Open mike 12/11/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 12th, 2011 - 70 comments
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70 comments on “Open mike 12/11/2011 ”

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  1. Pete George 1
    12 November 2011 at 7:13 am

    Andrew Geddis suggests the NZ Bill of Rights overrides city bylaws and therefore Occupy Dunedin has the rightn to keep camping and protesting in ther Octagon.

    People are asking if this means anyone can camp anywhere as long as they protest. Right to protest a right to camp?

      • Colonial Viper 1.1.1
        12 November 2011 at 7:43 am

        And only Occupy has done it on this scale in every major NZ city for many a year, if ever.

      • KJT 1.1.2
        12 November 2011 at 10:31 am

        Yes. And we should have a right to camp on roadsides etc anyway.

        Typical Kiwi way. A few people abuse a right. Instead of dealing with the guilty, lawmakers remove the right for everyone.
        With a bit of an extra push, as usual, from those who will make more money out of removing that right.

        Motor camp owners in this case.

        Financial scheme touts for superannuation.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2
      12 November 2011 at 7:49 am

      Good question. I’m camping here because I’m protesting climate change, so I’ve set up a stall to sell badges and T shirts to raise people’s consciousness. All proceeds donated to protesters.

    • just saying 1.3
      12 November 2011 at 7:58 am

      Brilliant Pete.

      And you can beat the stampede of all those people who have been gagging to camp there. I expect you to get your tent and grab your iphone, and get camping. You can protest the protest! You’ve obviously got the hide of a rhino, so a bit of ‘roughing it’ on the hard ground shouldn’t be a problem.

      Think of the publicity man! The TV will come and visit you in your (non-virtual) campaign headquarters, as you campaign hard-out in the blogosphere. And what a photo op.

      Just keep your mind on the money. How much does a backbencher get? Nice little supplement to your benefit. And the glory. The power, and the perks, and the glory…

  2. Jenny 2
    12 November 2011 at 7:49 am

    Rocky and Minto win their case.

    Hooray for democracy!

    “Decision a victory for democracy” stuff.co.nz

    The courts have backed up the democratic right to protest even if it creates annoyance for those who might not agree with the protesters stand point or even their right to make it.

    (Take note Dunedin City Councillors)

    In the absence of, as in the US, a constitution which protects the right to peaceful assembly, this ruling has direct relevance to the OWS movement here in Aotearoa.

    Quite rightly the NZ police force have decided not to act on the DCC’s directive to close down the occupation. The Police’s legal advice is probably of the view, that such actions would involve the police in ultimately fruitless time wasting and expensive litigation and even the possibility of damages.

  3. Pete George 3
    12 November 2011 at 7:53 am

    A different campaign approach in Anne Tolley territory – speed dating in Gisborne.

  4. Tiger Mountain 4
    12 November 2011 at 8:13 am

    No wonder Paula Benefit has been looking rougher than usual lately, TV3 last night turned up the progress on the Fuller privacy case mediation that had been stalled for about a year. It seems a case against the Minister by the Human Rights Tribunal may proceed. Mr Hesketh from the tribunal did not want the matter reported apparently and Bennett is whinging about the matter being made public trying to portray it as electioneering.

    Hmmm. Not fun is it being outed in public guilty, or innocent. (A repost, Herald doesn’t seem to have covered this yet).

    • JAS 4.1
      12 November 2011 at 5:11 pm

      It seems our govt think they can do what they like and say what they like, but they also seem to think they can shut down other peoples right to speak.

      The Antipodean Mariner has been shutdown, and I am trying to find anything that shows this post relates to

  5. LynW 5
    12 November 2011 at 8:35 am

    Good Morning

    Brian Gaynor’s column today outlines the rorting practised by the wealthy.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10765409

    Also Fran O’Sullivan exposing the lack of political integrity…but what’s new!

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10765423

  6. just saying 6
    12 November 2011 at 8:41 am

    I’ve (kind of) resigned myself to another three years of National. In the long term it might be best that people are reminded that the dog-eat-dog path leads to the worst of all possible worlds, as the depression becomes more apparent.

    But what I just can’t stomach is the thought of a triumphant Key on election night.

    This is the song going round in my head:
    What’s the time Mr wolf?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spf1bvMQAsU

    Infectious Pacific reggae. Enjoy.

    • ianmac 6.1
      12 November 2011 at 10:44 am

      Yes JS. The sight of that little man hugging himself, flanked by a team of heavies to protect Key from rampant National supporters, giggling hysterically onstage on Election night is sickening. No dignity there. “I cheated all these mugs and I won. I won!”
      Put that against the Banks-Key suck-up and I feel ill.
      So let’s be positive. Still time!

  7. chris73 7
    12 November 2011 at 8:56 am

    A couple of changes to MMP I’d like to see:

    You’re either an electorate or list, not both
    Threshold dropped to 4%
    Even if you win an electorate seat you still have to gain 4%
    No leaders allowance for single MP parties

    • Sookie 7.1
      12 November 2011 at 9:25 am

      Never thought I’d say it ever, but I agree with you 100%. I think those are reasonable reforms. MMP is great, but it does have a few annoying flaws.

      • chris73 7.1.1
        12 November 2011 at 10:02 am

        I just hate seeing MPs (on both sides) get the flick and then slide back in on the list

        the people spoke and removed the MP but the party ignores the will of the people…

        • The Voice of Reason 7.1.1.1
          12 November 2011 at 10:11 am

          Nah, that’s rubbish, Chris. I can think of a few seats where parties have excellent candidates who aren’t going to win the seat, but still deserve to be in Parliament. Every Green candidate, for example. Do you think we should be deprived of Nikki Kaye if she loses Ak Central by a couple of votes? Or Jacinda Adern if its the other way round? Andrew Little or David Young? Stuart Nash? Paula Bennett? David Parker?

          You’ve simply bought into a failed meme. While a few plonkers have made it via the list, to say that a local preference should overule a potentially positive national contribution makes no sense.

          • chris73 7.1.1.1.1
            12 November 2011 at 10:24 am

            If they’re considered able then they can get a high placing on the list

            As an example the polls arn’t looking good for Gosgrove so he might lose because the voters prefer wilkinson BUT hes high enough on the list to get in anyway so really hes got two chances of getting in while someone equally (or even more) able might be further down the list and not even contesting a seat

            and if Kaye loses well too bad its what the people in the electorate want

            • rosy 7.1.1.1.1.1
              12 November 2011 at 10:45 am

              So you’re saying that able politicians shouldn’t stand in safe opposition seats if they are on the list?

              Really good politicians should stand in opposition safe seats IMO to make the challenge more robust. Then when they inevitably lose they have had the experience of interacting with an electorate, which can only make them more able politicians. As a bonus they’ve made the incumbent work a little harder for those electorate ticks that they’re ensured of getting, even if they’ve done a lousy job as an MP in the previous 3 years.

              • chris73 …
                12 November 2011 at 11:00 am

                I disagree, either stand on the list or take your chances winning a seat. A seat is only safe because of the work of the electorate MP. I think an MP would probably work harder if they only had one chance of getting in.

                A guaranteed list placing makes some (many?) MPs a little…complacent, in my (always) humble opinion

                • rosy …
                  12 November 2011 at 11:12 am

                  “A seat is only safe because of the work of the electorate MP”
                  Maybe in your electorate. I don’t think that is true of Tamaki, Ohariu*, Ilam, most of the Dunedin seats, and most of the rural seats… just for starters.

                  Edit: That’s not a comment on how hard they work, or not – it’s because the party that holds them can take them pretty much for granted.
                  * changing this election, with any luck.

          • KJT 7.1.1.1.2
            12 November 2011 at 10:46 am

            Wouldn’t like to lose a couple of the younger MP’s on that list, but it would be cheaper, long term, and better for all of us to pay incompetents, like Bennett, to stay home and do nothing.

            Under FPP we had a whole train of incompetents in safe party seats, as a reward for party donations or sycophancy. Don’t see how we can avoid that in a representative system.

            I will vote for MMP as the best of a bad bunch. Don’t see why we need a threshold though. If 1% are stupid enough to vote for Brash/ Banks then they should be represented. 100 MP’s with seats allocated per percentage.

            What we should be able to vote for is Democracy. But that will only happen over politicians bodies.

        • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.2
          12 November 2011 at 11:00 am

          the people spoke and removed the MP but the party ignores the will of the people…

          But, the people spoke through their party vote to elect them back in.

          • chris73 7.1.1.2.1
            12 November 2011 at 1:58 pm

            No I don’t believe that the people gave their votes to the party to specifically get the people dumped from the electorates back in.

            The people don’t have much of a say over party lists so as an example if I want to give my party vote to National but don’t like the list placements theres not much I can do about it

            I’m also sure that there are some people out there that want to give their party vote to labour but are perplexed about the listings

            • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.2.1.1
              12 November 2011 at 2:12 pm

              No I don’t believe that the people gave their votes to the party to specifically get the people dumped from the electorates back in.

              But you don’t actually know do you? And the lists were made public before the election. The only possible interpretation that can be assumed is that the people who voted for that party did, as a matter of fact, vote for that person.

              • chris73 …
                12 November 2011 at 5:11 pm

                The interpretation is that they vote for the party first and the individuals second (of which they have no choice)

                • felix …
                  12 November 2011 at 10:33 pm

                  So you think people vote for a party but not for the party list, chris?

                  How does that work? What do you think they’re actually voting for when they tick the box if not the people on the list of that party?

            • mikesh 7.1.1.2.1.2
              12 November 2011 at 3:23 pm

              One could institute a rule that list allocations be in accordance with the support that each unsuccessful candidate receives in his/her individual electorate.

    • Dv 7.2
      12 November 2011 at 9:59 am

      Not convinced about either list ot electorate, but the other three are excellent.

      • chris73 7.2.1
        12 November 2011 at 10:05 am

        To me its like two bites of the cherry, voted out of your seat but can still get back in (if you kiss enough arse i guess)

    • Lanthanide 7.3
      12 November 2011 at 11:14 am

      “Even if you win an electorate seat you still have to gain 4%”

      Does that mean you have to gain 4% to get into parliament, or 4% to bring in others on your coat-tails?

      The first is nonsensical.

      As to the second, I agree this needs to change but I’m in favour of a more moderate change: you get your electorates and up to 1 additional MP. So if you win 0.6% of party vote + 1 electorate, you get 1 electorate, if you win 3.9% of the party vote + 1 electorate, you get 1 electorate + 1 list, and if you get 4% then you get your electorate + appropriate list top-ups (4-5 MPs I guess).

      This would allow smaller parties who can win an electorate but not be largely represented Nationally to still get a toe-hold in parliament.

      • Draco T Bastard 7.3.1
        12 November 2011 at 11:44 am

        This would allow smaller parties who can win an electorate but not be largely represented Nationally to still get a toe-hold in parliament.

        No it doesn’t, it prevents those smaller parties from having the representation that their votes say that they should have. The only fair option is to drop the threshold 0.8%. If a party gets enough votes to get one seat then they should be represented in parliament.

        As for the argument we’ll end up with too many small parties…, well, that’s just a load of bollocks. The number of parties in parliament just make the initial negotiations to form government a little more complex but does nothing detrimental to the actual running of the country. Also, we seem to be getting a few one person parties anyway and we could always end up with independents in electorate seats (which actually require less of the vote under current electoral law and yet have the same say). If the people vote for them then they should be in parliamnet.

        • Lanthanide 7.3.1.1
          12 November 2011 at 1:07 pm

          Here’s what Wikipedia says about Israel’s 2% threshold:

          “Knesset seats are allocated among the various parties using the D’Hondt method of party list proportional representation. Israel requires a party to meet an election threshold of 2% of the overall vote to be allocated a Knesset seat. Parties select their candidates using a closed list. Thus, voters select the party of their choice, not any specific candidate. Elections are conducted by secret ballot.

          In practice, the Knesset’s ability to legislate has often been limited due to the consequences of Israel’s low 2% threshold of eligibility for a party to obtain a seat (one of the world’s lowest; though it was previously at 1%, then 1.5%). As a result, no party has ever gained a majority on its own (the most being 56 seats), and thus the government is formed on the basis of a coalition. The inherent instability of the coalitions (the average life span of an Israeli government is 25 months) results in numerous successful no-confidence motions, which automatically dissolve the Knesset and necessitates an early election call.”

          • Draco T Bastard 7.3.1.1.1
            12 November 2011 at 2:20 pm

            There are other solutions such as confidence and supply agreements, having the smaller party as part of government or, my favourite, have the policies voted on by the populace and then the MPs overseeing the implementation of those policies (parliament as administration rather than government).

            Just because the Israelis don’t know WTF they’re doing doesn’t mean we have to have the same problems.

      • chris73 7.3.2
        12 November 2011 at 12:26 pm

        I typed that while dealing with an attention-seeking puppy so i didn’t get it all down

        I meant that even if you win an electorate seat you still have to reach 4%

        • Lanthanide 7.3.2.1
          12 November 2011 at 1:04 pm

          Right, so if Jim Anderton wins Wigram, because his party didn’t get 4%, Jim Anderton doesn’t go into parliament, we end up with 119 MPs and the people of Wigram don’t get an electorate representative?

          That doesn’t make any sense.

          • chris73 7.3.2.1.1
            12 November 2011 at 1:53 pm

            The person who wins the electorate seat goes in and if they want to bring anyone else in their party still has to make the 4% threshold

            • Lanthanide 7.3.2.1.1.1
              12 November 2011 at 3:15 pm

              Right, that was my interpretation number 2. Your post at 7.3.2 indicates you meant interpretation number 1.

              • chris73 …
                12 November 2011 at 5:08 pm

                I assumed (my fault there) that everyone on here knew what I meant when I mentioned electorate seats and getting to 4%

    • mikesh 7.4
      12 November 2011 at 3:15 pm

      I think I would simply get rid of the threshold.

  8. KJT 8
    12 November 2011 at 10:26 am

    The meme. We cannot afford, super, benefits is continually repeated until even people who should know better repeat it.

    Notice that it is fund managers and other representatives of the financial sector. Those who get big commissions from private sector savings, including Kiwi saver, who continually repeat this as if it is true.

    They just want to repeat the killing of the taxpayer subsidised work schemes of the 70’s and 80’s where they took out more in fees, than most schemes earned. Looks like they succeeded. 42% in fees from Kiwi saver.

    The simple fact is, unless we invest in a sustainable future for New Zealand, (not in the financial sectors ponzi schemes), and in our youth, any super scheme savings will be inflated away with too much boomer savings chasing too little productivity.

    The obvious solution is to make those who have taken the most from our society, especially the over compensated financial sector, pay their fair share in tax to invest in the future of New Zealand. Not dodgy US derivatives,.

    • Draco T Bastard 8.1
      12 November 2011 at 11:11 am

      +1

      We have enough resources in NZ to ensure everybody a good living standard. The only reason why this doesn’t happen though is because of a few greedy bastards and a delusional financial system that rewards people for being psychopathic.

  9. aerobubble 9
    12 November 2011 at 10:28 am

    I like MMP and will be voting to keep it.

    I recommend voting for first past the post as the alternative, as
    it has already been proven firstly to work, second to have been
    overruled by the people, and thirdly isn’t one of the rigged
    proportional systems that will favor national and the two
    large parties (voter cards).

    why take the risk of change when you can pick a system
    first past the post that has proven to be challengable.

    • Janice 9.1
      12 November 2011 at 10:59 am

      Why vote for any alternative when you have ticked MMP? It will just give them something to hang their gerrymandering hat on.

      • Lanthanide 9.1.1
        12 November 2011 at 11:16 am

        If we choose not to answer the second question, is our answer to the first question still accepted as valid?

        Even then, it’s still better to vote in the 2nd one: if you vote in the first but not the second, then you’re shrinking the total pool of votes and allowing other people to choose for you.

        • ianmac 9.1.1.1
          12 November 2011 at 11:42 am

          Graeme Edgler says your vote is valid if you just vote for Keep MMP. You don’t have to vote for an alternative. In fact it would seem a bit silly to Vote for Keep, then vote for Alternative. Unless they just tally in % rather than total votes cast. Mmm

          • Tiger Mountain 9.1.1.1.1
            12 November 2011 at 12:10 pm

            This is an important point actually ianmac, I’ll just be ticking retain MMP. The link has a sample of the actual voting paper. There is part A and part B and Elections NZ clearly state that you can tick an option in both A and B OR just one of A and B. The more people that just tick retain MMP will reduce credibility for STV etc.
            http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/2011-referendum-on-the-voting-system.html

            • Vicky32 9.1.1.1.1.1
              13 November 2011 at 8:03 pm

              There is part A and part B and Elections NZ clearly state that you can tick an option in both A and B OR just one of A and B

              That is quite a relief! I don’t like any of the alternatives..

    • Kty 9.2
      12 November 2011 at 10:59 am

      If things dont change they remain the same.

  10. ianmac 10
    12 November 2011 at 11:53 am

    A fascinating talk with Kim Hill this morning with Raf Manji: money and the economy.
    He is a former London investment banker, like John Key, who moved to Christchurch and founded the independent policy development space, The Sustento Institute. (30′27″)
    I am a bit nervous about trying and sum up his ideas but he thinks that the European problems are going to grow and that we need a serious alternative to Monetary Policy. Capitalism is in trouble if not dead and NZ will not be exempt, though our Government debt is relatvely low (thanks to Michael Cullen). Create money $5billion for direct application for the Christchurch rebuild but not given to the Banks who make their profit from dealing with the interest.
    Hope some open-minded people with an economics understanding would comment.
    http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/sat/sat-20111112-0810-raf_manji_money_and_the_economy-048.mp3

    • Treetop 10.1
      12 November 2011 at 6:27 pm

      Yes this interview was as good as last weeks one with Ravi Batra.

      What Raf Manji had to say about technology causing unemployment and needing to be realistic about high unemployment was sensible.

  12. thejackal 12
    12 November 2011 at 12:49 pm

    National’s Election Hoarding’s 12

    On the 4th of October, John Key said in Parliament:

    “[Standard and Poor’s] did go on to say, though, that if there was a change of Government, that downgrade would be much more likely.”

    However Standard and Poor’s sovereign rating analyst Kyran Curry, who attended the meeting in Auckland, said that did not happen:

    “In Auckland last month, I might have talked about the importance of the Government maintaining a strong fiscal position in the medium term but I would never have touched on individual parties.

    “It is something we just don’t do,” Mr Curry said. “We don’t rate political parties. We rate Governments.”

  13. Francisco Hernandez 13
    12 November 2011 at 1:11 pm

    I don’t like the new format of the Standard 🙁

    Please change it back.

    [lprent: What new format? This has been the same since the March 2010. If you’re seeing a bug, then it’d pay to say what the problem is. ]

    • BillBrowne 13.1
      12 November 2011 at 3:14 pm

      Started to ramdomly flick to mobile mode on pc

    • Draco T Bastard 13.2
      12 November 2011 at 3:51 pm

      I’ve had the Comments/Opinions/Online section disappear randomly on me for the last couple of days. Since you mentioned turning off the cache in fact.

      And the edit function goes to its own page rather than being a pop-up. As this was what you said you were going to be looking I’d just assumed you were working on it and that the other was a side effect.

      Can’t say I’ve seen any other changes.

    • Carol 13.3
      12 November 2011 at 5:54 pm

      I had some Standard posts & their comments come up in an unusual (for me) form (mobile form?) at work today when accessing the site on IE. Doesn’t happen with firefox at home.

  15. Carol 15
    12 November 2011 at 6:02 pm

    Good on Goff for pointing out the Epsom “rort”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5955798/Goff-looking-to-stop-MP-smuggling

    Labour leader Phil Goff is calling for a law change to stop minor parties “smuggling” in MPs when they’re “not entitled”.

    After campaigning in the Otara market this morning, Goff responded to questions from the media about the “cup of tea” meeting between National leader John Key and Act’s Epsom candidate John Banks.
    […]
    Goff today said that was “a rort”.

    “This is a way to get a party back in to Parliament that New Zealanders don’t want there and John Key’s allowing that – in fact, he’s not just allowing it, he’s making it happen,” Goff said.

    “Frankly, I think the law needs to be changed to stop this kind of gerrymander. You either get in because you’ve got an electorate seat or you get in with list MPs if you get over five per cent.

    “But this idea that one party like National can gift you a seat so you can smuggle three or four members of parliament in when you’re not entitled to, that’s wrong. They know it and New Zealanders know it.”

    John Key made a “not me” kind of slippery response to the smuggling accusation, and blamed MMP for it being possible:

    After yesterday’s meeting at Newmarket’s Urban cafe, Key defended the tactic, insisting he was not telling anyone how to vote. However, he would “not be at all unhappy” if National supporters voted strategically and split their vote.

    “We’re saying this is MMP and in MMP, you want to work with a variety of parties,” he said.

    “Many people” in Epsom would still give both of their votes to National, but others too would vote strategically.

    “What I’d like to see is a National Government with partners in Government post November 26.”

    Key dismissed Goff’s call for a law changes, saying: “I don’t take a lot of what he says seriously.”

    “That would be a scrapping of MMP,” he said, while campaigning in Palmerston North today. “If he’s proposing to get rid of MMP, he’s welcome to vote it out in the referendum.

    He’s using Goff’s call for a law change as a way to suggest people vote out MMP if they don’t like what’s happening in Epsom. But Goff had said that the required law change didn’t mean scrapping MMP:

    If a majority support keeping the system, there will be a review.

    Goff said he would be voting to keep MMP but wanted changes as a result of the review.

    The changes should cut out the “rort” being attempted by Key and Banks, he said.

  16. randal 16
    12 November 2011 at 7:54 pm

    kweewee has got a very poormouth lately.
    anythin he doesn’t like gets the out of the side of the gob treatment.
    I guess its just him revealing his true self.
    nasty brutish and short. (apologies to thomas hobbes)

  17. Jackal 17
    12 November 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Key barks up wrong tree

    The problem for Key is that 3 News didn’t obtained the document from the Human Rights Commission… showing that he’s barking up the wrong tree.

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    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    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
    17 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

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