Open mike 11/03/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 11th, 2024 - 59 comments
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59 comments on “Open mike 11/03/2024 ”

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  1. Gosman 1
    11 March 2024 at 9:02 am

    What I find curious about the Hurricane's womens team continuing to use their Haka before the game to make a political point is why noone in the media (that I am aware of) has raised the issue of them as employees abusing their roles. I know I have a contract that states I cannot act in a manner that brings the company I work with in to disrepute and I certainly cannot use my employers resources to make political statements. Doing so would lead to me being fired. Why should the Hurricane's woman team be able to do the same?

    • weka 1.1
      11 March 2024 at 9:18 am

      I haven't been following particularly closely, but I've seen this mentioned in the MSM (reporting what the CEO or whatever said).

    • David 1.2
      11 March 2024 at 9:19 am

      Probably for a number of reasons; they may not be seen as the average employee in the way that you or I would be seen as, when we work for a big corporation. Also, they are making political points about the government and it’s policies, in general they’re not being abusive or attacking individuals.

      Weather or not they should or shouldn’t be doing what they’re doing is between the players and their bosses.

      At the end of the day they are employed to play rugby and to win games. If they don’t win no one will take any notice.

      • Gosman 1.2.1
        11 March 2024 at 11:11 am

        Why are they not an average employee? They are paid to play the sport of Rugby Union. That is their job not to make political statements.

        • gsays 1.2.1.1
          11 March 2024 at 12:27 pm

          One key employment difference between elite sports folk and the rest of us is they are often told to 'express themselves'.

          Not being a wahine yaself I will leave their actions to them rather than heed your palangi concern.

          • Gosman 1.2.1.1.1
            11 March 2024 at 1:17 pm

            Seems like the Hurricane management might disagree with that position.

            • Drowsy M. Kram 1.2.1.1.1.1
              11 March 2024 at 2:31 pm

              And at least one former co-owner of the Hurricanes might agree with you smiley

              Hurricanes director Troy Bowker to exit franchise after firestorm over race comments [14 Aug 2021]
              Bowker this week accused Taylor on LinkedIn of "sucking up to the left Māori agenda" for supporting the name Aotearoa.

              He also sent obscenity-laced responses to people who hit out at his comments.

              Bowker had the ear of Stuart Nash during his time as a Minister in Cabinet.

            • gsays 1.2.1.1.1.2
              11 March 2024 at 4:52 pm

              Yep, not surprising, more palangi uncomfortable with some bolshie, assertive wahine Maori.

              Edit; if Winston’s getting snickerty then they are probably on the right track.

        • David 1.2.1.2
          11 March 2024 at 4:09 pm

          What I mean in this case? As part of a sport team they have a public higher profile than you or I, and a lot more people will have an opinion one way or the other which also attracts a lot of media attention. So the team management needs to handle with a lot of consideration.

          But you are right, there job is to play rugby, & to win, as well as associated stuff professional sports players do. For many, many reasons political activism should not be one of them while they are on the rugby field.

        • mikesh 1.2.1.3
          11 March 2024 at 5:21 pm

          It is not against the law to make political statements. Your employer should pull his bloody head in and mind his own business.

          • Dawn Trenberth 1.2.1.3.1
            11 March 2024 at 8:06 pm

            I would agree with you here. I make political statements in my own time. When I am on the company time wearing their badge I dont and do my job.

        • Mike the Lefty 1.2.1.4
          11 March 2024 at 6:28 pm

          Oh yes the old keep politics out of sports argument!

          Sport and politics have been one for many many years Gosman, whether you recognise it or not.

          Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Fifa World Cup just three examples where politics runs the show.

      • aj 1.2.2
        11 March 2024 at 12:37 pm

        Who says they are acting in a manner that brings the company into disrepute?

    • joe90 1.3
      11 March 2024 at 9:54 am

      Folau was instructed by his employer to desist. He didn't, so he was given the arse for failing to obey a lawful instruction by his employer.

      • Gosman 1.3.1
        11 March 2024 at 1:11 pm

        Kind of like how the Hurricanes had a word with the team to advise them not to do it and they then went ahead and did it again.

    • AB 1.4
      11 March 2024 at 10:49 am

      Maybe it's so obvious that their behaviour may run foul of their employment contract, that it doesn't need mentioning? I'm sure the Hurricanes management have been going over that ground right from the start. The difficulty is that their calculation is a bit more complex than if it was you doing the same. Your job (presumably) does not involve entertaining a diverse public, or require the support of sponsors and advertisers.

      In the Hurricanes case, the contract may or may not be enforced based on which better serves the interests of the organisation. It is purely a matter of which option alienates more people and causes (or risks) more financial damage – censuring and shutting the players up, or allowing them to keep doing it. So the usual imperial power of employers over employees (which you appear to relish) is somewhat weakened in this case by the public nature of the work.

      • SPC 1.4.1
        11 March 2024 at 4:14 pm

        Doing the haka is part of team culture, they each have their own.

        No individual contract is involved, as per the haka.

      • Mikey 1.4.2
        11 March 2024 at 7:27 pm

        I don't know why they are making a fuss, as I'm sure they give no credence to anything said or written in Maori.

    • SPC 1.5
      11 March 2024 at 4:09 pm

      Keep up with the story if commenting on it.

      Hurricanes administators have denied the Poua's latest haka is criticising the government and say people have misconstrued the challenge.

      What he means politicians gotta be politicians and misrepresent things to play their culture war games.

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2024/03/rugby-hurricanes-poua-say-latest-haka-has-been-misconstrued-as-political-attack.html

    • randal mcmurphy 1.6
      11 March 2024 at 9:34 pm

      first nd foremost they are a sportspeople and contract schmontract. they are in the public arena and and if they cant strut their stuff then I would tear it up. We supposedly have free speech but when anybody exercises that right then those on the receiving end spit the dummy. good! Go the HUrricanes!

    • Descendant Of Smith 1.7
      11 March 2024 at 9:41 pm

      Can't see that they are bringing their employer into disrepute.

      Seems to me they are doing exactly the opposite. Enhancing the mana of their employer. Noting of course Hurricanes management approved the second haka.

      This of course has been well-reported but you choose to ignore it.

      Bloody right-wingers and their fascist cancel culture.

  2. Adrian 2
    11 March 2024 at 9:06 am

    You are working for the wrong bunch of arseholes. You have your own mind they are not supposed to own it.

    • Gosman 2.1
      11 March 2024 at 9:14 am

      They are entitled to have the view (and act on it) that on work time and on work resources they should have a say in what I communicate to the wider public expecially if I am using my position as an employee to get a larger audience and make a bigger impact.

      What were your thoughts on the Australian Rugby Union sacking Israel Folau for posting hist personal religious beliefs around homosexuality on his personal Twitter feed? Did you think they had no right to do so?

      • Adrian 2.1.1
        11 March 2024 at 9:39 am

        It wasn't his homosexual beliefs as I recall, but the comments along the lines of them not deserving to live.

        • Gosman 2.1.1.1
          11 March 2024 at 11:14 am

          He didn't state that. He merely stated a commonly held view by MANY religious people that Homosexuals will go to Hell. It isn't very nice admittedly but it is his strongly held conviction which he expressed in a personal capacity not while he was doing something in his role as a ARU player.

          • mac1 2.1.1.1.1
            11 March 2024 at 11:52 am

            What gets me about 'celebrities' be they film stars, musicians, sports people, media, billionaires or gentry is why us ordinary folk should pay them any attention except acknowledge their work and knowledge in their field of expertise.

            It shouldn't be an issue with the general public as to what Israel Folau believes.

            For me what the issues are why I am actually getting these opinions, that in my view the mistaken belief of such celebrities exists that they can wisely and usefully broadcast their opinions beyond that expertise and thirdly the role of the media in facilitating that.

            • SPC 2.1.1.1.1.1
              11 March 2024 at 4:17 pm

              We all have opinions and express them, it is just that celebrities get photographed when out and about and have their opinions reported to us.

              This happens whether they are activist about their "causes" or not.

          • SPC 2.1.1.1.2
            11 March 2024 at 4:32 pm

            After this happened in the past he signed a new contract that made reference to his having obligation to his employer – as to their position on inclusivity in the game.

  3. Descendant Of Smith 3
    11 March 2024 at 9:07 am

    Privatisation continues unabated. Not revenue gathering but expected to triple the number of tickets. An oxymoron surely.

    Private operators, instead of police, will run mobile speed cameras on highways nationwide for the first time.

    Waka Kotahi/New Zealand Transport Agency put out a tender a week ago to run the country's 45 mobile cameras from next year.

    It said the provider that won the contract would not issue speeding tickets or get bonuses for pinging more drivers.

    Waka Kotahi would have responsibility for processing the images and issuing fines, as well as deciding where and when the cameras would be placed.

    Bidders must show they can meet future requirements, "which could include point-to-point mobile operations", the tender said."

    The agency has previously estimated the whole system upgrade will triple the number of camera-issued tickets to three million a year by 2030, and increase prosecutions to around 3300.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350207818/private-operators-instead-police-run-mobile-speed-cameras-first-time

    • AB 3.1
      11 March 2024 at 1:29 pm

      Heh. I can recall a workplace where all the middle-aged mostly conservative dudes who enjoyed a bit of polite speeding now and again (nothing outrageous, just the habitual seeking to gain an advantage over others on the road and everywhere else) complained about speed cameras. They said the Police were guilty of revenue gathering.

      Now they will get to experience what revenue gathering really looks like, all courtesy of a government they almost certainly voted for. Poetic justice perhaps.

  4. weka 4
    11 March 2024 at 10:07 am

    GB News special on the WPATH files.

    On tonight’s episode of Free Speech Nation, I’ll be delving into the WPATH files: leaked documents from the world’s leading authority on transgender health. I’ll be speaking to a range of expert guests to discuss the explosive revelations, including:

    Michael Shellenberger and Mia Hughes on the leaked materials

    Helen Joyce on WPATH’s global influence (18m 40)

    Stella O’Malley on the victims of WPATH

    Dr Carrie Mendoza on clinical malpractice

    Robin Moira White on gender-affirming care

    Genevieve Gluck on her previous exposés on WPATH

    Dr Az Hakeem on WPATH’s influence on the NHS

    Ritchie Herron on the experience of detransitioning

    Fiona McAnena on software systems used in NHS trusts originating from WPATH

    Neale Hanvey MP on the political implications of the WPATH Files

    https://twitter.com/andrewdoyle_com/status/1766866028598841467

    Full episode here,

    https://youtu.be/KRMI2UjaIfI?t=195

  5. joe90 5
    11 March 2024 at 10:19 am

    Pricks.

    .

    @Adam_Currie_NZ

    Whaikaha (Disability Ministry) is reducing (the already underwhelming) services for wheelchair users, after the government slashed their budget by 7.5%. The Minister is refusing to comment or be accountable for this. Outrageous. Shame on this government.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350205198/disability-ministry-reduces-wheelchair-services-due-cost

    https://twitter.com/Adam_Currie_NZ/status/1766863890485309560

    • Patricia Bremner 5.1
      11 March 2024 at 11:10 am

      Yes Joe90, I feel for Rolling on gravel and Kay, this is symptomatic of the coming budget and the disabled will suffer.

  6. Patricia Bremner 6
    11 March 2024 at 1:42 pm

    If this Government is going to get precious about every piece of fight back, they are going to be busy and mouthy.

    They will burn up any capital with those swing voters as their fast tracking undermines NZ Law and gets many more groups riled. imo.

    Let's change Winstone's moan of "Go Woke Go Broke"

    to "Be Awake for All our sakes."

  7. joe90 7
    11 March 2024 at 3:18 pm

    Not fit to be lived in…

    /

    Premier House has received more than $95,000 in upgrades since Christopher Luxon came to power, including fresh paint for its bedrooms, new bedding and kitchen appliances, and a Sky television connection.

    […]

    New details of the maintenance work that has been keeping Luxon from relocating show that, since he took office, there has been $9832 spent on readying the property for the new prime minister, and $85,673 spent on “deferred repairs and maintenance work”.

    Among the costs related to the incoming prime minister were $4887.50 for new mattresses for the master bedroom and for a twin room, which also had $690.30 spent on it for new linen.

    In the kitchen, $326.98 was spent on a new toaster, kettle and knife set, $220.50 on replacing a microwave, and $45.98 for tea towels.

    There was $231.99 spent removing a child safety barrier on a staircase ‒ the prior occupant was Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who lived there with her young child, Neve.

    A Sky television connection was reinstated at a cost of $125.

    https://archive.li/tzQ2s (thepress)

    • Nic the NZer 7.1
      11 March 2024 at 3:51 pm

      Before this story goes away Christopher will be forced to take up residence in premier house. Should probably get started on renting out his existing Wellington residence ASAP in order not to be seen to be maintaining a vacant property when that happens.

      • joe90 7.1.1
        11 March 2024 at 4:00 pm

        If he folds on this, the chipping is working. And if we keep chipping, I reckon he'll flag it and go back to his nice, rich prick, life.

      • Phillip ure 7.1.2
        11 March 2024 at 9:45 pm

        I think it calls for a reality show..

        The travails of the luxon brood..as they suffer the indignities and hardships/slumming of living in premier house..

        (..which I will bet is better than the seven rentals he owns..)

        .. it's kinda fascinating how luxon is presenting as such a grifter..

        • Descendant Of Smith 7.1.2.1
          11 March 2024 at 9:49 pm

          Among the costs related to the incoming prime minister were $4887.50 for new mattresses for the master bedroom

          Must be difficult to sleep on the existing mattress that baby Neve may have been conceived on. Those terrible thoughts that might have haunted his dreams.

    • veutoviper 7.2
      12 March 2024 at 10:29 am

      I wonder how much of the $95,000 spent to date since "Christopher Luxon came to power" was to enable Luxon and his 25 family members to use Premier House for several days for their 2023 Christmas bash?

      Although it has been reported that "Luxon covered all the costs of the Christmas Day bash himself" this presumably did not include new mattresses, kitchen appliances, painting of bedrooms etc included in the "$9832 spent on readying the property for the new prime minister, and $85,673 spent on “deferred repairs and maintenance work” making up the $95,000.

      The Press article does not mention this Luxon Christmas "bash" at Premier House but this has been widely reported elsewhere in the media. Other reports of this bash include:

      https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/07/luxon-hosted-christmas-at-premier-house/

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350203582/premier-house-suitable-big-luxon-family-xmas-bash

      And why use Premier House when the Luxon home in Auckland was obviously well set up for Christmas according to this very detailed (and over the top imho) Now To Love article in Dec 2023:

      https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/christmas-with-christopher-luxon-and-family-48048/

      "And Christmas has certainly arrived at the couple’s stunning home, with a beautiful three-metre tall tree taking pride of place in the dining room. Underneath sits a pile of gifts beautifully wrapped in white and gold."

      Rant now over – !!!!

  8. joe90 8
    11 March 2024 at 4:01 pm

    Well done and congrats on the win, Australia.

    • SPC 8.1
      11 March 2024 at 4:34 pm

      Tim Paine of Tasmania notes that the Oz captain stole a century from Bishop Carey, hell has a place for keeping those who mess with those of their union.

  9. Reality 9
    11 March 2024 at 4:41 pm

    A question. If the women rugby players had twice performed a haka that on translation was full of praise for this new government – would Gosman, Winston Peters and whoever else, be objecting? We could see a scenario of Luxon heading to one of their games for a photo and handshake.

  10. SPC 10
    11 March 2024 at 4:56 pm

    It's becoming clear that Simeon Brown has made Auckland an unsafe place for those on E scooters and bikes.

    First Bishop, then Bridges and now Seymour. Surely it is no coincidence.

    And with an increase in speed allowed and the removal of speed bumps, this is likely to occur again and again. Especially with the increase in PT cost.

    And then with the new roads going through suburbs that the heavy trucks can use (reducing congestion on existing roads allows them to travel at the speed limit), those in cars will also be at greater risk also.

    LA Confidential – appointees neutral or freindly.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/03/former-national-leader-and-transport-minister-simon-bridges-appointed-top-new-zealand-transport-agency-role.html

    LA All Clear.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/03/advocates-attack-removal-of-climate-change-from-government-s-draft-transport-policy.html

  11. joe90 11
    11 March 2024 at 6:56 pm

    But you are a trust fund baby, Dave.

    .

    .

    ACT Party leader David Seymour had a near escape after falling off an electric bike on Sunday.

    On top of the scary moment, Seymour said he received abuse while lying dazed on the road.

    […]

    Seymour said he wasn't injured besides being in shock and a sore wrist, but revealed the abuse he received while sitting on a traffic island.

    "While I'm sitting on the traffic island in a state of shock, some guy comes over and starts filming me. I thought 'that's a bit weird' and then he says in a British accent 'you know what, sometimes you get exactly what you deserve'," Seymour told Newshub.

    "He then said 'look what you're doing to Māori, you're just a trust fund baby who's out of touch with reality'.

    "I thought 'I am Māori, and I don't have a trust fund'."

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/03/act-party-leader-david-seymour-crashes-electric-bike-in-parnell-auckland.html

  12. randal mcmurphy 12
    11 March 2024 at 9:37 pm

    memo to big Marky Mitchell. when are you going to do something about the latest cohort of little shits with their loud cars passively aggressively assaulting the rest of us with their noise?

    oh that's right. the people who buy noise bombs for their little darlings mostly vote national!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

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

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

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

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

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
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