MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian drugmaker R-Pharm has signed a deal with AstraZeneca for it to manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the British pharmaceuticals giant and Oxford University, it said on Friday.
Yeah …right the SIS didn't seem that dam politically neutral regarding setting up Phil Goff in the Israeli back packer affair did they?? You know the one where Goff got a belated apology from Kitteredge years after the damage was done?
"If only the PM could accept large increases to wages and benefits." But an increase in benefits might be be a disincentive to working and she gets advice directly or indirectly from Dave Bratt at MSD about the importance of work.
In a speech at the Conference for General Practice last month, ministry principal health adviser David Bratt said that it was important GPs talk to their unemployed patients about working. This included asking people "what they wanted to do for the rest of their life.
It's a curiosity that a government vehemently opposed to loading the economy with the deadweight costs of excessive taxation should be such pathetic boosters of an equivalent or greater deadweight cost paid to banks, with no redeeming social return.
Some of the explanation no doubt lies with the ability of councils to inflate rates in a rising property market, to pay the nodding dogs of council owned corporations those massive undeserved salaries.
It is fascinating to consider however, what a competent and enlightened government that actually was concerned about the economy would do. Pretty sure it wouldn't be endless support for speculators and banks.
The rates take is unimpacted by property values …but i agree with the rest of your statement….their competence is certainly in question….but then they have little competition on that front.
Rates are going up at a rate of 5% and more. In the time I lived in my house I have had an increase of my pay at best pa 2-4%. Right now its going negative as REAL inflation bites but my pay is frozen. Rates in the same time increased by 5.7% pa. (in real terms)
Now, I don't know but for me this looks like behaviour you see from those online fraudsters, just deducting small amounts regularly, bleeding the account owner dry but get rich in the process.
Meanwhile, we are being told that the outdated sewer system, for which we have paid maintenance for decades, is broken and there is no money. Hahahah, yeah the money is in the extraordinary pay packets of the ones making false statements. Now we hear its global warming that causes the stink. Oh my lord save us from those tabloid reporters.
Yes rates have increased above the (offical) rate of inflation for years but that is unconnected to property values.
As to the lack of maintenance that situation is only going to become increasingly unaffordable…not only do we need to replace/maintain the existing infrastructure we also need to expand it…an exponential growth situation that cannot be supported in either monetary or resource terms…..and something that everyone wilfully averts their gaze from.
So we pay above inflation increases to cover maintenance of waste water, supply of drinking water, infrastructure and let me mention public transport to make sure the core need is covered. The money is collected and if you don't pay you can loose your house (!) And yet we, the payer have no protection and council seem to be not accountable.
Here is my question. Are NZlanders able to sue the council down to their personal enrichment for taking the hard earned cash called rates of those actually working but splashing it about on pet projects and themselves?
I feel there ought to be balance in the justice system. If a person can be evicted for not paying rates than this person must have protection under the same law to have these expectation met without having to fork out more and more money. Since all is commercialized, lets work with that and use the consumer guaranties act.
A lot of rates rising faster than inflation is that councils have been reluctant to spend what is really required to maintain their assets and grow those assets to cater for future growth. This has been going on almost forever. Very few get elected to Council saying they are going to raise rates to spend more on infrastructure. And then there's strong lobbies that campaign on reducing rates, and the effect is further reductions in maintenance further exasperating the situation.
So maintenance and upgrades get deferred until things break, and then cost considerably more to fix.
Districts that are growing strongly like Queenstown and Central Otago are able to get very large contributions from developers, along with a growing capital value, so are able to have relatively low rates keep sort of ahead of maintenance and growth. Older, declining districts, say Gore or Oamaru, generally have high rates and struggle with infrastructure.
To be honest, I really don't have any sympathy for the council member that over the years have had salaries that made your eyes water and spending rates on things like silly signage to "promote" a city. To top it all off, they all have subsidized pensions and I am 100% sure none of them have difficulties paying their rates. So no, the money paid was not theirs to spend in the way they did. Full stop. Consumers need protection from these spurious expenditures at the cost of those who can be evicted if they don't pay up.
As for those special interest people who are so important that the council has to listen to them, perhaps the rates need to be pegged against income, including trusts rather than property value. So those who influence to get their way on what is so important will have to pay for it.
Because obviously planning is not in the councils vocabulary. Even people on an unemployment benefit are being asked to go to a budgeting services.
Don't you believe it. If property values were flat 5% rises in rates year after year would have the councils facing numerous acrimonious public meetings at best, more likely the Alan Parsons treatment.
Can not agree….indeed Christchurch has had 8% rates increases year on year post quakes and the property market has been one of the most restrained in the country….no rebellion there, only the standard grizzling
Rates are determined by the council budget spread across the ratings base…what the properties are worth is irrelevant except in their relationship to each other.
The quakes make a better excuse than naked greed – and there's a fair amount of fatigue in Chch, as well as anger focused on other governance failures – Southern Response etc.
yep, more and more of our society becomes 'financialised' and hence subjected to an interest charge.
we should look seriously at the reasons debt and interest are illegal and immoral in other societies. Most people have absolutely no idea this idea even exists.
Down the spiraling drainhole we go – of this there is little doubt
We should stop the private banking sector creating money. Then, if they wanted to lend money they would have borrow on fixed term from the private sector.
We should also prevent fractional reserve lending.
Trump is in his own bubble just worrying about his law suits. It appears as if Covid does not require his attention as Commander in Chief.
Just under 6 weeks of Trump's self interest being a priority and then his ridiculous term is up. I am looking forward to the inauguration of Biden on 20 January 2021.
I scan at every possible retail, or club, visit and it annoys the hell out of me to watch so many fellow citizens breeze in and out of these places without a care.
So now I want to go one better and have the Bluetooth option to improve the apps monitoring of my whereabouts.
Yet, an iPhone 6 is not "Smartphone" enough apparently we need to have the latest operating system.
Now not all of us can afford to upgrade our handsets at a whim. And I would suggest that goes for most of the target market – elderly and middle aged.
Because you're magicYou're magic people to meSong: Dave Para/Molly Para.Morena all, I hope you had a good day yesterday, however you spent it. Today, a few words about our celebration and a look at the various messages from our politicians.A Rockel XmasChristmas morning was spent with the five of us ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). 2024 has been a series of bad news for climate change. From scorching global temperatures leading to devastating ...
Ríu Ríu ChíuRíu Ríu Chíu is a Spanish Christmas song from the 16th Century. The traditional carol would likely have passed unnoticed by the English-speaking world had the made-for-television American band The Monkees not performed the song as part of their special Christmas show back in 1967. The show's ...
Dunedin’s summer thus far has been warm and humid… and it looks like we’re in for a grey Christmas. But it is now officially Christmas Day in this time zone, so never mind. This year, I’ve stumbled across an Old English version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: It has a population of just under 3.5 million inhabitants, produces nearly 550,000 tons of beef per year, and boasts a glorious soccer reputation with two World ...
Morena all,In my paywalled newsletter yesterday, I signed off for Christmas and wished readers well, but I thought I’d send everyone a quick note this morning.This hasn’t been a good year for our small country. The divisions caused by the Treaty Principles Bill, the cuts to our public sector, increased ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30 am include:Kāinga Ora is quietly planning to sell over $1 billion worth of state-owned land under 300 state homes in Auckland’s wealthiest suburbs, including around Bastion Point, to give the Government more fiscal room to pay for tax cuts and reduce borrowing.A ...
Hi,It’s my birthday on Christmas Day, and I have a favour to ask.A birthday wish.I would love you to share one Webworm story you’ve liked this year.The simple fact is: apart from paying for a Webworm membership (thank you!), sharing and telling others about this place is the most important ...
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
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 ...
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 ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...
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 ...
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...
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: ...
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 , ...
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...
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 ...
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 ...
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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 ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
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Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
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Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
Pacific Media Watch Five Palestinian journalists have been killed in a new Israeli strike near a hospital in central Gaza after four reporters were killed last week, reports Al Jazeera citing authorities and media in the besieged enclave. The journalists from the Al-Quds Today channel were covering events near al-Awda ...
RNZ Pacific A large 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila , shortly after 3pm NZT today. The US Geological Survey says the quake was recorded at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles). Locals have been sharing footage of serious damage to infrastructure ...
By Victor Barreiro Jr in Manila Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of Kalookan, has condemned the state of Israel on Christmas Eve for its relentless attacks on Gaza that have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. “I can’t think of any other people in the world who live in darkness ...
By Cheerieann Wilson in Suva Veteran journalist and editor Stanley Simpson has spoken about the enduring power of storytelling and its role in shaping Fiji’s identity. Reflecting on his journey at the launch of FijiNikua, a magazine launched by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on Christmas Eve, Simpson shared personal anecdotes ...
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Comment: I’ve been digging up dirt over the past few weekends. I plan to dig up more over summer.As global geo-politics heats up, I’ve impulsively turned to tending my wee patch of the world. The world is complex and messy. But I’m determined my quarter acre won’t be. Apparently, this is ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 25 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Good to see a bit of cooperation amongst scientists
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/11/oxford-covid-vaccine-to-be-combined-with-sputnik-jab-for-trial
Mind you , it's not the first time
Back in July ..
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-cyber-russia-vacci/russias-r-pharm-signs-deal-to-make-uk-developed-covid-19-vaccine-idUKKCN24I1Z2
Scientists love to cooperate they're largely apolitical when it comes to research. The idea is to better mankind in most cases.
Corporate and political entities hijack science for personal ambition and give science a bad name.
[deleted quote due to lack of link]
and then
"Even the beleaguered Queenstown-Lakes District recorded price growth of 10.8% in the three months to November."
https://www.interest.co.nz/property/108373/house-price-growth-was-strongest-palmerston-north-and-weakest-christchurch-over-last
One trick ponies
High capital values help nobody
Except lenders
Go ask yourself
Imagine how wealthy we would all be
If our homes cost very little
And our businesses
The amount of money left in our back pockets would be unfeasibly higher….
High capital values help nobody
Other than lenders
Go ask yourself
Alternatively, go ask the Government.
…go ask the Government.
"The spinner for wealthy people."
Touche’
wot vto said ..
[Deleted]
[You have a Moderation note waiting for you here: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11-12-2020/#comment-1770573 ]
[You have a Moderation note waiting for you here: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11-12-2020/#comment-1770573 ]
Quoted by Incognito from the SIS
"Political neutrality
Yeah …right the SIS didn't seem that dam politically neutral regarding setting up Phil Goff in the Israeli back packer affair did they?? You know the one where Goff got a belated apology from Kitteredge years after the damage was done?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/goff-airs-suspicions-about-spy-briefing/NRN7EIBOGUJM6W32XKU5IKM47M/
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/-i-told-the-whole-truth-phil-goff-vindicated-over-sis-briefing-claims-6166450
They always looked at the Left Barfly and anyone different, that is why they were blind to the behaviour on the Right, always looking the wrong way!!
High capital values are there to help people? Well, well, we learn something new every day.
If only the PM could accept large increases to wages and benefits.
If only the PM couldn't accept 'property investors' (don't say landlord) non-compliance of paying tax.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/ird-cracks-down-on-residential-property-investors-shirking-tax-rules/WBA7RQE3DDFCE7IFUBGMZPCAEE/
"If only the PM could accept large increases to wages and benefits."
Link benefits and minimum wage to house price inflation
Job done
Entirely justifiable
Link benefits and minimum wage to house price inflation
A 20% wage-price spiral. Wow.
"If only the PM could accept large increases to wages and benefits." But an increase in benefits might be be a disincentive to working and she gets advice directly or indirectly from Dave Bratt at MSD about the importance of work.
http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/9037689/Doctors-told-to-prescribe-work-ethic
It's the Work Ethic idea – still very influential.
[Tidied up the format of quoted text to make it clearer]
As far as I can tell, Dr Bratt was first mentioned here on TS in 2008, talking of opening a can of worms!
It's a curiosity that a government vehemently opposed to loading the economy with the deadweight costs of excessive taxation should be such pathetic boosters of an equivalent or greater deadweight cost paid to banks, with no redeeming social return.
Some of the explanation no doubt lies with the ability of councils to inflate rates in a rising property market, to pay the nodding dogs of council owned corporations those massive undeserved salaries.
It is fascinating to consider however, what a competent and enlightened government that actually was concerned about the economy would do. Pretty sure it wouldn't be endless support for speculators and banks.
The rates take is unimpacted by property values …but i agree with the rest of your statement….their competence is certainly in question….but then they have little competition on that front.
Rates are going up at a rate of 5% and more. In the time I lived in my house I have had an increase of my pay at best pa 2-4%. Right now its going negative as REAL inflation bites but my pay is frozen. Rates in the same time increased by 5.7% pa. (in real terms)
Now, I don't know but for me this looks like behaviour you see from those online fraudsters, just deducting small amounts regularly, bleeding the account owner dry but get rich in the process.
Meanwhile, we are being told that the outdated sewer system, for which we have paid maintenance for decades, is broken and there is no money. Hahahah, yeah the money is in the extraordinary pay packets of the ones making false statements. Now we hear its global warming that causes the stink. Oh my lord save us from those tabloid reporters.
Yes rates have increased above the (offical) rate of inflation for years but that is unconnected to property values.
As to the lack of maintenance that situation is only going to become increasingly unaffordable…not only do we need to replace/maintain the existing infrastructure we also need to expand it…an exponential growth situation that cannot be supported in either monetary or resource terms…..and something that everyone wilfully averts their gaze from.
So we pay above inflation increases to cover maintenance of waste water, supply of drinking water, infrastructure and let me mention public transport to make sure the core need is covered. The money is collected and if you don't pay you can loose your house (!) And yet we, the payer have no protection and council seem to be not accountable.
Here is my question. Are NZlanders able to sue the council down to their personal enrichment for taking the hard earned cash called rates of those actually working but splashing it about on pet projects and themselves?
I feel there ought to be balance in the justice system. If a person can be evicted for not paying rates than this person must have protection under the same law to have these expectation met without having to fork out more and more money. Since all is commercialized, lets work with that and use the consumer guaranties act.
The problem of the high salaries of CEO's is not restricted to local councils. It is endemic throughout the economy.
The problem of high CEO remuneration is not just restricted to local bodies. It is endemic throughout the economy.
A lot of rates rising faster than inflation is that councils have been reluctant to spend what is really required to maintain their assets and grow those assets to cater for future growth. This has been going on almost forever. Very few get elected to Council saying they are going to raise rates to spend more on infrastructure. And then there's strong lobbies that campaign on reducing rates, and the effect is further reductions in maintenance further exasperating the situation.
So maintenance and upgrades get deferred until things break, and then cost considerably more to fix.
Districts that are growing strongly like Queenstown and Central Otago are able to get very large contributions from developers, along with a growing capital value, so are able to have relatively low rates keep sort of ahead of maintenance and growth. Older, declining districts, say Gore or Oamaru, generally have high rates and struggle with infrastructure.
To be honest, I really don't have any sympathy for the council member that over the years have had salaries that made your eyes water and spending rates on things like silly signage to "promote" a city. To top it all off, they all have subsidized pensions and I am 100% sure none of them have difficulties paying their rates. So no, the money paid was not theirs to spend in the way they did. Full stop. Consumers need protection from these spurious expenditures at the cost of those who can be evicted if they don't pay up.
As for those special interest people who are so important that the council has to listen to them, perhaps the rates need to be pegged against income, including trusts rather than property value. So those who influence to get their way on what is so important will have to pay for it.
Because obviously planning is not in the councils vocabulary. Even people on an unemployment benefit are being asked to go to a budgeting services.
The rates take is unimpacted by property values
Don't you believe it. If property values were flat 5% rises in rates year after year would have the councils facing numerous acrimonious public meetings at best, more likely the Alan Parsons treatment.
Can not agree….indeed Christchurch has had 8% rates increases year on year post quakes and the property market has been one of the most restrained in the country….no rebellion there, only the standard grizzling
Rates are determined by the council budget spread across the ratings base…what the properties are worth is irrelevant except in their relationship to each other.
The quakes make a better excuse than naked greed – and there's a fair amount of fatigue in Chch, as well as anger focused on other governance failures – Southern Response etc.
our whole system is set up to service the banksters..
the speculators play that system..'cos they can..
but for the average citizen…they are in thrall to those banksters…for most of their lives ..and for what .?
it is seriously fucked up..
sucking in an inordinate share of the economy..
nationalise them..and reconfigure how we do the whole set-up..
focussed more on the needs of the people..(socialise housing/end poverty etc etc..)
and no longer on the banksters..
get their boots off our throats..
yep, more and more of our society becomes 'financialised' and hence subjected to an interest charge.
we should look seriously at the reasons debt and interest are illegal and immoral in other societies. Most people have absolutely no idea this idea even exists.
Down the spiraling drainhole we go – of this there is little doubt
we should also look at those countries that have long-term stable housing values ..
find out how do they do that .
then do that here…
end this giant crapshoot/ponzi scheme…
the people are the losers here..
..and this must change..
We should stop the private banking sector creating money. Then, if they wanted to lend money they would have borrow on fixed term from the private sector.
We should also prevent fractional reserve lending.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/11/politics/supreme-court-texas-trump-biden/index.html
Yes!
Trump is in his own bubble just worrying about his law suits. It appears as if Covid does not require his attention as Commander in Chief.
Just under 6 weeks of Trump's self interest being a priority and then his ridiculous term is up. I am looking forward to the inauguration of Biden on 20 January 2021.
The Positive Pixie seems to have taken some PR advice at last, from someone other than the Boagywoman even.
I guess her bestest shadow cabinet colleagues couldn't tell her.
Health department's Covid Tracer.
I scan at every possible retail, or club, visit and it annoys the hell out of me to watch so many fellow citizens breeze in and out of these places without a care.
So now I want to go one better and have the Bluetooth option to improve the apps monitoring of my whereabouts.
Yet, an iPhone 6 is not "Smartphone" enough apparently we need to have the latest operating system.
Now not all of us can afford to upgrade our handsets at a whim. And I would suggest that goes for most of the target market – elderly and middle aged.
Exactly. And I deeply resent being classified as an oldie who isn’t tech savvy.