Open mike 12/01/2020

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 12th, 2020 - 43 comments
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43 comments on “Open mike 12/01/2020 ”

    • Let's now hope that the Australian electorate is waking up to the reality.

      AND the Koiwoi electorate is also waking up to the reality (that we've never been treated as "little brothers" should be since the 70s, and certainly not since we all drank the neo-liberal coolaid.

      – I notice the Australians are now referring to us as brothers rather than cuzzies (in the nature of all that "ANZAC" spirit and recent history – the Tampa et al)

      – You won't hear too much of Australian "queue jumpers" or "economic refugees" in the months to come. (Apparently they're 'special')

      -ScoMo will be downplaying his pentecostilism and exceptionalism (check out The Conversation piece)

      If it wasn't fact that Australian electorate has been subjected to a complete load of kaka from its political class; its first people who are casualities once again; and its wildlife – again, casualties I'd be inclined to just leave them all to it. They could serve as an example to the rest of the Whurl – along with Mr Bolsenaro

      Thank whatever Your Lord is I gave up an Okker passport years ago. Apparently I'm supposed to feel sympathy for what's going on. I'll try – but there'll be a pecking order to it. I can't honestly say ScoMo, or Dutton, or most of the bullshit artists on SkoiNewsStraya and their enterage of hangers-on – Richo et al included – are gunna figure high on the list

    • A 1.2

      Does that mean they don't get the same level of ACC? (Im assuming the level of pay is lower due to fighter fighting and time off work, so that's 80% of an already reduced wage)

      I know they are still covered.

    • Ad 2.1

      This coalition government ruled out taxing water mining from the start.

      • Sabine 2.1.1

        can you elaborate?

        • Ad 2.1.1.1

          Labour had proposed putting a tax on water mining in their 2017 manifesto; on October 25 2017 Ardern was clear that NZFirst had not wanted that to be in the coalition agreement, so it was ruled out.

          • Sabine 2.1.1.1.1

            hm, so its ok for the chinese/or any other ocmpany to bottle the water – creating huge waste in plastic, so as long as we tax them?

            I agree with Winston then. We can't drink money and we should not give a way permits for very little money to overseas companies to bottle it – in plastic to boot – to export it.

            That would be missing the point totally, but it kind of would whitewash the fact that we are loosing a resource that we need to live, for a little tax gain.

            What was Winstons reason for refusing to along with this little scheme?

            • A 2.1.1.1.1.1

              Oh please let it be because NZF thinks NO water should be exported. Overseas govts should ensure their own supply is properly managed/distributed instead of assuming they can.purchase from NZ.

              Nothing riles me more than the water issue.

              • Sabine

                what was Winston Peters reasoning? seriously? you could have stated it, after all you had no reason stating that he opposed taxing.

                And frankly he is rigth on that – irrespective of anyting. We should never have given the right to the water away in the first place. Certainly not for a hardboiled egg on white toast in the second place. And taxing a cent or two on a liter is not gonna make anything better, but it appears as doing something i get it.

                So i have no idea what his reasoning is/was you never linked to a comment of his that would allow us to know why. But yeah, me too, i am in the bucket of don't sell the water rights then you dont' have to tax water mining. Keep it in the Ground is what i say.

                • Graeme

                  From my recollection NZF opposed, not sure if that's the right word, a tax on bottled water exports because it would have pre-empted any solution to Treaty issues around water custodianship and would have created a precedent to usage charges or taxes on other water usage.

                  A huge writhing can of worms that's going to be a thorn in our side for a long time, on many, many levels.

                  In situations like this consent authorities should be required to effectively require a new consent application with a change of ownership or use. Sort of happens with most authorities now but can be easily staged to 'get it through'. Consents are granted to specific entities (persons or companies) for specific purposes, so there's conditions to be met on transfer or change, but if the effect is minor, and in most cases it would be nil, then there's little scrutiny.

                  • Sabine

                    that is what i assumed.

                    that by taxing the mining output they would condone the selling of rights to others while we sill have not yet fleshed out the rights under the treaty.

  1. Incognito 3

    Ross, stop testing and respond to your moderation, thanks.

  2. Sacha 4

    Confused letter-writer to the Harold whose grandparents owned a few houses in the central suburbs says we should not talk about class thank you very much: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12299658

    In last weekend's Herald on Sunday, in the article written by Catherine Masters, OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan states: "Ponsonby and Grey Lynn had gone from down-at-heel working class and bohemian suburbs to … ".

    I really do take offence at that statement, as I was brought up in Norfolk St, Ponsonby, in a house exactly like those shown in the article's photograph. Our house, owned by my grandparents, was a well-kept and tidy property with a lovely garden and mown lawns. Both my parents were teachers with my mother being the infant mistress at an Auckland school. The neighbours all had nice properties and far from being "down-at-heel", all had jobs of various kinds. My Auntie Jean, who was a registered nurse, lived in the next street in a house also owned by my grandparents.

    Class distinction has never had any place in Aotearoa, and I really wish that all media personnel would remove the words "working class", "middle class", etc, from their vocabulary.
    James Cameron, Howick

  3. adam 5

    When is the line crossed? When they eat babies live on air seems to be the new standard. I don't need someone from the 'defence' industry to tell me killing and trump are cool.

    https://theintercept.com/2020/01/06/iran-suleimani-tv-pundits-weapons-industry/

    • aom 5.1

      Thank you for the link adam. One interesting quote was that of the former head honcho (or is it headcase) of Homeland Security who said “General Suleimani was a lawful military objective and the president, under his constitutional authority as commander in chief, had ample domestic legal authority to take him out without an additional congressional authorization.” In saying that, how would he regard the concept of the murder of the Commander-in-Chief of the US military being a 'lawful military objective' for assassination while in an foreign country on a peace mission.

      • Sabine 5.1.1

        ahhh, when the Constitution is being called unconstitutional by the right cause its inconvenient that they lost the Congress to the Democrats and according to that unconstitutional Constitution the power to declare war lays with Congress.

        Darn those founding fathers, did they not know that the orange menace is a locust send from God.

  4. aom 6

    It's a bit steep to be involved in political activities then expect there to be no consequences: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/407134/uk-ambassador-to-iran-arrested-in-tehran-protest. Johnson should make take a moral stance and recall the ambassador immediately!

  5. Ad 7

    Slack's column is precisely about Australia and telling them what to do.

    He starts with an illustration from Australian media for Australian viewers about Australia.

    He then complains about Australian bush fires affecting our air colour.

    He then complains about Australian media ownership.

    He then has a general rant with the same accuracy as Rolf Harris with a roller trying to re-do the Sistene Chapel.

    His article cites no policy or activist response to climate change in New Zealand.

    He's just having an abstract rant, with no quality in it and will change no one's minds at all.

    Your post builds on top of that, and has added no facts, no policy framework, no examples, and complains that things should go faster.

    Well top work on that Weka for advancing nothing.

    Anyone would think we hadn't spent the last year as a government generating one of the most comprehensive responses to climate change in the world. Do something useful and engage on that. It's fresh legislation and framework, and in fact there's still secondary bits undergoing Parliamentary scrutiny right now.

    As for whining about the business owning class being the only people who think about money as an organizing principle in their lives, that's just weak thinking.

    [as far as I can tell you’re the one doing the whining mate. If you can’t engage constructively with my writing, or make an attempt to understand what I am saying (rather than reacting to your perception), or if you just want to shit on things, then stay out of commenting under this post – weka]

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

    • Anne 7.1

      You, Ad obviously have no comprehension of David Slack's particularly clever style of writing. He's brilliant the way he can meld humour, truth and an ability to sheath home reality without being too bombastic about it.

      Your interpretation of his words only highlights your lack of ability to appreciate the work of others. What's your problem? Are you jealous?

  6. joe90 8

    Sobering documentary The Black Man’s Land Trilogy from the early 1970s.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hge-VqoYEEw&feature=youtu.be

    Mau Mau,

    Kenyatta

  7. Jenny How to get there 9

    [Deleted]

    [I let this one comment through so that I can respond to your comments that ended in Trash in order to get closure on this sorry saga.

    I asked you to respond to the Moderation note, not to simply say that you had seen it. The point is that you show you understand and accept the instructional note. You have not done this, so far, and this is keeping you in Moderation. You cannot litigate your way out of Moderation and spamming the Trash folder is a sure way of staying in Moderation.

    You are a prolific commenter and reply under many posts to many comments. Obviously, because you were in Moderation, they all ended in Trash.

    I have been trying several times to get your attention yet somehow (????), you seem to have missed all or simply ignored them. If you had read them, you would have seen my reasoning and explanation, to and for you, and what you need to do to regain your commenting privilege on this site.

    As to your comments in general, I view you as a rigid commenter who thinks she’s always right and refuses to listen, be it to other commenters or Moderators. You don’t seem to pay much attention to replies and you don’t even realise that your comments don’t get through – otherwise, why do it? In short, you often seem disconnected and disengaged from the wider TS community.

    I couldn’t care less whether you comment here or not but in all fairness, it is not up to me to ‘curate’ the commentary here, and I want to give you a fair chance to be able to continue commenting here. Whether you appreciate that is a moot point for me; I don’t expect any thanks – being a Moderator is a thankless task most of the times 🙁

    So, here is your chance to sort things out in your favour or blow it.

    Your move – Incognito]

    • Incognito 9.1

      See my Moderation note @ 4:47 PM.

    • Jenny How to get there 9.2

      [Deleted]

      [WTF!?

      This is another example of one of your replies, this one to yourself again, that has absolutely no bearing to the comment you are replying to, not to the original content that I deleted (I’ve kept a copy) nor to the Moderation with which I replaced it.

      What on Earth do you think you are doing??

      The only thing you need to do right now is to respond to your Moderation – Incognito]

  8. adam 10

    "They later called for more backup as the house was larger than your average state-house drug lab. I got the impression that they'd never had to raid a middle-class suburban house like mine before."

    What is wrong with herald – oh that right it's a mouthpiece for idiots.

    Big ups to the NZ police targeting people who actually have a track record of mass shooting.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12299600

  9. Barfly 11

    Advice asked for

    A middle aged man and a teenage woman begging for money outside Countdown Mount Eden "our van and all our possessions have been stolen" heartrending ..except that 6 months ago it was the same people with the same sign that i gave money to..now i survive on a benefit but i was "touched" by their "plight" now i find myself so fucking angry with them because they are scammers…I am not snow white..but because these people happily take money from those who struggle…i am fukkin ropeable….how do i let this go…they will be there again lying to and conning all and sundry…I don't know what to do…please help.

    • I feel love 11.1

      Sorry you feel like that Barfly, that's quite understandable. All I can suggest is just ignore them, live and let live etc.

    • mac1 11.2

      I understand your anger. In Venice I saw a twisted man sitting on a little cushion soliciting donations. He was heartbreakingly malformed. Earlier I saw a young woman with a baby outside the Domo. Both looked very sad with their condition.

      Later I saw the young woman walking through the crowd to resume her station, The baby was a doll. When she sat down she resumed her sadness.

      The twisted man I saw later again in a calle walking normally down the way counting the notes of the cash he had been given by the gullible. On his back was the little cushion which had been made into a seat that could be worn as a backpack.

      In Paris later again I saw a man dragging his body along the West bank of the Seine. I immediately assumed he was another scammer ……… until I saw a stall owner go across to him and throw him some offering. Then I presumed the stall owner was wise enough in Parisian street life to know who the scammers were.

      I was happy to donate to that beggar.

      On reflection Christ said that we should give to all who solicit.

      I have looked it up on Google and found the following. Thanks, Barfly, for your challenge.

      "Christ tells us simply: “Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42)

      He tells us to lend and to expect nothing in return. He does not say “give to everyone who you judge to be worthy” or “give to everyone who really needs it and will spend the money well” but simply “give to everyone who begs from you”. If we only lend to get the good feeling of knowing that we’ve helped somebody, are we not being like the hypocrites who give alms to get the praises of men. Even if we only do it to get praise from our own conscience, that’s a form of hypocrisy. Give to all who beg from you, because our Lord says so.

      At the same time, talk to these people, show them kindness, often that’s what’s needed more than money. As some posters have already said, some people can make a lot of money by begging, but throwing money at them does not in itself validate them as people, human contact is often much more important.

      Having worked with the homeless, the reason many of them can’t get out of the cycle is that they don’t know what to do. Many of them have been raised in institutions and spent a long time in prison or juvenile hall. When they get out, they spend their time in soup kitchens and hostels, so when they do get an apartment to themselves, they don’t know what to do with it. That’s why many of them go back to the streets, it’s what they know and it’s where their friends are. The help we can give by talking, sharing the gospel, maybe getting to know where the labour exchanges and hostels and charity shelters are in our town so we can direct them to someone who can help, is worth far more than a few coins thrown into a hat."

      https://forums.catholic.com/t/beggars-on-the-street/76490/5

      For what it's worth…………

  10. Jenny How to get there 12

    It would be the mark of a real leader if Scott Morrison called a press conference to officially distance himself and his government from the dangerous misinformation that is being spread on the net about the cause of these fires.

    Only he can kill these false accusations and lies targeting environmentalists as the cause of these fires.

    Disinformation and lies are spreading faster than Australia's bushfires

    Christopher Knaus, The Guardian, Sat 11 Jan 2020

    ….Two pieces of disinformation stand out from the rest: that an “arson emergency”, rather than climate change, is behind the bushfires, and that “greenies” are preventing firefighters from reducing fuel loads in the Australian bush.

    Disinformation has spread across social media, finding its way into major news outlets, the mouths of government MPs, and across the globe to Donald Trump Jr and prominent right-wing conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones….

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/12/disinformation-and-lies-are-spreading-faster-than-australias-bushfires

    It is way past time that the Prime Minister of Australia went on the air to put the record straight.

  11. Eco maori 13

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    That's is cool Moreki yellow eyed penguins being taken into a sanctuary to raise them safely.

    More storms raging in America it show how strong Tawhirimate is with warmer temperatures.

    Ka kite Ano

  12. Eco maori 14

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    That's was lucky Te pepi didn't get hurt in the bus crash in Tamiki Makaru.

    Waka ama 2020 look Awsome at lake Karapiro heaps of tangata and tamariki to Ka pai.

    Ka kite Ano.

  13. Eco 15

    Here is our world's reality the 00.1 % are cheating the 99.9 % and making out they are honest.

    https://youtu.be/np_ylvc8Zj8

  14. Eco maori 16

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    That's awesome Pharmac funding more breast cancer drugs.

    Wow a fire in a diesel bus in Wellington all Aotearoa buses need to be changed to electric buses ASAP.

    People usually have a middlife crisis when there nest emptied.???.

    Ka kite Ano

  15. Eco maori 17

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    Ka pai to the Peace Wahine.

    That is cool disabled tamariki funfess the tamariki would have had a great time in Tamiki Makaru.

    Ka kite Ano

  16. Eco maori 18

    This is a good thing a CEO of a trillion dollar investment fund is smelling the reality of the investor climate change global warming is all OUR Reality. I could literally smell our climate burning last week.

    Climate change to drive 'massive' investment shift

    Concerns about climate change will drive a "fundamental reshaping of finance", one of the world's biggest money managers has said.

    Larry Fink, who runs BlackRock, said the shift will happen "sooner than most anticipate".

    His company has announced "sustainable" versions of its traditional investment options to meet demand from clients.

    It has also said it would push firms to disclose more about a range of issues, including climate commitments.

    While markets have been slow to reflect the worries about climate change, Mr Fink said the corporate world is now catching up.

    "Awareness is rapidly changing, and I believe we are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance," he wrote in an annual letter to chief executives.

    "In the near future – and sooner than most anticipate – there will be a significant reallocation of capital."

    In a letter to clients, BlackRock – which manages nearly $7tn in assets – said it was taking a number of steps to respond to the investment risks linked to climate change.

    In addition to the sustainable funds, it said its investors would be able to screen their portfolios for certain sectors.

    Mr Fink's letter puts a spotlight on a growing trend among investors who worry about the industries they are funding.

    Investments in some "sustainable" funds jumped to $20bn in 2019, nearly four times the previous year's record, according to data from Morningstar.

    In the US, assets managed with sustainable investing strategies now represent more than a quarter of all investment assets under professional management

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/business-51111727

  17. Eco maori 19

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    Discrimination means that question is yes Andrew.

    That's sad a Albatross crook most likely plastic poised . Recycling is not the main way to solve our plastic waste problem making huge effort to eliminate the use of plastic packaging is needed.

    New treatment of type 2 diabetes is great its a big problem for Māori and Pacific tangata.

    Cool medical manuka honey used to treat animals caught in the Bush fires.

    Ka kite Ano

  18. Eco maori 20

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    That's is cool Rangitane Iwi wildlife reserve we need more reserves around Aotearoa.

    That's farming working with the environment not against her.

    Wakarma is going great.

    Ka kite Ano

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    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
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    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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