The party’s announced Coromandel candidate, Caleb Ansell, is a councillor in the Matamata-Piako district and stood for the New Conservatives at the last election.
They stole that slogan from Judith Collins, you realise – she declared it back when she became Nat leader? She ought to remind the media of that. When I saw her say it on the tv news I was amused: `Yeah, you & what army?'
Sounds a lot like Farrage/Boris and the "Take Back Control". The idea that something has been taken from you and that you have a right/obligation to reclaim it is quite powerful politically.
I follow US politics. A marker of the insanity of some aspects of it is Marjorie Taylor Greene. That she can get elected, be supported while being as loopy and limited is of course, astounding.
“At least that could never happen here,” regularly comes to mind.
Murfitt is standing, she could be our version of MTG. Sure the bizarre thinking crazies will support her but let her ‘qualities’ be out there so sane people know what they’re voting for.
Well, if that's what happens, I guess we'll all have to give them credit for their machavellian leaking of it to the Nat deputy leader a month back. Most people wouldn't expect Labour to be that clever.
"If your deliberate-leak theory is correct… it's a shot own foot for labour."
In the past when I was more politically involved, the primary source of most leaks was believed to be a public servant – someone who knows enough to put two and two together… The leaking occurs in a roundabout sort of way so that original source is rarely identified.
Under the Banking Association’s Orderly scenario, decisive climate action would limit the world to 1.4°C temperature rise – and still has the potential to deliver a positive impact to domestic GDP.
"That is completely implausible," says Sandy Trust from EY, the author of a recent report by the UK Institute of Actuaries.
Compare the banks' worst case scenario with the one designed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – one where the world continues to rely intensely on fossil fuels. In a world that assumes 4.4 degrees of warming by 2100, society would be facing an existential risk of collapse, Trust says.
Matt Raeburn, a New Zealand-based climate scenarios specialist with consulting firm WSP, also doesn’t think the banks' scenarios properly reflect the risk.
"To put it colloquially, when I read the NZ Banking Association’s scenarios, I just don’t think they get it yet," he says.
Pleasing to see Stuff investigating some of desperate Winston's weird candidates. High time it was exposed who he is consorting with.
Not surprising now that he made a pilgrimage to the protesters at Parliament last year. There he was, amongst the rag tag unwashed mob, sauntering around in his finely tailored suit and Italian shoes. He was using the occasion to appear relevant, but no way would he camp down among the chaos and rubbish and spend the night there.
'The World Bank has estimated that rebuilding Ukraine after the war could cost as much as $350 billion.
'Beyond the immediate deficit, Ukraine's government has an estimated US$750 billion in direct economic costs from the war, which could be as high as US$1 trillion if indirect costs are added'.
(And the human cost-10 million displaced,100’s of thousands dead and injured.)
I thought it was a good interview, don't agree with everything thing Joyce says but he ain't the worst, of course there's a huge difference between putting a cable under ground, broadband rollout , and putting light rail down the middle of a Auckland rd, maybe the next government should hire him to do it. !!!
A lot of the Chorus fibre in Wellington was installed late in the rollout and is strung overhead between poles. It's a weird hodgepodge of some small sections underground and then up a pole to continue as an aerial cable.
The Greens have announced a clean power payment policy plan:
The Clean Power Payment, which is planned to be part of a broader Zero Carbon Homes upgrade, will allow:
grants of up to $6000 to cover the cost of installing solar power and making energy efficient upgrades,
interest-free loans of up to $30,000 to cover the cost of additional zero carbon home upgrades,
tax deductible zero carbon upgrades for rental homes.
The Zero Carbon Homes upgrade is planned to:
scale up solar on Kainga Ora homes to 30,000 more households in the next three years,
expand Warmer Kiwi Homes to cover more zero carbon upgrades such as replacing gas heaters,
fund Community Energy providers and by Māori, for Māori approaches.
Grants could be used to cover 25 percent of the cost of things like better insulation; replacing fossil-fuel appliances, like gas heaters, with clean alternatives, like heat pumps; and to purchase rooftop solar power
The funding would come from revenue from the Emissions Trading Scheme, through the Climate Emergency Response Fund.
The total operating expenditure for all the initiatives in this area it planned would be about $682 million by the year 2026/27.
The party claims the Clean Power Payment will save households up to $1200 on their energy bills, every year, and slash carbon emissions.
It would be scaled up over three years, with an initial focus on lower-income households.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw said while people struggled with energy challenges, the planet was heating "at frightening speed".
"There is a clear answer staring us in the face: warm homes powered by clean, cheap, low-carbon energy, supplied straight from our roofs," Shaw said.
“The Clean Power Payment will deliver lower bills, more jobs, and cut climate emissions. That is what the Green Party is offering this election.
“We are proving once again that we are the only party with the bold solutions people need right now.
“Our Income Guarantee will ensure everyone has an income of at least $385 per each, so we people always have enough to afford the weekly shop, pay the rent, or cover unexpected costs. Rent controls will put a limit on how much landlords can increase people’s rent each year. And now the Clean Power Payment will cut emissions and power bills, saving people hundreds of dollars a year.
“Everything we need to upgrade our homes exists. However, most of us do not have thousands of dollars spare to pay for things like solar panels, heat pumps, or double-glazing.
“The Clean Power Payment is the obvious answer to that problem.
“Under our plan, people will be able to access grants of up to $6,000 to cover the cost of clean energy upgrades, like putting solar power on their roof, or installing a heat pump. Plus, interest-free loans of up to $30,000 to cover the cost of additional zero carbon home upgrades.
“The Clean Power Payment will help people to upgrade their homes to be warmer, without relying on dirty fuels, so everyone can come home to a warm place which doesn’t pollute the planet,” says Marama Davidson.
Greater energy efficiency is the only way to be less dependent on increasing the power supply (given the resources used to produce equipment for new generation) is to require, or incentivise, such investment.
The key point about the link by SPC to the additions to the insulation grants is that they are Govt policy NOW. They are not part of the election strategy but build on the work done in the Budget 2023 and prior.
This means that you don't have to wait until your favourite party fronts up in the election, becomes a party that the elected govt wants to negotaiate with, is part of what is agreed in a coalition agreement and then is implemented say from 2024…..
Bird in the hand etc.
“The changes mean up to 58,000 more lower-income homeowners will now meet the criteria so I encourage homeowners who think they, or those close to them, might benefit from this programme to check the Warmer Kiwi Homes website. People who have applied previously, may now be eligible,” Megan Wood said.
and
Grants were previously set at 80% of the cost of insulation, and up to 80% for heating, capped at $3,000 for those living in an area with a ‘Deprivation Index’ of 8, 9, or 10. Further top ups from community organisations in some centres have made the cost of insulation even lower or no-cost.
The change means insulation grants have been extended to include level 7. Further, those in levels 9 or 10 – and Community Services Card holders – will now be eligible for a grant that is 90% of the cost of an insulation retrofit.
“Increasing the grant to 90% for insulation will extend the number of potential homeowners, who may be the hardest to reach,” said Megan Woods.
This will mean that people will be able to plan to have insulation and other improvements carried out from now on which is the best time of year to do this.
No interest means there isn't the pressure to service the loan above what is affordable and people will be able to get a grant of $6000 as well as the loan. Did you perhaps overlook all of this in the announcement?
grants of up to $6000 to cover the cost of installing solar power and making energy efficient upgrades,
interest-free loans of up to $30,000 to cover the cost of additional zero carbon home upgrades,
…
Grants could be used to cover 25 percent
…
It would be scaled up over three years, with an initial focus on lower-income households.
No interest doesn't reduce the principal (amounts shown above) and the grant comes nowhere near covering the total amount, as you also pointed out. Thus, no, I didn't overlook them.
You are aware ones income and liabilities are taken into account when seeking a loan, leaving a number unable to service, thus secure a loan.
Furthermore, scaling up solar on Kainga Ora homes doesn't help poor/struggling homeowners.
So it seems those poorer/struggling households (that need the financial relief the most) have been overlooked. Unless you have something else to point too?
If there is no interest on a loan it can be paid off slowly, there is no evidence these are to be means tested beyond having a regular income; the extra money to pay the loan is acquired through power saving from the increased thermal efficiency gained by the improvements.
Who are these poorer/struggling households in your opinion? Not people in social housing?
Then there's their taxation policy with an income guarantee and a $10k threshold. All these policies overlap it's a bizarre claim that the 'poorer/struggling' have been overlooked, there's no one else offering more for the struggling, or for the planet. Party vote Green
That only applies to commercial lending practices which all involve interest. The Climate Emergency Response Fund would be the lender of the interest free loans, not banks.
So when the Greens said: an initial focus on lower-income households. You saw that as overlooking those households on low or fixed income?
Can you show me where the Climate Emergency Response Fund (being the lender) allows them to override the responsible lending rules?
When the Greens said: an initial focus on lower-income households, they overlooked homeowners on low or fixed incomes, as I've been pointing out to you.
We are disagreeing over whether the debt is affordable. You are making the assumption that the savings in power couldn't be used to pay off the loan, that the income guarantee wouldn't improve the lot of those 'poorer/struggling' households that own their own home but somehow have insufficient income to pay off an interest free loan. That's quite a few contra-evidenced assumptions.
It's helping them to have warmer, more energy efficient home for a start. At the end of paying the loan they have a warmer, drier, cheaper-to-run home, have paid no interest and will continue to benefit from the savings.
once the debt is paid off their power costs are lower going forward than they are now.
That largely depends on the repayment rate (how much are the savings) thus time it takes to payoff the loan. Coupled with the longevity of the product.
Most well-made solar panels will have a warranty of 25 years or more. This might make you think this is the point at which they stop generating power. However, that isn’t quite the full story.
The 25-year warranty isn’t an actual product lifetime. After two and a half decades of operation, a solar panel will still produce energy, just at a lower rate.
Estimates on exactly how much less vary, but a 2012 study from the US-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that solar panels lose about 0.8% of their original efficiency every year. By this estimate, after 25 years, a solar panel will still be producing about 82.5% of the power it did when it first started.
Families will be thinking $5 savings per week means one person will be able to get a burger each week – or an extra loaf of bread, or a takeaway coffee. They'll be so excited by this prospect. Next poll will show the effect!
About twenty years ago one newspaper published an article about religious nutters from the USA seeing NZ as a place that was small enough to remake in the image they wanted. They named 50 very well off Americans who were part of a list. Some had already moved here. I've never been able to find the article in recent years.
I'm occasionally reminded of this when something happens eg when Act had to suddenly get citizenship a few years back for five of their candidates who were recent arrivals to NZ, when Thiel was given citizenship, the increasing number of religious people in parties, the rise of Trump, the increase inn religious teaching the secular state schools, etc.
Been watching the documentary about Donald Cline, the fertility doctor who used his own sperm to impregnate his patients. In this is mentioned a group I had not previously heard of – Quiverfall.
Quiverfull is a Christian theological position that sees large families as a blessing from God.It encourages procreation, abstaining from all forms of birth control, natural family planning, and sterilization.
Some sources have referred to the Quiverfull position as providentialism, while other sources have simply referred to it as a manifestation of natalism.
It is most widespread in the United States but it also has adherents in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. One 2006 estimate put the number of families which subscribe to this philosophy as ranging from "the thousands to the low tens of thousands".
Just like outside of home education, there are a variety of different beliefs in the home education families – ranging from the familiar Christian families, to brethrens, but I do recall a couple of meetings with US immigrant families – that followed more fundamental doctrines. (I was point of contact for new families for a couple of committees). It was then I was introduced to the quiverful concept.
(Contact didn't last long, once they realised my last name did not match my children's and I wasn't married, but there were enough to be a noticeable cohort.)
It was so long ago, reading the comment feels like I'm reading someone else but here's what I posted back then:
"In conjunction with this, I also recently complained to our National Council for allowing religious messages Creating a God-Centred family – workshop by to be sent via the secular NCHENZ message loop.
Decided to give the two seconds required to google the advertised speakers with Geoff Botkin mentioned above, and they seem to be well acquainted.
In summary:
– a message on the homeschool loops in 2009 which was tl;dr
– recalled that message after reading Lusks amateur leaked documents
– was able to google that message and read again, which now sounds more credible given some of the recent US families that have moved to NZ, and the workshops that have been offered by the christian support groups in the last couple of years
– found links between the person named in the original (2009) email and those currently doing the rounds within the christian homeschooling groups.
If any of the original email is true, then imagine if this group aligns with funding a hardA-right wing conservative government. The families I have had direct contact with seemed to be middle class, but would also be quite likely to give a significant portion of their income to their church (which may end up including a political lobby group)."
As mentioned, long out of the loop in the home education community. If anyone else is still involved, it'd be good to have an update on whether they have seen any development along these lines.
1. Well I for one can't wait for my discount on fresh veggies, so as long as the poor pay GST on canned Tomatoes and Peas as there is no way they can actually afford fresh food on their income. And fwiw, the Government needs its increased GST take, after all they for sure will not tax the rich and wealthy people such as themselves and their partners/spouses.
2. Why not also no GST on bread, butter, cheese and meat? To fancy for the poor?
3. Why not immediately after the election but only starts in April next year? To hard for the businesses and accoutants?
4. GST is a cost that runs through all steps of production. So would a Farmer be able no pay the GST on his fertilizers, seeds and other cost of production? Or is this only a gift to supermarkets? Or is it a gift to accountants for extra billable hours?
5. Really Labour. That is the fucking best you can do? That is your help to deal with the cost of living? Who told you that? Like what oracle did you consult that came to you with a booming voice " Remove GST of Fresh Fruit/Veggies, the poor can't afford it but it will make you look like you care"?
Far out, never did i think that i would watch the implosion of a lefty party due to arrogance, lack of ideas and incompetence at best, willful arrogance at worst.
The cost of living is ruining peoples live now, so really they should come up with something that has a bit of urgency attached to it. Anything else is really just posturing and rallying the faithful, but otherwise utterly devoid of meaning.
Secondly, they are power, full majority, they need no one to cosign that policy if it is so great. After all, as i stated above, the cost of living crisis has been an issue for a while now.
I mean literally they could bring back the discount on fuel and free public transport for all, immediately, that would have an impact. But maybe that thing is just about grand standing.
Labour, we are just make up and pretense.. please vote for us, cause otherwise we would have to find jobs.
Meanwhile in the real world, people have ran out of money, food, electricity and good faith. Need weekly food parcels and live in cramped emergency housing cause they can't afford to rent a dog kennel.
I know why its going to start in April, everyone knows. What we can not figure out how this is going to fight the rampant and run a way cost of living today, tomorrow and for the next 8 month.
Labour has a full majority, they could have removed GST for a while now literally of all food items, and i am sure they could have done that with the full support of the Greens and TPM.
Yet, they did not. Labour, on record for doing the right things only when they are about to lose an election.
"4. GST is a cost that runs through all steps of production. So would a Farmer be able no pay the GST on his fertilizers, seeds and other cost of production?"
Not so. GST is a transaction that runs through all steps of production, but is only a cost to the final consumer. Farmers pay GST at the time of purchase of seed etc, but, so long as the farming business is registered for GST (because of the level of turnover most have to be), they declare that GST paid by them when they submit their regular GST return to IRD and receive a full refund of that GST paid.
When they sell their veggies to the supermarket (or any intermediaries) they charge GST on the sale price, declare that amount on their GST return and pay that GST collected to IRD.
The supermarket does the same on their GST return.
It's the final consumer who pays the GST charged at time of purchase, cannot register for GST, so cannot claim a refund.
chances are that you sell more product then you buy raw materials to produce. So in essence businesses also pay GST, specially if they make a profit. But they can write of the cost as a business expense.
So can i not pay the GST that i was charged when i bought my raw materials, if it adds to he price of fruit and vegetables? After all that is the point? To make fruit and veggies affordable.
What GST content is removed, only the GST levy where the Supermarket sells a carrot -GST inc -to the end consumer, or the step where the supermarket buys its produce from the farmer GST inc, or the step where the farmer buys fertilizer, land, seeds, water, etc all inc GST? Will the GST content that was accrued by transport be removable? As all these things are part of price setting, i.e. all costs and all accrued GST.
The reason why GST is regressive is that it is charged at every step of production, and while businesses can write of GST as an expense, they still have to pay the difference of GST paid and GST received, ever month, two month or yearly and can only claim it back at the end of the year. The end consumer however pays for ever cent of GST charged on every step of production.
My impression is Grant has had to swallow a few dead rats lately. Sir Michael Cullens tax working group was against this policy and so was Grant some months back.
But Grant is a team player and has done his best here. I don't like the policy personally, I believe there are better, more targeted ways to support kiwis, but this policy is out there now.
Chris Hipkins although a decent man, isn't the leader we need right now. Grant should've stepped up when Dame Jacinda stepped down.
But it is what it is. If we get a third term it will be a miracle.
And that is why the Labour party has a good chance of losing. They collectively have no spine, no guts and no not a single conviction that they would defend and / or uphold
They played their team into being a mockery of a serious political party that can read the room their in.
But my theory is they don't want to win. Now its time for N to come along and finish the job, and N will. They are the two sides of NZ INC and we are just either profit centres or cost centres.
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In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
Recent research reveals the repeal of smokefree measures is not only bad for our health, but also the economy. The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to ...
The club’s surprisingly good season is built on the desire to prove a random A-League YouTuber wrong… and a few other factors.“There’s no way that Wellington Phoenix play finals this year. I can’t see it happening at all.” Those are the words of Lachlan Raeside, an Australian football content ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By César Albarrán-Torres, Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Apple TV+ As one of billions of bilingual individuals in the world, it disappoints me when a film or TV show with characters of a non-English-speaking background is ...
The under-utilised course is a waste of space, and with a little political will, it could be turned into something better. For the duration of her stay in Wellington, my long-suffering cousin listened to me rant about golf courses. They’re bad for the environment: water intensive and pesticide heavy. They ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab, Podcast at MissPerceived, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows US fertility rates dropped 2% in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Corderoy, Medical doctor and PhD candidate studying involuntary psychiatric treatment, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney shop_py/Shutterstock Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Treby, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University P.j.Hickox, Shutterstock Peatlands store more carbon per square metre than any other ecosystem on Earth. These waterlogged, mossy bogs beat even dense rainforests for their ability to act as carbon reservoirs. Under the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Goss, Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra Government spending on health has been growing so rapidly that a decade ago the then health minister Peter Dutton called it “unmanageable” and “unsustainable”. Health spending grew in real terms by ...
New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions. ...
New Zealanders have been asked to conserve energy this morning to combat a possible electricity shortfall, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A call to conserve power New Zealand is facing a possible electricity shortfall, with people up ...
Writer Rebecca K Reilly breaks down the national book awards. What are the Ockhams?The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are our annual national awards for books published for adults, and have existed in this form since 2016. There are four categories: Fiction, Poetry, General Non-fiction and Illustrated Non-fiction. There ...
Wellington City Council should keep its 34% ownership share in Wellington International Airport, argue Unions Wellington spokespeople Finn Cordwell and Ashok Jacob. Insanity, as the saying goes, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Wellington City Council (WCC) is yet again proposing to dispose ...
New Zealand’s largest book publisher has undergone drastic changes this week, leaving its future role in local publishing uncertain. Two of the most recognisable local publishers in New Zealand are among those restructured out of Penguin Random House, it was announced this week. Head of publishing Claire Murdoch will leave ...
Successive governments have tried, and failed, to count Māori. But with the return of social investment, it’s more important than ever to get good data. The post Government looks for a better way to count Māori appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Experts in financing social investment initiatives say New Zealand is in a prime position to tackle social issues via a social investment approach The post What will Willis’ social investment fund look like? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
In 2021 the Public Interest Journalism Fund launched the Te Rito Journalism project, a $2.4 million initiative to boost diversity in New Zealand’s newsrooms. The initiative was in response to the decades-long shortage of Māori and Pacific journalists in the media industry. It was billed as New Zealand’s ...
The Black Ferns Sevens appeared to be a mile behind Australia at the halfway point of the 2023-24 SVNS international circuit. Winless in three tournaments, a cup quarter-final exit in Perth was one of their worst results. To add insult to injury, talismanic skipper Sarah Hirini had been ruled out ...
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By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A former Tuvalu prime minister says while the New Zealand government’s oil and gas plans show it is concerned about its economy, he is more concerned about the livelihoods and survival of the Tuvalu people. Enele Sopoaga — who still serves as an MP ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Many people who follow federal budgets know about the magnificent “budget tree” in a parliamentary courtyard, which turns a glorious red in time for the May event. This week Treasurer Jim Chalmers posed by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Bennett, Professor of Music, Australian National University Richard P J Lambert/flickr, CC BY The future belongs to the analogue loyalists. Fuck digital. As a tsunami of CDs, DAT tapes and samplers swept the recording industry in the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate professor, Music Industry, RMIT University This week American rapper Macklemore released a new track, Hind’s Hall, which has gained a lot of attention because of its explicitly political nature. The track is unapologetically pro-Palestine. It declares the artist’s ...
Explainer - The government from 2025 is mandating how state schools teach children to read. But what is structured literacy and how does it compare to other teaching methods? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danica Jenkins, Lecturer in European Studies, University of Sydney On a freezing spring night in March, Georgia’s national soccer team beat Greece in a nail-biter penalty shootout to qualify for the Euro 2024 championships. The atmosphere on the streets of the capital ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam G. Arian, Lecturer (Accounting & Finance), Australian Catholic University Loic Manegarium/Pexels Imagine every ton of carbon dioxide a company emits is slowly inflating its costs — not just in terms of potential fines or fees but in the capital it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Somwrita Sarkar, Senior Lecturer in Design and Computation, University of Sydney The “latte line” is the infamous, invisible boundary that divides Sydney between the more affluent north-east and the south-west. Historically, people north of the line enjoy better access to jobs and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist in Extreme Weather, The University of Melbourne Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock In media articles about unprecedented flooding, you’ll often come across the statement that for every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture. This ...
RNZ Pacific Former Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been sentenced to one year in prison, Fiji media are reporting. Bainimarama, alongside suspended Fiji Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho appeared in the High Court in Suva today for their sentencing hearing for a case involving their roles in blocking a police ...
Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo says, “Addressing violence and abuse remains New Zealand’s most significant human rights issue affecting women. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Symons, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University Michael Schiffer / Unsplash Life has transformed our world over billions of years, turning a dead rock into the lush, fertile planet we know today. But human activity is currently transforming Earth ...
One woman’s quest to watch Challengers without ruining her body clock. Every Saturday morning, I wake up with a screaming demon inside my head urging me to “Do. Something. This. Weekend.” I run through the possibilities in my head in a defensive mental crouch, reminiscent of that one time I ...
The PSA is alarmed that ACC is proposing to shed 309 jobs including 29 dedicated injury prevention jobs at a time when the number and cost of injuries is rising. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Baker, Associate Professor in Human Geography, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images As local and regional councils struggle with inadequate infrastructure and unsustainable costs, New Zealand will be hearing a lot more about the potential solution offered by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Sacks, Professor of Public Health Policy, Deakin University Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock In recent years, there’s been increasinghype about the potential health risks associated with so-called “ultra-processed” foods. But new evidence published this week found not all “ultra-processed” foods are linked ...
Fears that New Zealand is relying too heavily on low-cost forests to absorb its carbon dioxide emissions have been reignited by a report from the OECD. ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed the total dollar savings target from public sector cuts has been met, but the reductions have not been felt evenly across public agencies. Government departments were told to make savings set at 6.5 percent or 7.5 percent where headcount had grown by more than ...
She doesn’t have a single kind word for me and it’s getting under my skin.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,I have two amazing friends that I absolutely adore. Grace (all names have been changed) and I lived together across 2023 and Olivia moved in with us this ...
Can Western science and Māori science work together to support our well-being? The Te Ohu Mō Papatūānuku (TOMP) Trials Project was a landmark case for healing the land and people with the guidance of Māori science and leadership. This is what happened when Papatūānuku (Earth) was contaminated by toxic discharge, ...
The District Plan is a blueprint for a bigger, better Wellington, through tens of thousands of new apartments and townhouses and a new approach to urban growth. Joel MacManus lays out the vision. The process of putting together Wellington’s new District Plan has been long and excruciating. As a city, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Williams Veazey, ARC DECRA Research Fellow, University of Sydney DavideAngelini/Shutterstock In the 2007 film The Bucket List Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play two main characters who respond to their terminal cancer diagnoses by rejecting experimental treatment. Instead, they go ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mohan Singh, Professor of Agri-Food Biotechnology, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Melbourne., The University of Melbourne Tanja Esser/Shutterstock Australia’s vital agriculture sector will be hit hard by steadily rising global temperatures. Our climate is already ...
The Acumen Edelman Trust barometer reported that New Zealand’s political trust score now sits below the global average, a topic explored in a recent discussion paper by Maxim Institute. ...
Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman says, "The Fast-Track Bill is the most damaging piece of environmental legislation any Government has introduced in living memory. People are angry, and it’s time to march." ...
The school lunches programme has been retained – and will be extended to some preschoolers. So how is it going to cost $107 million less? To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. The minister with many hats David Seymour wears a number of hats, but this week ...
“Show us the bird,” I found myself muttering at times while reading Hard by the Cloud House by Peter Walker, a deeply thoughtful, often hilarious, at times rambling – but somehow delightfully so – search for the story of a big bird. But not just any bird: the bird. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition DPVUE .images/Shutterstock Your home was probably designed for a climate that no longer exists. As long as humanity continues to burn fossil fuel, padding the heat-trapping blanket of gases in Earth’s atmosphere, the ...
A senior lawyer has filed a complaint about tikanga becoming a required law school module. Law lecturer Carwyn Jones explains what he’s getting wrong. “…the first law of Aotearoa, a law that served the needs of tangata whenua for a thousand years before the arrival of tauiwi.”– Ani Mikaere ...
In 2019, an Auckland woman woke up from surgery to find that she had undergone a treatment she didn’t consent to. She tells Alex Casey about her experience. From her very first period at the age of 14, Laura experienced “debilitating” levels of pain that forced her to withdraw from ...
In the gloom following director-general Al Morrison’s job cuts in 2013, the Department of Conservation restructured its operations arm. Eleven conservancy districts were whittled into six new “conservation delivery” regions, under which the Rēkohu/Wharekauri/Chatham Islands area, comprising 40 scattered islands more than 800km east of Christchurch, was tethered to the ...
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300945108/chemtrails-911-and-vaccine-nanobots-the-digital-trail-of-nz-firsts-couldbe-mps
Winston's going to the bottom of the barrel for candidates
Well…that pretty much shows his desperation. But good that its now shown. And good on you for linking it.
People on the standard shun the msm but stuff do good stuff , they need support
Yea I read Stuff. And they are ok. Its the same with all Media. You have to apply some critical thinking.
One good thing I see…the nutbar conspiracists are heavily infighting and in disarray (well kinda a given considering ! )
Should be good for us on Left…given ACT arent too keen on NZfirst.
They'll be counting clicks at stuff so reading the good ones and dodging the average ones will help
Oh yea….very valid point ! And..re your other comment, I think a strong Green/Te Pati would indeed be a good thing.
Who would know what goes on in Winston's mind? But you gotta be concerned when some of his new friends are affiliated to making NZ "ungovernable"..
Agree 100% bwaghorn. and PsyclingLeft.Always They produce some thought provoking stuff.
Remember, Stuff also platforms ultra-right wing f-wit, Damien Grant.
Freedom of speech, I read it to see how they think, mostly he reminds me of what lies beneath act
yes he' s a righty.
"Let's take our country back" says the NZF 2023 party slogan.
I ask, "Back from what? Back from whom?"
Mrs Mac1 asks "Back to the Sixties?"
They stole that slogan from Judith Collins, you realise – she declared it back when she became Nat leader? She ought to remind the media of that. When I saw her say it on the tv news I was amused: `Yeah, you & what army?'
Sounds a lot like Farrage/Boris and the "Take Back Control". The idea that something has been taken from you and that you have a right/obligation to reclaim it is quite powerful politically.
It's a racist dog whistle…
And it has a Trump sounding connection too. Bit of a worry considering who NZFirst has attaching themselves….
It is better to be known than not known as a politician.
Even better if you are known to believe in something.
Less than 100 people in NZ can name anyone under the top 20 in Labour, Greens, Act or National, and fewer than that know what any of them stand for.
Of the 120 people in parliament, 99% of NZers only know any of their names when they stuff up or are PM or leader of the opposition.
And despite MMP this Parliament are remarkably bland.
We need more elected weirdos.
100%
I follow US politics. A marker of the insanity of some aspects of it is Marjorie Taylor Greene. That she can get elected, be supported while being as loopy and limited is of course, astounding.
“At least that could never happen here,” regularly comes to mind.
Murfitt is standing, she could be our version of MTG. Sure the bizarre thinking crazies will support her but let her ‘qualities’ be out there so sane people know what they’re voting for.
And there is the making NZ "ungovernable" element. Potentially very dangerous people…..
fresh air and sunlight.
The long rumoured announcement to come today?
http://www.thepost.co.nz/a/politics/350053627/labour-promise-take-gst-fresh-and-frozen-fruit-and-vegetables
Well, if that's what happens, I guess we'll all have to give them credit for their machavellian leaking of it to the Nat deputy leader a month back. Most people wouldn't expect Labour to be that clever.
If your deliberate-leak theory is correct… it's a shot own foot for labour.
The early leak has taken all the whizz-bang out of it…
(And my previously voiced fears that this is it..is those worst fears realized..)
They could keep it simple and abolish GST altogether. Pay for the move wit a more steeply progressive tax system.
"If your deliberate-leak theory is correct… it's a shot own foot for labour."
In the past when I was more politically involved, the primary source of most leaks was believed to be a public servant – someone who knows enough to put two and two together… The leaking occurs in a roundabout sort of way so that original source is rarely identified.
Just saying.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300949203/labour-to-promise-to-take-gst-off-fresh-and-frozen-fruit-and-vegetables
Looks like it's a go, pathetic tinkering, I've been getting the feeling for a while that chippie is all about chippie, , be greens or tpm for me.
Its awful policy and I hope it never gets enacted.
Screws with the simplicity of the gst system, provides minimal if any benefit where its needed ($5-10 per week) at best.
Far better to leave the system alone and give everyone $10 per week by way of a tax free threshold or something
I cannot understand the thinking, absolutely everyone says it a dog of a policy,
Looking at the calibre of elected representatives of the 'leader of the free world',there's really no cause for alarm.
There are candidates here in NZ of major parties who believe there is an invisible being in the sky…who has 10 things you are not allowed to…do.
The bottom of the barrel must be near empty these days ,when you look at the credentials of political aspirants.ACT is a good example.
Under the Banking Association’s Orderly scenario, decisive climate action would limit the world to 1.4°C temperature rise – and still has the potential to deliver a positive impact to domestic GDP.
"That is completely implausible," says Sandy Trust from EY, the author of a recent report by the UK Institute of Actuaries.
Compare the banks' worst case scenario with the one designed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – one where the world continues to rely intensely on fossil fuels. In a world that assumes 4.4 degrees of warming by 2100, society would be facing an existential risk of collapse, Trust says.
Matt Raeburn, a New Zealand-based climate scenarios specialist with consulting firm WSP, also doesn’t think the banks' scenarios properly reflect the risk.
"To put it colloquially, when I read the NZ Banking Association’s scenarios, I just don’t think they get it yet," he says.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/its-going-to-be-messy-banks-underestimate-threat-of-climate-change
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." Upton Sinclair
Pleasing to see Stuff investigating some of desperate Winston's weird candidates. High time it was exposed who he is consorting with.
Not surprising now that he made a pilgrimage to the protesters at Parliament last year. There he was, amongst the rag tag unwashed mob, sauntering around in his finely tailored suit and Italian shoes. He was using the occasion to appear relevant, but no way would he camp down among the chaos and rubbish and spend the night there.
Isn't there a proverb about if you lie with dogs you end up with fleas?
It's more if you lie with anti-vax loons..you end up with candidates of a similar calibre ..
War….when will the madness..end?
'The World Bank has estimated that rebuilding Ukraine after the war could cost as much as $350 billion.
'Beyond the immediate deficit, Ukraine's government has an estimated US$750 billion in direct economic costs from the war, which could be as high as US$1 trillion if indirect costs are added'.
(And the human cost-10 million displaced,100’s of thousands dead and injured.)
US President asks for NZ$34 billion for Ukraine as counteroffensive sputters | Stuff.co.nz
as high as US$1 trillion
that cost will be way to too small IMO
Watched Jack Tane with Steven Joyce on Q&A this morning. Twenty minutes of free campaign advertising for the National Party. 🙄
I thought it was a good interview, don't agree with everything thing Joyce says but he ain't the worst, of course there's a huge difference between putting a cable under ground, broadband rollout , and putting light rail down the middle of a Auckland rd, maybe the next government should hire him to do it. !!!
The broadband rollout seems to be the go to project when the Nats say they get things done. It was their crowning achievement over 9 years.
As you say, hiring cheap offshore labour to dig a few micro trenches in cities and towns is not a particularly difficult project.
Wasn't Dotcom threatening to do that, then Key got involved and Chorus was born? Is my memory correct?
A lot of the Broadband cables were thrust – only the ends were dug. No need to close the road, no trenching, just the equivalent of "keyhole surgery".
A lot of the Chorus fibre in Wellington was installed late in the rollout and is strung overhead between poles. It's a weird hodgepodge of some small sections underground and then up a pole to continue as an aerial cable.
The Greens have announced a clean power payment policy plan:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/495691/elections-2023-political-parties-announce-major-policies
https://www.greens.org.nz/saving_the_planet_and_saving_money_it_s_as_easy_as_more_green_mps
James Shaw's speech is here: https://www.greens.org.nz/clean_power_payment_james_shaw_speech
The greens deserve credit for this rolling maul of logical/sensible/well thought out/problem solving policies..they have been serving up..
This latest one maintains that quality level…
Greater energy efficiency is the only way to be less dependent on increasing the power supply (given the resources used to produce equipment for new generation) is to require, or incentivise, such investment.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2308/S00070/over-50000-more-kiwis-to-be-eligible-for-insulation-grants.htm
The key point about the link by SPC to the additions to the insulation grants is that they are Govt policy NOW. They are not part of the election strategy but build on the work done in the Budget 2023 and prior.
This means that you don't have to wait until your favourite party fronts up in the election, becomes a party that the elected govt wants to negotaiate with, is part of what is agreed in a coalition agreement and then is implemented say from 2024…..
Bird in the hand etc.
and
This will mean that people will be able to plan to have insulation and other improvements carried out from now on which is the best time of year to do this.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2308/S00070/over-50000-more-kiwis-to-be-eligible-for-insulation-grants.htm
And a link to the programme
https://www.eeca.govt.nz/co-funding/insulation-and-heater-grants/warmer-kiwi-homes-programme/?gclid=CjwKCAjwjYKjBhB5EiwAiFdSfswKecfuB20xR0XoUHGLTBLzTSzXH1-sHTo7USCgWcYT5LQeq6Y0PBoCb_oQAvD_BwE
On average it will cost around $35,000 to double glaze a 100m2 home and around up to $20,000 for solar power and battery setup.
Does the Green's new policy have provisions for households that are deemed unable to service a loan?
Or have those poorer/struggling households (that need the financial relief the most) been overlooked?
No interest means there isn't the pressure to service the loan above what is affordable and people will be able to get a grant of $6000 as well as the loan. Did you perhaps overlook all of this in the announcement?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/495691/elections-2023-political-parties-announce-major-policies
No interest doesn't reduce the principal (amounts shown above) and the grant comes nowhere near covering the total amount, as you also pointed out. Thus, no, I didn't overlook them.
You are aware ones income and liabilities are taken into account when seeking a loan, leaving a number unable to service, thus secure a loan.
Furthermore, scaling up solar on Kainga Ora homes doesn't help poor/struggling homeowners.
So it seems those poorer/struggling households (that need the financial relief the most) have been overlooked. Unless you have something else to point too?
If there is no interest on a loan it can be paid off slowly, there is no evidence these are to be means tested beyond having a regular income; the extra money to pay the loan is acquired through power saving from the increased thermal efficiency gained by the improvements.
Who are these poorer/struggling households in your opinion? Not people in social housing?
Then there's their taxation policy with an income guarantee and a $10k threshold. All these policies overlap it's a bizarre claim that the 'poorer/struggling' have been overlooked, there's no one else offering more for the struggling, or for the planet. Party vote Green
The income guarantee is a very small amount.
A very small amount, that happens to be more that what's currently offered. But no, you say the Greens overlook the ‘poorer/struggling’.
The ability to service a loan results in whether or not people are able to obtain one.
https://www.nzba.org.nz/banking-information/consumer-lending/you-and-consumer-lending-law/
Those on low or fixed incomes. Those that have high debt and little spare income. Therefore, power savings may not help secure the loan.
That only applies to commercial lending practices which all involve interest. The Climate Emergency Response Fund would be the lender of the interest free loans, not banks.
So when the Greens said: an initial focus on lower-income households. You saw that as overlooking those households on low or fixed income?
Can you show me where the Climate Emergency Response Fund (being the lender) allows them to override the responsible lending rules?
When the Greens said: an initial focus on lower-income households, they overlooked homeowners on low or fixed incomes, as I've been pointing out to you.
So does consumer credit law apply to the provision of student loans, another interest free, government funded loan system?
Are you saying instead of helping poorer/struggling households with larger grants, they should be burdened with debt they cannot afford to repay?
Is that your idea of helping them?
We are disagreeing over whether the debt is affordable. You are making the assumption that the savings in power couldn't be used to pay off the loan, that the income guarantee wouldn't improve the lot of those 'poorer/struggling' households that own their own home but somehow have insufficient income to pay off an interest free loan. That's quite a few contra-evidenced assumptions.
If savings in power is going to pay off debt, what savings do they actually gain from the process? Nada. Again, not really helping them, is it?
once the debt is paid off their power costs are lower going forward than they are now.
Additionally, they’ve increased household, community and societal resiliency in the climate crisis as well as helping mitigate.
Single, 25 years or over on a benefit gets $337.74 in the hand. And that is not counting any other top ups.
Sole parent in the hand without any other top ups is $472.79
Single, living alone on a pension gets $496.37 in the hand without any other top up.
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/benefit-rates/benefit-rates-april-2023.html
So again, the income guarantee is a very small amount that some benefits already exceed.
It's helping them to have warmer, more energy efficient home for a start. At the end of paying the loan they have a warmer, drier, cheaper-to-run home, have paid no interest and will continue to benefit from the savings.
So a lot more than nothing.
@weka
That largely depends on the repayment rate (how much are the savings) thus time it takes to payoff the loan. Coupled with the longevity of the product.
Teslar power wall warranty is 10 years.
https://www.zenenergy.co.nz/blog/what-is-the-life-expectancy-of-a-solar-panel
90% grants – heating and insulation – CSC holder and those in areas 7-9.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2308/S00070/over-50000-more-kiwis-to-be-eligible-for-insulation-grants.htm
Labour thinks saving $4 a week on veges will win votes means they think voters are just dumb
Fisiani returns after four long years away from The Standard! Nice to see you're still fizzing…..
Moreover, it won't kick in till April.
Once again, showing how out of touch Labour are. Struggling households need far more than $5 a week and they need relief now.
Sadly it appears that the leaks were accurate and Nicola Willis was able to take all the gloss off this policy.
It concerns me that many on the left appear to be opposed to this plan, but I understand why.
I was hoping for something truly transformational to inspire the base and change the lefts fortunes.
I don't think that was it…
And Ffs, sort your microphone out beforehand!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/132734668/live-labour-to-cut-gst-on-fresh-and-frozen-fruit-and-vegetables-from-april
Livestream still happening…
Families will be thinking $5 savings per week means one person will be able to get a burger each week – or an extra loaf of bread, or a takeaway coffee. They'll be so excited by this prospect. Next poll will show the effect!
Labours big big announcement was a dud.
A policy that had already leaked to the public.
The Blairite is firmly in save the furniture mode, he doesn't believe or want another term
I hope you're wrong Corey. But fear you aren't.
Labour are going to bleed votes..that much is a given..
I just hope those voters migrate to greens/tmp…
About twenty years ago one newspaper published an article about religious nutters from the USA seeing NZ as a place that was small enough to remake in the image they wanted. They named 50 very well off Americans who were part of a list. Some had already moved here. I've never been able to find the article in recent years.
I'm occasionally reminded of this when something happens eg when Act had to suddenly get citizenship a few years back for five of their candidates who were recent arrivals to NZ, when Thiel was given citizenship, the increasing number of religious people in parties, the rise of Trump, the increase inn religious teaching the secular state schools, etc.
Been watching the documentary about Donald Cline, the fertility doctor who used his own sperm to impregnate his patients. In this is mentioned a group I had not previously heard of – Quiverfall.
Quiverfull is a Christian theological position that sees large families as a blessing from God.It encourages procreation, abstaining from all forms of birth control, natural family planning, and sterilization.
Some sources have referred to the Quiverfull position as providentialism, while other sources have simply referred to it as a manifestation of natalism.
It is most widespread in the United States but it also has adherents in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. One 2006 estimate put the number of families which subscribe to this philosophy as ranging from "the thousands to the low tens of thousands".
Somewhat surprised to find adherents in NZ.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiverfull
Posted some musing on this back in 2013, when I was still connected to the home education community:
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-02062013/#comment-642343
Just like outside of home education, there are a variety of different beliefs in the home education families – ranging from the familiar Christian families, to brethrens, but I do recall a couple of meetings with US immigrant families – that followed more fundamental doctrines. (I was point of contact for new families for a couple of committees). It was then I was introduced to the quiverful concept.
(Contact didn't last long, once they realised my last name did not match my children's and I wasn't married, but there were enough to be a noticeable cohort.)
It was so long ago, reading the comment feels like I'm reading someone else but here's what I posted back then:
As mentioned, long out of the loop in the home education community. If anyone else is still involved, it'd be good to have an update on whether they have seen any development along these lines.
No GST on fresh produce:
1. Well I for one can't wait for my discount on fresh veggies, so as long as the poor pay GST on canned Tomatoes and Peas as there is no way they can actually afford fresh food on their income. And fwiw, the Government needs its increased GST take, after all they for sure will not tax the rich and wealthy people such as themselves and their partners/spouses.
2. Why not also no GST on bread, butter, cheese and meat? To fancy for the poor?
3. Why not immediately after the election but only starts in April next year? To hard for the businesses and accoutants?
4. GST is a cost that runs through all steps of production. So would a Farmer be able no pay the GST on his fertilizers, seeds and other cost of production? Or is this only a gift to supermarkets? Or is it a gift to accountants for extra billable hours?
5. Really Labour. That is the fucking best you can do? That is your help to deal with the cost of living? Who told you that? Like what oracle did you consult that came to you with a booming voice " Remove GST of Fresh Fruit/Veggies, the poor can't afford it but it will make you look like you care"?
Far out, never did i think that i would watch the implosion of a lefty party due to arrogance, lack of ideas and incompetence at best, willful arrogance at worst.
Because they don't have a magic wand?
The cost of living is ruining peoples live now, so really they should come up with something that has a bit of urgency attached to it. Anything else is really just posturing and rallying the faithful, but otherwise utterly devoid of meaning.
Secondly, they are power, full majority, they need no one to cosign that policy if it is so great. After all, as i stated above, the cost of living crisis has been an issue for a while now.
I mean literally they could bring back the discount on fuel and free public transport for all, immediately, that would have an impact. But maybe that thing is just about grand standing.
Labour, we are just make up and pretense.. please vote for us, cause otherwise we would have to find jobs.
Meanwhile, in the real world, the government has a budget and an election. See if you can figure out why that particular policy would start in April.
Meanwhile in the real world, people have ran out of money, food, electricity and good faith. Need weekly food parcels and live in cramped emergency housing cause they can't afford to rent a dog kennel.
I know why its going to start in April, everyone knows. What we can not figure out how this is going to fight the rampant and run a way cost of living today, tomorrow and for the next 8 month.
Labour has a full majority, they could have removed GST for a while now literally of all food items, and i am sure they could have done that with the full support of the Greens and TPM.
Yet, they did not. Labour, on record for doing the right things only when they are about to lose an election.
"4. GST is a cost that runs through all steps of production. So would a Farmer be able no pay the GST on his fertilizers, seeds and other cost of production?"
Not so. GST is a transaction that runs through all steps of production, but is only a cost to the final consumer. Farmers pay GST at the time of purchase of seed etc, but, so long as the farming business is registered for GST (because of the level of turnover most have to be), they declare that GST paid by them when they submit their regular GST return to IRD and receive a full refund of that GST paid.
When they sell their veggies to the supermarket (or any intermediaries) they charge GST on the sale price, declare that amount on their GST return and pay that GST collected to IRD.
The supermarket does the same on their GST return.
It's the final consumer who pays the GST charged at time of purchase, cannot register for GST, so cannot claim a refund.
well not quite.
chances are that you sell more product then you buy raw materials to produce. So in essence businesses also pay GST, specially if they make a profit. But they can write of the cost as a business expense.
So can i not pay the GST that i was charged when i bought my raw materials, if it adds to he price of fruit and vegetables? After all that is the point? To make fruit and veggies affordable.
What GST content is removed, only the GST levy where the Supermarket sells a carrot -GST inc -to the end consumer, or the step where the supermarket buys its produce from the farmer GST inc, or the step where the farmer buys fertilizer, land, seeds, water, etc all inc GST? Will the GST content that was accrued by transport be removable? As all these things are part of price setting, i.e. all costs and all accrued GST.
The reason why GST is regressive is that it is charged at every step of production, and while businesses can write of GST as an expense, they still have to pay the difference of GST paid and GST received, ever month, two month or yearly and can only claim it back at the end of the year. The end consumer however pays for ever cent of GST charged on every step of production.
"Really Labour. That is the fucking best you can do?"
Yep. Labour – betraying NZ since 1984. We're screwed.
My impression is Grant has had to swallow a few dead rats lately. Sir Michael Cullens tax working group was against this policy and so was Grant some months back.
But Grant is a team player and has done his best here. I don't like the policy personally, I believe there are better, more targeted ways to support kiwis, but this policy is out there now.
Chris Hipkins although a decent man, isn't the leader we need right now. Grant should've stepped up when Dame Jacinda stepped down.
But it is what it is. If we get a third term it will be a miracle.
And that is why the Labour party has a good chance of losing. They collectively have no spine, no guts and no not a single conviction that they would defend and / or uphold
They played their team into being a mockery of a serious political party that can read the room their in.
But my theory is they don't want to win. Now its time for N to come along and finish the job, and N will. They are the two sides of NZ INC and we are just either profit centres or cost centres.