Open Mike 12/09/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 12th, 2016 - 183 comments
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183 comments on “Open Mike 12/09/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    12 September 2016 at 6:26 am

    Brilliant cartoon.
    ‘A problem that is bigger than The Chiefs – In fact bigger than NZ rugby.’

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsBP7CJVIAAhETr.jpg:large

  2. Ad 2
    12 September 2016 at 6:34 am

    I enjoyed this one, which was put up as weekend reading on TransportBlog:

    http://gregor.us/coal/the-big-pivot-interest-rates-and-emissions-as-global-population-growth-hits-a-turning-point/

    LPrent has commented on similar patterns before.

    • ianmac 2.1
      12 September 2016 at 8:54 am

      Ad. A decline in population numbers would be a good thing for humanity, though the Economists demand growth to feed the Economy.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.2
      12 September 2016 at 9:24 am

      Quoting article:

      19th and 20th century growth and development was so transformative that it now constitutes our only available inventory of intellectual history, and (understandably) dominates our expectations. When will interest rates return to normal? Why are central banks not letting interest rates rise? And, look at all these awful policy decisions preventing growth? These sentiments are artifacts; signatures of recency bias and the availability heuristic. In an excellent post last year by Neil Irwin at the New York Time’s Upshot blog, Why Very Low Interest Rates May Stick Around, it’s gently pointed out that high interest rates, not low interest rates, are history’s anomaly.

      Low to no interest rates and growth are the norm. The high interest rates and high growth that we’ve had for the last couple of centuries is an anomaly. We’re now heading back to the norm and, shortly after that, we’ll be in de-growth as population declines.

    • joe90 3.1
      12 September 2016 at 7:24 am

      On a close to 30°C August day a woman wearing body armour feels crook – RWNJ noise machine goes nuts.
      /

      • Lanthanide 3.1.1
        12 September 2016 at 7:41 am

        Yes, the noise machine at work, but she wasn’t wearing body armour.

        I think questions about her health are warranted, but of course the campaign is going to downplay any event as being inconsequential – which only eggs on their opponents who think they’re trying to cover things up. Most likely the truth is somewhere in the middle.

      • RedLogix 3.1.2
        12 September 2016 at 8:19 am

        Personally this still sits in the ‘not enough information’ category; but regardless these ‘incidents’ are starting to pile up. One more and I’d suggest serious questions will have to be answered.

        The fact of the MSM running with this is a new development as well. Even if it does turn out to be nothing more than right wing ‘noise’ the only reason why it’s getting traction the deep underlying lack of trust in anything that comes out of the ‘establishment’ these days. Which is exactly the reason why Trump has more than two supporters.

        It has to be hoped Clinton is ok. It would be an appalling turn of events at this stage for her to be forced out for this reason.

        And for a woman of her age there may well be a simple and very understandable reason. Just no-one wants to say it out loud.

        • joe90 3.1.2.1
          12 September 2016 at 8:23 am

          Yeah, these ‘incidents’ are starting to pile up.
          /

          Revealed last 2 days: Trump laundered donations, lied to IRS, lied about helping at Ground Zero But bad wk for HC https://t.co/mRWvdRWRlj— Scott Gilmore (@Scott_Gilmore) September 11, 2016

          • Colonial Viper 3.1.2.1.1
            12 September 2016 at 8:28 am

            On the upside, Clinton’s staffer who wiped the last copy of her emails AFTER a Congressional evidence preservation subpoena has been given immunity by the Department of Justice.

          • RedLogix 3.1.2.1.2
            12 September 2016 at 8:45 am

            You know full well that questions about a candidates health strike directly at their eligibility to run for office.

            The Guardian reports:

            The temperature in New York City on Sunday morning was in the low 80s fahrenheit, around 28C, with relatively low humidity of around 46% .

            That is warmish by kiwi standards, but certainly not unusual or at all extreme. Clearly something has happened here. No-one but you is denying it. What none of us know yet is whether this has any physical significance for Clinton herself. It may be something trivial, or not.

            Certainly given that the RW machine has already attacked her on her health, it’s a damned unfortunate coincidence that this acknowledged “medical incident’ lends credence. And as we know in politics, perception is all.

            • joe90 3.1.2.1.2.1
              12 September 2016 at 9:06 am

              No-one but you is denying it.

              Saying a woman felt crook and noting that the noise machine is cranking up is a denial, really?.

              On a close to 30°C August day a woman wearing body armour feels crook – RWNJ noise machine goes nuts.
              /

              • RedLogix …
                12 September 2016 at 9:09 am

                OK so ‘denial’ was the wrong word. How about ‘defensive’?

                • joe90 …
                  12 September 2016 at 9:18 am

                  Nah, sickened.

                  Sickened to the back teeth by the way supposedly decent left leaning folk are cheering for a dishonest racist hate-mongering narcissist.

                  • Karen …
                    12 September 2016 at 9:22 am

                    + 1 joe90.

                  • RedLogix …
                    12 September 2016 at 9:26 am

                    I’ve always solidly and vigorusly cheered for Sanders … I’m surprised you’ve concluded that even he is a ” dishonest racist hate-mongering narcissist”.

                    • joe90 …
                      12 September 2016 at 9:32 am

                      I’m surprised you’ve concluded

                      That’s you being willfully disingenuous, dude….

                    • RedLogix …
                      12 September 2016 at 9:41 am

                      I’m happy to stand on my record here as being a consistent Sanders supporter. And at no point have I ever expressed any explicit support for Trump whatsoever. None. Zero.Zip.

                      Feel free to search this site for any comment by me explicitly and positively backing your contention. Simply being critical of Clinton does not count as being supportive of Trump by implication.

                      Otherwise you owe me an apology. And you can stop being sickened if it will make you feel better.

                      If Clinton really does have a significant health issue (and that possibility can no longer be ruled out) … then it is very much in the Democrats interests to come clean now.

                    • joe90 …
                      12 September 2016 at 9:50 am

                      Otherwise you owe me an apology.

                      I suppose had I referred explicitly to you cheering, you’d have a point. But I didn’t.

                      btw, here’s the doctors note

                      Statement from Hillary Clinton's doctor says Clinton was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday pic.twitter.com/xfEy9wloaz— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) September 11, 2016

                    • RedLogix …
                      12 September 2016 at 9:58 am

                      And now you want to tell me Hillary Clinton is perfectly healthy, but she’s just had pneumonia?

                      At her age that can be pretty serious. Why the hell is she working at all?

                      And just to be clear … you really were not implying I’m a Trump supporter in any shape or form?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      12 September 2016 at 10:00 am

                      She was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday and was out standing in the open for an hour plus on Sunday??? Normally pneumonia (i.e. a lung infection) in an older person would require several days bed rest as a precaution.

                    • joe90 …
                      12 September 2016 at 10:04 am

                      you really were not implying I’m a Trump supporter in any shape or form?

                      No.

                    • RedLogix …
                      12 September 2016 at 10:22 am

                      @ joe

                      It’s worth expanding on this a bit. I completely agree that Trump is exactly what you describe him as; a ” dishonest racist hate-mongering narcissist”. The ONLY good thing I can think to say about him is that he possibly less vile than all the other candidates the Repugs stood up in their primary.

                      But it’s a mistake to think this is ALL he is. I’ve loathed John Key from the moment I clapped eyes on his corporate shark, fake social smile. But equally I’ve also consistently argued here the left makes a serious mistake to underestimate him.

                      And we also make a serious mistake when we ignore the reasons WHY so many Amercan’s will support and vote for Trump. And the complementary set of reasons why so many are suspicious of Clinton. Or as the educated and professional young American I met some weeks back said, “It’s no longer a case of the lessor of two evils, but a choice of two frank evils”.

                      Trump is a vile person, but he says things that resonate with many Americans who deeply distrust their political establishment. By contrast Clinton is a way more decent human being, but she solidly represents an establishment that is far from decent.

                      If someone put the rhetorical Colt 45 to my head and told me to vote, I’d pick Clinton in a heartbeat or less. But equally I can understand how someone else may well come to the opposite conclusion. And I believe trying to shame and bully them into silence for making that choice probably doesn’t help.

                    • McFlock …
                      12 September 2016 at 11:58 am

                      Normally pneumonia (i.e. a lung infection) in an older person would require several days bed rest as a precaution.

                      Normally, people aren’t running for President.

                      You would have been printing up her death certificate if she’d missed turning up to commemorate 9/11, and Trump would have said she was in mourning for bin laden.

                      btw – 28C usually stuffs me completely.

                  • marty mars …
                    12 September 2016 at 9:34 am

                    + 1 they arent decent joe they are fake fakes

                  • Gabby …
                    12 September 2016 at 5:09 pm

                    She’s not that bad.

        • mosa 3.1.2.2
          12 September 2016 at 9:59 am

          If she is forced out by an” appalling turn of events” would Kaine step in or will they talk to Bernie ?

        • Sanctuary 3.1.2.3
          12 September 2016 at 1:53 pm

          “…The fact of the MSM running with this is a new development…”

          Except it isn’t. The “swift boating” noise machine has been hammering at the big lie since forever. All this does is legitimise the MSM jumping on board the rumour mill, and laundering it into mainstream fact.

          The United States is completely fucked as long as it remains in a state of polarised political fantasy. The US right is the complete rejection of the enlightenment. It is very much a mirror of ISIS. If you think that is a bit strong, imagine what sort of country the USA will be if Trump wins. Mass arrests, ethnic cleansing, openly cosying up to lawless kleptocrats like Putin and the butchers of Beijing, it will all be on the table straight away, and logic of extremism would see a whole lot more as well before long.

          Here is a bold prediction: If Trump wins, and he carries on like he has on campaign, the US military (as the last functioning bi-partisan organ of the US federal government) will act to remove him. It wouldn’t have to be a rebellion – the merest hint of refusing to obey orders will see him forced from office by an establishment with to much to lose in having the constitution – with it’s fat cat jobs and sinecures – shredded.

      • James 3.1.3
        12 September 2016 at 8:32 am

        If (and there is no comment I have seen backing thecomment) that she was wearing body armour – so we’re the many police etc who were there. Didn’t see them being carried out and being dumped in a van.

        Any reasonable presidential hopeful with comments about here health would have gone to the hospital and been checked out and provided a “doctors note” as opposed to hiding at her daughters home and then a weak photo opportunity later walking down the street.

        This will cause more questions and she could have stopped it – but nope.

        • Psycho Milt 3.1.3.1
          12 September 2016 at 8:38 am

          Where do people get the idea that only a seriously ill person could faint from heatstroke after standing for a while at some ceremony in 30-degree heat? Have you never seen it happen yourself?

          • Colonial Viper 3.1.3.1.1
            12 September 2016 at 8:44 am

            28 deg C heat, low humidity (46%), a medium light crowd (it wasn’t a mosh pit).

            A healthy person should be able to regulate their own body temp pretty easily in those circumstances without staggering and falling to their knees.

          • RedLogix 3.1.3.1.2
            12 September 2016 at 8:57 am

            It was actually 28 degC, and the humidity a comfortable 46%. That is warm, but definitely not oppressive. Air temperature by itself is an insufficient measure of our ability to regulate body heat, you have to take into account humidity to obtain ‘wet bulb’ temperature.

            http://www.bom.gov.au/info/thermal_stress/

            I can’t rule out that the weather did play some role in what happened, but certainly it cannot have been the dominant factor because presumably there were many other people at the same event and there are no reports of mass faintings or stumblings.

            • marty mars 3.1.3.1.2.1
              12 September 2016 at 9:42 am

              People faint, haven’t you watched clips of highly trained soldiers fainting, what is wrong with them?

              • Colonial Viper …
                12 September 2016 at 9:50 am

                She didn’t faint, she didn’t lose consciousness.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    12 September 2016 at 9:57 am

                    because you can’t walk to and climb into a van after you have lost consciousness

                    • marty mars …
                      12 September 2016 at 10:03 am

                      There are many ways to faint including and up to collapsing.

                    • McFlock …
                      12 September 2016 at 12:46 pm

                      Really, CV? At what level of consciousness is this impossible? How do you know this? What duration of this reduced consciousness is required to meet your non-medical threshold of “fainted”? How are you able to diagnose this level and duration of reduced consciousness from an obstructed shot of the back of her head?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:14 pm

                      Hey McFlock, impressed with your attempts to liken Clinton’s loss of motor control, lower body strength and balance over several seconds to some kind of non-insidious fainting spell; maybe that’s all it is.

                    • McFlock …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:22 pm

                      Nice deflection from the questions about your diagnostic process.

                      I guess if it ducks like a quack…

                      Hey, how do you know she experienced loss of motor control and balance issues and lower body strength? Any one of those could be functionally indistinguishable to someone observing from a distance with an obstructed view.

                      You’re just making shit up.

              • RedLogix …
                12 September 2016 at 9:51 am

                Usually because they’ve been required to stand rigidly at attention for hours, virtually motionless. Thermal stress is only part of it.

                As I said above, if the conditions at the event were the dominant and root cause of what has happened to Clinton here, then logically we would have reports of many. many other people fainting as well.

                But we don’t do we?

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  12 September 2016 at 11:03 am

                  People faint for all sorts of reasons, medical and situational. These reasons include:

                  …fasting long hours, taking in too little food and fluids, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, high g-force, emotional distress, and lack of sleep. Wikipedia.

                  None of this can be diagnosed by video.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    12 September 2016 at 12:35 pm

                    How is it even a “faint”? She was walking, though staggering, and was able to step up into a van with help.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      12 September 2016 at 12:57 pm

                      Marty already answered this question. So did McFlock. I suggest you try Wikipedia or a search for syncope at Google Scholar.

                      Nah, ask your gut, your gut has more nerve endings than your brain.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:09 pm

                      I personally have no doubt that there will be more health incidents over the next 2 months as her public schedule intensifies significantly.

                      Nah, ask your gut, your gut has more nerve endings than your brain.

                      Not quite true, but not entirely false either. The enteric nervous system has a massive neuronal network.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      12 September 2016 at 3:54 pm

                      *whoosh*

                      😆

            • Psycho Milt 3.1.3.1.2.2
              12 September 2016 at 10:04 am

              It was actually 28 degC, and the humidity a comfortable 46%. That is warm, but definitely not oppressive.

              Not in Australia, maybe. Here in Palmerston North, where we’re used to a somewhat more reasonable climate, when it hits 28 degrees I turn on the air conditioning and lie on the couch.

            • Poission 3.1.3.1.2.3
              12 September 2016 at 11:44 am

              In NYC you only collapse from heat if an aeroplane hits you.

        • joe90 3.1.3.2
          12 September 2016 at 8:39 am

          The birther nonsense started when folk who were just asking questions demanded that Obama release his birth certificate.

          How did that work out for him?

          • Colonial Viper 3.1.3.2.1
            12 September 2016 at 8:46 am

            Sanders was always the stronger candidate, and the Democratic hierarchy should have picked him.

    • ianmac 3.2
      12 September 2016 at 9:03 am

      Remember that Reagan was suffering dementia in his 2nd term and carried on being President. Crazy that he could?

      • Colonial Viper 3.2.1
        12 September 2016 at 9:52 am

        Not really, he just did what he was told.

      • seeker 3.2.2
        12 September 2016 at 11:25 am

        John key has suffered a couple of ‘pass outs’ and still carries on. ( sorry can’t find sources as in a rush.)

        • chris73 3.2.2.1
          12 September 2016 at 11:33 am

          I think its because people realise how hard he works and as such are more forgiving

          • Siobhan 3.2.2.1.1
            12 September 2016 at 12:08 pm

            Well back in 2013 he fainted at some restaurant, due to jet lag after a holiday in Hawaii..poor man. Interestingly I think he may have been treated at a public hospital, you would think he’d go private, but I guess he’s always up for a freebie from the taxpayer.

            • Lanthanide 3.2.2.1.1.1
              12 September 2016 at 12:09 pm

              “but I guess he’s always up for a freebie from the taxpayer.”

              John Key does pay a fair amount of tax, so he’s no more or less deserving of public healthcare than any other member of society.

              Also, public hospitals deal with all emergency care; private only deal with non-emergency stuff.

              • Siobhan …
                12 September 2016 at 12:24 pm

                Actually its not that I don’t think the wealthy should have free healthcare…it’s that, in the case of Key, they are willing to let whole sectors of Health care go to the dogs, safe in the knowledge that should they require serious health care they will go private.

                I think all politicians should receive free health care.
                I think they should stand by their work and not have Private Health care.

                • Lanthanide …
                  12 September 2016 at 12:51 pm

                  Alternatively:
                  1. Funding healthcare at a level that could get everyone seen-to for whatever their condition, within 7 days, would be prohibitively expensive for the country
                  2. So offer an affordable public service, that does a very good job, even if it can’t administer initial treatment to all patients within 7 days
                  3. Allow those who have the money, to pay the extra money to get faster treatment

                  Also, politicians are on the public purse. If they’re sitting around sick for 4 months off-work, then they’re not working for the public, wasting public money. Alternatively if they pay extra for the private healthcare they need, they can be on their feet quicker and back to serving the country.

                  This latter point suggests that Parliamentary Services should be paying for private health insurance for all MPs. Unsure if they do or not.

                  • Siobhan …
                    12 September 2016 at 1:00 pm

                    This latter point suggests that Parliamentary Services should be paying for private health insurance for all MPs….Politicians aren’t the only people ‘serving’ the country, so how about police, teachers, health professionals, rubbish collectors, army, etc etc.
                    Infact any person out of the loop of work is a hindrance to the economy…so how about, oh, I know this will sound ‘out there’, but how about Fully Publicly Funded Health care.

                    By the by, I’m not sure where the seven days come into it…I just mean care in a timely manner, with conditions being treated early rather than latter…which would have so many economic advantages it’s hard to know where to begin.

                    • Lanthanide …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:30 pm

                      Politicians aren’t the only people ‘serving’ the country, so how about police, teachers, health professionals, rubbish collectors, army, etc etc.

                      I was answering your point when you said politicians should be banned from using private healthcare.

                      I know this will sound ‘out there’, but how about Fully Publicly Funded Health care.

                      Well, what do you mean by that? What metrics are you going to use to decide when it is Fully Funded or not? How much are you willing to spend? If that means the current mid-level rate has to go up from 17.5% to 30% to afford it, would you still support that?

                      By the by, I’m not sure where the seven days come into it…I just mean care in a timely manner, with conditions being treated early rather than latter…which would have so many economic advantages it’s hard to know where to begin.

                      I had to come up with some sort of concrete term beyond “treat people who are sick” because it could be argued that our current system does that. It’s pretty much impossible to argue that our current system will give initial treatment to anyone with any condition within 7 days of presenting, hence why I used that as a benchmark.

                    • Siobhan …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:44 pm

                      This is a reply to Lanthanide’s comment,
                      “It’s pretty much impossible to argue that our current system will give initial treatment to anyone with any condition within 7 days of presenting”, it’s hard to know where to start, but how about this article http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/73956930/hip-and-knee-patients-asked-to-endure-more-pain-before-surgery–labour

                      or this
                      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/78945273/Cantabrians-wait-in-crippling-pain-for-elective-surgery

                      You will no doubt tell me these are ‘elective surgery’, but if you have a medical condition that means you cannot work it is hardly something you are selfishly ‘electing’ to do. It is necessary.

                      And yes, up the spending. If all companies and corporations paid their fair share of tax we could afford it.

                      Having people sitting at home on benefits while they magically disappear from waiting lists is not the cheap alternative.

                    • Lanthanide …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:56 pm

                      “And yes, up the spending. If all companies and corporations paid their fair share of tax we could afford it.”

                      That money has to come from somewhere. Where are you proposing the money will come from?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      12 September 2016 at 3:23 pm

                      Most of those brand new US dollars are issued by the Federal Reserve to the tune of hundreds of millions a month.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    12 September 2016 at 1:01 pm

                    Why? We all pay for the medical training and infrastructure that enable the system to function. How does diverting our resources to monied queue-jumpers improve matters?

                    • Lanthanide …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:22 pm

                      Sorry, not sure what you’re talking about.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:31 pm

                      Are the private hospitals going to set up their own medical schools, fully funded by their investors and clients? Or will they wait for the taxpayer to educate their staff for them?

                    • Lanthanide …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:38 pm

                      How many doctors do you think would attend our public medical schools (for which they pay big student loans, don’t forget), if there was no private medical work available in NZ?

                      How many of our trained doctors do you think would fly off overseas, if we had 0 private practice available?

                      Most surgeons and other specialists in NZ work in both the public and private system.

                      As usual, it’s a complex situation, there is no single “right” answer.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      12 September 2016 at 2:51 pm

                      In our health system as it stands today? Moot point.

                    • Red []
                      12 September 2016 at 3:27 pm

                      OAB answer is Cuba, just don’t let them leave OAB has numerous examples and studies to show there are no unintended consequences to socialist policy, any such discussion to highlight as such will result in accusation of lies, bigotry parroting and questioning your ancestoral lineage, so don’t bother

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      12 September 2016 at 3:47 pm

                      Red, no, you can’t conceive of my opinion so don’t try. I’m not sure being subject to overt super-power bullying is a great position for any country to be in so no, I wouldn’t go the Cuban route.

                      Right now, the privatisation disease is rife in our health system. Cut it out, then burn it. Show Compass the door.

                      As the largest domestic player in the economy, we (the government, on our behalf) have every right to establish and maintain a health care system that makes private provision a very specialised market indeed. Not banned, just struggling to hold onto its market-share in the face of excellent public service provision.

                      The National Party has shown itself to be utterly incompetent to build houses, let alone hospitals.

                    • Red []
                      12 September 2016 at 4:52 pm

                      Why not private and public side by side forcing each other to compete and be efficient

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      12 September 2016 at 5:31 pm

                      🙄

                      That’s what I’m proposing: greedy troughers who just happen to be members of Cabinet Club can compete on the open market for a change.

                      If privatisation worked, it would have done so by now. It doesn’t work and if you believe it does you really need to stop lying to yourself because I got the message before the failed experiment even began.

  4. Garibaldi 4
    12 September 2016 at 7:43 am

    I heard on RNZ this morning that NZ is going to give ten million dollars (from memory) to the Pacific Islands to encourage more people to play sport. Surely there are greater problems than bloody professional sport? Unbloodybelievable!

    • Colonial Viper 4.1
      12 September 2016 at 8:02 am

      Sounds like a soft, unaccountable bribe

    • Psycho Milt 4.2
      12 September 2016 at 8:42 am

      It’s a National thing – the thinking is that PIs are thickos who can’t be educated, so the only way any of them will get a well-paid job is as a professional sportsman (what the women are supposed to beats me – cook, clean, raise kids and go to church, I guess). So this is like philanthropy. And also what CV said.

    • Red 4.3
      12 September 2016 at 3:30 pm

      Not when PI countries biggest forgein exchange earnings comes from overseas remittances, and a big and growing chunk of that been professional sportsmen. therefore it is an investment in the unique sporting capability of PIs

      • Colonial Viper 4.3.1
        12 September 2016 at 3:36 pm

        Not when PI countries biggest forgein exchange earnings comes from overseas remittances, and a big and growing chunk of that been professional sportsmen.

        What a weird and unlikely rationale.

        • Red 4.3.1.1
          12 September 2016 at 4:54 pm

          Why, if we help train professional sportsmen that can make millions who then support their families at home why is this different from any other investment in people

          • Red 4.3.1.1.1
            12 September 2016 at 4:57 pm

            Note also CV not my rationale but Samoan primeminster on announcement of investment with Jk this morning on One

            • Colonial Viper 4.3.1.1.1.1
              12 September 2016 at 5:43 pm

              I guess his people didn’t need that money for water treatment or cyclone defences

              • Red …
                12 September 2016 at 9:31 pm

                I do not think giving people opportunity is a bad thing, I also don’t think it’s an argument it is one or the other, this is not the only aid that goes to the islands so it’s on top of that so can’t be a bad thing

  5. BlueSky 5
    12 September 2016 at 7:56 am

    Anyone else see the correlation between Apples money in the bank and the fact they do not pay taxes fairly. I wonder how many other multinational buying sprees are funded from money that would have otherwise been paid in tax to provide the environment which enable them to make there money.

  6. Anne 6
    12 September 2016 at 9:03 am

    So Frank Bainimarama and his police thugs have arrested Opposition leaders and thrown them into prison. Some have been released but others are still there. Their crime? They organised a forum and talked with one one another. But its ok folks. John Key says it is a democratically elected government (yeah? I thought it was more like the voters didn’t dare vote any other way) and its quite common for governments to have a reshuffle from time to time. In other words he’s not concerned.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=201815753

    • ianmac 6.1
      12 September 2016 at 10:03 am

      What the MPs fear is that under the Constitution, if any charges are laid then they cannot stand for Parliament. And under Frank’s rule charges can be laid about anything real or trumped up.

  7. rhinocrates 7
    12 September 2016 at 9:21 am

    Ugh.

    Nearly 20% of Trump supporters consider the abolition of slavery a mistake:

    http://www.vox.com/2016/2/24/11105552/trump-supporters-slavery

    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/upshot/measuring-donald-trumps-supporters-for-intolerance.html?smid=tw-share

    https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/ctucuikdsj/econToplines.pdf

    A YouGov/Economist poll in January asked respondents if they approved or disapproved of “the executive order that freed all slaves in the states that were in rebellion against the federal government.

    That’s alongside the Holocaust deniers (or supporters!) and the KKK all actively endorsing Trump and Andrew Shannon, head of Breitbart, which has direct Neo-N— links and is now running Trump’s campaign.

    Pro-slavery, pro-N—, pro genocide. That increasingly describes a large portion of Trump’s support and he’s knowingly capitalising on it.

    • joe90 7.1
      12 September 2016 at 9:28 am

      Ta-Nehisi Coates weighs in.

      Hillary Clinton Was Politically Incorrect, but She Wasn’t Wrong About Trump’s Supporters

      Clinton said half of Donald Trump’s supporters were prejudiced. If anything, her numbers are too low.

      […]

      Much like Trump’s alleged opposition to the Iraq War, this not an impossible claim to investigate. We know, for instance, some nearly 60 percent of Trump’s supporters hold “unfavorable views” of Islam, and 76 percent support a ban on Muslims entering the United States. We know that some 40 percent of Trump’s supporters believe blacks are more violent, more criminal, lazier, and ruder than whites. Two-thirds of Trump’s supporters believe the first black president in this country’s history is not American. These claim are not ancillary to Donald Trump’s candidacy, they are a driving force behind it.

      http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/basket-of-deplorables/499493/

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1
        12 September 2016 at 9:55 am

        I’m sure Clinton’s comment on half of Trump’s supporters being an irredeemable basket of deplorables is going to be a big hit with the liberal left 10% in the USA.

      • ianmac 7.1.2
        12 September 2016 at 10:05 am

        And more than 50% of all Americans believe in Ghosts, Heaven and Hell.

    • Colonial Viper 7.2
      12 September 2016 at 9:53 am

      But it was the Democrats – Bill Clnton in fact, who signed the Omnibus Bill which criminalised Blacks for what had been minor crimes and put an extra 2M blacks into the for-profit prison system.

      That’s the new Jim Crow, thanks to Clinton and the Democrats.

      • rhinocrates 7.2.1
        12 September 2016 at 10:10 am

        The Omnibus Bill and NAFTA were both terrible and should be repealed immediately.

        However, every time a criticism of Trump is made or there is yet another revelation about the of his evil support base, you divert with a weird version of “But Laaaaaabour…”

        So let’s be direct. Suppose the YouGov/Economist poll were being conducted.

        Do you:

        (A) Support slavery
        (B) Think the Holocaust never happened
        (C) Think the Holocaust was cool
        (D) A and B
        (E) A and C
        (F) Shrug, don’t mind being associated with the above
        (G) Dread the resurgence in support for N—sm and slavery

        Unless I’m mistaken, you’ve indicated F already.

        • Colonial Viper 7.2.1.1
          12 September 2016 at 10:47 am

          I gave up on the Left’s internal social qualification scheme of needing to jump up and down in outrage over this and that irrelevancy at every opportunity, or else you are a bad bad person.

          And I’ve been opposing the West’s billion dollar support of the unconstitutional neo-Nzi far right Banderist backed junta in Kiev for a couple of years now while most Standardistas just let it sail by without remark because you know, anti-Russia.

          • rhinocrates 7.2.1.1.1
            12 September 2016 at 11:26 am

            Concern about active support in the Trump campaign for N–sm, genocide and slavery is “Irrelevant” and worthy of a “Shrug” and yet another disingenuous diversion.

            Sickening. Probably sick.

            • Colonial Viper 7.2.1.1.1.1
              12 September 2016 at 12:26 pm

              As I said, I’ve given up on the left’s internal social qualification scheme of outrage at this, condemning that, etc.

              Clinton is backed by neocon banksters, corporations and weapon manufacturers who impoverish, kill, maim and poison millions of people in the developing world, implode entire countries and are intent on escalating nuclear military tensions with China and Russia.

              Ahead of this, I pick Trump any day of the week.

            • Garibaldi 7.2.1.1.1.2
              12 September 2016 at 12:53 pm

              Rhinocrates….I think that we who can’t back Hillary know that Trump is a bloody loud-mouthed idiot and makes the most ridiculous comments etc….. but we also believe he won’t get to carry them out, through a variety of reasons . The small glimmer of hope for him is that he wants to stick it to the Establishment (and I’ll admit that’s not enough to hang on to).
              The problem with that ” oh so genuine ” Hillary is that she is more than capable of covertly being worse than Trump and, basically, is such a warmongering bitch that she will set off nuclear obliteration. It is very hard to see any glimmer of hope of Hillary being a good President.
              The only hope we had was Sanders.
              So ,imo, neither Clinton nor Trump are acceptable. If I had to pick the lesser of two evils ( which is still evil) I would probably opt for stupid bloody Trump in the feint hope he will stick it to Wall St et al.

              • rhinocrates …
                12 September 2016 at 2:11 pm

                Garibaldi, you won’t see any defence of Hillary from me and I think that Sanders should have been the nominee. I don’t see Clinton doing anything better than kicking problems further down the road – at best.

                OK, I want to have a look at a couple of points you make here:

                but we also believe he won’t get to carry them out, through a variety of reasons

                I don’t know what these reasons are, but evil and stupid can be as dangerous as evil and competent.

                However, even assuming Trump is ineffectual, as I’ve repeatedly said, he’s riding a wave of outright, unashamed f*scism. If he were to be abducted by aliens tomorrow, the forces that he have sponsored have already been unleashed. There are plenty now, some even worse, who see themselves legitimised already.

                The small glimmer of hope for him is that he wants to stick it to the Establishment (and I’ll admit that’s not enough to hang on to).

                All very well, but there will inevitably be collateral damage. Bloody collateral damage. Unfortunately the elites have got where they are by ensuring that damage is always diverted to those who have the least resources and who make the most convenient scapegoats. Jews for example have been the historical favourite.

                If President Trump fails in his plans and finds his support slipping, his hounds will go hunting. They’re already howling.

                Also, really do not overfocus on particular personalities, either Clinton as the Wicked Witch of the West or Trump as knight in gilded armour or useful battering ram. We know what’s behind Clinton, but what’s behind Trump is far greater than him too. Take either of them away and others will fill their place and those scarecrows will be worshipped as idols too, and they too will be replaceable. Look instead at the forces behind both of them.

                The American f*scist/”alt-right” is a diverse rabble, running from Silicon Valley trolls to Christian Dominionists and in their apocalyptic fantasies, nuclear war is a necessity. You’ll just see worse capitalism and cronyism if the first side dominates and if the other does, well… they think that God will take them away to Heaven if it all turns to radioactive custard. Pity about everyone else.

              • rhinocrates …
                12 September 2016 at 2:21 pm

                There’s an old proverb: If you desire vengeance, first dig two graves.

                If Trump is an instrument of vengeance against evil, don’t assume that there won’t be evil consequences.

                However, it’s quite clear that CV’s resentment has turned to obsessive nihilism.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  12 September 2016 at 3:39 pm

                  Nihilism? You’re clever but don’t outsmart yourself. Clinton is the warmonger neocon who will keep ratcheting up tensions with Russia in Eastern Europe and China in the South China Sea to the nth degree simply to sell more weapons, even at the risk of starting a nuclear exchange.

                  That’s nihilism.

                  • McFlock …
                    12 September 2016 at 3:54 pm

                    Whereas Trump’s attempt at international diplomacy went so well that the minister who invited him to Mexico had to resign.

                    And this is the guy you want to negotiate with the Russians, Chinese and North Koreans. What can possibly go wrong /sarc

                    • rhinocrates …
                      12 September 2016 at 4:42 pm

                      Trump’s been saying for a while that NATO partners should be paying more for their defence. That’s sure to please Lockheed Martin’s shareholders. They won’t be spending money on local programmes – America used its muscle to kill local programmes like Canada’s Avro Arrow and Britain’s TSR 2 so they could sell American weapons. Even now Britain’s Queen Elizabeth class carriers will have F-35s, not navalised Eurofighters or second generation Harriers.

                      Meanwhile one interpretation of Japan’s Mitsubishi X-2 programme is that it’s to demonstrate a command of stealth technology so they can be trusted with F-22s sold or built under license (as the F-15J was) The USAF has been asking about reopening the F-22 production line. Again, an escalation of Japanese military presence is within Trump’s declared intention.

                      Clinton won’t be any better than her predecessors, but Trump’s the one who said that they should buy more… and that means American.

                    • rhinocrates …
                      12 September 2016 at 4:59 pm

                      In short, Trump wouldn’t put a stop to weapons proliferation, indeed his policy entails the opposite.

    • save nz 7.3
      12 September 2016 at 1:51 pm

      @ rhino crates – Nearly 20% of Trump supporters consider the abolition of slavery a mistake:

      30 years of Charter schools in the US. That’s what happens when you allow ‘special schools’ teaching their own curriculum with no oversights to be allowed to flourish. i.e. Poorly educated population who want to bring back slavery.

      Although some might argue that neoliberalism has bought back slavery anyway, just not in plain sight.

  8. The Chairman 8
    12 September 2016 at 9:58 am

    Which candidate in the Auckland mayoralty race do you think most aligns with the desires of the left?

    • The Chairman 8.1
      12 September 2016 at 10:24 am

      Penny Bright?

    • DoublePlusGood 8.2
      12 September 2016 at 10:34 am

      Probably (sigh) Penny Bright.

      • The Chairman 8.2.1
        12 September 2016 at 10:57 am

        Yet, City Vision (the coalition of Labour, Greens and community independents) are endorsing Goff. Go figure?

        • DoublePlusGood 8.2.1.1
          12 September 2016 at 4:52 pm

          Of course they are. Bright aligns best with what the left broadly want to achieve in Auckland. But people aren’t ever going to get behind her since she mostly just grandstands and refuses to even pay her rates.

          • The Chairman 8.2.1.1.1
            12 September 2016 at 5:15 pm

            “Bright aligns best with what the left broadly want to achieve in Auckland. But people aren’t ever going to get behind her…”

            Which tends to be the problem with the left. If we aren’t prepared to support those standing for us, we’ll never get the outcomes we desire.

            • DoublePlusGood 8.2.1.1.1.1
              13 September 2016 at 12:18 am

              People will support a strong candidate on the left, but Bright is not a strong candidate.

              • The Chairman …
                13 September 2016 at 7:12 am

                Goff isn’t a strong candidate for the left, yet he’s getting the endorsement and is expected to win.

  9. James 9
    12 September 2016 at 9:59 am

    So now Hillary Clintons doctor is saying she has pneumonia.

    Her health will continue to be in the spotlight for the rest of the campaign.

  10. Tautoko Mangō Mata 10
    12 September 2016 at 9:59 am

    This is an interesting view written by Rob Howse (posted on the International Law and Policy Blog) of the possibility of TPP with US ISDS reservation being pushed through congress. It still leaves the dead rats of higher pharmaceutical prices, extended copyright and USA-written standards on food, no country of origin labels on beef, etc so is still a bad deal that we should continue to oppose.

    “Could the Critics of ISDS Save TPP? An opportunity for Hillary Clinton to strike a new national bargain on trade”

    Proposing to President Obama that he present TPP to Congress on the basis of an ISDS reservation would turn Hillary Clinton from a perceived insincere opponent of TPP into an authentic supporter of better, more progressive trade agreements. Being handed the opportunity to secure his legacy in Asia on such reasonable terms, President Obama would appear obstinate, inflexible and unaccommodating if he were to reject the reservation. ( In the case of the Iran deal, the administration was endlessly inventive in the way it adjusted the structure of the accord to address critics and get Congressional approval.)

    My own view is that I share many of the critics’ concerns with investor-state arbitration (lack of predictable jurisprudence, no arbitrator accountability and professional standards, weak conflict of interest and ethics rules, lack of diversity in the arbitrator pool etc.) but I would prefer an alternative that preserves international dispute settlement accessible to non-state actors including investors while addressing these problems. An ISDS reservation might well speed up and fortify efforts to find a different way of guaranteeing international norms of non-discrimination, due process and access to justice in the investment area. For me the problem is that an ISDS reservation is not enough to make TPP a meritorious agreement, in the sense of moving in a progressive direction on trade. But add a couple of additional reservations/declarations and I could be persuaded to regard TPP as a worthy compromise, the basis for a united Democratic front against Trump’s aggressive protectionist stance.

    http://worldtradelaw.typepad.com/

  11. Siobhan 11
    12 September 2016 at 10:19 am

    How about the massive silence in the Media generally about The Dakaota Pipeline protests, and now the arrest warrant for the journalist Amy Goodman who dared to film the whole incident. Oh yes, and an arrest warrant for Jill Stein, a candidate in the Gloriously Democratic American Elections. Though she is a tagger and I know how property owners feel about that.

    I’ve seen so many posts on Facebook crowing about how Obama is stepping up to the plate over this issue…yet the message here is ‘Journalists stand clear…DO NOT report the news that doesn’t fit the narrative’.
    And where is dear Hilary on this issue.
    Sure, I don’t expect to see her at the protest, the heat is more than enough to give her the vapours…but surely it’s an excellent issue for a apparent Liberal such as herself.

    Land of the Free…..unlike Fiji. But only by the slimmest of margins.

    http://www.democracynow.org/2016/9/10/breaking_arrest_warrant_issued_for_amy

    • Draco T Bastard 11.1
      12 September 2016 at 11:05 am

      The US has always been a dictatorship of the rich and the freedom that they espouse only applies to the rich. Everybody else is oppressed and cowed into submission.

      NZ is going the same way.

    • save nz 11.2
      12 September 2016 at 1:53 pm

      @Siobhan +1

    • mauī 11.3
      12 September 2016 at 11:30 pm

      This week our tv news thought footage of two American drug addicted parents comatosed in their car with their kid in the backseat was worth 6pm air time instead…

      I have to agree a US oil company deliberating bulldozing native indian sacred sites and unleashing dogs on protestors was much, much more important.

  12. joe90 12
    12 September 2016 at 12:26 pm

    All class.
    /

    “@realDonaldTrump: I would like to extend my best wishes to all, even the haters and losers, on this special date, September 11th.”— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 12, 2013

  13. weka 13
    12 September 2016 at 1:03 pm

    All I can say is luckily Clinton wasn’t up on a roof painting. In case that’s a big obscure, all the speculation about Clinton’s health and ignoring of her doctor’s opinions is exactly the same shit that people on medical benefits face all the time and that has serious negative real world consequences for them. People feel entitled to diagnose others based on looking at them. That’s a form of discrimination, ableism and bigotry.

    If people want to talk about Clinton having pneumonia and how that might affect her ability to run for president, have at it. Clinton’s doctors have put that medical diagnosis into the public domain, presumably with her consent. But the online and MSM armchair diagnosing sets dangerous precedents and is yet another example of left wing debate throwing vulnerable people under the bus each time it suits them. The only people who know shit about Clinton’s health are Clinton, her doctors and the people she chooses to share with.

    btw Red, at 69 it’s most likely that Clinton is post-menopausal not menopausal. Unless she uses HRT (which is quite likely given it’s the US), in which case she suspended menopause. The issues raised above stand, as does pointing out that menopause is not an illness.

    • Colonial Viper 13.1
      12 September 2016 at 2:05 pm

      If she’s not fit to be President she should just come forward and admit it.

      Being out at public events on the campaign trail just 2 days after being diagnosed with pneumonia (a serious lung infection) is nothing short of bad judgement about her own health.

      And people have a right to question this and question this hard.

      • joe90 13.1.1
        12 September 2016 at 2:10 pm

        Speaking about not fit…….(yes, I know, I know, cheap shot)

        .@realDonaldTrump Donald Trump weighs over 300 pounds. #trump #makeamericagreatagain #UniteBlue pic.twitter.com/GIRwh7pp4Z— TKDMike (@tkdmike) September 11, 2016

      • adam 13.1.2
        12 September 2016 at 5:35 pm

        Oh do leave off CV. I’m getting sick of your bashing disabled people.

        Many USA presidents have had disabilities, one even won a pretty big damn war! Not to mention the New Deal, or other programs.

        Others too, have done really well, whist some able bodies presidents have been total idiots. James Buchanan comes to mind. He was of sound mind and body – that did stop him from being a dam fool when it came to the issues of slavery and states rights.

        h.r.c may be unlikable for a mutilated of reasons, and I have no problem listing them. Voting record and her association with Wall Street just too name two. BUT, and it’s a big BUT, her disability is not one of them.

        So leave off C.V. because this line of argument makes you look like a retard. (retard – def: an able body person who thinks its OK to abuse disabled people)

        Post script: joe90 same goes for your cheap shot.

        • Colonial Viper 13.1.2.1
          12 September 2016 at 5:38 pm

          Oh do leave off CV. I’m getting sick of your bashing disabled people.

          Explain to me how Hillary Clinton is a disabled person just because she has pneumonia?

          Instead of resting after she is diagnosed with pneumonia she keeps pushing herself on the campaign trail and almost keels over, in public, at a 9/11 terrorist attack commemoration.

          That bad judgement is worth a bash.

          • weka 13.1.2.1.1
            12 September 2016 at 11:32 pm

            Just like the painter on the roof. Bash away.

            • Colonial Viper 13.1.2.1.1.1
              12 September 2016 at 11:36 pm

              how is it you believe that Hillary is somehow disabled or chronically sick like the painter on the roof?

              • weka …
                13 September 2016 at 10:35 am

                If I thought you were genuinely interested CV, I’d explain the dynamic. But watcing you push this abelist shit from the place your politics sit currently doesn’t lead me to believe that explaining it would mean it would be comprehended.

  15. One Two 15
    12 September 2016 at 1:45 pm

    ‘News’ is manufactured to create specific responses within the reader

    Some here are so invested in manufactured ‘news’ stories and then argue with others about which poison will kill less people

    Attachment and reaction are the objectives with divide and conquer being the outcome

    Look out, it’s a trap….

  16. Gangnam Style 16
    12 September 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Now ‘Dirty Politics’ the book/emails are getting mentioned in the very bizzarre case of ‘moral’ Williams & ‘magic hands’ Craig. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11708048

    “Colin Craig trial: Jordan Williams breaks down in tears as mother takes stand”

    “(Jordans mum) also said that Hager’s book had not harmed her son’s reputation because the claims were false, but agreed he had not taken any legal action relating to those claims.”

    • Rodel 16.1
      12 September 2016 at 6:13 pm

      Excerpt from the Herald- reminds me of some Trump-like TV soap I’ve seen but can’t recall the name of it.

      ‘Williams’ older sister, Catherine Murray.’….’an HR consultant and employment relations advocate also took the stand;
      “When I first heard that Mr Craig was suing my little brother I was like, ‘Oh my gosh who is this big mean guy with lots of money suing him?” ‘

      They do it so well…More popcorn anyone?

  17. Paul 17
    12 September 2016 at 5:06 pm

    Guillain-Barrē Syndrome patient admitted to hospital.

    A Havelock North woman, in her forties, was admitted to Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital on Friday, with symptoms that have been confirmed as Guillain-Barrē Syndrome.

    The patient is in a stable condition and is progressing well with the treatment she has received.

    Hawke’s Bay Hospital Physician Andrew Burns said the patient had diarrhoeal symptoms during the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak in August.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11708187

    Two thirds of people with Guillain–Barré syndrome have experienced an infection before the onset of the condition. Most commonly these are episodes of gastroenteritis or a respiratory tract infection. In many cases, the exact nature of the infection can be confirmed.Approximately 30% of cases are provoked by Campylobacter jejuni bacteria, which cause diarrhea. A further 10% are attributable to cytomegalovirus (CMV, HHV-5). Despite this, only very few people with Campylobacter or CMV infections develop Guillain–Barré syndrome (0.25–0.65 per 1000 and 0.6–2.2 per 1000 episodes, respectively). The strain of Campylobacter involved may determine the risk of GBS; different forms of the bacteria have different lipopolysaccharides on their surface, and some may induce illness (see below) while others will not.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillain%E2%80%93Barr%C3%A9_syndrome#Causes

  18. Gangnam Style 18
    12 September 2016 at 5:43 pm

    WTF? They take money off women who won’t identify the father of their child? I know it’s opening up a can of worms/right winger wet dream but here’s a petition for anyone interested.

    http://www.aaap.org.nz/stopthesanctions

    http://www.aaap.org.nz/stop_the_sanctions_faq

    “These sections impose a weekly sanction of $22 or more on beneficiary sole mothers who have not identified the father of their child. This sanction (in its current form of Section 70A of the Social Security Act) is putting into further hardship families already struggling to survive.
    Currently there are approximately 17,000 children in Aotearoa New Zealand for which this sanction is imposed. Of the 13,616 parents, 13,298 are women, and only 318 are men. 52.8% are Māori. This policy severely disproportionately effects women and Māori. “

  19. Chuck 19
    12 September 2016 at 6:16 pm

    Onenews poll just released has Andrew Little calling it a “rouge poll”.

    Poor guy…at 26% its as bad as it gets. Oh wait maybe we need to wait until 20% comes up 🙂

    It seems NZF are the winners. National steady as she goes…

    • Johan 19.1
      12 September 2016 at 7:03 pm

      Have you started drinking already Chuck?

    • Rodel 19.2
      12 September 2016 at 8:37 pm

      “rouge?” Colmar Brunton is usually more of a blue poll than ‘rouge’ I think.
      1000 people sampled with a a margin of error at …oh ..let’s say 100%

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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
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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