Open mike 10/09/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 10th, 2022 - 93 comments
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93 comments on “Open mike 10/09/2022 ”

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  1. Adrian Thornton 1
    10 September 2022 at 7:07 am

    Two takes on the death of a Royal…..

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PSdxFccfgNI

    I know which camp I am in….

    • observer 1.1
      10 September 2022 at 7:31 am

      I'd suggest the vast majority are in neither camp. Most people are neither fawning nor crass.

      • Finn McCool 1.1.1
        10 September 2022 at 8:05 am

        I think you nailed it. I have huge respect for the Queens loyalty and work ethic. But apart from that royalty doesn't feature in my life. I have no interest.

        • Jenny are we there yet 1.1.1.1
          10 September 2022 at 1:18 pm

          I am not a Royalist. But….

          What is it that is said, about everything before But

          • Finn McCool 1.1.1.1.1
            10 September 2022 at 2:09 pm

            I'll rephrase to put your mind at ease.

            ''I think you nailed it. I have huge respect for the Queens loyalty and work ethic. Apart from that royalty doesn't feature in my life. I have no interest.''

    • Jenny are we there yet 1.2
      10 September 2022 at 11:14 am

      The Queen is dead. Long live Down with the King.

      • Jenny are we there yet 1.2.1
        10 September 2022 at 1:14 pm

        For the child in all of us.

        ….They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace –
        Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
        We looked for the King, but he never came.
        "Well, God take care of him, all the same,"
        Says Alice.

        They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace –
        Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
        They've great big parties inside the grounds.
        "I wouldn't be King for a hundred pounds,"
        Says Alice.

        They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace –
        Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
        A face peered out, but it wasn't the King's.
        "He's much too busy a-signing things,"
        Says Alice.
        ….

        "Do you think the King knows all about me?"
        "Sure to, dear, but it's time for tea,"
        Says Alice.

        https://allpoetry.com/Buckingham-Palace

  2. Adrian Thornton 2
    10 September 2022 at 7:36 am

    That's suits me just fine…..I really like Crass…

    …and am also in solidarity with the Republican Irish, and all other nations that have suffered under a long and brutal history of devastating British Royal imperialism……but then there seems to be plenty of modern imperialists around here so I get the tacit connections…

    • riffer 2.1
      10 September 2022 at 8:26 am

      Fascinating band were Crass. Time has helped with understanding where they were coming from – as a young teenage musician they both attracted and repelled me.

      Their political conviction was particularly strong. It must have really galled them how popular they became, and how they were forced to embrace the capitalist system they so despised in order to satisfy the demand for their music (which definitely isn't to everybody's taste).

      Cheers for the reminder Adrian.

      Here's the lyrics for that song in case you didn't understand the accent:

      You have this life, what for? Tell me.
      Spend it on shit, your ignorance appals me.
      You serve me your morals, changed for a fiver,
      Upright citizen, Penthouse subscriber.
      You won't print the word, but you'll beat up the wife,
      In your ignorant, arrogant, terminal life.
      You have this life, you deprive me of mine,
      With your twisted, imbalanced idea of sin.
      That revolves around money; how much are you bought for?
      A tenner, a fiver, is that what you're caught for?
      I'm sick of your pride, you think you can rule me,
      With crappy judgement from your respectable majority.
      Majority of what? You self oppressed idiot,
      I'm not going to carry you, I'm no compatriot.
      How many times do I excuse and forgive
      The damage inflicted by the way that you live?
      I hold my vision against your oppression,
      Your final defence, your only possession.
      I'll show you the blood, but you'll still point the gun,
      If the money's enough, or can you show you're a man?
      To your submissive wife, desperate whore,
      Home loving, mothering, stifling bore.
      You have this life, you twist and abuse it,
      Morals and money and media controls it.
      Can't you see the dead children, blood in the street?
      Every fist that you raise is a corpse at your feet.
      Every time you are bought, I don't care the amount,
      You are the rapist, dealing in death count.
      And you do this with mercenary morals, you shit,
      Oh, you've been told about dignity down in the pit.
      Respectable working man, honourable wife?
      A waste of energy and an insult to life.

      And here's some information about the album Station of the Crass.

      https://en.apoplife.nl/in-1979-crass-release-their-ultimate-statement-stations-of-the-crass/

      They got their name from a line in David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" song – "the kids was just crass"

      • Adrian Thornton 2.1.1
        10 September 2022 at 10:07 am

        Yep, I swapped my Sid Vicious t-shirt (that I printed) when I was about 13 to a pommy punk for his Crass t-shirt…crass were my political awakening and I never looked back.

        Love them or hate them (which many did) they had an original and unique sound…which is not nothing in the world of music….more than 99.9% of bands manage to achieve.

    • Ad 2.2
      10 September 2022 at 8:29 am

      Yep that's the Val Doonican number I'd be expecting.

      If Anarchists could write the equivalent of God Save The King to a thousand voices in a cathedral, they'd probably pack the streets.

      Meantime, most enjoy the singalong.

    • Jenny are we there yet 2.3
      10 September 2022 at 2:15 pm

      riffer

      10 September 2022 at 8:26 am

      Fascinating band were Crass. Time has helped with understanding where they were coming from….

      We could probably all do with understanding where all the passionate young anarchists are coming from.

      ….Can't you see the dead children, blood in the street?
      Every fist that you raise is a corpse at your feet.
      Every time you are bought, I don't care the amount,
      You are the rapist, dealing in death count.
      And you do this with mercenary morals, you shit,
      Oh, you've been told about dignity down in the pit….

      Luckily the young still have clarity of vision and the passion and courage to stand up to the sort of bloody savagery railed against by Crass

      My name is Ilya. I’m an anarchist living in Ukraine. I left Russia a few years back because of the crackdown on the entire anarchist movement…..

      …..Our platoon also has anti-fascist movement members who aren’t anarchists, so I’m going to speak for myself: Putin's invasion is not a war between two states. It’s a war between Putin’s regime and Ukrainian society. In my opinion, the Ukrainian state is corrupt, oligarchic, and neoliberal. I’m not too fond of it. However, Ukrainian society has a lot more freedom and pluralism than its Russian and Belarusian counterparts; than almost all of its neighbors. Turkey is no better than Putin’s Russia, while Poland and Hungary have swayed considerably towards conservatism lately. The Ukrainian state exerts considerably less control over its citizens’ private lives. Since Russia decided to export its authoritarian Mordor-style regime, Ukrainian society needs protection.

      https://theins.ru/en/politics/251492?fbclid=IwAR2t8ivPpZw0cxZLJFZsUEKvJIuxG6Joo3qr0zq0bEApIfjxGvt8BW3fq8M

  3. Incognito 3
    10 September 2022 at 10:37 am

    Members of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have re-elected James Shaw as Co-leader, alongside Marama Davidson.

    A total of 142 delegate votes were received, 138 of which voted for James Shaw.

    https://www.greens.org.nz/james_shaw_re_elected_as_co_leader_of_the_green_party

    • Peter 3.1
      10 September 2022 at 10:49 am

      Like the usual front page headlines, the hysterical TV shock explosive news coverage, political journos trying to justify their existence and the obligatory David Seymour exposure, it was all nothing. It all ends up a footnote on the bottom of page 27.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 3.2
      10 September 2022 at 11:00 am

      Phew! Mind you, that's only 97% support – just squeaked in smiley

      • arkie 3.2.1
        10 September 2022 at 11:18 am

        Perhaps some realised their frustration was misdirected. A most salient point:

        Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said it was great to have Shaw “back alongside me.”

        “Over the last five years, I have seen first-hand how hard James has pushed Labour to take more radical climate action. Much like me, he gets frustrated at the slow pace of change and wants to see the government move much faster than it is.

        “There is one simple way we can all make sure the next government takes more urgent action to address climate change and inequality – and that is by electing more Green MPs.”

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/474500/james-shaw-re-elected-as-green-party-co-leader-by-delegates

        • Incognito 3.2.1.1
          10 September 2022 at 11:35 am

          Many frustrated people are or become armchair critics and/or keyboard warriors with very little to offer by way of constructive criticism, new ideas, or solutions. There’s another political party that’s tailored for them and it ain’t the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s not for the fainthearted to turn something negative into something useful, constructive, and positive.

          • arkie 3.2.1.1.1
            10 September 2022 at 11:45 am

            There was much talk of the dissatisfaction of the activist and youth wings of the Greens being responsible for Shaw's deselection, they are not among those I'd associate with disengaged and dismissive criticism. The open dialogues with members that the leadership reelection required largely appears to have reassured these groups. I hope it has sharpened their focus on the real brake on our Governmental response to climate change.

            • Incognito 3.2.1.1.1.1
              10 September 2022 at 12:34 pm

              When you operate under a consensus model pro-active engagement and re-engagement is a must, as is trust and being reasonable. It seems to have worked well and this is what one would have expected. It did also highlight how very few people in MSM and elsewhere struggle to understand this concept and context and how they’d rather jump to wrong conclusions than to listen, learn, and understand.

              • arkie …
                10 September 2022 at 12:44 pm

                Absolutely. I think perhaps it is a result of the medium in which most of operate. Headlines become clickbait become headlines.

            • Bearded Git 3.2.1.1.1.2
              10 September 2022 at 4:37 pm

              Shaw was never deselected.

    • Jenny are we there yet 3.3
      10 September 2022 at 11:12 am

      The King is dead. Long live the King

    • Anne 3.4
      10 September 2022 at 11:53 am

      So, the whole thing was a storm in a tea-cup brought on by a miniscule bunch of anarchists? The Greens need to do a little bit of thinking about how to overcome such pointless and costly activity – in more ways than one.

      • Drowsy M. Kram 3.4.1
        10 September 2022 at 11:59 am

        The Greens need to do a little bit of thinking about how to overcome such pointless and costly activity…

        Maybe – I kinda like the way the Greens show us it's possible to do things differently.

      • Tily 3.4.2
        10 September 2022 at 1:17 pm

        I will take the democratic structures in the Greens over what passes for democracy in other political parties. Grassroots democracy is sometimes messy but that is the price for including all voices. I doubt there are anarchists within the Greens, liberterian socialists or similar sure, but not anarchists.

    • Jester 3.5
      10 September 2022 at 5:13 pm

      That's good news that he was re-elected. Who was he up against?

  4. Robert Guyton 4
    10 September 2022 at 11:29 am

    "Aaron Hawkins 7

    He presents as the smartest person in the room. Mr Hawkins is a polished performer in council meetings and typically chairs them well. He is articulate, intelligent and a formidable debater. A progressive agenda maintained momentum under his watch and the city is investing significantly in fixing ageing infrastructure. Mr Hawkins rubs some people up the wrong way, both in the community and within the council. He is endorsed by the Green Party and this is not to everyone’s taste. Not all of his witty asides go down well. A question mark hovers over his people skills. His rivalry with Jim O’Malley appears to be needless and does little credit to either man. There have been grumblings about the ways information is, or is not, shared. Mr Hawkins’ principles are clear. He is an advocate for meaningful climate action, for not leaving the disadvantaged behind and he is socially liberal. Showing due respect to mana whenua is a priority for him, and increasingly for the council, and Mr Hawkins has been prepared to front this. His communication with media has improved. The direction of his waka is clear, but is he taking enough people with him on the journey?"

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dunedin-city-council-how-they-rated

    • Ad 4.1
      10 September 2022 at 11:56 am

      Easily gets our votes.

      Portobello cycleway is fantastic.

      Pt Chalmers to Dunedin cycleway opening next April.

      Hawkins delivers.

      • Robert Guyton 4.1.1
        10 September 2022 at 12:15 pm

        Yours, and those of my Dunedin families.

      • left for dead 4.1.2
        10 September 2022 at 4:39 pm

        Which was well in place by the time he appeared.So you do have a link to validate this claim.

        • Ad 4.1.2.1
          10 September 2022 at 5:15 pm

          You don't understand politics 101.

          It's who opens it that matters.

          • left for dead 4.1.2.1.1
            10 September 2022 at 5:47 pm

            That's where I started,fella.

            • Ad 4.1.2.1.1.1
              10 September 2022 at 6:13 pm

              You're pretty tiring, but on record Hawkins supported all of Cull's key budget priorities, and as importantly has continued them. They are all published votes inside the LTP over multiple years that you can find yourself.

              Just as importantly Hawkins successfully pushed for the George Street upgrade. And got it.

              You will also see NZTA fold against the one way system, again on Hawkins' leadership with the Minister.

              If you are looking for a budgetary reason to rail against Hawkins, you need to keep digging.

              Whereas Hawkins has the record, the decisions, and the delivery to gain the votes perfectly legitimately. He's gained his ODT score of 7 with ease.

              • left for dead …
                10 September 2022 at 6:30 pm

                Pretty tiring"your the one pontificating here,I hardly say boo and If on that rare occasion,the likes of you come down with your micro aggression.
                Pleased to see you realize their are more than two around the table.

                • Ad …
                  10 September 2022 at 6:32 pm

                  You want to make a point about me supporting Hawkins for Mayor, do better.

                  • left for dead …
                    10 September 2022 at 6:45 pm

                    Your free to make that point and supporting Aaron is good,but I think he made a better councilor than Mayor,too divisive.

    • Bearded Git 4.2
      10 September 2022 at 4:40 pm

      Lee Vandervis hates Aaron Hawkins, so he must be good-vote Hawkins.

      • left for dead 4.2.1
        10 September 2022 at 5:04 pm

        Mr Vandervis is his own worst enemy,with very little chance.How about a Women this time around.

    • roblogic 4.3
      10 September 2022 at 6:19 pm

      He seems like a good guy but has a pretty gross blind spot

  5. Poission 5
    10 September 2022 at 12:12 pm

    US Household and NPO net wealth falls 6.1 trillion US$ in Q2,greater then Covid.

    https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/dataviz/z1/changes_in_net_worth/chart/

      • Poission 5.1.1
        10 September 2022 at 1:17 pm

        More to remove the wealth effect,which excites animal spirits.

        Even apart from the instability due to speculation, there is the instability due to the characteristic of human nature that a large proportion of our positive activities depend on spontaneous optimism rather than on a mathematical expectation, whether moral or hedonistic or economic. Most, probably, of our decisions to do something positive, the full consequences of which will be drawn out over many days to come, can only be taken as a result of animal spirits – of a spontaneous urge to action rather than inaction, and not as the outcome of a weighted average of quantitative benefits multiplied by quantitative probabilities

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_spirits_(Keynes)

        Look at the NZ housing bubble,where 42% price increases occured,as a mix of easy money and irrational behaviour.

        Now you can save 765$ a day by not buying a house in AK ( the rate of depreciation since Jan)

        • Drowsy M. Kram 5.1.1.1
          10 September 2022 at 1:32 pm

          Now you can save 765$ a day by not buying a house in AK ( the rate of depreciation since Jan)

          Couple more months at that rate and I'll have saved enough for a 20% deposit smiley

        • joe90 5.1.1.2
          10 September 2022 at 1:44 pm

          animal spirits.

          As in a few bob and he thinks he's rich/ slips through his fingers/ burns a hole in his pocket ?

        • pat 5.1.1.3
          10 September 2022 at 7:55 pm

          Unfortunately people dont understand that 'asset values' are ultimately a function of output…or those that do are short term in view.

          • Poission 5.1.1.3.1
            10 September 2022 at 8:30 pm

            Most of the on demand bourgeios have never seen double digit inflation,and the accompanying creative destruction,as value and demand transfer to productive sectors.

  6. heather grimwood 6
    10 September 2022 at 12:41 pm

    Aaron Hawkins' quiet competence in promoting forward-thinking measures needs the strongest possible support from prospective Council members and voters to elect them who would NOT be " rubbed up the wrong way".

  7. Chris 7
    10 September 2022 at 1:55 pm

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300684095/retrial-request-denied-over-alleged-benefit-fraud-worth-7285

    This case highlights the very dangerous practice MSD engages in all the time, which is to equate legal marriage plus living under the same roof as unassailable proof that two people are "married" for benefit purposes. The damage this behaviour causes people, lives turned upside down, is immeasurable.

    In this case Theresa Jeffries had the guts to take them on. Most people don’t, and MSD knows this.

    • Belladonna 7.1
      10 September 2022 at 5:39 pm

      Add another couple of zeroes – and you'll come close to what WINZ would have spent prosecuting this case.

      And, for what benefit?

      • roblogic 7.1.1
        11 September 2022 at 3:36 am

        National voters getting their jollies from bashing poor people?

        • Belladonna 7.1.1.1
          11 September 2022 at 11:20 am

          TBH – I think that most National voters would have regarded her as the 'deserving poor' [NB: this is my interpretation of their belief]

          This all seemed to be around the time when her ex-partner was seriously ill and dying, and she was looking after him (you can still care for someone, especially in a time of trouble, even if you're no longer 'married').

          This sounds like bureaucracy gone mad, rather than a principled decision.

          And, especially, trying to appeal the decision – looks like a lawyer saying 'OMG we may have a bad precedent here, we must appeal' – rather than considering any ethical principles or the disproportionate impact on the individuals.

          The worst part of bureaucracy, is that it is blind to individual circumstance – the same 'rules' apply to all.

          • Chris 7.1.1.1.1
            11 September 2022 at 4:39 pm

            A lot of the trouble happens, and in a way is even more insidious, where admissions to fraud are elicited by MSD's insistence that they're telling people the correct legal test for what constitutes a relationship. There's already a bunch of myths around this like 'he stays more than 3 nights a week so it's a relationship' so it's already easy for MSD to sound like they know what they're talking about. "Sorry, but the law says your relationship stops you from being entitled to a benefit, so admit the relationship now and things will be easier later". Most of these cases we don't see, especially at the time they happen, but we know it's standard practice so the aftermath is all around us. Wrongfully established debts, often very large debts, imprisonment, needless tearing apart of families etc etc.

            Theresa Jeffries fought back, most people don't, and even amongst those who do there are still cases like Kathryn Harlen's:

            https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60189fe639b6d67b861cf5c4/t/62fde84265e4b8504354a69b/1660807241435/CPAG-KathrynDaughters-Story-Aug2021.pdf

            Then there are attitudes like these to combat:

            https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2017/06/just_give_us_our_20_a_week.html

            There are difficulties are at all levels. Surely individual entitlement is the only way to deal with this problem.

            • Belladonna 7.1.1.1.1.1
              11 September 2022 at 6:19 pm

              I agree about the individual entitlement in principle.

              Where I'm not so keen is the situation where a family member (usually a woman aka Mum) chooses not to be in paid employment, because the father earns so much – and the family only 'works' if there is an actual caregiving parent – rather than two absentee ones.

              I'm not so keen that Mum should get a benefit under those circs…..

  8. joe90 8
    10 September 2022 at 2:12 pm

    Who woulda thunk this could happen when the pro-p******* and their lies got traction.

    Way to go, scum.

    /

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/9/new-york-governor-declares-disaster-emergency-over-polio

  9. joe90 9
    10 September 2022 at 5:56 pm

    At two minutes Mikhail Khodaryonok, the former RU officer and analyst rapped over the knuckles early in the war for his frank assessments, explains the gravity of the situation Russian forces find themselves in.

    https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/1568310989149605888

  10. roblogic 10
    10 September 2022 at 6:09 pm

    Chris Trotter is peak Boomer here, slagging off the housing developments that are solving the housing crisis, giving shelter to those in need, cooling the overheated market, and reducing rent pressure

    The Bad Guys Are Winning | The Daily Blog

    What a silly old bugger. He should hand back his "socialist" card and cloth cap. Just another selfish NIMBY

  11. Ad 11
    10 September 2022 at 6:33 pm

    Is this the first time since the late 1970s we've seen a proper windfall tax actually proposed on energy companies?

    (216) EU proposes Russian gas price cap, windfall tax • FRANCE 24 English – YouTube

    At $9.50 a kilo what would a windfall tax look like on Fonterra?

    • pat 11.1
      10 September 2022 at 8:07 pm

      Got those cross hairs firmly focused on your own foot

    • Graeme 11.2
      10 September 2022 at 9:11 pm

      Had the pleasure of mentioning the payout, and the potential velvet price this year which is looking very good because of sanctions on Russia who account for half world production (we're most of the other half) to a couple of farmers moaning about the price of everything….. fucking lefty, always sees the bright side…

      Poor buggers are probably going to be paying tax because everything is too damn expensive, not paying those prices…

      • Ad 11.2.1
        11 September 2022 at 7:19 am

        Really high input prices need to stay that way to force the accelerated production of feedstock alternatives like local seaweed.

        Farmers do have a point, but they need to push for local sources with lower strategic risks.

        Fertiliser world in a squeeze – NZ Farm Life Media – Down to earth

        • Graeme 11.2.1.1
          11 September 2022 at 10:35 am

          I can't see much changing with fert prices for some time. We've become as dependent on cheap Russian fert supply as Europe has for gas. Going to be a tough transition but hopefully to a better place.

          • Ad 11.2.1.1.1
            11 September 2022 at 11:04 am

            It is similar to oil dependence since there's not much elasticity with not enough developed alternatives. Yet high price for the existing input is the only useful signal away from dependence.

            Farmers brace as costs spiral, one fertiliser up 125 per cent, feed an extra $30,000 a year – NZ Herald

            I have sneaking suspicion that if farmers don't push for import alternatives, the 3 Waters entities are just going to regulate the crap out of those farmers anyway. Maybe farmers have that sneaking suspicion as well.

            • Graeme 11.2.1.1.1.1
              11 September 2022 at 11:57 am

              It's coming out well over 125% once it's on the ground, especially if comparison is over several years. There's some heavy reassessment of priorities going on at present. Unfortunately this is probably going to lead to much greater intensification rather than less as inputs are applied in conjunction with irrigation to get best return. Won't be much work going into hill country for a while.

              There's a change in the rhetoric going on too, it's He Waka Eke Noa and transition now and the Groundswell thing isn't mentioned. Farm manager came back from a Farm Focus Group last week talking carbon credits on grey shrubland and fencing requirements for wild animal exclusion.

          • RedLogix 11.2.1.1.2
            11 September 2022 at 11:06 am

            Peter Zeihan has been warning on fertiliser for some time. I forget when he first brought this up, but his key message is that at the moment we are still essentially eating last years crop.

            From a global perspective the impact of famine is still ahead of us.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 11.2.2
        11 September 2022 at 9:30 am

        fucking lefty, always sees the bright side…

        Onya, Mate ! : ) On other….Hope all good for you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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