Open mike 12/12/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 12th, 2022 - 91 comments
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91 comments on “Open mike 12/12/2022 ”

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  1. bwaghorn 1
    12 December 2022 at 6:46 am

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/education/300760166/graduate-teachers-hit-by-460-fee-before-starting-work-its-a-strain

    Hit your head on the table stupid?

    Why would you charge new teachers a fee for being teachers?

    • KJT 1.1
      12 December 2022 at 7:31 am

      Not to mention the costly "refresh" courses to resume Teaching after a break.

      Not the only proffesion with those costs though.

      Certificate re validation for my main qualification, if you haven't done two years in the last five, is over ten grand.

    • joe90 1.2
      12 December 2022 at 9:28 am

      Why would you charge new teachers a fee for being teachers

      I guess for the same reason new nurses, social workers, electrical workers, building practitioners, etc, etc, pay registration and annual practicing fees.

  2. Ad 2
    12 December 2022 at 7:03 am

    Peru's Castillo is a fool for trying a coup and Kirschner of Argentina is sentenced for heavy corruption.

    South America needs smarter politicians if the left is to last there.

    • RosieLee 3.1
      12 December 2022 at 7:49 am

      Since it was all moved off to profit making private enterprise instead of the Ministry of Works.

    • tc 3.2
      12 December 2022 at 7:54 am

      One has to ask wtf is going on across our roading network when this happens.

      Resurfacing is alot more frequent than it used to be because they don't last.

      Driving off the normal driving line as it's a broken surface chewing up tyres I see alot of.

      • dvT 3.2.1
        12 December 2022 at 8:03 am

        The motorists with damaged cars should sue for recompense from the roaders.

        That might introduce a financial incentive to get it right.

      • KJT 3.2.2
        12 December 2022 at 8:12 am

        Nothing to do with many more, and heavier trucks, as well as National freezing road maintenance funding, of course!

        • Tiger Mountain 3.2.2.1
          12 December 2022 at 8:22 am

          Good points. Public Private Partnerships like Trans Gully etc. are taxpayer money pits too. They can encourage low bids to get the job, bargain basement materials and little commitment to future upkeep.

          • Cricklewood 3.2.2.1.1
            12 December 2022 at 9:24 am

            Its an issue of specification, that and how funding /budgets operate same applies at a Local body and govt level.

            In short building to a proper spec leads to politically unpalatable headline costs to get these massive infrastructure projects off the ground. So specs get lowered, items are omitted so the figure is kept to a politically platable level. Then you end up with a bunch of variations along the way and more perversely surfacing work is done in full knowledge it will fail due to the spec. This happens when it becomes unpalatable to request more money for the project, (ie it looks bad for the ladder climbers who only care about delivery financials.) The fix up costs come of of the maintenance budgets which also perversely means that actual maintenance is neglected as the 10 year maintenance budget gets spent in the first couple of years fixing it.

            • Tiger Mountain 3.2.2.1.1.1
              12 December 2022 at 9:39 am

              Interesting. Was talking to a family friend whose daughter is a roading engineer, and worked on a project at Rockhampton in Aust. (and NZ PPPs) She issued her own specs from her research and knowledge for one piece of road which lives on, the two stretches on either side that adhered to management specifications have had wash outs.

        • tc 3.2.2.2
          12 December 2022 at 4:15 pm

          National by upping the tonnage and refusing to give the extra funding their RONS created did to roading what they did to health.

          Froze the funding yet population increased and hospitals magically expected to make it all work.

          Haters and wreckers strike again.

      • Cricklewood 3.2.3
        12 December 2022 at 9:06 am

        More trucks, bigger vehicles etc… sounds like the imported bitumen can be a bit iffy as well. Do wonder if that's played a part in the latest episode.

      • weka 3.2.4
        12 December 2022 at 10:02 am

        Climate change is a factor. eg increased number of days of rain means less days to get the road done in optimal conditions, which means either deteriorating roads or roads fixed at non-optimal times and fingers crossed it holds.

        • Cricklewood 3.2.4.1
          12 December 2022 at 10:47 am

          Where the risk sits with weather will depend on the contract can be differences about how delays to to weather are treated.

          If the risk sits with the contractor they'll do all they can to avoid running into late completion and liquidated damages as a result.

          Our current arrangements are pretty poor if a high quality result is desired. Thats all the way from design phase through to completion. Basically as it currently stands a fair amount is sacrificed from the quality of the work before it even physically starts.

  4. Tiger Mountain 4
    12 December 2022 at 8:14 am

    “Yass Massa” dept.

    RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme) abuses and systemic flaws exposed. Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner, Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo wants an urgent review before the 2023 season.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018870831/rse-report-finds-major-gaps-in-system

    Who knew Pacific workers were subject to poor housing, bullying, intimidation, union busting, unlawful wage deductions and denial of cultural contact in their leisure time? Well the Amalgamated Workers Union and First Union did and have raised this as best they can in the face of workers being told if they join a union they “will not be back”.
    Be good to see a new case taken that really sticks it to these modern day plantation owners.

    • RosieLee 4.1
      12 December 2022 at 9:15 am

      Employers who wish to use RSE workers must be inspected and licensed. These current exploiters should be named and shamed. When these workers come into the country they should be interviewed and informed of the regulations, and their rights, in their own language at the point of entry. They should also be given a contact number/person in the event of concerns.

      • Belladonna 4.1.1
        12 December 2022 at 9:28 am

        And employers who breach the requirements seriously – should know up front that they will lose the right to use RSE workers for the next 5 years ; AND have to apply again from the beginning of the process again after that period in order to regain registration.

      • AB 4.1.2
        12 December 2022 at 9:33 am

        "Named and shamed" is insufficient. First offence should be a fine. Second offence, the enterprise is confiscated and ownership handed to the workers to do what they want with, e.g. sell and pocket the cash. Effectively, this would be a removal of the social licence to operate.

        • Nic the NZer 4.1.2.1
          12 December 2022 at 9:43 am

          Not sure that's going to work. Owning a bankrupt business which has significant employment penalty debts imposed by the courts, after the prior owner has finally cooperated enough to hand over the business (rather than hiding the assets), will likely not benefit these workers (in fact it could easily be a burden).

      • Craig H 4.1.3
        12 December 2022 at 11:38 am

        Effectively they are inspected and licensed by MBIE, it's just that the employer requirements are far too weak, and MBIE primarily focus on whether the treatment is legal rather than right or wrong.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 4.2
      12 December 2022 at 12:31 pm

      “One of the boys … was standing beside a table. The boss grabbed [him] by his ear and pulled him by his ear so that his head was pulled down on top of the table. The boss was swearing at him as he did so,” he said.

      “After that he called one of the other boys over to him, a boy named BB. He made BB lie down on the floor and [boss] then put his foot on top of BB back. He was swearing at him as he did this. He called BB a ‘f…… c….’. “

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/300659862/stood-on-and-sworn-at-police-investigate-alleged-assault-on-migrant-workers

      Re Yas Massa : The boss..and the boys……….

      And….

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/129496019/blatant-exploitation-migrant-workers-packed-in-freezing-damp-rooms-for-150-a-week?rm=a.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 4.3
      12 December 2022 at 12:36 pm

      Only reason any of this exists is to allow businesses to pay far less (with worse conditions) than what locals would accept. Always hear that "NZers don't want the work" – what they don't want is work that requires you to live out of food banks and get paid f*ck all.

      I drove through Marlborough the other day – amazing to see all the new winery buildings and associated restaurants etc – multi-million dollar brand new buildings, while the slaves in orange work the fields for a pittance.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 4.4
      12 December 2022 at 1:18 pm

      This one describes the 'major gaps' a bit more accurately – "RSE worker treatment like 'slavery'"

      Given this crap – any government that had the slightest interest in workers, people and communities – would just shut the whole scheme down.

      a systemic pattern of human rights abuses.

      Those included unreasonable pay deductions, denial of personal and cultural freedoms, poor access to healthcare, and grossly inadequate housing.

      Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo told Morning Report the treatment of workers was distressing to witness.

      She described freezing and damp accommodation in Blenheim, with workers not allowed heaters.

      "We should not be taking advantage of [workers] and prospering from that through … what can be seen as modern day slavery."

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    12 December 2022 at 9:44 am

    Good suggestions from RosieLee, Belladonna & AB.

  6. Descendant Of Smith 6
    12 December 2022 at 9:47 am

    The costs of bringing them to NZ should be put on the employer for a start. The employer should pay their air fares for instance and not be able to deduct these costs off their wages.

    Fining is a better course of action as those that lose their RSE will just "share" the workers with someone who hasn't. The combined value of deductions made by employers from workers salaries should be made public so the program if fully understood by the public. How much of the wages is garnered back by employers and how much does this vary between employers? Much more transparency is needed as a matter of course not a matter of investigation.

    I note with the slavery case over in Hawkes Bay the employers paying cash to him were never named. The public should know.

  8. Stephen D 8
    12 December 2022 at 11:22 am

    Another take on the oil price cap to try and limit Putin’s war effort.

    ”We need thought-through policy not knee-jerk reactions based on the emotional need to be seen to be doing “something.” We need to be clear in our analysis of how much Putin will feel energy sanctions at all. Realistically, hydrocarbon exports account for only around 20 percent of Russia’s GDP and even less when measured in terms of Purchasing Power Parity. But when we look at Russia’s federal budget, from which the money for the war is being drawn, the number is more like 50 percent. “

    That is, out of every dollar paid for oil, gas or coal, 50 cents is turned into the bombs and bullets killing tens of thousands of Ukrainians, destroying Ukrainian cities, and giving rise to Europe’s latest refugee crisis.

    https://www.politico.eu/article/mikhail-khodorkovsky-target-vladimir-putin-oil-gas-price-cap-weapon-ukraine-russia-war/

    He makes a good case for imposing duties, rather than price caps.

    • Sabine 8.1
      12 December 2022 at 11:29 am

      How dare the Russian not capitulate to Nato and the US. Never mind that really the issue is mainly the dumb arse sanctions on Russia that harmed everyone but the russians.

      • Psycho Milt 8.1.1
        12 December 2022 at 1:20 pm

        The sanctions do seem a bit underwhelming. Western countries should have gone with full military support for Ukraine from the start.

        • Sabine 8.1.1.1
          12 December 2022 at 2:55 pm

          Are you really declaring total war on Russia? You might want to think that over again.

          As it is, like many other war zones this too will last a long time, make many people rich beyond their believe, will kill untold young ones of all sides and the volunteers from overseas and only when those that have the power to stop these things have decided that enough blood has drenched the soil will it be stopped.

          Chances are it will take many many years. Some grifts are just too good to stop.

          • Stephen D 8.1.1.1.1
            12 December 2022 at 4:47 pm

            So what’s your alternative, Sabine? Capitulation?

            Seems to me the best answer, if Ukraine is not “allowed” to attack Russian sites, is to arm them to the teeth to drive Russia back to pre 2014 borders.

            • Sabine 8.1.1.1.1.1
              15 December 2022 at 9:17 am

              Non of that matters anymore.

              To total war young men will be marched because old men have got nothing else to do, and maybe they have some money to make. I mean if i were a US weapons manufacture right now i be creaming every pair or panties -lace of whities depending on self ID – that i were to own. I mean, every arm chair keyboard warrior screams rooo rahh, round up the young penis haver, the ex penis haver and send them into the grinder. And while we are at it, lets poison with depleted uranium a huge area of land on which grains used to be grown. Cause clearly humans are dumb.

              And yeah, like Iraq, Russia did not threaten anyone. But they are defending their own interests. But then, we shall not mention the fact that the Ukrainians killed their own people for years on end. We don't care about that. How dare people whom the west not support have their own ideas of self fulfilment. What a ludicrous idea, really.

              Ruski bad. Yankee and Yankee bitch good. lol . Have some popcorn and some coolaid with that plate of liquid shite dinner.

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Donbas_(2014%E2%80%932022)

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

              Its all quite far gone, but then i don't expect people to remember yesterday or the day before as it might conflict with what ever bullshit they are told to believe today.

              And just as a reminder, the only nation to have used nuclear weapons on civilian population centres is the US. USA USA USA!!!!!! chant little servant chant, all the way to the grave. ditto for several hundreds of military bases that loiter the world over that the US has installed in order to protects "its" interests in other countries.

              so go, send yourself to war, you support it, send your penis having sons your vagina having sons, send them in the meatgrinder of a war you are all so happy to support from the comfort of your home.

              First thing i would do is call for discussion on how to end this. Now. Because in the end, there will be no winner. There will only be death and destruction.

              So let me ask you in good german, because its always better in good german.

              Wollt ihr den totalen krieg? And if you do, then sign up for the war effort. I hear they take anyone who shows up. The meatgrinder needs its fill.

              • RedLogix …
                15 December 2022 at 9:30 am

                Yes – every sane person wants this war to end without annihilation. That means a negotiated settlement.

                What terms do you have in mind for this settlement?

                • Sabine …
                  15 December 2022 at 6:14 pm

                  at this stage?

                  Everyone back into their corner, neutrality for Ukraine, Donbas region to be 'independent' and russia back into international agreements re nuclear de-escaltion together with the US. – and fwiw, the US will not be helpful at all and thus it will not happen.

                  the US want that proxy war with Russia, they need it, it makes them oodles of money, keeps their own population occupied, fucks over Europe to no end and for a very long time, blablablabla….who would have thought that Biden is such a fuckwit.

                  But worst to me are those that really pretend that the years leading up to the Russian invasion did not happen, and that one day Putin woke up, decided he was bored and hey lets invade Ukraine. But i guess its easier to follow blindly and without thinking then to actually ask oneself what is the larger purpose of these happenings.

                  Its like the watched Iraq and have learned absolutly nothing.

  9. Incognito 9
    12 December 2022 at 12:43 pm

    The beaches were deemed unsafe to swim at after recent heavy rain caused sewage to leak into the water.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/480561/auckland-beach-warnings-gradually-being-lifted-safeswim

    All is well with the water well.

    • tc 9.1
      12 December 2022 at 4:37 pm

      Does anyone know their obligation to notify on this matter?

      Waikato DC didn't appear to have anything on their actual site when their FB page was warning raglan locals to stay out of the harbour.

      Since when did social media become public notification.

  10. Incognito 10
    12 December 2022 at 12:47 pm

    Contamination of drinking water by stealthy chemicals has set back Auckland's efforts to cope with drought and growing demands on water.

    …

    It had an eye on Three Waters.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/480552/watercare-looking-to-take-more-from-waikato-river-change-drought-levels-due-to-pfas

    The other eye is probably on the Mayor.

  11. bwaghorn 11
    12 December 2022 at 12:50 pm

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/130734430/auckland-mayor-wants-city-port-gone-by-2039

    Down town is about to change says Mr Brown.

    I smell a stadium, (not a bad idea imho)

  12. mpledger 12
    12 December 2022 at 2:46 pm

    On stuff it reports that the Chief Ombudsman has found that government officials did not adequately take into account the “very real impact” the MIQ allocation system would have on people’s lives.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130733059/government-officials-acted-unreasonably-over-miq-advice–ombudsman

    Apparently, government officials should have taken into account people's reasons for traveling. Does he have any idea how much time that would have taken to read, check and verify all the documentation? And then imagine having to rank different people's reasons? Does visiting Jane for her first birthday beat out visiting Jack for his 90th?

    That system would have rewarded the best liars and the people with the most social capital.

    They could have improved it by letting people who applied before without success go in the draw according to the number of times they had applied but other than that random allocation for non-emergency situations was by far the fairest way.

    • Craig H 12.1
      12 December 2022 at 4:40 pm

      I think there could have been a better effort made to identify legitimately urgent travel which would have improved the margins a bit. However, you're absolutely right that any attempt at an application ranking system would have struggled with large application numbers no matter how granular it attempted to be, and would have had anomalous outcomes anyway because of edge cases not fitting neatly.

    • bwaghorn 12.2
      12 December 2022 at 6:00 pm

      My God it's so obvious the government should have used hindsight in advance of their pandemic response so they could please everybody.

    • Belladonna 12.3
      12 December 2022 at 7:33 pm

      Well, they could certainly have excluded people who left NZ after the borders were closed.
      You can leave, but won’t be eligible for an MIQ space, until all the backlist have been accommodated (i.e. never), or until the borders open back up again.

    • Belladonna 12.4
      12 December 2022 at 7:44 pm

      My understanding is that many people found the 'lottery' aspect of it very difficult – having to repeatedly enter the 'lobby' in the hope of being lucky this time.

      A simple system of registering, and having your name/s (for families) added to the end of the list – and then waiting until your turn came, would have been much easier to apply and to deal with.

      And matching up list places with air-tickets (so many people managed to get a 'lottery' MIQ space, but were unable to match with an airline ticket which would get them there on the right day.

      e.g. Air NZ flight 123 departing from London on 21st May, has 92 seats. The first 92 people on the list with the 'departure point' of London – get preference. If any dip out, then you continue down the list.

      And, doing all this at least a month in advance, so people could get their intermediate travel ducks in a row (e.g. you have to get from Amsterdam to London to depart on the May 21st flight – and need to sort that travel)

      Controlling the Air NZ fares (given that Govt had already stepped in to keep the airline running) – would have been a good move. As would requiring MIQ payment in advance along with the airfare (the retrospective system of payment appears to have been a disaster)

  13. aj 13
    12 December 2022 at 6:38 pm

    Yes the Chief Ombudsman has the luxury of being critical yet not having to present an alternative framework that would have outcomes that didn't disadvantage anyone in that same situation. Meaningless.

  14. Sabine 14
    15 December 2022 at 9:51 am

    Food is going to be very very expensive this winter as currently nothing grows but rather drowns.

    Well i guess we can import it from somewhere else, after all no one needs farmers, food comes from supermarkets. Right?

  15. Sabine 15
    15 December 2022 at 11:06 am

    Honestly, at this stage are we letting this happen on purpose or are we just deviantly refusing to do the things that need doint?

    https://twitter.com/CDCgov_parody/status/1602470966713585666

      • Sabine 15.1.1
        15 December 2022 at 6:17 pm

        Yes, we are the dumbest species. Every other species has a sense of self preservation, humans? Nah, they really believe that we have 'human rights' and that something somewhere someone will come and safe their asses.

        The problems with many humans however is that they had a lot of education, oodles of educational debt, and now they think they are learned. Idiots.

        • Robert Guyton 15.1.1.1
          15 December 2022 at 6:25 pm

          Humans are "idiots"?

          Idiocy is the catalyst for innovation.

          All praise the Fool!

          There are no foolish condors, hummingbirds, turtles or ants.

          The first of the Tarot might in fact be the last 🙂

          • Sabine 15.1.1.1.1
            15 December 2022 at 6:52 pm

            It is always the fools with thoughts of grandeur and need for a legacy that start the big shit. And suddenly out of know here there is death and it is eating our young.

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    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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