Open mike 10/06/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 10th, 2016 - 135 comments
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135 comments on “Open mike 10/06/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    10 June 2016 at 6:13 am

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    Homelessness.
    Our ‘brighter future’

    Some families already thousands in debt to WINZ for emergency motel housing remain in the same accommodation block, with their loans mounting.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 1.1
      10 June 2016 at 9:37 am

      The fact of the matter is that the debt is mounting and she continues to make a “choice” to stay in Auckland.

      • Naki man 1.1.1
        10 June 2016 at 11:05 am

        Debt is not a problem for her, the tax payers are picking up the tab and she will never pay it back.

        • save nz 1.1.1.1
          10 June 2016 at 11:57 am

          @Naki man – by that logic wouldn’t the National and ACT supporters be up in arms that $3000 p/w is being paid with tax payer money because of the governments stupidity on affordable housing?

          • Naki man 1.1.1.1.1
            10 June 2016 at 4:09 pm

            There is no government stupidity on affordable housing. Tax payers should not have to subsidize housing so poor people can live in the most expensive city in the country. Its not rocket science.

            • Pat 1.1.1.1.1.1
              10 June 2016 at 4:12 pm

              why not, tax payers have been subsidizing private landlords for years?

              • Naki man …
                10 June 2016 at 5:48 pm

                Tax payers subsidize the tenants not the landlords.

                • Pat …
                  10 June 2016 at 6:42 pm

                  bollocks…who receives the funds?

                • Adrian …
                  12 June 2016 at 3:01 pm

                  The government subsidize’s the landlord class, and with out these subsidize’s to the land lords, the housing market would collapse overnight…end of story.
                  And what a ridiculous thing to say, people shouldn’t live in Auckland, because of a housing bubble…what sort of mad dystopian logic is that?..do you really actually believe in that as a social policy?
                  What about the mentally disabled… move them out too? do you like that idea as well?
                  Shall we keep on expanding on your logic here shall we, I think we all know where it will take us, and pretty quickly too.

            • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1.1.2
              10 June 2016 at 4:40 pm

              Why is the government running an economy which creates poor people?

              Why is the free market not coming to equilibrium in the Auckland housing market?

            • Ch-ch Chiquita 1.1.1.1.1.3
              10 June 2016 at 4:50 pm

              I do hope all the poor people living in Auckland will take your advise and move out, leaving their poorly paid jobs behind and move to the regions.

              I wonder who will be the first CEO to pick up the mop and clean the toilet.

        • Paul 1.1.1.2
          10 June 2016 at 4:38 pm

          Your views indicate an inability to show empathy.
          Are you psychopathic?

      • save nz 1.1.2
        10 June 2016 at 11:55 am

        How do you know AsleepWhileWalking?

        Maybe have some compassion. Her son has a physical disability and will need to be around specialist services for a start like hospitals. Also people have community support networks so they are reluctant to leave them in the face of a cruel and stupid government WINZ ideas. (such as paying nearly $3000 p/w to house her and deduct $27 p/w from her benefit to pay it back).

    • save nz 1.2
      10 June 2016 at 11:51 am

      @Paul – thanks another great link.

  2. Paul 2
    10 June 2016 at 6:15 am

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    A cruel and uncaring company.
    Its leader has been knighted. For what?
    Talley’s fined $73,520 over crewman’s decapitation

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/306007/talley's-fined-$73,520-over-crewman's-decapitation

    • vto 2.1
      10 June 2016 at 7:36 am

      Reading between the lines, this Talley’s killing has the exact same hallmarks as the drowning of Nick Ecklund on the Grey River bar in 2013 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8561516/Fisherman-told-crossing-was-safe-father

      Both cases involve Talley’s demanding that a worker’s concerns over safety be overridden for money reasons – in Greymouth to get the (full of fish) boat in – and in the current one to get the (full of fish) net in.

      In both cases you can see that the local “boss” was adamant that the fish must come in, and the safety concerns put to one side.

      In both cases the Talley’s “culture” has ended up killing innocent men.

      The similarities are striking

      The Talleys continue to bolster their reputation as the nastiest most disgusting pigs (apologies to pigs) of people in New Zealand.

      • Paul 2.1.1
        10 June 2016 at 7:41 am

        Are pigs psychopaths ?

        • vto 2.1.1.1
          10 June 2016 at 7:46 am

          No, it is completely the wrong description. In fact, they are below the animal kingdom, and well below the required human kingdom.

          They are not on a par with any living organism

          Dirt is what they are, dirt

          • Robert Guyton 2.1.1.1.1
            10 June 2016 at 9:28 am

            Not wanting to diminish the issue, but… If you are looking for something to represent the lowest state, dirt ain’t it.
            Soil’s astonishingly alive with organisms that our very existence relies upon. It’s gorgeous, vital stuff, and we should speak highly of it, to give dirt its dues.
            My neighbour used a different phrase to describe those he considered despicable and when he made reference to a snake’s cloaca and the lowly position that occupied.

            • vto 2.1.1.1.1.1
              10 June 2016 at 9:45 am

              lol, that’s the one – a snake’s arse

              • Robert Guyton …
                10 June 2016 at 9:54 am

                Even pond scum is worthy of admiration, when it consists living organisms going about their business. I find “orcs” to be a suitable title for those who desecrate and needlessly waste.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  10 June 2016 at 11:51 am

                  That’s Orcist, its not their fault they were twisted by terrible and dark magics.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    10 June 2016 at 12:03 pm

                    Choice, Puckish, they trumpet choice and can hardly claim to be victims of some dark father figure, can they. Greed and power seem to be their raisons d’être – dark, Satanic mills and all that.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      10 June 2016 at 12:45 pm

                      I didn’t think you’d be the type to fall for the writings of the noted propagandist JRR Tolkien

                      Orcs are a peaceful, loving, family based people who only fight to defend their lands and way of life against the encroaching humans

                      Orc power!

                  • Stuart Munro …
                    10 June 2016 at 3:59 pm

                    And living in Orcland…

            • McFlock 2.1.1.1.1.2
              10 June 2016 at 1:24 pm

              Yeah, but snakes are just cruising along doing what they do.

              Cats. Cats are psychopaths. Not only that, but they manipulate people for their own ends.

              I recall one awesome comment about finding pet owners who had died at home – dogs guarded the body and would take several days before nibbling on their former owner. Cats barely wait until the next day’s alarm goes off, lol.

              • Robert Guyton …
                10 June 2016 at 1:43 pm

                “Their lands”
                They’re expansionist war-mongers. Genetically-engineered too. Didn’t end well for them.

                Ent power!

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  10 June 2016 at 2:01 pm

                  Ents are like Pandas, evolutionarily weak links that should be allowed to go extinct

                  We have a duty of care for the orcs as we’re responsible for them

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    10 June 2016 at 2:24 pm

                    “Allowed to go extinct”
                    You think you have any influence at all over ents?
                    You’re a fantasist.
                    You may feel obliged to care for your orcs, feeling as you do, responsible for them, but I don’t. It’s them or us and they’ve been far too long at the wheel.

                  • Paul …
                    10 June 2016 at 4:40 pm

                    Please come out and state you abhor the governments cruel housing policies. Show you care about the vulnerable.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      10 June 2016 at 5:27 pm

                      “We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation”
                      Sections of the nation may have, Paul, but not all by any means. There’s huge dismay over the conditions faced by those of us who aren’t blessed with having a warm, safe home.

              • Robertina …
                11 June 2016 at 1:47 pm

                Tellingly, the writer of the first linked piece displays clear psychopathic tendency; a lack of empathy, lack of insight, and misogyny:
                ”….probably like many of the owners’ human relationships (there’s a reason spinsters end up with cats).”

                Labelling cats as psychopathic is projection and anthropomorphism.

                Nice piece on This Way Up today about a (male) cat owner who lost his pet in April and posted a $1000 reward for help.
                Of those who called trying to help, some made it clear they had no interest in the reward.
                While no closer to finding his beloved pet, he says his faith in human nature has been restored.

                • McFlock …
                  11 June 2016 at 3:19 pm

                  see?

                  Humans bend over backwards for cats. The cat probably wandered off to another home that served better cat food. 👿

    • M. Gray 2.2
      10 June 2016 at 1:10 pm

      He deserves his knighthood (Talleys) he fits the Nats criteria of being mean, nasty, selfish, uncaring and greedy.

      ps. I don’t buy Talleys anymore anD never will

  3. Paul 3
    10 June 2016 at 6:18 am

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    Debt fuelled by greed.

    ‘New Zealand has half a trillion dollars in debt.
    “We’ve almost got the perfect storm,” says veteran fund manager Brian Gaynor as he reels off the many reasons New Zealand house prices and debt levels are soaring to precipitous heights.
    There are many ingredients. But right now, New Zealand seems to have them all: not enough building, restrictions on development, surging migration, baby boomer savings, low interest rates and banks that are all too happy to lend for property investment.
    “When you get the perfect storm like we did in the 1980s with the sharemarket, you see things just go up and up. People start to believe they will never fall,” he says.
    “People didn’t believe the sharemarket would fall in the 80s. I’d come in from a trip to Australia and the guy at customs wouldn’t let me in unless I gave him sharemarket tips. It was just euphoria. Everyone was talking about the sharemarket. Now everyone is talking about the property market.”‘

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=11653661

  4. Gangnam Style 4
    10 June 2016 at 6:39 am

    Pretty much answers all of Averagevoters (or whatever he/she calls himself today) questions http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11653678

    They moved to AK because the dad lost his fishing job in South Island, got night shift work, dad had a bit of a breakdown, got in debt & kicked out of their house, HNZ got them a 2 bedroom house, dad lost his job because of hours & stress, been living in tents & van ever since. 7 people in a 2 bedroom house, FFS.

  5. jcuknz 5
    10 June 2016 at 8:14 am

    Gangnam … I do not know the age of the children so six living with parents in two bedroom house may not be quite, QUITE, as bad as it sounds.

    Neither do I know what kind of van and hopefully they didn’t have to sell the tent to buy it. So in times of stress a tent and van seems quite reasonable accomodation but it does depend on what tent and what van, along with what the motor camp charge in rent.,

    There is quite an income going to such a family from winz too. Sorry but I can see too many fishhooks in this story.

    • weka 5.1
      10 June 2016 at 9:14 am

      What do you mean by a tent and a van are reasonable accommodation? Did you read the bits about illness? Pretty sure they weren’t in a camp ground.

      • Gangnam Style 5.1.1
        10 June 2016 at 1:52 pm

        Oh fuck off jcuknz, seriously, can’t be arsed with a reasonable reply to your crap.

        • jcuknz 5.1.1.1
          11 June 2016 at 10:11 am

          unfortunately this family are suffering from the natural result of their own mis choices when ecconomic conditions changed. Plus I happened to read more info that the initial misleading sob story so many have been sucked in by.

          I see the problem as the result of bad choices led on by influences in society
          A fisherman with six children? Going to Auckland without sufficient funds to exist. One can admire somebody who looses their job and upsticks to where maybe there is work … but with six young children … I think that is govt led madness. Six children on an average wage sounds like mis direction by religion. Sorry I blame society for this family’s plight with all the norms it has imposed upon then.

          I will try and not reply to Gangnam whose can only swear at one with whom he disagrees. Hardly a sensible reply like so many discussions I read here on The Standard.

    • marty mars 5.2
      10 June 2016 at 9:38 am

      “So in times of stress a tent and van seems quite reasonable accomodation” with 6 children of any age ?

      You have got to be kidding me. Maybe if you are 20 and out there freedom camping around but not this situation, not even slightly. This is unreasonable accommodation, unreasonable stress. Have you ever LIVED in a van or a tent? I have and that was alone and it was tough let alone with kids and everything.

      Quite an income from WINZ? Jeeze are you for real?

      So your comment imo seems like a mix of right wing memes and judgments. Grow a heart will you.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 5.3
      10 June 2016 at 9:51 am

      Fishhooks? Like how paying rent at 60% + of your income is highly stressful and leads snowballing financial issues and social problems?

      • jcuknz 5.3.1
        11 June 2016 at 10:21 am

        I used to at one stage and I did something about it eventually.

        As a result and reading ‘Responsible Society’ I happen to have the extreme socialistic opinion that there should be a state house to meet the basic needs of everybody who wants it and those who want more should if they can afford it go private. From singles wishing to leave home to families like that we are discussing.

        But if common sense and honesty are ‘right wing memes’ then I am glad I have them whatever they are.

    • mauī 5.4
      10 June 2016 at 10:05 am

      When you were 17 would you want to be living with your 5 siblings in a van? The story is so bad its hard to think its actually real.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.5
      10 June 2016 at 12:10 pm

      That’s just psychopathic BS designed to abrogate any responsibility from you and place all the blame on the victims of capitalism.

      • jcuknz 5.5.1
        11 June 2016 at 4:10 pm

        I have for ever [almost] accepted that it is my responsibility to contribute to society/govt so that these folk can be helped… while others objected to overtime because of the extra tax they paid I accepted that each according to their income should contribute. When I was younger I knew nothing about the embrionic safety nets people enjoy today and I survived by good management, cutting my cloth to suit my income, and using contraceptives. survived despite some poor choices, so it is easy today for me to appear uncaring when I look for the missing info the MSM do not have in their sob stories.

        I was truely moved by AT’s story in the Campbell i/v and can think of things to help but it is hard from the other end of the country. Such as a 12volt solar panel to provide light for her to read and study by, elsewhere I suggested a gas cooker [ not a BBQ thing to live outside the van and be stolen but smaller like I have for emergency use.] to save on fast foods and for when the Marae runs out of money to cook for all of them.

        But then I am a DIYer, built family home and retirement cottage and many other things. so I am sad that so many folk are not and appear hopeless to help themselves.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.5.1.1
          11 June 2016 at 4:39 pm

          They are doing everything they can to help themselves. It’s society that has forced them into living in cars in straitened conditions.

          • jcuknz 5.5.1.1.1
            11 June 2016 at 5:19 pm

            You are both wrong and right respectively in your comments Draco.
            But there are practical ways as I suggested before which would help TA get on but as I have also mentioned when you are down even though you know you are making wrong choices you simply continue for the short term relief which they bring to your impossible situation,

    • Paul 5.6
      10 June 2016 at 4:35 pm

      Defending the indefensible.

    • Paul 5.7
      10 June 2016 at 4:42 pm

      You are defending the indefensible.

  6. Agora 6
    10 June 2016 at 8:32 am

    See Aotearoa before they sell it !

    • jcuknz 6.1
      10 June 2016 at 8:35 am

      Too late Agora … that happened two centuries ago. 🙂

      • mauī 6.1.1
        10 June 2016 at 9:27 am

        Yep, I think that started when the surveyors of the New Zealand Company first started drawing lines on a map. We still follow the lines today.

  7. Agora 7
    10 June 2016 at 8:52 am

    .. for a few trinkets. Plus ca change .. nothing changes. Buenvenidos to Puerto Rico … but this time the Conquistadores are different, shell companies from anonymous trusts and people who have history going back to the gold rush.

    Generally it ends badly for those who get in too late .. about now ?

  8. mauī 8
    10 June 2016 at 9:38 am

    Housing New Zealand, oops I mean a single Marae and a single motel owner show leadership on housing crisis. When can we vote these people in as a Government, they are doing the job 100 times better!
    http://i.stuff.co.nz/auckland/80885904/Auckland-motel-opens-doors-to-homeless-families-at-break-even-rates

  9. Agora 9
    10 June 2016 at 10:16 am

    “In much of what was called the Free World, governments and economies are in the throes of self-destruction. Before long we shall witness revolution in several of these countries”.

    https://www.sprottmoney.com/blog/predicting-the-efficacy-of-a-coming-revolution-jeff-thomas.html

    New Zealand is sitting on a half-a-trillion-dollar debt bomb and Kiwis are increasingly treating their houses like cash machines, piling on the debt as they watch the value of their properties soar.

    Reserve Bank figures show household debt, excluding investment property, has risen 23 per cent in the past five years to $163.4 billion. Incomes have risen only 11.5 per cent.

    Households are now carrying a debt level that is equivalent to 162 per cent of their annual disposable income – higher than the level reached before the global financial crisis.

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=11651648

    • jcuknz 9.1
      11 June 2016 at 10:28 am

      More of the bad choices I wrote of earlier Agora … I am glad I have fully paid for home and only rates to concern me.
      Bad choices rampant throughout our society from a ‘do too little too late’ govt upwards.

  10. Bill 10
    10 June 2016 at 10:16 am

    Just a wee note to people who were waiting for the post I promised on what we can do to get NZ transport emissions to zero by 2030. I haven’t forgotten it or binned it. But this week has been a bit busier than anticipated, and I’m expecting a fair few posts on the potential of roaring flames accompanying the smoking downward spiral that looks suspiciously like NZs housing market.

  11. Bearded Git 11
    10 June 2016 at 11:09 am

    Poll of Polls showing Lab/Gr less than 5% behind Nats and the gap “closing” and “narrowing”. Love the way RNZ are reporting the Lab/Gr BLOCK versus Nats. It’s here:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201803965/latest-poll-of-poll-shows-national-still-leads-labour-greens

    • weka 11.1
      10 June 2016 at 2:22 pm

      Excellent.

      National 46%

      Labour 29%
      Greens 9%

      So what happens if at an election it is something like this?

      Nat 44%
      L/G 45%
      NZF 7%

      Who gets to form govt? Is is always the largest block that agrees to a coalition? RNZ appeared to be implying that L/G could go alone if they wanted to and their vote was higher than Nat.

      Edit, here’s the written report with charts,

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/306025/poll-of-polls-coalition-has-a-way-to-go

      • Puckish Rogue 11.1.1
        10 June 2016 at 2:45 pm

        Not really wanting to get into the whole “which way will Winston swing” he has always stated his preference is to go with the party with the largest vote so maybe the party with the largest vote could be replaced by the block with the largest vote

        • Expat 11.1.1.1
          10 June 2016 at 5:39 pm

          PR

          That’s the excuse Peters has used in the past to suit his needs, but that could change at any moment, so don’t be surprised.

      • Kiwiri 11.1.2
        10 June 2016 at 2:50 pm

        Securing support for confidence and supply is the main thang!

  12. SPC 12
    10 June 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Can one inherit tin ear?

    Brock father and son, and Key father and son (and the inbred KKK family home) indicate this does happen.

    Max Key says his holding a smoke was only as a prop. He claims that the same was done in film and TV when actors held smokes.

    The prop was designed to promote Max Key as a smoking hot celebrity, and a magazine using him/his social media profile to promote their magazine – whereas in the past celebrities were used to promote smoking. It was often a form of product placement (when the brand was identified) but also to brand the celebrity as smoking hot. I guess he failed to get Mad Men and the promotion and selling of smokes and that such product placement continues to this day.

    Given his father’s comments about the homeless and wider housing/taxation policy third termitis is rampant.

  13. Don't worry. Be happy 13
    10 June 2016 at 2:47 pm

    If one of my sons, at 21, was behaving like Max Key I would be very worried for his mental health.

  14. joe90 14
    10 June 2016 at 2:52 pm

    As expected.

    Annie Linskey Verified account
    ‏@AnnieLinskey

    Warren asked by @maddow if she thinks she is ready to be VP: “Yes. I do.

    https://twitter.com/AnnieLinskey/status/741080996947329025

    Annie Linskey Verified account
    ‏@AnnieLinskey

    Warren says she’s backing Clinton because wants to “be sure that Donald Trump gets nowhere near the White House.”

    https://twitter.com/AnnieLinskey/status/741073407064805376

  15. adam 15
    10 June 2016 at 3:01 pm

    To all the Hilary fans, your crowing is premature.

    Repeating blindly talking points and cheering a cheat does nothing for your reputation. When some of us go, look at her voting record you ignore us, or come back with some trite response.

    But you know faux liberals in the USA context are just about as low as you can get, and Hilary is that, a faux liberal. She is also a cheat.

    Oh and look – she got caught. It seems Bernie won.

    To the so called lefties, who jumped when the corporate media told you to. I’d stop and take a long hard look at yourself at this moment, and remember where you were when the cheat got caught.

    http://trustvote.org/

    • Puckish Rogue 15.1
      10 June 2016 at 3:42 pm

      If, and its a very big if, this comes to pass it would explain why Saunders hasn’t thrown in the towel just yet

      • adam 15.1.1
        10 June 2016 at 4:08 pm

        If it had been stoners in a garage, I would not have put it up.

        There is another person who is following the same road, a guy called Rocky de la fuente who you may like Puckish Rouge, as he is conservative democrat.

        It has been brewing for a while, mainly over exit polls and the fact the above guy has been getting so few votes, when he is actually know and liked within the Latino community.

    • dukeofurl 15.2
      10 June 2016 at 4:13 pm

      Absolutely no news from FBI that I can find (officially) that Clinton Foundation is under any investigation.

      So its just another rubbish line out of the GOP lies machine to catch out the stupid and the ignorant.

    • ianmac 15.3
      10 June 2016 at 5:12 pm

      Interesting Adam. My guess is that the Establishment cannot allow the Election fraud to surface let alone make it to Court. They will rationalise the issue as too damning for the reputation of the USA. Like having Financial institutions being too big to fail.
      This will cause mysterious loss of evidence and of key people. Or maybe extended timelines like a decade or two.
      Hang on in there Bernie.

    • Chooky 15.4
      10 June 2016 at 9:42 pm

      +100 Adam…i did suspect it could have been rigged..the right wing will stop at nothing

      …a lesson for the next Elections in NZ

  16. Puckish Rogue 16
    10 June 2016 at 3:53 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11654173

    Ok so I’m pro-vaccination so I don’t need to know the reasons why kids should be but theres some photos on how that made me take a short, sharp intake of breath

    Her baby was too young to be vaccinated…be warned its not pleasant

    • Colonial Viper 16.1
      10 June 2016 at 4:44 pm

      Not news. Could be advertising.

    • One Two 16.2
      10 June 2016 at 6:20 pm

      “ If you don’t vaccinate you’re an idiot

      By Vanessa Brown”

      Tipping point was breached some time ago, and all the emotive & abusive vitriol from dupes like Vanessa Brown can do nothing but speed up the outcome!

      Observe as the the truth plays out around world , as it already is

      No more than about 10 years and that industry, along with others built on fraud, are finished

  17. Paul 17
    10 June 2016 at 5:04 pm

    “All this homelessness stuff is turning the people off our Dear Leader. What can we do ?”
    “I know. let’s try to scare them.”

    http://insights.nzherald.co.nz/article/assaults-in-public-places

    • Gangnam Style 17.1
      11 June 2016 at 5:19 am

      Headline the other day “How do you know if your house has been used as a P-Lab”.

  18. Expat 18
    10 June 2016 at 5:54 pm

    Not a single comment on the reserve banks decision to not cut the cash rate, great, all those with a mortgage of $500k could be saving $150 a month, but instead, the banks profits will increase, fewer exports will leave NZ and there will be fewer jobs, but on the bright side, that new Mercedes won’t cost any more………………..

    • Colonial Viper 18.1
      10 June 2016 at 7:48 pm

      Not a single comment on the reserve banks decision to not cut the cash rate, great, all those with a mortgage of $500k could be saving $150 a month, but instead, the banks profits will increase,

      Seriously are you talking about. Explain to me how the NZRB cutting the cash rate does a single thing to reduce bank profits.

      The NZRB cutting the cash rate is an opportunity for banks to INCREASE their profits by not passing along the cut.

      I mean, WTF dude.

      • Expat 18.1.1
        10 June 2016 at 8:31 pm

        In a real country, Banks are forced to pass on the reductions, but maybe NZ does not fall into that category, I’ll be honest, if you don’t see the the benefits of a cash rate reduction, then there is no point in arguing with you, savings are already at the bottom of the heap, the best investment is in real estate, hence the high prices and speculation.

        The lower cash rate helps businesses, helps stop speculation on the dollar, gives exporters a competitive opportunity (produce and manufacturing) and increases employment opportunities, but, heck, I’m sure you’d prefer to be able to buy that new Mercedes, ay.

        Get yourself into the modern world and out of the conservative rout pushed by your mate English.

        • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1
          10 June 2016 at 8:39 pm

          I’m afraid that your theories are all out of touch with reality.

          ZIRP is designed to help speculators and hurt savers and pensioners.

          Free money created by central banks flowing into Wall St and other financial assets have been used to widen wealth inequality in the world and has been an ingredient in skyrocketing Auckland house prices.

          Further, evidence from overseas shows that investment banks and retail banks will access this cheap money from central banks but will not lend it to small and medium businesses for real world capital investment, leading to banks hoarding huge sums of reserves.

          It seems that your financial perspective is one of the 0.1%.

          You’ve been found out.

          • Expat 18.1.1.1.1
            10 June 2016 at 9:01 pm

            We’re talking NZ, propping up the NZ dollar DOE’S not help ordinary Kiwi’s, it only helps speculators, I’m sure if ordinary Kiwi’s new that their mortgage would be reduced by a rate cut, then they would certainly support it, and all that money saved goes back into the local economy.
            Comparing what they might do in the US is considerably different from that in NZ, so your comparison is invalid, NZers are being ripped off with highest interest rates in the developed world, and you know that and still argue against it, all I can say is that living in a small SI town, not effected by the housing affordability problems, has effected your ability to recognise the real benefits of the global changes in interest rates.

            • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1.1.1
              10 June 2016 at 9:13 pm

              If you were truly interested in lowering the value of the NZD you wouldn’t choose the near irrelevant mechanism of interest rates as the way to do it.

              You’d use a far more targetted tool.

              As I said, you’ve been found out.

            • Pat 18.1.1.1.1.2
              10 June 2016 at 9:21 pm

              have you considered WHY NZ has higher interest rates?

        • Pat 18.1.1.2
          10 June 2016 at 8:44 pm

          “The lower cash rate helps businesses, helps stop speculation on the dollar, gives exporters a competitive opportunity (produce and manufacturing) and increases employment opportunities, but, heck, I’m sure you’d prefer to be able to buy that new Mercedes, ay.”

          except the low interest rates and QE is not going into productive investment is it….its going into property and sharemarket bubbles….and that is the problem.

          there is no demand or appetite for risk.

          • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.2.1
            10 June 2016 at 9:20 pm

            Expat is trying to position dangerous financial policies which benefit the top 1% to 2% the most, as being generally good for the entire population. It’s an old trick.

            • Pat 18.1.1.2.1.1
              10 June 2016 at 9:24 pm

              the question is does he understand what he is proposing?…..if he has to explain why, his argument defeats itself

            • Expat 18.1.1.2.1.2
              10 June 2016 at 9:56 pm

              Your the one trying to trick everyone, the top 2% don’t benefit as much as the “ordinary” Kiwi, your argument to keep high rates does not, so your argument is invalid, FFS, you’ve got investors coming to NZ borrowing money at 1%, and getting a better return than any where else, only Kiwi’s are handicapped.

              It’s only people like you who want to buy that new Mercedes at low prices that share your view.

              Read my comment below on Wheeler, financial reviewers think he’s a joke.

              Considering you aim to be on the side of the left your acting like delegates from ACT party, rip off the general population for the sake of that new Mercedes.

          • Expat 18.1.1.2.2
            10 June 2016 at 9:23 pm

            Try govt regulation, but first you need a govt, your argument is what they all say, but the benefits to existing mortgage holders is far greater and REAL.

            • Pat 18.1.1.2.2.1
              10 June 2016 at 9:26 pm

              we have record low interest rates….how low do you need to go? negative perhaps?

              • Expat …
                10 June 2016 at 9:58 pm

                2.25% is the highest in the world, so 1.5% is not unreasonable and is competitive.

                • Pat …
                  10 June 2016 at 10:07 pm

                  and why are our interest rates higher than most in the OECD?
                  …clue , it has nothing to do with competitiveness.

                  • Expat …
                    10 June 2016 at 10:19 pm

                    It’s called manipulation of the “markets”, JK’s main policy.

                    You obviously don’t care about exporters, farmers debt, these things affect all of us.

                    • Pat …
                      10 June 2016 at 10:24 pm

                      no its called increased risk….we need to borrow from overseas because we don’t save enough AND we have had a negative trade imbalance forever…so we pay a premium,

                      I care an awful lot about farmers and exporters as when they go bust (as many are very concerned about currently) I do no business

            • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.2.2.2
              10 June 2016 at 9:33 pm

              Try govt regulation, but first you need a govt, your argument is what they all say, but the benefits to existing mortgage holders is far greater and REAL.

              You favour a policy which will accelerate property asset prices and fuck those who are trying to buy their first house.

              Again it is a policy which favours financial speculators and the highly leveraged, and fucks savers.

              Mate, you’ve been found out.

              • Expat …
                10 June 2016 at 10:03 pm

                Mate, don’t you understand what “regulation” means, I know the govt doesn’t, but was hopping you had a better understanding.

                Explain why Kiwi’s should pay higher interest rates than any other country in the world, and please make it a valid reason.

    • Colonial Viper 18.2
      10 June 2016 at 8:34 pm

      And one more thing. You’re preference to cut interest rates injures savers and pensioners who rely on a pitiful 3.25% return on their term deposits in order just to live.

      We are in a world where financial speculators and others leveraged to the hilt are advantaged by central banks while savers and pensioners are punished further and further.

      You seem to like this ‘new world order’.

      • Expat 18.2.1
        10 June 2016 at 9:28 pm

        All ready covered savers, there is no money in savings now, is there? so much larger benefits for all in lower mortgage interest rates, FFS, why don you think these overseas investors bring the money in, lower interest rates, ay, so why can’t ordinary Kiwi’s have that same advantage FFS, Kiwi’s are being ripped off.

        You need to get with the global interest rates, just because of your isolation doesn’t negate your ignorance.

        Wheelers rate changes over the last 4 years are an international joke, there all over the place like a “mad persons shit”, if you get my drift.

        • Colonial Viper 18.2.1.1
          10 June 2016 at 9:34 pm

          Thanks for admitting that you’re writing off the future income of savers and pensioners in favour of bankers, speculators and debtors.

          That’s all I needed from you.

          • Expat 18.2.1.1.1
            10 June 2016 at 10:15 pm

            You sound like my old neighbour, in their 70’s, used to keep $40k in the savings account so that they wouldn’t have to pay “fees”, when all they had to do is change banks.

            Get real, bank savings are the lowest form of return and have been for a few years now, if you think propping up the dollar is good for a minority group who chooses to invest in bank savings, then you really are selfish, lower interest rates helps far more people than those “savers”, but please explain why Kiwi’s should have to pay a premium to buy their own home, you know the young families who work hard and pay the Tax that funds your pension, please explain why they shouldn’t have a fair go.

            Bloody conservatism……….

            • Expat 18.2.1.1.1.1
              10 June 2016 at 10:32 pm

              You guys are living in a bubble, and can’t see the reality of what is occurring from the smokescreen, it’s much easier to view from outside of that bubble and get a very clear view.

              Get with the times, there is very low returns from bank savings, if you look at Japans 30 year bond rate, they are paying 0.3%, and there are plenty of investors buying those bonds, so get yourselves into the real world, interest rates aren’t going up for some time, there are no winners from this, that’s why property speculation is rampant, oh except in Germany, where they regulate speculators out of of the market and oversupply housing availability, something the govt could do, if it had the guts.

              • Pat …
                10 June 2016 at 10:37 pm

                Germany has had population decrease for some time….is deflationary….why do you think they want a million working age refugees

                • Colonial Viper …
                  10 June 2016 at 11:56 pm

                  Merkel has the backing of the business class in this. Put downward pressure on wages and break up those pesky unions.

              • Colonial Viper …
                10 June 2016 at 10:58 pm

                Oh look, the little 0.1%er says that returns from bank deposits are low, while advocating interest rate policies to lower them even further.

                Punishing savers and pensioners and rewarding speculators and the highly leveraged.

                Go away mate I figured out your number already.

  19. Adrian Thornton 19
    10 June 2016 at 7:43 pm

    Mike Williams- Voice from the Left?
    Mike Williams former Labour education officer, Party President, and regular ‘Voice from the Left’ during Monday’s Nine to Noon on RNZ’s “Voices from the left and the right” slot, is not filling the role of left wing commentator as per the show’s description.
    The voice from the Right is usually quite ably filled by Matthew Hooton, and it’s worth noting Matthew argues from a fairly radical position.
    However Mike Williams’s voice from the Left has for some time, been a source of quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) rage for me. As it turns out this is also true for my more politically aware friends.

    The Radio NZ show usually goes something like this;
    A topic is introduced by Kathryn Ryan, the topic is taken up by one of the voices, and a position taken, the other voice counters with their position, then at some point through this exchange Williams often ends up in either a sort of agreement with Hooton or somehow just leaves the Lefts position lying abandoned on the floor somewhere in the centrist meaningless nowhere land. You will note when this moment has arrived with Williams’s oral punctuation marks either; “but watch this space” or “there is plenty of water to go under this bridge” or “it’s no silver bullet”

    Now his centrist positions might have been fine in 1984 under Douglas, or Clarke for that matter, but in case he hasn’t noticed these same centrist left/right policies from both sides have left the country with more class divisions, pay stagnation, more poverty, a failing Health system, prison population explosion etc etc.
    When we should expect moral outrage and indignation from our media commentators, we are served tacit agreement. The same tacit agreement among from the established media and political class that is starting to fuel extreme nationalism across Europe and the U.S. What we need to hear from our left wing commentators is some… well, left wing thinking. If Hooton’s radical Randian rantings can represent the right on a show like Nine to Noon, surely there is an equivalent for left. Let Kathryn patrol the centre if that’s called objectivity.

    As I am from the Hawkes Bay I am not at all surprised by Williams’s position. I get his opinion pieces in The Hawkes Bay Today to read. Some of which had me reading them twice, just to see if they could in fact be actually penned by the former Labour Party President.
    From writing a puff piece for the Serco run Wiri south Auckland prison;
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503459&objectid=11446050
    Defending Judith Collins;
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503459&objectid=11593717
    To where he thinks Bill English could teach the Labour Party a thing or two about how to spend money in social spending, hospitals etc.…(what!).
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503459&objectid=11616187

    So in short, I believe Mike Williams has lost his right to speak for us on the Left, if you agree then please email RNZ, and ask them to get in someone who can.
    Please remember this is one of the few (only?) weekly discussions of Left/Right politics and policies in New Zealand mainstream media, so it is vital that they have the right person.
    ninetonoon@radionz.co.nz
    Any suggestions of who could fill this important slot?

    • Pat 19.1
      10 June 2016 at 7:56 pm

      they replaced mike Williams with Stephen Mills(?) briefly….why they didn’t continue with him I have no idea….he at least pulled M.Hooton up on his obvious BS

    • mickysavage 19.2
      10 June 2016 at 8:24 pm

      Mike is fine. Out of the current group of left wing commentators he is by far the best. Compare him to Pagani, Trotter …

      • Vinnie 19.2.1
        10 June 2016 at 8:29 pm

        Can you come up with some positive comments to describe why “mike is fine”? I can’t.

      • Pat 19.2.2
        10 June 2016 at 8:32 pm

        sorry MS,,,apart from a brief spark last week he has been weak…..who knows why, but that is not the point…when Hooton knew he would be challenged (by Mills) he was more circumspect on his BS…didnt stop him, but certainly slowed him down….sometimes MW so poor KR feels obliged to step in for him.

  20. Adrian Thornton 20
    10 June 2016 at 8:06 pm

    Yes I agree, he was a good start.

  21. Vinnie 21
    10 June 2016 at 8:25 pm

    Couldn’t agree more!

  22. Adrian Thornton 22
    10 June 2016 at 8:28 pm

    He is not fine, he’s been riding on the center line so long he doesn’t which lane he is in…I do.

  23. Adrian Thornton 23
    10 June 2016 at 9:14 pm

    Thanks for that link Pat.
    Here is a perfect example, Mike with a golden opportunity to rigorously attack Hooton on Nationals inept budget, you couldn’t get an easier gift than this….but no, KR has to step in again and again to take the (least) position that Mike should be taking.
    It is painful to listen to.

  24. jcuknz 24
    12 June 2016 at 3:31 pm

    What puts me off Nine to Noon is the incessant contribution from Ryan.

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  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

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  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

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    The KakaBy Steven Hail
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  • Reported back

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  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

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  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

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  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

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  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

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    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
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  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

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    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

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    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

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    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

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  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
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  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

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    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
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  • Flooding Housing Policy

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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

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  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

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    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. ...
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  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

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  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

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

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

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

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 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
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    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 ...
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    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

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

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

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

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    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

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

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

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
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    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
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    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
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    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
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    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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