Open Mike 10/11/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 10th, 2016 - 82 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

[In order to keep Open Mike and Daily Review free for other conversations, please put all discussion, comments, link postings etc about the US election under one of the posts about the Election]

82 comments on “Open Mike 10/11/2016 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  3. miravox 3
    10 November 2016 at 7:11 am

    The 9th was the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. How times have changed from what that act stood for.

    • b waghorn 3.1
      10 November 2016 at 12:00 pm

      we haven’t gone backwards though ,we are just going in the endless loop of the greedy grabbing as much as they can till a circuit breaker pops up and at some point a lot of killing goes on , then we start again

      • miravox 3.1.1
        10 November 2016 at 8:52 pm

        Yeah, I think about it in similar terms. Hoping that the loop is less variable over time so the circuit breaker is not quite so extreme.

        But the list of troubling leaders across the globe is becoming quite alarming.

  4. Richard Rawshark 4
    10 November 2016 at 7:40 am

    I love what Trump meant, not so much the actual bloke.

    Today is the first day. pollsters media and neolib governments are finally doing some inner reflection.
    \
    Those who had no voice for so long have finally been heard over the racket of the clicky elite.

    It is a glorious day.. may the rebellion triumph of the evil empire.

    Darth Neolib has taken a hit.

    I noted the shock of the rich as they just do not get it,, it’s fucking hilarious in a you dumb sad bastards kind of way.

    Oprah Winfrey net worth 3.2 billion

    your average machine shop worker, juggling bills.

    I know who works harder, and it’s not the lady sitting on the couch.

    • The lost sheep 4.1
      10 November 2016 at 9:03 am

      You don’t get it do you Richard?
      The ‘voices’ that have just been heard have given complete control of the most powerful Country on Earth to an Uber-Capitalist 1%er and the Republican Party.

      Have a wee think about what that means?
      Do you really think Trump and the Republican’s are going to create a revolution that will harm the interests of Capitailists and the RW elite?

      • Richard Rawshark 4.1.1
        10 November 2016 at 9:47 am

        You and I have no idea, we will have to wait and see, however, telling the American manufacturing industry if they take any more of their business manufacturing to cheap labour force countries he will slap on a 35% tariff is a damn good start..

        I appreciate your outlook on things, not saying your wrong, just lets see what he does, I suspect your right, but I am waiting with an open mind for now.

      • Draco T Bastard 4.1.2
        10 November 2016 at 10:43 am

        Do you really think Trump and the Republican’s are going to create a revolution that will harm the interests of Capitailists and the RW elite?

        Nope. But, IMO, what they will do to the US and the world is what will ignite the spark that will, finally, eliminate capitalism.

        • Psycho Milt 4.1.2.1
          10 November 2016 at 11:37 am

          Communists always like it when the fascists win, because it will supposedly make people so miserable they’ll revolt. Tip: it doesn’t.

          • Draco T Bastard 4.1.2.1.1
            10 November 2016 at 12:28 pm

            Always has done before. Sure, it may take a while, but it will happen.

          • Richard Rawshark 4.1.2.1.2
            10 November 2016 at 1:04 pm

            PM that’s crap. taken literally it’s just total unadulterated crap.\

            Your whole statement is ..unbelievable crap.

            Yes the Germans voted in a fascist Hitler in hope they would then be so hard done by and revolt and go communist.., I see, it all makes perfect sense, how could I be so blind.

            • Psycho Milt 4.1.2.1.2.1
              10 November 2016 at 1:43 pm

              How indeed? If you trouble yourself to read what happened, the German Communist Party under Thaellmann helped Hitler gain power, calling the mainstream left Social Democratic Party the “social fascists” and coining the motto “After Hitler, us,” on the basis that Hitler would create such upheaval the revolution would be more likely than under the SPD.

              To be fair, he was partly right – after Hitler did come the communists, in eastern Germany at least. It wasn’t an improvement.

              • Richard Rawshark …
                10 November 2016 at 2:14 pm

                At my age which judging by this knowledge you must be near too, that’s not what I learned, was this ONE communist party, because the brown shirts regularaly had fights with the communists, in fact they would go into their drinking establishments(halls) and meeting and beat the crap out of them.. were there more than one communist party?

              • Rob …
                11 November 2016 at 11:00 pm

                Really Psyco Milt “It wasn’t an improvement” , wow, that has to be the most serious understatement of the last centuar. So even with mass central political manipulation, control and seperation, it appears that the governing rule did not work for the populations good health and propserity in general . Who would have thunk it. My goodness.

  6. Richard Rawshark 6
    10 November 2016 at 7:57 am

    M<ore this, this morning I think, the lead singer I thought was the same guy in your music link almost same voice, though more obvious in his other songs..

    but this is how I feel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJXM-ssg2Hg

    • inspider 6.1
      10 November 2016 at 1:51 pm

      I kept looking for Stonehenge to descend or the drummer explode when I saw this lot

      • Richard Rawshark 6.1.1
        10 November 2016 at 2:10 pm

        Ruby Starr, RIP, she was one of my first crushes.

        Noah hired them for entertainment on the ark, little before Stonehenge mate. 🙂

  7. DH 7
    10 November 2016 at 8:21 am

    Just when I think the NZ media has sunk to it’s lowest level I read pap like this…

    “Claire Trevett: Lesson for all parties – It pays to check the numbers”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11745293

    Note the snide remark at the end…

    “Labour’s team will be calculating likelihood ratios on a list of American-sounding surnames for phase two in its campaign to save the New Zealand first-home buyer.”

    When it comes to the media Labour seem damned if they do and damned if they don’t. When they complain about this sort of behaviour they get pilloried and if they don’t complain they still get hammered anyway.

    • ianmac 7.1
      10 November 2016 at 8:45 am

      Claire Trevett is just plain spiteful.

      • DH 7.1.1
        10 November 2016 at 9:26 am

        Yeah but that article was written by her as an employee of the Herald, I’d think she’s the monkey not the organ grinder.

    • Chuck 7.2
      10 November 2016 at 9:18 am

      Its a own goal DH…

      Trevett sums it up pretty well:

      “So the surprise was that Labour put itself in a position to be questioned over its costings at all. The whole brouhaha could have been avoided by simply including the relevant assumptions in the material distributed.”

      Had a good laugh about the American sounding surnames dig 🙂

      • DH 7.2.1
        10 November 2016 at 9:32 am

        “Had a good laugh about the American sounding surnames dig”

        Sure you did Chuck, or should I say Chuckee. Now bugger off and mind your own business.

        • Chuck 7.2.1.1
          10 November 2016 at 10:45 am

          “Sure you did Chuck, or should I say Chuckee. Now bugger off and mind your own business.”

          Yes Sir or Mama!!…how dare I interrupt your moment of denial.

      • Richard Rawshark 7.2.2
        10 November 2016 at 9:52 am

        “Trevett sums it up pretty well: ”

        That would earn you a lifetime ban in my little tiny world of little importance.

        trevett gets a whole newspaper to make her excuses and defence will she or the Herald offer the same to Andrew?

        nah didn’t think so..

        I see you avoided the part where she slapped Bennet. you really are a piece of turd Chuck up.

        • Chuck 7.2.2.1
          10 November 2016 at 10:50 am

          “I see you avoided the part where she slapped Bennet. you really are a piece of turd Chuck up.”

          Morning Richard, weren’t you banging on that the Herald never pulls up National on there stuff ups?

          How do you explain the Bennet slap then mate?

          • Richard Rawshark 7.2.2.1.1
            10 November 2016 at 12:41 pm

            Got a cite, apart from her reference to some, Imaginary grilling apparently.

            and when I use the term imaginary it’s in the if any critic was made, it will have been short brief and hidden fast.. 1 article to justify 10 anti labour, and you my big runny dog shit, will just start talking absolute shite in a weak assed attempt to get a hard on for the day..

            You are the king of tools boy. Or the last turd that landed in the long drop.

            /digs are fun, fire away.

            • Chuck 7.2.2.1.1.1
              10 November 2016 at 2:08 pm

              You can always be counted on for a colourful reply Richard!

              But however you are wrong.

              • Richard Rawshark …
                10 November 2016 at 2:34 pm

                So no cite, as usual you lay a claim and cannot back it up, with not only evidence, but good evidence or multiple cites to show any fairness whatsoever, you were also asked yesterday to prove something and you, never did, is this a regular kind of way you debate stuff.

                John keys a kiddie fiddler.., when you ask for evidence I shall never reply.

                and i’m hurt, I gave you a good lead in to a dig back and you passed, that hurts me more, you know!!!

            • james 7.2.2.1.1.2
              10 November 2016 at 4:42 pm

              Love how you ask for a citation – but when you get asked to cite something you commented on – you had to admit you made it up (poll results).

              • Richard Rawshark …
                10 November 2016 at 5:51 pm

                A … …… can’t be arse James, you argue like a 2 year old, you knew I made those up, are you now going to use a made up poll I stated clearly I made up to trick you and then claim I was being truthful and got caught making things up..

                That’s a new height of stupid right there, all of 2 microns in statute.

                quite, childish, even for you kid.

                Ok LOL I remember it now, bleating on about polls when the RM poll came out, slagging labour off for polling 35 I think it was, so I got fucked off and went there’s a new poll out, National are the 31% and you dropped your jaw and got all what really…shock horror.

                and you all wanted cites(well you and PR)

                oH yes that was an awesum burn..

      • framu 7.2.3
        10 November 2016 at 1:16 pm

        trevett is openly partisan – it doesnt matter what labour does or doesnt do

        shes not making any actual comment other than “im anti labour, regardless”

    • Richard Rawshark 7.3
      10 November 2016 at 10:40 am

      I wrote back in the reply part asking if she will extend the curtesy of reply to Andrew, I would hope others can support me by going to the Herald, reading Clare’s piece and ask her the same, if you agree he should be allowed to explain.

      The points I noticed, she distances herself from it, and she was directly involved, and does not name the reporter.. It a butt cover job IMHO.

      here’s the link again

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11745293

      • DH 7.3.1
        10 November 2016 at 11:17 am

        IMO you’re wasting your time there Richard. You’re not talking to Trevett when you write in, you’re talking to the Herald. Online comments to opinion pieces go to a moderator who presumably acts under instructions as to what gets posted, when and in what order.

        When the comments are vociferous in defence of Labour the Herald has had a practice of waiting for days before they post the comments, if they post them at all. By then the article will have fallen way down the list and no-one will see or read the replies except those who made them.

        • Richard Rawshark 7.3.1.1
          10 November 2016 at 12:45 pm

          I know DH

          And now they want everyone to see it, as they have put a MUST READ on it.

          Clare’s not happy she’s thrown any criticism outwards and deflected it externally, her integrity was questioned and she cannot look inwards at her shortcomings, she will be ten times worse now, than we ever imagined.

          i’d almost put out and declare that as fact, well 85% chance to be what happens.

          • DH 7.3.1.1.1
            10 November 2016 at 1:20 pm

            I’m more inclined to thinking she just does what she’s told. It’s labelled an opinion piece but one has to ask whether it’s her opinion or her bosses. Herald employees don’t exactly have the freedom to say what they like in the Herald, I’d expect her articles to be vetted by more senior editors and printed only when they meet approval.

            I think there’s also a power play; the mainstream media trying to tell politicians who’s really in charge. The message there is that if they criticise the media then the media has the means to destroy their political careers.

  8. Kevin 8
    10 November 2016 at 8:57 am

    The good news just keeps coming.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/us-election-2016/86302417/us-election-vladimir-putin-says-russia-will-try-to-repair-ties-with-us-under-donald-trump

    Pretty sure that speech would have been completely different had Clinton won.

  9. gsays 9
    10 November 2016 at 9:54 am

    is vicky letele still in prison?
    if so, why?

    is that the sound of a heartless justice minister, being reluctantly dragged to a compassionate position?

  10. Richard Rawshark 10
    10 November 2016 at 9:55 am

    anyone checked on Farrar this morning… how’s his.. polling going.

    I get the feeling the US ambassador won’t be inviting him, to any more functions.

    • Richard Rawshark 12.1
      10 November 2016 at 11:31 am

      When I see that I feel like getting out the baseball bat and clubbing me some skinheads.. grrr

      • Morrissey 12.1.1
        10 November 2016 at 11:39 am

        Not a recommended course of action, Richard! They can get really ugly….

        • Richard Rawshark 12.1.1.1
          10 November 2016 at 12:47 pm

          They already are, rearranging their faces will make them more, publically appealing.

        • Richard Rawshark 12.1.1.2
          10 November 2016 at 12:58 pm

          Don’t like racists M , sorry about the threatening language it was a joke, of sorts, or wishful thinking.

  13. Olwyn 13
    10 November 2016 at 11:40 am

    To a moderator: I am going into automatic moderation whether I am logged in or not. For a while my comments went through OK if I was logged in, but that is no longer the case.

    [Thanks Olwyn. It’s been happening to a few people. I’ll drop a note in the back end – weka]

    • Olwyn 13.1
      10 November 2016 at 12:17 pm

      Thanks Weka 🙂 And thanks also for your excellent organisation of US election commentary.

      • Molly 13.1.1
        10 November 2016 at 12:53 pm

        Weka – thanks from me too, for your moderation skill and the idea and implementation of the separate US election post.

  14. Molly 14
    10 November 2016 at 12:42 pm

    V8 supercars are starting their “Feed Me Seymour” bleat to get more funding from ATEED.

    About time we stopped subsidising this fossil-fuelled sport with ratepayers money.

    (Actually, ’bout time we stopped it altogether).

    • Richard Rawshark 14.1
      10 November 2016 at 12:53 pm

      They burn alcohol in race cars I thought? Drags they do.

      If not, I like motor sports, rallying etc, they should if they don’t.

      There more than one road to travel to get to your destination, the quickest route is not always the best.

      • Molly 14.1.1
        10 November 2016 at 1:02 pm

        I’m not much of a petrolhead Richard, so I’ll make the assumption that you are right.

        IIRC – $10-14 million so far from ATEED, and a couple of million from Stephen Joyce. The initial payments were approved during closed meetings and without meeting council guidelines for investment.

        This is not pocket change, and could be spent actually providing for a larger group than a private company, whose primary reason is not social or progressive for society in any way.

        The government financial encouragement of this sport – to me – is not a move in the right direction.

        This is low-hanging fruit – in the discussion of transition – and we are still not picking it.

        • Richard Rawshark 14.1.1.1
          10 November 2016 at 1:11 pm

          Oh , not on tax payer money, not for petrol heads, and i’m not one. Just an average male who had a beat up old valiant as a kid, and thought he was shit hot. 🙂

          I was just pointing out as an ecological things they could use alcohols.

          No Joyce can keep his cheque book firmly where it is until I see everyone warm dry and with a roof over their head, a good job if they wish and a take home pay worthy of the effort they put in.

          Not much, I have a dream.. and giving money to rich pricks with million dollar sports cars isn’t one of them.

  16. Richard Rawshark 16
    10 November 2016 at 12:56 pm

    Why we get a bad name, we say things like ban this ban that in some stupid ecological over the top manner..

    If we ban everything that’s bad..we should just nuke the planet and be done with it.

    How about less, god dang over the top bullshit ourselves huh.

  17. Richard Rawshark 17
    10 November 2016 at 1:15 pm

    Well since everyone’s thanking Weka for his efforts over the last few days I just thought i’d pipe in and thank him as well

    For yelling at me for not using the reply button and, picking on me and my weight constantly, the four donuts I left in the staff fridge he swiped, and for syphoning my car so he could get to last orders at the pub.

    Weka YOU …, suck.

    Or as translated from Albanian Good job .. Budalah

    🙂

    • Richard Rawshark 17.1
      10 November 2016 at 1:36 pm

      then finds out Weka is a lady, re reads this..

      err.

      please ignore the hims and the suck bit.

      But still 4 donuts!!

  18. Richard Rawshark 18
    10 November 2016 at 2:06 pm

    The ultimate horror, John Key calling on Murray McCully to urgently advise him on how to deal with the TPP and Trump.

  19. Richard Rawshark 19
    10 November 2016 at 2:55 pm

    More bad news i’m afraid

    This folks is your future tv3 entertainment for the coming year, and I think I lost 10 IQ points just reading the list.

    7 Days: The comedy show that delivers TV3’s biggest ratings is back for a 9th year. Jeremy Corbett, Dai Henwood and Paul Ego will be back on Friday nights, alongside a line-up of NZ’s biggest comedians.

    Jono and Ben: With more pranks, laughs and great guests, Jono and Ben (and friends) will be back for an hour-long weekly show.

    Family Feud: Hosted by Dai Henwood, Family Feud features Kiwi families competing for the chance to win cash and prizes by guessing the most popular answers.

    Westside: The West family saga continues. In this third season, Ted and Rita West return and Wolf meets a young Cheryl.

    Grand Designs New Zealand: Host Chris Moller follows Kiwis in their pursuit of extravagant dream homes and architectural brilliance.

    Lost & Found: The emotional local series returns, reuniting families and uncovering cultural identities.

    Fail Army: Presented by Kiwi comedians Joseph Moore and Guy Montgomery, Fail Army features pranks and compilations of the web’s best fails.

    TV3 will also be bringing back some international favourites, including:

    The Block Australia: Back for a 12th series with the biggest renovation ever attempted. Five couples will try to convert an old soap factory in the Port of Melbourne into five supersized luxury apartments.

    The Graham Norton Show: From his couch to yours, every Friday night with A-list celebrity guests and some funny red chair moments.

    Humans: In a future where robots have become normalised, this thriller explores the unintended consequences of a series of robots who have obtained consciousness.

    Grand Designs UK: Grand Designs UK sees host Kevin McCloud follow self-builders in search of outstanding architecture.

    Live at the Apollo: Some of the best UK comedians performing live at London’s Hammersmith Apollo theatre.

    SVU: The New York Special Victims Unit continues to take on the toughest crimes, in a hard-hitting and emotional drama.

    NCIS: America’s number one rating drama is back for another season of all new crimes and cases for the NCIS team to solve.

    NCIS: LA: The successful spin-off of NCIS starring Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J.
    The Blacklist: James Spader stars as Raymond ‘Red’ Reddington, a most-wanted fugitive who works with the FBI to take down criminals and terrorists.

    Married At First Sight Australia: The controversial social experiment gets supersized in this season, with ten couples meeting at the altar on their wedding day.

    Wanted: The second instalment of this event drama finds Rebecca Gibney on the run in our very own backyard.

    Chicago Med: The show features the day-to-day chaos of Chicago’s newest state-of-the-art trauma centre and the lives of the doctors, nurses and staff who hold it all together.

    Hawaii Five-O: Follows the detectives who are part of an elite task force working to eliminate crime on the beaches of the Aloha state.

    Beach Cops: This observational series follows the cops who operate along Sydney’s Northern beaches.

    New TV3 shows announced today include:

    Hyde & Seek: This trans-Tasman thriller tells the story of Detective Gary Hyde who, while investigating the murder of his best friend, uncovers a criminal conspiracy which leads to a man-hunt across Australia and New Zealand.

    This Time Next Year: In a TV first, this series delivers an array of real-life transformations that have taken twelve months for the participants, but are revealed in an instant for the studio audience – from losing half their body weight, to finding love or even becoming a parent.

    Hamish & Andy: The radio and TV funny men return to TV3’s screens with an all-new format.

    The New Celebrity Apprentice: Arnold Schwarzenegger takes over the Boardroom when 16 celebrities compete for their favourite charities. Advising Schwarzenegger will be world-class business minds, including Steve Ballmer, Tyra Banks, Jessica Alba and Warren

  20. Richard Rawshark 20
    10 November 2016 at 3:05 pm

    I accuse this government of failing to hold up to it’s social responsibilities

    If this doesn’t upset you, there is something wrong with you.

    “A new report has revealed more than 500 patients suffered from medical failures in the 12 months to June – including a delayed caesarean delivery, which contributed to a baby’s death.”

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/health/medical-failures-top-500-in-a-year—report-2016111011

    • greywarshark 20.1
      10 November 2016 at 11:23 pm

      A significant number of people have gone blind while waiting for necessary eye surgery that would probably have enabled them to retain some vision. Forgotten where but its a serious blow to go blind halfway through life and have to adapt to that.

      • Richard Rawshark 20.1.1
        11 November 2016 at 7:43 am

        Mate, I seriously consider a big post on it and the state of the health system.

        My eyes can’t see anything clearly, I am getting no mental health support for my bi-polar, everytime I go to the dr’s they give me a few minutes cover one thing and move on to the next person cha ching, I now have multiple issues compounding my health and I cannot at all get any time to get through it, I even booked a double appointment once, still multiple health problems.

        I expect the CAT team out today.. I saw the Dr last night he freaked out, never got past anything else wrong atm. I had a full on episode on Tuesday I think, it was hazy, but what I did..wow. If I told you, you would be horrified, but I have no sense of reality in those moments.

        When the CAT team arrives, I am making a stand, you may see me on the news.

        • greywarshark 20.1.1.1
          12 November 2016 at 4:33 pm

          Richard Rawshark
          I hope you are back to being level-headed at the moment. If you write down all your problems while you are able to think straight and put the numbered list where you can get it when you go to see the doc you might be able to get better attention. And prioritise with the most pressing problem at the top. And take a copy so you know what you wrote and can tick off things as they get attended to.
          Have you an idea of what help would be most useful to you? All the best. And remember the doc is probably doing his or her best. Try thanking them and saying you will try the advice, and let them know if it isn’t working so you can do something else.

  21. Herodotus 21
    10 November 2016 at 3:09 pm

    reserve bank lowers the OCR for what ??
    Morgages are not being reduced or effects on the NZ$
    http://ssl-www.stuff.co.nz/business/86304743/Reserve-Bank-cuts-OCR-to-new-low-but-no-change-for-borrowers
    Within minutes of the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates the BNZ contacted media to warn that none of the cuts would be reflected in the rates it offered customers.
    Despite being motivated by a belief from the Reserve Bank that the dollar needs to be weakened, the markets reacted by pushing up the kiwi dollar by around half a cent against the US dollar.

  22. Puckish Rogue 22
    10 November 2016 at 3:36 pm

    http://www.unwatch.org/report-venezuela-used-500-front-groups-subvert-todays-un-review-rights-record/

    “Among the 500 groups absurdly praising Venezuela’s alleged human rights accomplishments include the Bolivian Baseball Association, the Cuban Federation of Canine Sports, and the ‘Association for Obvious Things,’ a group in Slovenia that hailed Venezuela’s record on combating hunger,” said the UN Watch report.

    “Association for Obvious Things” – Brilliant 🙂

  23. greywarshark 23
    10 November 2016 at 3:57 pm

    On a British newspaper in the supermarket. An attractive woman Priti Patel
    is announcing that much of the foreign aid given to Third World Countries is being rorted and She Is Going to Sort Them Out. She also pushed Brexit – wants to link aid to encouraging trade. That would be good if Britain would take goods made by villages as they try to earn to improve their infrastructure. But is that too practical and grassroots.

    The ten most corrupt countries are all going to receive large cuts except North Korea, which got nothing anyway. But most of the countries are ones that have been at war.
    Perhaps they could do with some more practical help than they have been getting at triple the value to the people. Going from 2.7 billion pounds to about 400 million pounds in a year.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/13/priti-patel-sets-out-new-vision-to-stop-international-aid-budget/

  24. weka 24
    10 November 2016 at 11:10 pm

    [In order to keep Open Mike and Daily Review free for other conversations, please put all discussion, comments, link postings etc about the US election under one of the posts about the Election – weka]

Recent Posts

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    5 hours ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    8 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    9 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    11 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    11 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    12 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    15 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    16 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    18 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    18 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    19 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    21 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    22 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    24 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T15:07:13+00:00