Open mike 11/01/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 11th, 2023 - 38 comments
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38 comments on “Open mike 11/01/2023 ”

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  1. weston 1
    11 January 2023 at 11:33 am

    Well good golly miss molly !! What shall we make of the fact that the whole of the Donetsk front line of Ukrainian defense positions have been overrun and the fortress towns of Bakhmut and Soledar are facing encirclement !

    How can this be ??We are continuously told by MSM and by various commenters on TS that Russian forces are demoralised that they are poorly supplied and equipped , that their commanders are shit ,that their forces are tactically inferior , that they are "running out of steam " "running out of ammo " or even just "running "!!

    Perhaps Putin has assumed the 'avatar ' of the evil Sauron and waved his magic wand to change pumpkins into tanks and hoards of mice into fighting soldiers transforming all Russia's woes into victory in an instant !!?

    Or perhaps much of the information coming out of the west via the spin department of the Kiev regime is horseshit !!

    This article appears to contain a fair amount of truth though and has many interesting links within it .

    https://dimitrilascaris.org/2023/01/02/western-soldiers-reveal-the-sordid-reality-of-the-ukraine-war/

    • Barfly 1.1
      11 January 2023 at 1:33 pm

      Any chance of buying some of what your smoking?

    • Cricklewood 1.2
      11 January 2023 at 1:57 pm

      Sounds impressive until you realize Soledar is smaller than Feilding.

      Basically they’ve managed to overrun a village.

      • weston 1.2.1
        11 January 2023 at 2:33 pm

        Soledar is a very important perhaps vital part of Ukrainian defenses in that location it contains the largest salt mines in the world apparently .According to the latest military updates some Ukrainian soldiers are trapped in the last mine still to be taken and are reportedly cut off .I guess if the Ukr forces cannot escape somehow through the apparent labyrinth of tunnels we might see another Mariupol style surrender soon .

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soledar_Salt_Mine

    • Gosman 1.3
      11 January 2023 at 2:31 pm

      Bakhmut has not been encircled. Soledar has been largely overrun it is true to state but again it has not been encircled as the Russians have taken ground via costly frontal assaults. The Ukrainian military is still fighting within the urban area of Soledar. Even if the Russians gain complete control over the town it does not mean they have encircled Bakhmut or even made the job of encircling Bakhmut much easier. You don't tend to gain encirclements in warfare in the way the Russians are doing so.

      • weston 1.3.1
        11 January 2023 at 4:15 pm

        You'll note Gosman i said Bakhmut was facing encirclement and it seems to me that indeed it will be easier to encircle now that it seems Soledar has fallen you only have to look at the maps of the roads and terrain etc in that area to realize that !

        I cant say ive seen any convincing evidence that Russian forces have been doing much "frontal wave "stuff ? i have however seen mountains of evidence attesting to warfare by attrition that is bombarding enemy positions and equipment relentlessly until such time as a weakness develops which is then exploited .Im pretty sure this is the usual and preferred method of engagement throughout this conflict .

        As described by the returned veteran interviewed within the link supplied in my original comment only about 1pc of deaths in this war are from rifles by a country mile the rest are deaths by artillery mortars etc

        • Gosman 1.3.1.1
          11 January 2023 at 4:39 pm

          It won't be easier to encircle beyond the obvious that taking ANY land around a particular military target makes it "easier" to encircle. It is like stating taking Kherson from the Russian military made it easier for the Ukrainians to take Crimea back.

          • weston 1.3.1.1.1
            11 January 2023 at 5:42 pm

            What a silly comparison Gosman the distance between Kherson and the border of Crimea is 219 km with the river Dnipro in between whereas the distance between Bakhmut and Soledar is a mere 15km you could walk there in an hour or so !

            • Incognito 1.3.1.1.1.1
              11 January 2023 at 5:59 pm

              … a mere 15km you could walk there in an hour or so !

              According to Google Maps it is a mere (!) 2 hr 58 min on foot.

              And you accuse others of saying silly stuff!?

              • Francesca …
                11 January 2023 at 6:17 pm

                I don't think Weston is seriously suggesting the Wagnerites will walk the distance.He was using the word "walk"to amplify the difference between 219 kms and 15 kms.And there is a significant difference.More silly to be so literal

                • Incognito …
                  11 January 2023 at 7:12 pm

                  It was a silly thing to say to support his silly and vague narrative. Why not use more accurate and truthful arguments to make your point? Why the urge to exaggerate aka amplify and hand wave like an amateur angler who describes the big one that got away? Do Weston and you really think that people cannot tell the difference between 15 and 219 km? Seems that Weston and you don’t care about these things and simply want to score stupid points for the sake of it.

                  • Francesca …
                    11 January 2023 at 7:20 pm

                    Well if you want to waste your time rushing to Google maps to prove another commenter "silly"I won't stand in your way.

                    • Incognito …
                      11 January 2023 at 7:46 pm

                      I assume that Weston looked it up too yet failed to be even remotely accurate. It took my less than 30 sec to get that info, so hardly a waste of time.

                      Quality of discourse would improve instantly if commenters would stop being too lazy to do some simple & fast fact checking and stick to these facts. Frankly, I couldn’t care less about the distance and/or time, but details are a good way of outing people who have a promiscuous relationship with facts & truth. Generally, those people make up all sorts of BS because they are ignorant and/or have an agenda (and lie about it, as unfaithful cheaters do).

                      For lazy point scoring there is SM and I won’t stand in your way.

                      Toodles.

                  • weston …
                    11 January 2023 at 9:53 pm

                    Good grief incog !! i can scarcely believe what im reading ,if you for ex are on one side of auckland and you have to get to the other an the kids go dad how long till we get to uncle dans ?you're gonna say oh an hour or so .If your fortunate enough to have someone cook you dinna an you say how long will it be ?most prob they're gonna say oh 20 mins or so This is commonly how we relate to each other in nz isnt it ??

                    As it happens incog i have done a lot of walking in my life .Once upon a time we all measured distance in miles and i found 30 miles was a fair distance to walk in a day ,occasionally i'd do more and a couple of times up to 45 .In those days 9miles would have been a doodle .Im pretty sure the walk times google puts out for various distances will be based on average times for average people under average conditions so i dont really understand why your getting so nit picky over something thats not finite ??Havnt you ever been tramping incog where you saw a sign that said up to the summit an back 1hr40mins but you just did it in 20 ? I think that would be pretty common if perhaps a bit adolescent maybe !

                    As for all the insinuations about "telling lies ""having an agenda",having a promiscuous relationship with facts and truth "and wierd stuff about "unfaithfull cheaters "??!!wtf !?

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      12 January 2023 at 8:25 am

                      Havnt you ever been tramping incog where you saw a sign that said up to the summit an back 1hr40mins but you just did it in 20 ?

                      Five times faster than the suggested tramping time? Not everyone's that fast – I'd hope such grossly inaccurate tramping advice would be corrected sooner or later.

                    • Incognito …
                      12 January 2023 at 1:53 pm

                      For accurate and informed comments about anything military I’d rather rely on commenters such as Scud (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11-01-2023/#comment-1929962) than on armchair generals hauled up in their concrete bubbles of ignorance who fire random shots in the dark such as you.

                      You confirm your bigotry by insinuating that you did a 100-min tramp in 20 min and stating “[you] think that would be pretty common”. You are insulting our intelligence with your lack of credibility and sloppiness. BTW, that’s quite a feat for someone who has smoked “for about 40 years” (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13-01-2018/#comment-1435560) although we should take this with a huge grain of salt too, obviously.

                      As to my ‘insinuations’, you poor reading comprehension shows that you don’t have what it takes to participate in robust debate, and the shoe(s) seems to fit you quite well. Well champ, why don’t you try upping your game?

              • alwyn …
                11 January 2023 at 7:15 pm

                You might not be able to walk that fast but fit, healthy competitive athletes could manage it.

                The World Record for the 20km race walk is currently 1 hour 16 minutes and 36 seconds. At that rate it should be possible to do 15 km in less than an hour.

                Putin probably believes that the Russian army is made up of supermen so he may see 15 km/hour as a fairly normal walking speed.

                Google is working the time out on the basis of normal people, like ourselves, but there are fitter individuals around.

                • Muttonbird …
                  11 January 2023 at 7:22 pm

                  As if by magic, Russian man walks 15km in less than an hour…

                  15 km 57:35+ Vladimir Stankin (RUS) 8 Feb 2004 Adler

                  https://athleticsweekly.com/stats/records/world-records-best-performances-mens-race-walking/

                • Incognito …
                  11 January 2023 at 7:43 pm

                  Alwyn, your name is not in the record table!? Were you disqualified for arguing about the colour of the starting line and derailing the race?

                  http://www.wellingtonmastersathletics.org.nz/rec/rec_20kmw.html

                • Scud …
                  11 January 2023 at 8:17 pm

                  Right I've had a enough of this fucking stupidity!!!

                  15 km in 2.5hrs is doable with full battle order ie Pack 45kg+ & your fighting order aka webbing which weighed 15 kg for Rifleman

                  Machine Gunner, Sig & Grenadier 25kg.

                  Why do I know this? It was a part of my SQN Battle Readiness Training Before our Live Fire Ex: 15km in Full Battle Order to be completed in 2.20hrs- 3hrs.

                  Assualt Cse

                  High Ropes

                  50m fireman's lift & 2 carry 2 jerry cans on the return leg.

                  Your Battle Order is meant to sustain you in Battle Order for 3 Days & your Fighting Order is meant to Sustain you for 24hrs in theory.

                  Soledar is just a pin prick on a bloody map & as some has mentioned the size of Fielding with similar terrain suitable for Defence in Depth funny enough for those who have actually visited Feilding and understand the principal's of Defence in Depth.

                  Is Soledar vital terrain?

                  No

                  Is Soledar vital to the defence Bakhmut no, because Ukraine can still out range out gun the Russians. Where as Russia Soledar to advance onto Bakhmut.

                  That 15 or so Km's as the crow flies between Soledar & Bakhmut is more likely to become one massive Ukrainian DFZ (Defensive Fire Zone) when the poor Russia Squaddie/ Baggie won't be able to take a piss let alone a dump as every piece of terrain, road network etc would be pre registered on the counter battery Fire computer/ maps.

                  In other words the longer Ukraine holds Soledar, it gives them more time prepare the next line of Defence & thence the mad scramble to get last of the civilian population & wounded out of Soledar before the Ukrainian Military HQ decides to DF the place.

                  That folks is Defensive Warfare at its Brutal & Bloodiest way.

                  Ukraine is sucking Russia into a massive Killing Ground. While preserving the bulk of Military Forces for the Spring & Summer Offensives unless Russia over extends themselves like they in the winter of 42/43 in Ukraine during WW2. Where Manstein open them like a can opener & hadn't not been for Hausser & his SS Corps disobedience, it would've got real ugly for the Russians.

                  • lprent …
                    12 January 2023 at 8:41 pm

                    Weston is a dimwitted unthinking blowhard who clearly has absolutely no idea about military loads – as scud correctly pointed out.

                    I did a battle efficency more than 45 years ago, and it is etched into my mind still. Walking with a military load is slow and very heavy. You're carrying rifle, ammo, food, webbing, and all of the usual night time gear.

                    In a combat zone, you also do it slowly. And that is if you have a road. As soon as you have farmland then the pace drops to about a tenth of the road walking speed – if you are lucky.

                    Of course it is faster if you have a vehicle. However in a combat zone these days that is a great target.

                    Scud – you forgot the rounds into the target after doing the jauntand then the fireman carry of somone your own weight with all of their kit and weapon. I missed half of my rounds because I was blurring out. Worst shooting I ever did with a rifle.

                    The BE was a real eye opener to me about the effects of exhaustion at age 18.

                    Weston: I find it interesting that the Kremlin itself is refuting the claims of the self-serving dipshit from Wagner who made the claims you are parroting. You really are a good candidate for a brudge sale. Credulous and rather stupid believer in propaganda.

                    • Scud …
                      13 January 2023 at 4:06 pm

                      My apologies, your memory is better than mine, yrs of to much Alcohol, sniffing various fumes incl CLP & god knows what else I've done to my body over the last 25+ yrs in uniform 🤣

                      Ah, the NZ Army had a range component which was what 25 or 50m with ex amount of rds on a fig 11 tgt. You certainly had to remember your 4 principals Marksmanship especially the breathing component as that was well in truly shithouse.

                      Thank God, we didn't have do that in the RAAF Ground Defence Mustering, mind you I would've traded the High Ropes for Range Shoot LoL. If there is one thing I hated, it was the high ropes as it totally pointless as the RAAF no longer operated Helicopters.

  2. Stephen D 2
    11 January 2023 at 2:14 pm

    They couldn’t take Palmerston North, so they went for Fielding!

    • Johnr 2.1
      11 January 2023 at 2:23 pm

      Ya wouldn't want to take Palmy. It's full of uni students. What the hell are you going to do with them. Be like herding cats.

  3. Incognito 3
    11 January 2023 at 2:47 pm

    Luxon and farmers’ fibs, but what does he know, as he used to run an airline? And he doesn’t care, anyway, because it feelz good when we/NZ are ranked at the top of the world even if it might not be entirely true and accurate (and temporary).

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-whole-truth/130789439/the-whole-truth-are-new-zealand-farms-the-worlds-greenest

  5. joe90 5
    11 January 2023 at 7:36 pm

    Ural contracts at a 50% discount will have the Kremlin packing.

    Russia’s flagship oil is selling at less than half international prices — and way below a Group of Seven imposed cap — following sanctions targeting the Kremlin’s revenue from petroleum sales.

    The nation’s Urals grade, a far bigger export stream than any other crude that Russia sells, was $37.80 a barrel at the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk on Friday, according to data provided by Argus Media. Global benchmark Brent settled at $78.57 on the same day.

    https://archive.li/iOwmL (Bloomberg}

    • lprent 5.1
      12 January 2023 at 8:57 pm

      Largely as a result of the insurance costs from what I have been reading in financial news.

      Shippers and customers are having to carry their own liability. That makes it costly to carry because the risks aren' t spread.

      The price is dropping accordingly to accommadate the extra cost. Of course anyone who does have cover one way or another will be creaming it. But they make themselves into people of interest.

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    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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days 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
    3 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
    14 hours 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
    20 hours 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
    21 hours 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
    23 hours 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
    23 hours 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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