Open mike 12/09/2024
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6:00 am, September 12th, 2024 - 48 comments
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- Love, happiness, blur
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...4 hours ago - All I Want For Christmas
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...11 hours ago - The 1 Good Thing Left In Journalism
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...15 hours ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Monday, December 23
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...15 hours ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...1 day ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...1 day ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
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- As Our Power Lessens: Published
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The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
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The government published its first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is missing any plan to actually meet our target. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...3 days ago
- Economic Bulletin December 2024
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- ZB’s Power Couple
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...3 days ago - Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991
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- Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024
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The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...4 days ago
- The baby-boomers’ last gasp
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...4 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...4 days ago
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Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...4 days ago - Christmas Gifts: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
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Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...4 days ago
- Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...4 days ago - MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
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- December-24 AT Board Meeting
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Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...6 days ago - It could have been worse
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...6 days ago
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The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...6 days ago - Willis’ austerity strategy just isn’t working
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...6 days ago
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- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...7 days ago
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And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...1 week ago - A Lipstick Government
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...1 week ago
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
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It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...4 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
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The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...6 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...6 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
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Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
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The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
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All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...7 days ago
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The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...1 week ago
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The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...1 week ago
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The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...1 week ago
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The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
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New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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David Seymour really is a flea. On RNZ this morning he attacked unions and gloated about sinking Fair Pay Agreements. The NZCTU economists cost analysis has got under his skin that's for sure.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018955219/david-seymour-dismisses-costs-of-progressing-treaty-principles-bill
David Seymore still doesn't have the guts to be interviewed (live or not) by the hosts of Morning report. Cowardly little git.
Why would he its a given that it would be somewhat hostile and RNZ is hardly his target audience. No different than Jacinda not doing the slot on Newstalk with Hosking
See my reply at 1.1.2.1 Preaching to the friendly choir is not the point.
But Hoskins says he isn't a journalist. Isn't that his schtick? I think politicians can say "yay" or "nay" to being interviewed by entertainers.
I did think Ben Strang, went well in interviewing Seymour.
Pushed back firmer and more effectively than I Hipkiss manages.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/527744/extremely-conservative-estimate-suggests-4m-cost-to-progress-treaty-principles-bill
Ben Strang did fine. But I do object to any Minister of any stripe being able to pick and choose who they are interviewed by. They're only there because of the voters, so they are obligated to defend their policies to ALL the voters, not just with media who they think is going to give them an easy ride, or an audience who might 'feel' hostile.
I agree.
I also think he would be receiving the similar levels of passionate push back as our previous PM.
Which made her decision not to appear on Hiskings show a recent precedent.
Agree gsays….Strang stuck to his guns….Hipkiss seldom does thus…though there have been a couple of interviews where she was a little better recently.
Seymour will be wetting his pants over the Treaty Bill, he ACT and SirAllan Gibbs will be over the moon they are getting these Maori Issues aired in Public muddying the waters on all the dirty land deals the Europeans have been involved in since the signing of the TOW.
Seymour's a strange one, but he's not stupid – follow the money.
Weak gutted little worm IMHO. All piss and wind.
Will be interesting how much it will all cost along with Sir Simeon’s Bill to have a vote on the Maori Ward’s, these guys really want to put Maaori’s back in the gutter. Meanwhile the gutless Baldrick let’s his children run wild?
Stealmore the .000000001 % fake "Maori " is doing Luxons dirty work for him.
The Treaty claims process granted every Maori 25 cents per week for life.
Every White person is required to pay 5 cents per week toward this settlement.
Now Stealmore wants a discussion about the excess pay out to Maori and the
crushing impost White people are reeling under.
Its just not fair says Stealmore.
Stealmore believes a pay out of 5 cents per week is appropriate for Maori as a
consequence of the White invasion , the murder of thousands of innocent Maori
Men, Women and Children, the blatent theft of millions of hectares of land
the flagrant defaulting on the Treaty Principles for 150 years
and for a 150 years of deliberate ethnic cleansing.
Stealmore believes for such minor errors White peoples should be taxed no more
than 1 cent per week and with the ryder that White people earning under 300k per
week should be exempt,
Oh, so it's now legitimate to discuss blood quantum? Really, you want to start that debate?
@Belladonna.
Its legitimate to discuss the White British invasion,
the White British mass murder of innocent Maori men women and children
the theft of millions of acres of land and resources, flagrant abuses of the Treaty Principles and ethnic cleansing for a 150 years.
Start a debate on these points when ever your ready.
That is not, however, how you started. Want to revise your intro?
It's probably relevant in seymours case due to the fact that he will use it as a shield to be a shit stirring little twerp.
So we are therefore able to discount other Maori based on their 'blood quantum'? It's a stupid point to legitimate.
Who, or what is Stealmore?
Māori Wards extend local democracy, and increase participation of a group that largely avoided District Council affairs like the plague–and who could blame them, white coots in suits representing local business. A number of pākehā Councillors have now had a glimpse into the Māori world and seen the positive features and actually met names they had just feared or been suspicious of before.
Non Māori could learn from this and get involved in local Govt. also, that is the only way better funding and all the other needs will happen.
It will be a joy to watch this Rebellion of Councils against Central Govt.
Not the "Mayor Of Kaipara" entrenched in the KKK Principles.
FYI I live in the Far North on Karikari Peninsula–Ngati Kahu whenua–and am well aware of that fat bastard in Kaipara who could hardly wait his chance to Māori bash.
Something else to think about, there is a logical flaw in all this attacking Māori wards…
Dump–no vote (referendum) required
Keep–vote (referendum) required
the point being Councils view is fine for dump, but not for keep which switches to central Govt. control.
Good point TM – either all local councils that currently have Māori wards should be forced to hold a referendum, or (my preference) none should be forced to do so. Currently the legislation applies only to the many councils that rejected this component of our CoC govt's frankly racist anti-Māori agenda.
That twisted ego is going to be "Deputy Prime Minister". Now if he sings nasty and is not pulled up by PM Luxon, guess what? They are birds of a feather, singing from the same racist no help here and decimate services 'till we replace them with "User Pays" song sheet.
In our increasingly Surveilled Society…..NZ will now to allow this?
NZTA denies…..Ah. Sure.
Trust them…they know what they are doing….
Only been on that road once. It's a rough old ride in parts. Given the choice I stick to the former SH1.
There are any number of cheap license plate clear covers available that can render the number unreadable to cameras, the cops do not like them because they frustrate speed cameras and might prosecute if they caught you.
Best advice according to some car fans is to install LED infrared lights near the plate
So it would be interesting to see if this little snooping exercise is exclusive to the PPP or they data share…
The
cynicalrealist me says…it will come. And we earlier had the supermarket BigBrotherGrocer…Who watches… ?
They don't need number plate details to show cars are moving freely. That seems like considerable over-reach and doesn't seem consistent with laws about privacy.
Well…yes. Have traffic counters somehow become redundant ? I dont think so. Makes the whole PPP camera number plate collecting…seem very dodgy. These seem a much better way to count. If that was their true reason…
Considerable overreach is right.
During the Covid times, a lack of trust in the government was one of several currents running through parts of the citizenry.
IRD has just been in the news for selling our data. Their (pathetic) excuse was that it isn't illegal! Several commenters here by bought up relevant points- we can't opt out, the 'hashing' is a far from effective security measure…
I suppose this is what happens when government departments get corporatised. They forget whom they serve.
Putin says he will support Harris. I guess that's one way of helping Trump.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350412298/sarcastic-and-defiant-meet-russias-queen-information-war-west
https://www.nova.ie/cat-lady-tay-tay-backs-harris-in-blow-to-trump-after-tv-debate-256665/
Russia has had a long consistent policy of offering to engage in constructive dialogue with the USA. Saying this about Harris doesnt have to be interpreted as an attempt to sway the election, that seems a rather dumb context to frame it in actually.
Health NZ. There is NO Code Black. Ever. Do NOT use this again.That is all….
Some (incl those within the Code Black ! ) can see. Right through you..
Code Red..is the new Black? Would be darkly funny if it wasnt so bad. And..onya RNZ. Keep asking the Hard Questions !
Oh and this from Newsroom. Just mind boggling…..
The NACT1 manufactured Crisis, is turning into an actual Crisis
Yup, changing from PR crisis to crisis PR.
Yea I find them quite disturbing and irrational…but they have their agenda. . And in a similar vein (they are of a mindset naturally..)
Re disturbing…I do find Mr Seymour and his Ministry fetish just so..I had a strange "the Clocks Were Striking Thirteen" momentary flashback…
Lester and Shane will be purring in a few months' time when they view their shiny 'Executive Summary Dashboards' – or whatever grandiose name they give to some trivial piece of data visualisation.
Because lo and behold, these wonderful dashboards will show that the total time hospitals have spent in code black and code red has substantially declined under their masterful leadership. The NZ Herald will trumpet their achievement. Mission accomplished.
Hmmm yes. You see through a dark but strangely clear crystal ball. And re "the Clocks Were Striking Thirteen" could it be..that They were always at war with Oceania ? Too dystopian ? ..or not : )
Reti's all ready to throw management under a bus for potentially gaming metrics they're seeing for a first time. Fantastic leadership style Shane plus a resounding vote of confidence, bravo.
The jump in exec salaries in Levy's management will likely be for folk good with numbers to achieve an end…in between seeing any patients of course as it's sooo about the frontline.
EV's can weigh 800kg or more than an equivalent ICV so this could be a BFD.
.
A big issue with today's electric vehicles (EVs) is that their batteries are heavy. Obviously, this has a number of downsides, including lowered energy efficiency and more wear and tear on roads, tyres and brakes, for example.
Researchers are working on improving that situation, with one approach being to make the battery a structural component of EVs – like the BYD SEAL sold in New Zealand (review coming soon).
A group of researchers at the Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg, Sweden, have created a carbon fibre composite battery, for "massless energy storage"; the battery acts as structural member that is as stiff as aluminium, and energy-dense enough for commercial applications, the researchers say.
https://www.interest.co.nz/technology/129691/massless-structural-batteries-weigh-much-less-promise-extend-ev-range-70-and
Therefore making them even less repairable following an accident?
One of the big issues with EVs (Teslas in particular) is that because of the size of the battery – taking up a large chunk of the bottom of the vehicle – even minor accidents result in the car being scrapped – because the mechanics can't be certain that the battery wasn't affected.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/climate-change/350111110/prepare-shock-hidden-costs-owning-ev
If the battery is distributed across structural members, this would be even worse. No one would be prepared to guarantee that the car was safe, after even the most minor of accidents.
The lack of repairability within the structural cell is a function of modern vehicle design, not just EVs or structural batteries. Pretty much any ding to pillars, roof of floor pan and the car is entering the parts pool.
Is anyone out there experiencing "downward pressure" on their rents yet? Supposedly this would happen when the Brightline Test was cut back to 2 years and mortgage interest tax deductibility was reintroduced. Probably a bit early to see anything in the official stats.
A good proportion of the population departing for Aussie would probably have more effect. I'd say there's significant downward pressure on rents in Ruapehu District right now.
I think there are some signs of rent increases slowing down but not actually coming down yet.
https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/selected-price-indexes-august-2024/
Mortgage interest rates are still high, insurance costs have gone up heaps, and deductibility won’t be fully restored until 1 April 2025.
Can't find anything very recent – but this article from June is likely to still be relevant (i.e. not much has changed). This reports rents dropping and the numbers of properties available in the rental market increasing.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/520264/rents-dropping-housing-stock-on-the-rise-what-is-happening-with-the-nz-housing-market-this-week
However, it's not the change in the tax scenario which is triggering it (although it may well be a factor in landlords being more 'realistic' in their rental expectations) Population decrease (outflow to Australia in particular) – means that there are more properties competing for fewer tenants – supply and demand – resulting in lower rentals.