In terms of the data for their leavers, the top 30 schools have ...9 hours ago
- Can Shane Jones be trusted in making Fast-track decisions?Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be ...9 hours ago
- Thinking About The Property Rights In Resource Decisions As Well As Transaction Costswrites – The Fast-Track Approvals Bill enables cabinet ministers to circumvent key environmental planning and protection processes for infrastructure projects. Its difficulties have been well canvassed. This column suggests a different way of thinking about the proposal. I am ...9 hours ago
- Gordon Campbell On Israel’s Political Split, And The New Caledonia Crisis
The split opening up in Israel’s “War Cabinet” is not just between PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his long-term rival Benny Gantz. It is actually a three-way split, set in motion by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. It was Gallant’s open criticism of Netanyahu that finally flushed Gantz out into the open. ...10 hours ago - After much debate, the Auckland Future Fund was approved. So what should it be used for?
On Thursday 17 May, the Mayoral Proposal for Auckland’s Long Term Plan 2024-2034 was passed by Auckland Council, 20 to 1. It is set to be formally adopted by the Governing Body at its June 27th meeting. The entire process took 8 hours, with the vast majority of that time ...13 hours ago - The State of the Planet with Chlöe & Marama.
Pakanga o muaTukua, ka ngaroPuritia taku ringaNgaro ana te ara ki pae rauThere's a battle aheadMany battles are lostBut you'll never see the end of the roadWhile you're travelling with meLate yesterday morning I headed to Wynyard Quarter to see Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick give their pre-budget State of ...14 hours ago - It’s up to Willis nowMaybe the Prime Minister and his Finance Minister expected the worst, so they mounted a stout defence of the Budget tax cuts to their party faithful at a party conference over the weekend. In turn, they were greeted with applause, which, though it may have been less than wildly enthusiastic, ...16 hours ago
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TL;DR: Here’s six links that stood out to me in the last day in Aotearoa’s political economy to 6:06am on Sunday, May 19:Aotearoa-NZ is the seventh worst in the OECD’s homelessness rankings, just behind the United States and just ahead of Australia. BlackRock thinks rate hikes actually worsen inflation because ...2 days ago - Lords of the flies
2 days ago - Fact Brief – Does breathing contribute to CO2 buildup in the atmosphere?Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does breathing contribute to CO2 ...2 days ago
- Is it time to take the Interislander away from Kiwirail?David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: KiwiRail’s seemingly endless requests for more money is damning. At one point, KiwiRail assured Robertson when he was the Finance Minister that the worst-case scenario would be an extra $300 million before requesting $1.2 billion a few months later. Not what most people ...2 days ago
- Behind Blue Eyes.
No one knows what it's likeTo be the bad manTo be the sad manBehind blue eyesNo one knows what it's likeTo be hatedTo be fatedTo telling only liesHave you ever wondered what life must be like for Mike Hosking? Seeing things in black and white through blue tinted specs? In ...2 days ago - Road food
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two week’s editions.Share More Than A FeildingBike bling, London Read more ...3 days ago - Some Reader Feedback For Your Weekend
Hi,I think we all made it through another week — congratulations. I’ve been digesting the new Arab Strap record, which is astonishing. In other news, I’m going to be doing a Webworm popup in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday July 13. I’ll bring a bunch of merch, and some other ...3 days ago - Thinking About the Property Rights in Resource Decisions As Well As Transaction Costs.
The Fast-Track Approvals Bill enables cabinet ministers to circumvent key environmental planning and protection processes for infrastructure projects. Its difficulties have been well canvassed. This column suggests a different way of thinking about the proposal. I am going to explore the Bill from the perspective of its proponents with their ...3 days ago - Bryce Edwards: Can Shane Jones be trusted in making Fast-track decisions?New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be shooting the proposal in the foot. ...3 days ago
- Seymour appeals to PPTA to call off meetings on charter schools – but does he seriously believe he...Buzz from the Beehive Associate Education Minister David Seymour is urging the PostPrimary Teachers Association to put learning ahead of ideology. He wants the union leaders to call off their teachers meetings around the country where they hope to muster the strength to undo the government’s plans to establish several ...3 days ago
- Police don’t fight crimeWhat are police for? "Fighting crime" is the obvious answer. If there's a burglary, they should show up and investigate. Ditto if there's a murder or sexual assault. Speeding or drunk or dangerous driving is a crime, so obviously they should respond to that. And obviously, they should respond to ...3 days ago
- Two central banksMichael Reddell writes – I got curious yesterday about how the Australia/New Zealand real exchange rate had changed over the last decade, and so dug out the data on the changes in the two countries’ CPIs. Over the 10 years from March 2014 to March 2024, New Zealand’s ...3 days ago
- TVNZ hīkoi documentary needs a sequel
Graham Adams writes that 20 years after the land march, judges are quietly awarding a swathe of coastal rights to iwi. Early this month, an hour-long documentary was released by TVNZ to mark the 20th anniversary of the land-rights march to oppose Helen Clark’s Foreshore and Seabed Act. The account ...3 days ago - The missing Green MPDavid Farrar writes – The Herald reports: Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana has passed an unpleasant milestone: she has now been absent for as many parliamentary sitting days as she has been present for this year. Tana is on full pay while she is suspended, and will benefit from a ...3 days ago
- The contest for the future heart and soul of the Labour PartyPeter Dunne writes – It is no coincidence that two Labour should-have-been MPs are making the most noise about public sector cuts. As assistant general secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons has been at the forefront of revealing where the next round of state sector job ...3 days ago
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- The thrilling possibilities of charter schools
You can be all negative about these charter schools if you want, but I’m here to accentuate the positive. You can get all worked up, if you want to, by the contradiction of Luxon saying We’re going to make sure that every school in the country is teaching exactly the same ...4 days ago - This Unreasonable Government.Losing The Room: One can only speculate about what has persuaded the Coalition Government that it will pay no electoral price for unreasonably pushing ahead with policies that are so clearly against the national interest. They seem quite oblivious to the risk that by doing so they will convince an increasing ...4 days ago
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- This is what corruption looks likeWhen National first proposed its Muldoonist "fast-track" law, they were warned that it would inevitably lead to corruption. And that is exactly what has happened, with Resources Minister Shane Jones taking secret meetings with potential applicants: On Tuesday, in a Newsroom story, questions were raised about a dinner Jones ...4 days ago
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- Bryce Edwards: Lobbying for Waikato’s Medical School causing problems for the GovtIt’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...4 days ago
- Picking Sides.4 days ago
- Universities offer course in self-serving cowardiceHenry Ergas writes – When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge ...4 days ago
- The teacher trainee challengeDavid Farrar writes – Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...4 days ago
- Words and (in)actionsNew Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision Michael Reddell writes – When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...4 days ago
- What do you hope for/fear from the budget?
Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...4 days ago - Gordon Campbell on ACT’s charter schools experimentIf there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...4 days ago
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- Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Thursday, May 16
Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...5 days ago - Controversial proposal could threaten coalitionThe University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...5 days ago
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As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...5 days ago - The future of Nick's Kōrero.
This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...5 days ago - The PM promises tax relief in the Budget – but will it be enough to satisfy the Taxpayers’ Union...Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...5 days ago
- Fucking uselessYesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...5 days ago
- Setting things straight.
Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading ...5 days ago - Far too light a sentenceDavid Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...5 days ago
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- School Is Out.
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Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...6 days ago - The Rings of Power: Season Two Teaser Trailer
I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...6 days ago - At a glance – What ended the Little ice Age?On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...6 days ago
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- Australia jails another whistleblowerIn 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...6 days ago
- Some “scrutiny”!Back in February I blogged about another secret OIA "consultation" by the Ministry of Justice. This one was on Aotearoa's commitment in its Open Government Partnership Action Plan to "strengthen scrutiny of Official Information Act exemption clauses in legislation" (AKA secrecy clauses). Their consultation paper on the issue focused on ...6 days ago
- TVNZ is loss-making, serves no public service due to bias, and should be liquidatedRob MacCulloch writes – According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...6 days ago
- The conflicted Covid ChairDavid Farrar writes – Kata MacNamara reports: Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...6 days ago
- Government must build more public houses, not find excuses to sell them
The Green Party says the Government must use the review of Kāinga Ora as a platform to build more homes, not an excuse to sell them off. ...4 hours ago - Government must build more public houses, not find excuses to sell themThe Green Party says the Government must use the review of Kāinga Ora as a platform to build more homes, not an excuse to sell them off. ...4 hours ago
- Release: Treasury advice show flaws in Fast Track Approvals Bill
Treasury officials have outlined many ways in which the Fast Track Approvals Bill is deeply flawed, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking says. ...11 hours ago - State of the Planet speeches, 2024Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick used this year's State of the Planet to call on the Government to prioritise people and planet as the delivery of the Budget approaches. A full transcript of their speeches can be found below. ...1 day ago
- State of the Planet: Government must be guided by values not moneyGreen Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick have used their State of the Planet speeches to challenge the Government to prioritise people and planet over profit as the delivery of the Budget approaches. ...1 day ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins’ speech: New Zealand in 2040 – A vision worth fighting for...2 days ago
- Release: 4,500 jobs lost – and countingMore than 4,500 jobs are set to go as the National Government continues its deep cuts to services to pay for irresponsible and ill-timed tax cuts. ...3 days ago
- No-cause evictions leave no hope for rentersThe Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...4 days ago
- Release: National winding back mental health workThe Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...5 days ago
- Government ignorant of evidence in neglect of tamarikiToday’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...6 days ago
- Gang policy setting communities up for failureThe Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...6 days ago
- Statement from police spokesperson Ginny Andersen“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...6 days ago
- Charter schools not a serious solutionWe need serious investment and solutions into our education system, not a vanity project from David Seymour. ...6 days ago
- Release: Ideological charter schools won’t increase achievementThe Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visas needed for Palestinians with family in New ZealandThe Government must show some compassion and create a special visa to allow Palestinians with family in New Zealand to be reunited with them here. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt’s stubbornness will harm Māori childrenGovernment has remained stubborn and is ramming its Bill into the House today, which the Waitangi Tribunal has said will hurt vulnerable children. ...1 week ago
- ‘Lucky dip’ process too casual for hearing critical submissions on Fast Track approvals billTe Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...1 week ago
- New Zealand First Member’s Bill to protect women’s spaces
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...1 week ago - Release: Support for climate adaptation inquiryLabour supports a Notice of Motion in the House today to move the Finance and Expenditure Committee to conduct an inquiry on climate adaptation. ...1 week ago
- Greens welcome cross-party approach to climate adaptationThe Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Sexual violence prevention among hundreds of job cuts at ACCThe National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...2 weeks ago
- Government shows allergy to evidence in benefits crackdownThe Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...2 weeks ago
- Minister of Finance reheats austerity politicsThis morning’s pre-Budget speech from the Minister of Finance offered no “meaningful” news on the Government’s trickle-down economics based plans. ...2 weeks ago
- A win for Wellington – Greens welcome more housingThe Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Backtrack on school lunches a win for Kiwi kidsDavid Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Hon Willie Jackson to debate at the Prestigious Oxford UnionHon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...2 weeks ago
- Members Bill will prevent Māori land confiscationsGreen Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...2 weeks ago
- TIKANGA IS NOT LAW. IT IS CULTURAL INDOCTRINATION.A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National won’t commit to full Nelson Hospital upgradeThe Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls for fast track list to be releasedMinisters must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National gaslights women fighting for equal payNational has scrapped the pay equity taskforce that fights for equal pay for women and looks at ethnic pay gaps. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: More job cuts, fewer houses under NationalThe Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Children fall deeper through the cracks in Govt cutsWith Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour honours memory of Sir Robert MartinThe Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: 130,000 cattle saved from live exportLabour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...3 weeks ago
- Central Bank makes clear Government is pouring fuel on housing crisis fireToday’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...3 weeks ago
- New unemployment figures paint bleak pictureThe Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: National’s job cuts already starting to bite as unemployment risesUnemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...3 weeks ago
- Government to rollout roadside drug testing
The Coalition Government will introduce legislation this year that will enable roadside drug testing as part of our commitment to improve road safety and restore law and order, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Alcohol and drugs are the number one contributing factor in fatal road crashes in New Zealand. In ...2 hours ago - Minister responds to review of Kāinga OraThe Government has announced a series of immediate actions in response to the independent review of Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “Kāinga Ora is a large and important Crown entity, with assets of $45 billion and over $2.5 billion of expenditure each year. It ...3 hours ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelvesAssociate Health Minister David Seymour is pleased that Pseudoephedrine can now be purchased by the general public to protect them from winter illness, after the coalition government worked swiftly to change the law and oversaw a fast approval process by Medsafe. “Pharmacies are now putting the medicines back on their ...6 hours ago
- New Zealand-China Business SummitTēnā koutou katoa. Da jia hao. Good morning everyone. Prime Minister Luxon, your excellency, a great friend of New Zealand and my friend Ambassador Wang, Mayor of what he tells me is the best city in New Zealand, Wayne Brown, the highly respected Fran O’Sullivan, Champion of the Auckland business ...13 hours ago
- New measures to protect powerlines from treesEnergy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events. “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...2 days ago
- Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani win top Māori dairy farming awardWairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...2 days ago
- DJ Fred Again – Assurance report received"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...3 days ago
- District Court Judges appointedAttorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...3 days ago
- Unions should put learning ahead of ideologyAssociate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...3 days ago
- Craig Stobo appointed as chair of FMACommerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...3 days ago
- Budget 2024 invests in lifeguards and coastguardSurf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...3 days ago
- New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationshipNew Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...4 days ago
- New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New CaledoniaNew Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...4 days ago
- New Zealand welcomes Samoa Head of StatePrime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...4 days ago
- Island Direct eligible for SuperGold Card fundingTransport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...4 days ago
- Further sanctions against RussiaForeign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...4 days ago
- One year on from Loafers LodgeA year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...5 days ago
- Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business ChamberKa nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...5 days ago
- New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaborationNew Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...5 days ago
- Penk travels to Peru for trade meetingsMinister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...5 days ago
- Minister attends global education conferencesMinister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...5 days ago
- Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA ChairMinister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...5 days ago
- Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call FoundationNew Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...6 days ago
- Panel announced for review into disability servicesDistinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...6 days ago
- Minister welcomes Police gang unitToday’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...6 days ago
- New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoricForeign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...6 days ago
- New Chief of Defence Force appointedAir Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...6 days ago
- Government puts children first by repealing 7AALegislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...6 days ago
- Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, ItalyDefence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...6 days ago
- Charter schools to lift educational outcomesThe upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...6 days ago
- COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...7 days ago
- The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlookForeign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...1 week ago
- NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely togetherHealth, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...1 week ago
- Driving ahead with Roads of Regional SignificanceThe coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...1 week ago
- New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands governmentA high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...1 week ago
- New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolutionNew Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...1 week ago
- Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure SymposiumIntroduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...1 week ago
- $571 million for Defence pay and projectsDefence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...1 week ago
- Climate change – mitigating the risks and costsNew Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...1 week ago
- Getting new job seekers on the pathway to workJobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...2 weeks ago
- Fast-track laws, parliamentary urgency, Treaty tension, media retreat: warning signs for NZ's &...
Analysis - Power is not being abused, but it is not being well managed either. New Zealand democracy, unique and currently brittle, should be handled with greater care, Alexander Gillespie writes. ...33 mins ago - Forcing a government rethink on Gaza 'a cause worth dying for' – Will AlexanderA former Shortland Street actor says he doesn't want to die but changing the government's policy matters hugely to him. ...2 hours ago
- Has logging really stopped in Victoria? What the death of an endangered glider tells us
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Forest Conservation Victoria, CC BY-NC-ND Victoria’s native forest logging industry ended on January 1 this year. The news was met with jubilation from conservationists. But did logging really ...2 hours ago - What’s the difference between fiscal and monetary policy?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Crosby, Professor, Monash University Rose Marinelli/Shutterstock This article is part two of The Conversation’s “Business Basics” series where we ask leading experts to discuss key concepts in business, economics and finance. How governments should manage their budgets, and how ...2 hours ago
- Is it time for Australia to reassess its position on France’s role in New Caledonia?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole George, Associate Professor in Peace and Conflict Studies, The University of Queensland On Sunday afternoon, Australian citizens who have been trapped in New Caledonia were called to a meeting at one of the large hotels in the capital, Noumea. The ...3 hours ago
- MediSecure data breach: why is health data so lucrative for hackers?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan Prictor, Senior Lecturer in Law, The University of Melbourne REDPIXEL.PL/Shutterstock The latest large-scale ransomware attack on a health technology provider, electronic prescription company MediSecure, was revealed last week. MediSecure announced it had suffered a “cyber security incident” affecting people’s personal ...3 hours ago
- Our research shows what the rental market is really like for international studentsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Soong, Senior Lecturer and Socio-cultural researcher, UniSA Education Futures, University of South Australia International students have come under fire from both sides of federal politics in the past week. The Albanese government introduced legislation to parliament last Thursday to put ...3 hours ago
- Watch: PM, Housing Minister discuss Kāinga Ora reviewHousing Minister Chris Bishop has ruled out a mass sell-off of state houses. ...4 hours ago
- Kāinga Ora underperforming, not financially viable – Sir Bill EnglishThe agency paid limited attention to value for money and had opaque transparency around internal costs and revenue, the review found. ...4 hours ago
- Watch: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to media following CabinetPM Christopher Luxon and Housing Minister Chris Bishop are discussing a review of Kainga Ora led by Sir Bill English. ...4 hours ago
- The ‘dead internet theory’ makes eerie claims about an AI-run web. The truth is more sinisterSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jake Renzella, Lecturer, Director of Studies (Computer Science), UNSW Sydney An example of shrimp Jesus. Shutterstock AI Generator If you search “shrimp Jesus” on Facebook, you might encounter dozens of images of artificial intelligence (AI) generated crustaceans meshed in various forms with ...5 hours ago
- Some sports leaders are trying to defy term limits – which can open the door to corruptionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua McLeod, Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University Being a sport administrator comes with many perks, so it’s no surprise many want to stay in their positions as long as possible. Recently, a trend has emerged whereby leaders in sport are seeking ...5 hours ago
- I can’t afford olive oil. What else can I use?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Joyisjoyful/Shutterstock If you buy your olive oil in bulk, you’ve likely been in for a shock in recent weeks. Major supermarkets have been selling olive oil for up to ...7 hours ago
- On the pain and pleasure of cooking
A conversation with artist and home cook Prairie Hatchard-McGill, aka @cacioeprairie. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. A few weeks ago, I spotted Prairie strolling down Ponsonby Road at sunset, a bunch of celery tucked under her arm. She was too far away for me ...7 hours ago - Three Kiwis Launch Haka Challenge To Free Assange In London
The Haka Challenge invites anyone to learn and record the Ka Mate haka as performed by the All Blacks, to show their support for "the South Pacific's greatest truth teller". ...7 hours ago - Former Shortland Street Actor Will Alexander Goes On Hunger Strike Over NZ Government’s Complicity...At the Christchurch rally in support of Palestine, he started his hunger strike and vowed to continue until the government stops supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza. ...7 hours ago
- In stories of unrest in New Caledonia, Kanak voices should not be an afterthoughtWith Nouméa reeling as mainly young, politically active Kanak people take to the streets and protest, a spirit that has been dormant since the 1980s has awoken. Tāmaki Makaurau-based Kanak Joseph Xulué provides some context. As reports continue to emphasise the fires burning through the streets of Nouméa (the capital ...7 hours ago
- Oranga Tamariki proposal to cut critical records unit 'incredibly disrespectful' – a..."For a system that desperately needs help, any budget cuts to me are outrageous but especially in record-keeping," Lisa McLaren says. ...7 hours ago
- Passport delays cause applicants to pay an extra $1.2m for urgent serviceAn unintended consequence of the backlog could have the DIA making hundreds of thousands of dollars in expedited passport applications. ...7 hours ago
- Joining AUKUS could be seen as 'taking sides' – Chinese ambassadorWang Xiaolong told an audience New Zealand joining the military pact could look like "taking sides". ...8 hours ago
- Labor and Albanese gain in post-budget Newspoll, but other polls don’t look as rosySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Newspoll, conducted after the May 14 budget from a sample of over 1,200 people, gave Labor a 52–48% lead over ...8 hours ago
- Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: NZ student in Nouméa taught to use fire extinguishersA New Zealander studying at the University of New Caledonia says students have been taught to use fire extinguishers as firefighters are unlikely to come help if there is an emergency. It comes as days of unrest followed a controversial proposed constitutional amendment which would allow more French residents of ...8 hours ago
- Green MP Darleen Tana investigation costs $43,000 so farDarleen Tana was suspended nine weeks ago amid allegations of migrant exploitation relating to her husband's company . ...9 hours ago
- Fast-track laws, parliamentary urgency, Treaty tension, media retreat: warning signs for NZ’s ‘b...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images There have been so many submissions on the government’s proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill – 27,000 written, with 2,900 wanting to appear before the select committee in person – that a ballot ...9 hours ago
- LIVE RECORDING: A View from Afar – Is a second Trump Presidency Possible?The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 20, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). Today, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning will examine: The United States and how the world is engaging with it geopolitically. Specifically, we will ...10 hours ago
- Scams are surging – this team blocked 1.3 million in a monthAfter falling victim to a scam over the phone, Russell Brown spent the day with One NZ’s cyber defence and fraud prevention teams to see the work they do to stop millions of scam attempts every year. The only windows in the Cyber Defence Centre at One NZ’s Auckland headquarters ...10 hours ago
- Thousands sign petition to make stalking illegalThe proposal has gained steam since 2022, when Auckland woman Farzana Yaqubi was murdered by a stalker she had previously reported to police. ...10 hours ago
- Treasury Advice Show Flaws In Fast Track Approvals BillTreasury officials have outlined many ways in which the Fast Track Approvals Bill is deeply flawed, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking says. ...10 hours ago
- Chloe Swarbrick on Green MPs Darleen Tana and Julie Anne GenterDarleen Tana has been suspended amid allegations of migrant exploitation. while Julie Anne Genter is before Parliament's Privileges Committee. ...11 hours ago
- Has cutting 'corporate welfare' left a hole in government climate plans?National scrapped a fund for companies to switch from coal. Now NZ might not meet emissions targets, officials say. ...11 hours ago
- Why has an Israel-Hamas ceasefire been so elusive? A timeline of key moments in the search for peaceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marika Sosnowski, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Melbourne Ever since armed conflict has existed, ceasefires have been thought of as a bridge between war and peace. Consequently, their success has been measured by their ability to stop violence between warring parties ...11 hours ago
- Oral retinoids can harm unborn babies. But many women taking them for acne may not be using contrace...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antonia Shand, Research Fellow, Obstetrician, University of Sydney Backgroundy/Shutterstock Oral retinoids are a type of medicine used to treat severe acne. They’re sold under the brand name Roaccutane, among others. While oral retinoids are very effective, they can have harmful effects ...11 hours ago
- Australia is set to ban live sheep exports. What will this mean for the industry?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Renwick, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Lincoln University, New Zealand This month the federal government announced a plan to ban live sheep exports, set to come into effect from May 1 2028. The announcement coincided with the release of a highly ...11 hours ago
- How are the stocks of the fish on the iconic poster going? ‘Munted’, says one expertAnother technical answer: ‘no one really knows.’ It smells like hot fat and fish. You hug the warm bundle of newspaper, translucent with grease, swaddling it like a newborn babe. Behind the counter is a small child doing her homework, and the grumpiest Chinese lady in the world. Above you, ...12 hours ago
- Mahé Drysdale on mayoralty bid: 'I'm running to make Tauranga NZ's best small city&#...The two-time Olympic gold medalist will have to beat out a number of people - and his own uncle - for the top job in Tauranga. ...12 hours ago
- Fears Queenstown's homeless problem is about to snowballThe town may see an influx of hundreds of people sleeping in tents this winter, advocates warn. ...12 hours ago
- Kiwis Urged To Give Shane Jones ‘The Finger’New Zealanders are being called on to give Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones “the finger” in a cheeky new campaign that aims to dramatically boost marine protection in Aotearoa. ...12 hours ago
- Ancient DNA from an extinct native duck reveals how far birds flew to make New Zealand homeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Auckland Island merganser. Artistic reconstruction by J. G. Keulemans from Bullers Birds of New Zealand (1888) Bullers Birds of New Zealand, Author provided Ask a bird lover if they have heard of ...13 hours ago
- The left gears up for 2026 – and beyondLeaders from three of the biggest political parties addressed party faithful over the weekend, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A weekend ...13 hours ago
- Treasury warns of Fast-Track Bill’s ‘significant risks’
Treasury has said the fast-track bill poses “significant risks”, despite being neither cheaper nor faster than other options The post Treasury warns of Fast-Track Bill’s ‘significant risks’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...14 hours ago - Ministry for the Environment warns of Fast-Track Bill’s ‘significant risks’Environment Ministry says the fast-track bill poses “significant risks”, despite being neither cheaper nor faster than other options The post Ministry for the Environment warns of Fast-Track Bill’s ‘significant risks’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...14 hours ago
- Oranga Tamariki looks to cut unit responsible for critical records for children in state careAbuse survivors have used the records to find out life-changing information about their family - and even their true ethnicity. ...15 hours ago
- Half-term report card: Tory Whanau’s wins, losses and re-election chancesKia ora, welcome to Windbag, The Spinoff’s new Wellington issues column, written by me, Joel MacManus. In this first edition, I take a closer look at the first half of Tory Whanau’s term as mayor. If you want to understand Wellington’s local political landscape, you need to start in 2013 ...16 hours ago
- The murky past – and unknown future – of a huia feather set to sell to the highest bidderA taonga going under the hammer at an Auckland auction house tonight is expected to fetch thousands. But concerns have been raised about its unclear provenance – and about the law that’s meant to protect it. Eda Tang reports. When Tamatea* received the huia feather they bought from a licensed ...16 hours ago
- LGNZ launches city and regional deals planLGNZ hopes city and regional deals will help reset the relationship between central and local government. The post LGNZ launches city and regional deals plan appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- Seabed miners: What we know and what we don’tUncertainty is an overwhelming theme for two seabed mining projects aiming to use the Government’s controversial fast-track regime The post Seabed miners: What we know and what we don’t appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- New report seeks to measure the value of a corporate crisisCompanies responsible for an environmental crisis are more likely to take a hit to their share price and take longer to recover The post New report seeks to measure the value of a corporate crisis appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- After three decades, Aleh realises Cup dreamIt’s the 38th birthday present Jo Aleh never expected to receive. Last Monday, Aleh and her sailing partner, Molly Meech, flew home to Auckland from Marseille, where they’d been training for their Paris Olympics campaign in the 49erFX. Within a couple of hours of touching down, they were out on ...16 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Monday 20 MayThe post Daily crossword, Monday 20 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- Who has the monopoly on compassion? Labour, Nats and Greens can’t all be right“It might feel like the country is slogging it up the hill at the moment,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis tells party faithful in Palmerston North on Sunday, “But we’re gonna get to the top of the hill, and it’s downhill on the other side. And the reason it’s downhill is ...16 hours ago
- Pacific leaders concerned over seasonal worker exodusOne issue that all the leaders of the coalition Government have agreed on is the expansion of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme. Established in 2007, the scheme allows workers from participating Pacific countries to come to New Zealand to take up roles on a short-term basis. For the government, it’s ...16 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 20 MayLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 20 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- The mocking of LuxonThe last person anyone expected to see at last week’s Ockham national book awards was Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. He was made to feel as welcome as a plague. He was mocked, and challenged. But good on him for coming. His presence gave the awards an edge, a tension, which ...16 hours ago
- A fast track to environmental degradationSir Geoffrey Palmer, author of the seminal book Unbridled Power challenging Muldoon-era decision-making,says the Fast-Track Approvals Bill is a bigger threat to constitutional government The post A fast track to environmental degradation appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
- Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: French politics rocked as leaders plead for endNC La Première television reports on the clearing of barricades after a week of protests and rioting in the capital Nouméa. Video: NC 1ère TV By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk With New Caledonia about to enter its second week of deadly riots, French authorities have mounted ...21 hours ago
- Pacific civil society groups condemn ‘heavy-handed’ French crackdown over Kanaky unrestAsia Pacific Report Pacific civil society and solidarity groups today stepped up their pressure on the French government, accusing it of a “heavy-handed” crackdown on indigenous Kanak protest in New Caledonia, comparing it to Indonesian security forces crushing West Papuan dissent. A state of emergency was declared last week, at ...22 hours ago
- Police and justice system need to re-earn 'lost faith' – dairy ownersThe new government's promised law and order changes need to happen faster, a spokesman says. ...24 hours ago
- Taiwanese Community in Christchurch Rallies for Taiwan's WHO ParticipationOn May 18, the Taiwanese community in Christchurch came together for the "Health for All, Taiwan Can Help" march, urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to grant Taiwan participation. ...1 day ago
- Govt policies tailored for the wealthy, not the people – GreensThe Greens are taking aim at the coalition government 's policies, saying they lack genuine care. ...1 day ago
- What Is Behind The Turmoil In The New Zealand Green Party?The instability comes as the party tries to refresh its brand after six years of being part of a right-wing, pro-imperialist government with both the Labour Party and, from 2017-2020, the far-right NZ First Party. ...1 day ago
- Wake Up Call: Government Debt Hits $90,000 Per Household Today – “$90k Debt Day”Based on the latest Treasury forecasts, New Zealand Government debt will tick above $90,000 per household for the first time ever at 10pm today, Sunday 19 May 2024. The Taxpayers’ Union is calling it “$90k Debt Day”. Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ ...1 day ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon speaks at National Party conferencePrime Minister Christopher Luxon will be talking at the Palmerston North Function Centre on Sunday morning. ...1 day ago
- Iwi Leaders Group united against Oranga Tamariki scrapping Treaty obligationsIf the government really wants Oranga Tamariki to continue working with Māori groups, it should leave the law as it is, leader says. ...2 days ago
- Government IT Systems Need A $800 Million OverhaulThe government is facing a bill of more than $800 million to overhaul back-office IT systems, and attempts to lessen its impact have hit delays. ...2 days ago
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Simeon Brown was on RNZ's Morning Report today. He spent most of the time blaming the last government for today’s potential power outage and supporting fossil fuel development. The words "climate change" and "battery storage” never passed his lips of course.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018937783/energy-minister-simeon-brown-on-power-usage-warning
California now has battery capacity of 10 gw and will add another 6.8gw THIS YEAR…in total 16.8 gw (see article below)…..that is roughly 39 Clyde dams. All of this can be used to supplement or at times totally take over from other generation, meaning that outages, like the potential one today in NZ, will be a thing of the past.
This article spells it out:
"The ever-growing battery energy storage fleet is becoming vitally important for California to maintain a clean and reliable power grid – storing energy from renewable sources like solar during the day to use when solar drops off in the evening hours.
Only a couple of weeks ago, for the first time ever, battery energy storage became the largest source of supply to power the grid as its discharge went above 6 GW. The landmark event saw battery storage overtake gas, nuclear, hydro and renewables as the biggest source of supply for a period of about two hours in the evening peak."
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/05/01/california-crosses-10-gw-battery-storage-threshold/#:~:text=At%2010%2C379%20MW%2C%20California%20has,100%25%20clean%20electricity%20by%202045.
This is the direction NZ should be taking. Labour and the Greens should be pushing investment in battery storage as a strategic priority. Because of fast moving improvements to battery storage it is now a far better bet than Lake Onslow.
As the cold bites….expect more shitspeak from Shane (coal fast tracker ) Jones.
As far as people caring…..there is a sizeable group who just..dont.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/453903/one-in-five-kiwis-don-t-believe-in-climate-change-survey
Depending on the Poll (or which way the wind is blowing ! ) the numbers differ…but IMO it sadly wasnt enough of a vote issue to keep NActFirst out of, ironically, …."damage control". As they are now completely in control of the damage.
I have been, and still am, planting Native Trees. And of course, riding my Bike and living Sustainably. : )
And…as far as I am able, follow a lot of Sustainable Tech and new innovations. thanks for link !
“Part of the pressure on the country's power supply is due to the lack of wind for the wind farms.”
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516453/the-big-chill-arrives-temperatures-fall-below-freezing
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516437/wintry-weather-the-current-cold-spell-isn-t-going-anywhere
And of course…the denier/cooker go to : Its actually global cooling
(never mind the devastating droughts and intense storms ! )
How to pushback against the NActFirst "fast track 3" ? When people are cold..and facing power cuts??
They also had some power plants out for pre winter maintenance – because it was so warm May last year … the unpredictability factor.
Exactly. Really the only predictable is how the fickle can be persuaded to ignore the fact that our Earth is warming..to a dangerous level.
Digging coal out of our Carbon Bank Native Forests ?…insane.
Sort of – Onslow is cover for dry hydro years – whereas battery is storage for those calm days (cover for wind farms).
An emerging problem is building more and more data centres in Auckland – pressure on the existing distribution network and also extra power where there is little local generation.
It also adds to population pressure on existing infrastructure (water and transport and housing).
Why not direct the location of these to places (and jobs) where there is power (SI)?
Or provincial NI centres without the power distribution or other infrastructure problems. New Plymouth for example, esp when the offshore wind farms get going.
SPC-I think batteries are rapidly becoming so much more efficient and getting so much cheaper that, from what I have read (did you read the article above in full?) batteries will easily cope with dry years. This is especially true given developments in electrical technology in terms of connectivity to and development of the grid.
But it is complicated. For instance all of the EV batteries should be able to be plugged in and used as part of grid storage capacity. Australia is introducing phased charging of EV's legislation so that the grid isn't hit with everybody charging their EV's when they get home at 7pm.
And why does the Queenstown Lakes District Council (and many other councils) not make solar panels with associated battery storage mandatory on every new building? We have a lot of sun down here and solar is so cheap now.
I see the article you have just posted below supports much of the above.
Sure, solar power from buildings can also be stored via battery. And as you note some areas have more sun and less wind and can have solar farms (SI – NE NI) Coast.
With Onslow, it is cover for a dry hydro year – though it might not be needed if there was an end to the smelter and an alternative use* of that power was flexible enough to not operate in dry years (say * some hydrogen and some into battery storage).
Hydrogen is not really an option for the grid at the moment from what I have read-it takes too much energy to produce and so-called "Green Hydrogen" is a myth. (It may be viable for trains, trucks, buses)
I agree totally about closing down the smelter-that would give us another 5-10 years. I think the grid has, or soon will be, connected to the power from Manapouri so that it can be sent north.
I maintain that in 10 years battery storage capacity is very likely to make the ($15.7 billion) Lake Onslow project redundant before it is completed. That would be a catastrophe.
Completely agree, if we get battery storage sorted especially in Auckland and have charging capacity either wind, solar (or both) we'll save a bunch in transmission loss and take strain off the infrastructure.
Pumped storage like Onslow is a proven concept, just like hydro. Grid scale batter, particularly at multi year time scales is a more recent technology.
Grid scale battery may be proven in time, it may be superseded by a better technology quite quickly. A bit like CNG or LPG powered vehicles.
In the article below you can see that a 680MW battery storage facility in Menifee, California, can be built for US$1 billion…lets say NZ$1.7 billion. But once the stored power is used up presumably it has to be recharged the next day or days.Battery storage power is available at the flick of a switch.
My understanding is that Lake Onslow will provide 1000MW of instant power for NZ$15.7 billion, including a new power station. This power will be available immediately day after day as long as it is needed and throughout a several month period where the lake levels are low.
https://patch.com/california/murrieta/massive-battery-storage-facility-nears-completion-menifee
It may well be, and I HAVE NO EXPERT KNOWLEDGE HERE, that due to recharging constraints, you need to construct say 5000MW of grid battery storage to give the same cover to the grid as Lake Onslow. That would cost around NZ$12.5 billion using the Menifee costs. But that is at today's prices. Battery storage is getting rapidly cheaper, and such storage can be built close to where the power is most needed.
It seems to me that battery storage is very likely to be a cheaper source of backup power than Lake Onslow, if not now then in 5-10 years, and getting cheaper still after that. And, as I said above, closing the aluminium plant would give us those 5-10 years.
California is already installing grid battery storage big-time, which tends to support the above conclusion.
Wanaka's Solar Zero Ltd does distributed area + battery pretty well already.
Would be nice if there was a half decent 'virtual power station' that you could subscribe your own solar and battery to. Rather than Solar Zero using your roof for a slight reduction in your power bill, so they can sell all the energy when the price is high leaving you with nothing.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/05/possible-power-cuts-transpower-ceo-eases-concerns-of-outages-amid-cold-snap-says-situation-is-comfortable.html
"Storage " implies looking ahead to the future.
National can't see further than the next election.
GOOD TO SEE THE NATZ HAVE A PLAN
LINK BELOW.
LINK BULLSHIT
Chris Trotter is regularly denounced as a "turncoat" by the tribal left, and mocked by the tribal right. But here he nails New Zealand's plight better than most:
https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/more-harm-than-good?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1885783&post_id=144480379&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1vvcih&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
If like me you don't subscribe to the Democracy Project, you won't be able to read the whole article, but you can view more than enough to get his message. Nearly 40 years ago Lange and Douglas ushered in the ideology that has reined ever since in this country: progressive neoliberalism.
A more recent villain of our history (John Key) is painted masterfully: "reconstituting a responsible conservatism simply wasn’t in him, and so he smiled and waved for nine years, while everything that mattered in New Zealand rotted away beneath his feet."
As for the Ardern government's "progressive" policies – sorry, building houses and infrastructure is too hard – have some new pronouns, language policing, and "decolonization" instead.
Fact Check
Most houses built since the 1970's.
13,000 public homes, the most of any Government since the 1950s.
PGF.
Plan for Water Infrastructure. Planning for better rail freight rail ferry interface. Looking at coastal shipping as part of disaster response.
Doubling the number of homes with solar panels.
100,000 more heating and insulation installations through Warmer Kiwi Homes.
EV charging hubs every 150 – 200 kilometres on main highways.
600 to 1000 EV chargers at community facilities in smaller rural communities.
Can you back up those numbers with solid independent evidence? (i.e. not something lifted from the Labour Party website).
As for this: "Plan for Water Infrastructure. Planning for better rail freight rail ferry interface."
Anyone can "plan" and "look at". But are the plans realistic? And what about results? And 3/5 Waters was never really about infrastructure – it was a powerplay by the Maaori caucus. If LINO's motivation was to effect a sustainable improvement in NZ's water infrastructure, why did they not reach out across the aisle to develop a bipartisan project that would survive a change of government? Seymour is often wrong, but his take on 3/5 Waters wasn't far off the mark: "a treaty settlement disguised as an infrastructure project".
When you disprove any one of them, I might bother. Go ahead. National never challenged any of it during the campaign.
If you're not going to substantiate your claims, you're no "fact checker".
Oh stop lying.
They are the claims of the Labour Government* on their Labour Party site.
None have been disputed by you, or anyone else.
Guess why … *
https://www.eeca.govt.nz/assets/EECA-Resources/Warmer-Kiwi-Homes-RetroFit-Map.pdf
Asking Dolom III to stop lying? You're on a hiding to nothing there
https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/your-online-secrets/201409/internet-trolls-are-narcissists-psychopaths-and-sadists
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/how-to/overcoming-the-compulsion-how-to-stop-lying/
Maybe like looking under a rock for something and there is nothing there. Just an empty sea of nothing. We were warned I suppose.
I thought it was a requirement here that if you make a claim it was up to you to support that claim, not up to others to disprove it. The Labour Party website is not a valid source unless it too provides evidence. The same applies to all other political parties IMHO.
To your specific claims.
You claim that one achievement of the last government was "Plan for Water Infrastructure". That plan failed. It was sold dishonestly, widely rejected by local government entities, and was a significant factor in the ultimate demise of the government. It's establishment costs alone were heading for a blowout of some $1bn (Three Waters cost blowout expected to hit $1 billion in ‘mega-bureaucracy’ – NZ Herald). How on earth anyone can continue to claim that as an achievement is staggering.
Meanwhile, I did 'fact check' some of your other claims:
"EV charging hubs every 150 – 200 kilometres on main highways."
Wrong. That was not an achievement, it was a 'goal'. (NZ Charging Network (unison.co.nz)).
"600 to 1000 EV chargers at community facilities in smaller rural communities."
Likewise (Budget 2023 expands charging network | EVs & Beyond (evsandbeyond.co.nz)). That was a goal.
"Doubling the number of homes with solar panels."
Even the Labour party's own website says this hasn't been achieved. "Labour will double the number of houses with rooftop solar in New Zealand…" Release: Doubling rooftop solar to reduce bills & emissions – NZ Labour Party.
So the three claims I fact checked are announcements, not achievements.
I was fact checking the claim in the link, that Labour achieved nothing on infrastructure, as it was too hard.
Housing (total builds and extra income related public homes realised) and the heating and insulation home improvements as well and all still on-going.
What they have in mind for the Cook Strait is an unknown.
And they were focused on other infrastructure – water and energy.
They made water infrastructure an issue – National had to develop a counter. So there is only a failure to convince voters that their plan was better.
They had plans to improve energy infrastructure – EV charging to the provinces and along highways and doubling solar panel take up on homes. And even National could achieve them, if they try.
What they will do, as per the Cook Strait is an unknown and as for disaster recovery (losing regional roads etc) without coastal shipping or any reserve fund is an unknown.
I was fact checking the claim in the link, that Labour achieved nothing on infrastructure, as it was too hard.
Understood, but the reality is that the Labour government were cast in a light of underachievement for a good reason. There were too many announcements, plans and promises, and simply not enough delivery.
Sure, the pandemic and the lack of a third term are their excuses.
But they did face up to the hard issues (UNDRIP etc left by National included). And major health system reform ….fbow.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/plan-3000-more-public-homes-2025-–-regions-set-benefitPublic Housing
Beehive release from the government of the time.
https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/social-housing/housing-quarterly-report-dec2017.pdf
This states 63,482 in 2017.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1445220/new-zealand-public-housing-stock-by-region/
This states some 80,121 public houses in 2023 by region.
SPC’s rounded figures are maybe a little light?
Now, Dolomedes 111, I can do this work, so can you. I did the first check. You do one.
Fact-check:
Didn't ardern promise to build 100,000 new state houses…?
KiwiBuild was a building programme for privately owned homes, not state house building.
I stand corrected…
(Maybe I was confused by the 100,000 homeless …who need housing..)
If not yet, possibly by 2026.
I am pretty sure I heard a while back…prob on rnz ..from someone who should know..that counting those living in garages/caravans/w.h.y…on couches…in cars..etc ..
..that the number who need housing..not just those sleeping rough…is about 100,000..
..
Nearly 40 years ago Lange and Douglas ushered in the ideology that has reined ever since in this country: progressive neoliberalism.
I wouldn't load an equal share of the responsibility on to David Lange, although I can't totally absolve him either. Douglas and his associates were the ideological zealots who drove the neoliberal agenda; Lange simply lacked the force of character to rein them in.
Was he not seduced by the ideology ..?
I had a bit to do with him when he was a lawyer…he was my go to for junkie friends who got busted…
And I have the utmost respect for him for his work back then…
..and had quite often seen the consummate skills he brought to the courtroom…
(Heh..!…magistrates seemed to enjoy seeing him…I saw them smiling…leaning forward in anticipation of his oratory..and he never failed to deliver…)..
..and I also respected his strength of character..which manifested in his uncaring if a client was poor/broke…
All of this is why I am puzzled by his moving to the dark side ..and why I feel he would have had to believe in what he was doing..(however flawed that belief may be)…
I find it hard to see that it was a manifestation of a weakness in him ..
Is there anyone here who can shed any light on that ..?
I read it, agree it's right on the button.
Despite his later political leanings, Chris Trotter has written some very good and analytic articles over the years.
"221,000 net additional homes under Labour in 6 years. More than 1 in 10 homes in the country. Biggest building boom in NZ history. Labour's government build programme is still going ($ run out in 2025 unless Bishop acts). 22,000 homes built, including 553 in March alone."
https://twitter.com/ClintVSmith/status/1785081890636272103
Stuff discussing senior poverty, the increase in rents, rates and other bill, and the role that shared accomodation might play. Stuff on going flatting in old age
For mine golf courses are ideal for little villages for older folk – and should be a Kainga Ora development. Half for such villages and half as a local park as the area around intensifies.
The houses they leave free up first home sections for others – or allow development (such as a stand alone group home).
The villages can include such group homes – for those a little older and less self sufficient. Maybe half the village homes owned and other half Kainga Ora placements – small and factory built being the most efficient.
Kainga Ora should also look at buying up property suitable for renovation for those more frail for shared living and mutual support when sick (and easier care to home with limited spare nurse/carers).
More generally easier granny flat (including mobile home placements) consents will help (assist some to pay off their mortgages).
Some can look at what women of the past did (widows/divorced) pairing up to rent or co-own a 2 bedroom flat or townhouse or apartment.
Or those who own a home can do the golden girls thing and bring in tenants – each with some useful skill (gardening handywoman, cook, fashion guru, driver, team fitness leader, new skills coach, wingwoman, nurse).
Couples can do the same with boarders – their rent covers the rates, insurance and maintenance costs.
There is the Abbeyfield concept that I think is great
https://www.eldernet.co.nz/Facilities/Retirement_Villages_Rental/Abbeyfield_Dunedin/Service/DisplayService/FaStID/12148
https://www.abbeyfield.co.nz/house/abbeyfield-dunedin/
https://www.abbeyfield.co.nz/
The concept is like flatting for seniors. I like it better than the retirement village concept.
In the olden days Councils used to have neat little one/two bedroomed pensioner units. They had as little or as much garden and were in groups of two.
Flatting does work. I have flatted all my life so am used to having others around but it could be a bit of a shock to suddenly 'have' to do this.
My mother moved into a retirement village and hated it. She had been used to living in largeish old houses with big rooms. She disliked the 'tiny' units with kitchen/dining/living all run together. She moved later into the biggest home she had ever lived in and stayed till she died 13 years later at age 94.
Going into the retirement units it is quite telling to see items of furniture such as tall sideboards or bookcases being used to delineate the room to make a separate dining area or lounge. I wonder do they ever ask anyone before launching inot these all-in-ones?
Perhaps we could look at the sliding screens ideas like the Japanese have to enclose or expand rooms easily.
I like some of your ideas SPC and your post reminded me of others like the oldies buying togther not necessarily women but older widowed siblings sometimes did this
It is sad to read about people getting to that age and relying on the national superannuation to get by. That is why I like Kiwi Saver as forces people to save for retirement. When I was in my early teens, I always thought by the time I retire, there would be no government super so have always saved for retirement. And when I retire, hopefully the govt super will just be a top up to make retirement more enjoyable. Unfortunately a friend from school has enjoyed the drink too much along with the TAB and is now approaching retirement having very little in savings. It often comes down to the choices you make during you working life. He decided to spend everything and really enjoy life earlier whereas I will probably have a more enjoyable retirement. However we do joke about if I drop dead once I retire, then I should have been more like him!
A land of shepherds looking at stars.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/09/astronomer-hopes-new-zealand-can-achieve-dark-sky-nationhood/
If we have another couple of terms of a Labour Government, particularly if the Green Party were involved we would certainly qualify. With the collapse of our electricity system the whole country would be in the dark whenever the wind stopped blowing.
Luckily it doesn't seem to be likely in the foreseeable future.
It requires battery storage to prevent lack of wind being a problem – Simeon Brown does not believe in such things – fortunately the grown ups in the system do.
Simeon Brown certainly doesn't seem to be in favour of the pumped hydro, Lake Onslow, scheme. Neither is anyone else that I know.
However I am not aware of him having commented on any proposal for backing up short term gaps with batteries. Do you have a link to him talking about such a proposal and can you provide a link?
His idea of the solution to the problem was more capacity, the issue was/is storage. If not Onslow what? Extra capacity (not used most of the year) is not the solution.
It is the old fashioned answer.
Er, has he not heard of battery storage?
This happens each year – old thermal generators being set up to cope with the winter demand, if it coincides with late autumn calm and a southerly … .
So it is rather obvious we need battery storage for peak load cover at this time of year.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516477/cold-snap-power-cuts-avoided-as-consumers-make-significant-cuts-to-usage.
I have just been reading a report produced by The Global Warming Policy Foundation on "Net Zero for New Zealand"
You can read it here.
https://www.thegwpf.org/content/uploads/2022/07/Kelly-NZ-Net-Zero.pdf
It is an examination of what would actually be required to get to net zero by 2050. It makes very grim reading.
One thing he does mention is the practicality of using battery storage. It is on page 5 of the report which is page 9 of the PDF I have linked to. It says
"It remains a hard fact that fossil fuels are much more effective at storing energy than any known non-nuclear alternatives (Table 1).8 Consider the argument that the back-up electricity supply for emergency wards in hospitals could be provided by batteries by 2025 or soon thereafter. The 100-MW, 128-MWh battery installed by Elon Musk near Adelaide in 2018 at a cost of $90 million would power the emergency wards of Wellington Regional Hospital for 24 hours on a single 80% to 20% discharge.9 If a storm took out the transmission lines in Wellington for a week, we would need seven such batteries. The back up today is provided by diesel generators, which run if there is fuel, and cost of order $0.5 million."
That is $630 million just to keep the emergency wards going for a week. Can we really afford such batteries, and do we really want to?
How much would the batteries cost to get peak load cover for the entire country, even for just a few hours?
It is a very interesting document by the way. He does point out some pages on from my quote that public acceptance of net zero by the Public is very unlikely if the full costs were known by the people who would have to sacrifice.
"It is clear that the public has no idea of the scale of the changes that would be required to transition to a net-zero economy in 30 years’ time." and then "No poll has tested their willingness to meet the level of costs implied by the analysis above, well over $250,000 per household." and "If one assumes that the EU, North America, Australasia, and Japan are to underwrite the rest of the world’s activities, then the costs to their citizens will rise by a factor of five. This would take the cost to each New Zealand household to more than $1 million. In practical terms, this takes us into fantasy land."
In summary what he offers is a reasoned view that mitigation is impractical and that adaption is the only way to go.
If adaption does not prevent the loss of the Atlantic current it is the losing hand.
Lower cost batteries – more energy stored. If development is on the same course as lower cost yet more data and faster processing chips (the Chinese car batteries etc).
Then there is nuclear – hopefully fusion (a cable from Oz to here would be nice).
Pretty close to zero chance of nuclear fusion electricity generation – in any operational way within the timeframe to 2050.
And, how is it more moral to choose to use nuclear power via a cable from Oz, than local construction? It's just like outsourcing the risks/costs of battery manufacture so we can have 'green' energy.
I agree that nuclear should be on the table. But it's very difficult to find Greenies prepared to agree…..
Oz has the distance from population – less risk of impact to their human habitat. And the technology scale to develop and maintain such plant (heard of AUKUS?).
Fusion is without the waste problem of existing nuclear power generation.
If the risk to the Atlantic current at 3 degrees and current nuclear is the option, while fusion remains in development, it is back as a mitigation option (diplomatic franglais).
"But it's very difficult to find Greenies prepared to agree….."
Give them the choice. Nuclear or Gas.
After all that is the choice we made, in favour of gas, back in about 1970. New Zealand was in the process of getting ready to put in a nuclear power station when they found the Maui gas field off Taranaki. They then cancelled the nuclear option.
If we hadn't found Maui we would have a nuclear station up north of Auckland on the Kaipara Harbour.
Imho, nuclear power options for little ol' NZ now are a distraction.
https://ecotricity.co.nz/why-nuclear-energy-isnt-an-option
Indeed 'we' did – probably a good thing too. I don't recall pressure from "Greenies" being a major factor at the time – broader public opinion may not have been favourable to a nuclear power option.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Plan_for_a_nuclear_power_plant_on_Kaipara_Harbour_(32399602397).jpg
https://www.geonet.org.nz/about/volcano/aucklandvolcanicfield
https://beatfreeks.com/hindsight-is-a-wonderful-thing/
Oops – this link for the Kaipara nuclear power reactor should work.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivesnz/32399602397/
Very hard to justify nuclear fission, when even the most optimistic projections make it 2 to 4 times more expensive per MWh than wind or solar.
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1W909I/#:~:text=It%20said%20that%20reactor%20construction%20times%20can%20be,wind%20power%20comes%20in%20at%20%2429%E2%80%93%2456%20per%20MWh..
But it works when wind and/or solar don't.
Just like gas, oil, and coal. If you have to pick one of the four as a backup power source – which do you go for?
This is why we need storage options such as lake Onslow.
Which the troglodyte vandals have now canned.
I wonder what the bribe from the oil companies was?
Betcha it is a lot less than Trump is asking? Trump promised to scrap climate laws if US oil bosses donated $1bn – report | Donald Trump | The Guardian
Lake Onslow is a totally crazy idea.
Pumped hydro is a way of using using up, and storing, the electrical energy that you have no immediate use for but which you don't really have the option of not generating.
It is a great way to store the power from a nuclear power station for example.
It would be nuts to rum hydro power stations, letting the water drop down hill, to generate power that you use to pump other water pump up hill just so that you can use it later. You lose a great deal of potential energy in the process.
Leave it in the reservoir above the original station and leave the generators idle. The only possible gain would be if every reservoir was absolutely full and the only option is to spill water right down the river.
Even then you would have to have every hydro lake in the country full to overflowing to make it sensible.
It smooths out demand and supply from wind and solar generation in future. Not hydro.
And a lot cheaper long term than using batteries.
Not a crazy idea at all. Except in the minds of those who want us to rely on paying billions to oil companies, every year in perpetuety.
An act of environmental and economic stupidity. Even Muldoon could see that constantly bleeding foreign exchange to oil companies overseas, was crazy.
And. Why would you want a much more expensive and dangerous option. Nuclear power.
Short term smoothing of supply from wind and solar was not what Lake Onslow was intended to perform.
It is supposedly going to supply water to a new hydro station in the event that we have a very long drought and there are low flows for years in the hydro rivers such that their supply lakes are emptied.
If you just want to do short term smoothing of the variable wind and solar power them you can simply use the surplus to pump water from the outlet of the nearest hydro station back into the lake above the dam.
An appealing view, naturally – no 'impractical' sacrifice/mitigation now, and let the 'adaptation chips' fall where they may.
Versus going hard on sacrifice/mitigation now, to give future generations a better chance of adapting to the legacy of our overshoot civilisation: +2˚C, +3˚C or whatever – plus ecosystem collapse.
Is it a tough choice? Nah, not really – am I bovvered?
Well no… not really.
Grid-scale batteries seem a good option for Aotearoa NZ at a pinch, and the technology is well-established elsewhere; see BG's comment @1, and @1.2.1.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/worlds-biggest-battery-maker-unveils-higher-density-nil-degradation-longer-lasting-battery-packs-for-grid/ [15 Apr 2024]
That answer in parliament exposed Brown as unaware that the issue was not extra generation, but spare capacity (whether the occasional dry year or the calm autumn periods before the winter thermal became available).
He has yet to absorb what Woods was talking about.
Read my posts above Alwyn…there is a green solution. It’s just that Simeon Brown and friends aren’t interested because they don’t care about saving the planet.
Be nice.
/
23 January 2024
[…]
A report commissioned by the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko shows the amount of new renewable electricity generation that has been committed has almost doubled in 18 months.
The Generation Investment Survey released today shows that there is now, based on annual output once built, 5,000 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of new generation committed. This is up from 2,600 GWh from the previous survey in July 2022.
https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/press-release/uplift-in-new-renewable-electricity-generation-projects/
Committed generation has lifted significantly compared to the last survey, with its annual output capability (once built) rising from 2,600 GWh to nearly
5,000 GWh. This is slightly more than the amount of generation required to displace the uneconomic thermal generation on the system. The annual
development rate (based on projects that have been completed or committed) for the period 2021-2025 is over three times the annual development
rate achieved during 2011-2020.
https://www.ea.govt.nz/documents/4414/Generation_Investment_Survey_-_2023_update.pdf
Power cuts or Powerdown?
https://thestandard.org.nz/power-cuts-or-powerdown/
Consumers are already paying interest on shareholder dividends. Maybe the shareholders could pay some of it back to invest in aging infrastructure instead. After all it is their company.
“From 2014 to 2021 these firms have collectively paid out $3.7 billion more in dividends to their shareholders than they have earned in profits – an average excess dividend of $459 million a year,” said FIRST Union Researcher and Policy Analyst Edward Miller.
https://union.org.nz/generating-scarcity/
May Curia Poll:
Taxpayers' Union – Curia Poll May 2024 – Taxpayers' Union
Nat 37.3% +0.2%
Lab 30.0% +4.3%
Gre 10.2% -4.4%
Act 9.4% +2.2%
NZF 5.5% -0.8%
TMP 3.1% -1.5%
So:
Coalition Parties 52.2%
Opposition Parties 43.3%
Minor Parties 4.5%
"The combined projected seats for the Centre-Right of 66 is up 2 from last month while the Centre-Left unchanged on 56 seats".
Note: Undecided = 4.2%.
The two Chris's both had a bounce of favourability.
Chris Luxon's net favorability was up 15 points to +8%. I suspect this had something to do with his handling of Melissa Lee and Penny Simmonds.
Chris Hipkins net favorability was up 5 points to -1%.
(The margin of error is +/- 3.1%, at the 95% confidence level).
Is that the right wing stalking horse ,tax payers union?
Yes. Fortuitous isn't it.
Attack a Green MP despite the fact she apologised for her action three times, then dredge up an argument she had with someone with an axe to grind over cycleways, then rush out the door and conduct a poll.
That's how they roll…
No-one 'rushed out the door' to do a poll. This is a regular monthly poll for Curia.
And in addition to the behaviour inside Parliament, the Green MP now has a total of three additional complaints against her.
Three more Tory scum being snowflakes – Oh the humanity.
‘Tory scum’? Thats so 1970’s.
Maybe name callers need new lines Drowsy😉
Why? "Tory scum" still has the power to provoke, if recent reactions here and in the UK are anything to go by – an oldie, sure, but a goodie.
Tbh, I'm surprised some Tories, e.g. Duncan Smith, are so thin-skinned.
Unexpectedly good views of the aurora in Palmy tonight – best in over 33 years, and it’s putting on a good show even further north.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/11/photos-aurorae-stun-skywatchers-around-the-country/
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/05/kiwis-capture-spectacular-aurora-lighting-up-new-zealand-s-skies.html
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516583/solar-storm-stunning-skies-as-the-aurora-light-up-aotearoa
Yeah I be some amazing pics of the Aurora on social media. Not so much as a glimpse up here in Auckland unfortunately😕
I take it back!! Daughter in west Auckland just sent through amazing pics from hers. Stunning!
No more than Talbot Mills is a left-wing stalking horse. This is just one in a line of polls that will show the changing fortunes of political parties over time.
T took the bait.
Good news for freedom of expression. The DIA has scrapped the previous government's 'Safer Online Services and Media Platforms' proposal that would have effectively imposed "hate speech" laws on the internet. I wrote one of the many submissions against this proposal.
https://community.scoop.co.nz/2024/05/another-victory-for-free-speech-dia-abandons-proposals-for-online-censorship/