Open mike 14/08/2024
Written By:
- Date published:
6:00 am, August 14th, 2024 - 87 comments
Categories: open mike -
Tags:
Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
87 comments on “Open mike 14/08/2024 ”
- Comments are now closed
- Comments are now closed
CommentsOpinions
Recent Comments
FeedsPartyGovtMedia
- A letter to America from an appreciative ally
Donald Trump’s philosophy about the United States’ place in the world is historically selfish and will impoverish his country’s spirit. While he claimed last week to be ‘liberating’ Americans from the exploiters and freeloaders who’ve ...5 hours ago - Myanmar’s scam centres demand ASEAN-Australia collaboration
China’s crackdown on cyber-scam centres on the Thailand-Myanmar border may cause a shift away from Mandarin, towards English-speaking victims. Scammers also used the 28 March earthquake to scam international victims. Australia, with its proven capabilities ...6 hours ago
- The return of dirty politics
At the 2005 election campaign, the National Party colluded with a weirdo cult, the Exclusive Brethren, to run a secret hate campaign against the Greens. It was the first really big example of the rich using dark money to interfere in our democracy. And unfortunately, it seems that they're trying ...7 hours ago - Our MOOC Denial101x has run its course
Many of you will know that in collaboration with the University of Queensland we created and ran the massive open online course (MOOC) "Denial101x - Making sense of climate science denial" on the edX platform. Within nine years - between April 2015 and February 2024 - we offered 15 runs ...9 hours ago - In trade, nothing can replace the US consumer. Still, Asian countries look to each other
How will the US assault on trade affect geopolitical relations within Asia? Will nations turn to China and seek protection by trading with each other? The happy snaps a week ago of the trade ministers ...9 hours ago
- Why Did Police Clear Brian Tamaki Of All Charges?
I mentioned this on Friday - but thought it deserved some emphasis.Auckland Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan has responded to Countering Hate Speech Aotearoa, saying police have cleared Brian Tamaki of all incitement charges relating to the Te Atatu library rainbow event assault.Hassan writes:..There is currently insufficient evidence to ...10 hours ago - Reviewing the intelligence reviews (so far)
With the report of the recent intelligence review by Heather Smith and Richard Maude finally released, critics could look on and wonder: why all the fuss? After all, while the list of recommendations is substantial, ...11 hours ago
- Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures
Well, I don't know if I'm readyTo be the man I have to beI'll take a breath, I'll take her by my sideWe stand in awe, we've created lifeWith arms wide open under the sunlightWelcome to this place, I'll show you everythingSongwriters: Scott A. Stapp / Mark T. Tremonti.Today is ...12 hours ago - Monday 7 April
Staff at Kāinga Ora are expecting details of another round of job cuts, with the Green Party claiming more than 500 jobs are set to go. The New Zealand Defence Force has made it easier for people to apply for a job in a bid to get more boots on ...12 hours ago - Australia’s food security needs national-security frameworks
Australia’s agriculture sector and food system have prospered under a global rules-based system influenced by Western liberal values. But the assumptions, policy approaches and economic frameworks that have traditionally supported Australia’s food security are no ...14 hours ago
- Trump just detonated a neutron bomb under the global economy, but NZ could win
Following Trump’s tariff announcement, US stock values fell by the most ever in value terms (US$6.6 trillion). Photo: Getty ImagesLong story shortest in Aotearoa’s political economy this morning: Donald Trump just detonated a neutron bomb under the globalised economy, but this time the Fed isn’t cutting interest rates to rescue ...15 hours ago - 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #14
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 30, 2025 thru Sat, April 5, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...24 hours ago
- Trump’s Secret Sauce Spills Over
This is a longer read.Summary:Trump’s tariffs are reckless, disastrous and hurt the poorest countries deeply. It will stoke inflation, and may cause another recession. Funds/investments around the world have tanked.Trump’s actions emulate the anti-economic logic of another right wing libertarian politician - Liz Truss. She had her political career cut ...1 day ago - Wouldn’t really go that far
We are all suckers for hope.He’s just being provocative, people will say, he wouldn’t really go that far. They wouldn’t really go that far.Germany in the 1920s and 30s was one of the world’s most educated, culturally sophisticated, and scientifically advanced societies.It had a strong democratic constitution with extensive civil ...2 days ago - Fact brief – Is Mars warming?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Mars warming? Mars’ climate varies due to completely different reasons than Earth’s, and available data indicates no temperature trends comparable to Earth’s ...2 days ago
- Maxing out – next steps for progressives
Max Harris and Max Rashbrooke discuss how we turn around the right wing slogans like nanny state, woke identity politics, and the inefficiency of the public sector – and how we build a progressive agenda. From Donald Trump to David Seymour, from Peter Dutton to Christopher Luxon, we are subject to a ...2 days ago - Maxing out – next steps for progressives
Max Harris and Max Rashbrooke discuss how we turn around the right wing slogans like nanny state, woke identity politics, and the inefficiency of the public sector – and how we build a progressive agenda. From Donald Trump to David Seymour, from Peter Dutton to Christopher Luxon, we are subject to a ...2 days ago
- FACT CHECKING DAVID SEYMOUR
I was interested in David Seymour's public presentation of the Justice Select Committee's report after the submissions to the Treaty Principles Bill.I noted the arguments he presented and fact checked him. I welcome corrections and additions to what I have written but want to keep the responses concise.The Treaty of ...2 days ago - It’s All Over Now
Well, he runs around with every racist in townHe spent all our money playing his pointless gameHe put us out; it was awful how he triedTables turn, and now his turn to cryWith apologies to writers Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack.Eight per cent, asshole, that’s all you got.Smiling?Let me re-phrase…Eight ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Pick ‘n’ Mix on Saturday, April 5
In short this morning in our political economy:The S&P 500 fell another 5.6% this morning after China retaliated with tariffs of 34% on all US imports, and the Fed warned of stagflation without rate cut relief.Delays for heart surgeries and scans are costing lives, specialists have told Stuff’s Nicholas Jones.Meanwhile, ...3 days ago - Unlike China’s flotilla, the Great White Fleet came in friendship
When the US Navy’s Great White Fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour in 1908, it was an unmistakeable signal of imperial might, a flexing of America’s newfound naval muscle. More than a century later, the Chinese ...3 days ago
- Resource Management and Property Rights
While there have been decades of complaints – from all sides – about the workings of the Resource Management Act (RMA), replacing is proving difficult. The Coalition Government is making another attempt.To help answer the question, I am going to use the economic lens of the Coase Theorem, set out ...3 days ago - Bookshelf: the evolution and future of amphibious warfare
2027 may still not be the year of war it’s been prophesised as, but we only have two years left to prepare. Regardless, any war this decade in the Indo-Pacific will be fought with the ...3 days ago
- Parliament’s secret “transparency” regime
When the Parliament Bill Committee rejected calls for Parliamentary agencies to be subject to the Official Information Act last month, their excuse was interesting: Parliament didn't need the transparency of the OIA because it already had its own transparency regime! Which came as rather a surprise to everyone working in ...3 days ago
- Centring people of colour to close the climate justice gap
Australia must do more to empower communities of colour in its response to climate change. In late February, the Multicultural Leadership Initiative hosted its Our Common Future summits in Sydney and Melbourne. These summits focused ...3 days ago
- Presidency of doom
Questions 1. In his godawful decree, what tariff rate was imposed by Trump upon the EU?a. 10% same as New Zealandb. 20%, along with a sneer about themc. 40%, along with an outright lie about France d. 69% except for the town Melania comes from2. The justice select committee has ...3 days ago - The ideology of grovelling to Trump
Yesterday the Trump regime in America began a global trade war, imposing punitive tariffs in an effort to extort political and economic concessions from other countries and US companies and constituencies. Trump's tariffs will make kiwis nearly a billion dollars poorer every year, but Luxon has decided to do nothing ...3 days ago
- $6m later, 90% against, 8% for, Treaty Principles Bill Committee recommends Bill be shelved
Here’s 7 updates from this morning’s news:90% of submissions opposed the TPBNZ’s EV market tanked by Coalition policies, down ~70% year on yearTrump showFossil fuel money driving conservative policiesSimeon Brown won’t say that abortion is healthcarePhil Goff stands by comments and makes a case for speaking upBrian Tamaki cleared of ...3 days ago - Thanks, Folks: Mountain Tūī Hits A Milesone
3 days ago - The people have spoken
The Justice Committee has reported back on National's racist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, and recommended by majority that it not proceed. So hopefully it will now rapidly go to second reading and be voted down. As for submissions, it turns out that around 380,000 people submitted on ...3 days ago
- To fight disinformation, treat it as an insurgency
We need to treat disinformation as we deal with insurgencies, preventing the spreaders of lies from entrenching themselves in the host population through capture of infrastructure—in this case, the social media outlets. Combining targeted action ...3 days ago
- The surprise of the Independent Intelligence Review: economic security
After copping criticism for not releasing the report for nearly eight months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released the Independent Intelligence Review on 28 March. It makes for a heck of a read. The review makes ...4 days ago
- The surprise of the Independent Intelligence Review: economic security
After copping criticism for not releasing the report for nearly eight months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released the Independent Intelligence Review on 28 March. It makes for a heck of a read. The review makes ...4 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Friday, April 4
In short this morning in our political economy:Donald Trump has shocked the global economy and markets with the biggest tariffs since the Smoot Hawley Act of 1930, which worsened the Great Depression.Global stocks slumped 4-5% overnight and key US bond yields briefly fell below 4% as investors fear a recession ...4 days ago - I Hope I Never Send This Webworm
Hi,I’ve been imagining a scenario where I am walking along the pavement in the United States. It’s dusk, I am off to get a dirty burrito from my favourite place, and I see three men in hoodies approaching.Anther two men appear from around a corner, and this whole thing feels ...4 days ago - Australia’s plan for acquiring nuclear-powered submarines is on track
Since the announcement in September 2021 that Australia intended to acquire nuclear-powered submarines in partnership with Britain and the United States, the plan has received significant media attention, scepticism and criticism. There are four major ...4 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 04-April-2025
On a very wet Friday, we hope you have somewhere nice and warm and dry to sit and catch up on our roundup of some of this week’s top stories in transport and urbanism. The header image shows Northcote Intermediate Students strolling across the Te Ara Awataha Greenway Bridge in ...4 days ago - Weekly Roundup 04-April-2025
On a very wet Friday, we hope you have somewhere nice and warm and dry to sit and catch up on our roundup of some of this week’s top stories in transport and urbanism. The header image shows Northcote Intermediate Students strolling across the Te Ara Awataha Greenway Bridge in ...4 days ago
- The Hoon around the week to April 4
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and Elaine Monaghan on the week in geopolitics and climate, including Donald Trump’s tariff shock yesterday; and,Labour’s Disarmament and Associate ...4 days ago
- Stranger Days
I'm gonna try real goodSwear that I'm gonna try from now on and for the rest of my lifeI'm gonna power on, I'm gonna enjoy the highsAnd the lows will come and goAnd may your dreamsAnd may your dreamsAnd may your dreams never dieSongwriters: Ben Reed.These are Stranger Days than ...4 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #14 2025
Open access notables A pronounced decline in northern vegetation resistance to flash droughts from 2001 to 2022, Zhang et al., Nature Communications: Here we show that vegetation resistance to flash droughts declines by up to 27% (±5%) over the Northern Hemisphere hotspots during 2001-2022, including eastern Asia, western North America, ...4 days ago
- Trump’s tariffs: Australia’s worry is the effect on its trading partners
With the execution of global reciprocal tariffs, US President Donald Trump has issued his ‘declaration of economic independence for America’. The immediate direct effect on the Australian economy will likely be small, with more risk ...4 days ago
- In national security, governments still struggle to work with startups
AUKUS governments began 25 years ago trying to draw in a greater range of possible defence suppliers beyond the traditional big contractors. It is an important objective, and some progress has been made, but governments ...4 days ago
- What I saw at liberation day
I approach fresh Trump news reluctantly. It never holds the remotest promise of pleasure. I had the very, very least of expectations for his Rumble in the Jungle, his Thriller in Manila, his Liberation Day.God May 1945 is becoming the bitterest of jokes isn’t it?Whatever. Liberation Day he declared it ...4 days ago - Open Australia versus closed United States
Beyond trade and tariff turmoil, Donald Trump pushes at the three core elements of Australia’s international policy: the US alliance, the region and multilateralism. What Kevin Rudd called the ‘three fundamental pillars’ are the heart ...4 days ago
- The fix is in
So, having broken its promise to the nation, and dumped 85% of submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill in the trash, National's stooges on the Justice Committee have decided to end their "consideration" of the bill, and report back a full month early: Labour says the Justice Select Committee ...4 days ago
- Intelligence review is strong on workforce issues. Implementation may be harder
The 2024 Independent Intelligence Review offers a mature and sophisticated understanding of workforce challenges facing Australia’s National Intelligence Community (NIC). It provides a thoughtful roadmap for modernising that workforce and enhancing cross-agency and cross-sector collaboration. ...4 days ago
- Corruption Tsunami
OPINION AND ANALYSIS:Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier’s comments singling out Health NZ for “acting contrary to the law” couldn’t be clearer. If you find my work of value, do consider subscribing and/or supporting me. Thank you.Health NZ has been acting a law unto itself. That includes putting its management under extraordinary ...4 days ago - Sharing security interests, ASEAN’s big three step up cooperation
Southeast Asia’s three most populous countries are tightening their security relationships, evidently in response to China’s aggression in the South China Sea. This is most obvious in increased cooperation between the coast guards of the ...5 days ago
- Technology can make Team Australia fit for strategic competition
In the late 1970s Australian sport underwent institutional innovation propelling it to new heights. Today, Australia must urgently adapt to a contested and confronting strategic environment. Contributing to this, a new ASPI research project will ...5 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Thursday, April 3
In short this morning in our political economy:The Nelson Hospital waiting list crisis just gets worse, including compelling interviews with an over-worked surgeon who is leaving, and a patient who discovered after 19 months of waiting for a referral that her bowel and ovaries were fused together with scar tissue ...5 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The Clash Between Auckland Airport And Air New Zealand
Plainly, the claims being tossed around in the media last year that the new terminal envisaged by Auckland International Airport was a gold-plated “Taj Mahal” extravagance were false. With one notable exception, the Commerce Commission’s comprehensive investigation has ended up endorsing every other aspect of the airport’s building programme (and ...5 days ago - Just what does drive so much of this global, Right-wing populism we all see at present?
Movements clustered around the Right, and Far Right as well, are rising globally. Despite the recent defeats we’ve seen in the last day or so with the win of a Democrat-backed challenger, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, over her Republican counterpart, Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, in the battle for ...5 days ago - Two-part webinar about the scientific consensus on human-caused global warming
In February 2025, John Cook gave two webinars for republicEN explaining the scientific consensus on human-caused climate change. 20 February 2025: republicEN webinar part 1 - BUST or TRUST? The scientific consensus on climate change In the first webinar, Cook explained the history of the 20-year scientific consensus on climate change. How do ...5 days ago
- Bookshelf: ‘Vampire state: The rise and fall of the Chinese economy’
After three decades of record-breaking growth, at about the same time as Xi Jinping rose to power in 2012, China’s economy started the long decline to its current state of stagnation. The Chinese Communist Party ...5 days ago
- Too complacent, too greedy
The Pike River Coal mine was a ticking time bomb.Ventilation systems designed to prevent methane buildup were incomplete or neglected.Gas detectors that might warn of danger were absent or broken.Rock bolting was skipped, old tunnels left unsealed, communication systems failed during emergencies.Employees and engineers kept warning management about the … ...5 days ago - It’s time to imagine how China would act as regional hegemon
Regional hegemons come in different shapes and sizes. Australia needs to think about what kind of hegemon China would be, and become, should it succeed in displacing the United States in Asia. It’s time to ...5 days ago
- We don’t need the fast track to kill fossil fuels
RNZ has a story this morning about the expansion of solar farms in Aotearoa, driven by today's ground-breaking ceremony at the Tauhei solar farm in Te Aroha: From starting out as a tiny player in the electricity system, solar power generated more electricity than coal and gas combined for ...5 days ago
- How world order changes
After the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, and almost a year before the Soviet Union collapsed in late 1991, US President George H W Bush proclaimed a ‘new world order’. Now, just two months ...5 days ago
- Social Contracts Are Breaking
Warning: Some images may be distressing. Thank you for those who support my work. It means a lot.A shopfront in Australia shows Liberal leader Peter Dutton and mining magnate Gina Rinehart depicted with Nazi imageryUS Government Seeks Death Penalty for Luigi MangioneMangione was publicly walked in front of media in ...5 days ago - Wednesday 2 April
Aged care workers rallying against potential roster changes say Bupa, which runs retirement homes across the country, needs to focus on care instead of money. More than half of New Zealand workers wish they had chosen a different career according to a new survey. Consumers are likely to see a ...5 days ago
- The Green’s Identity Bubble Problem.
The scurrilous attacks on Benjamin Doyle, a list Green MP, over his supposed inappropriate behaviour towards children has dominated headlines and social media this past week, led by frothing Rightwing agitators clutching their pearls and fanning the flames of moral panic over pedophiles and and perverts. Winston Peter decided that ...5 days ago - Fabian Fundraiser – Twilight Time
Twilight Time Lighthouse Cuba, Wigan Street, Wellington, Sunday 6 April, 5:30pm for 6pm start. Twilight Time looks at the life and work of Desmond Ball, (1947-2016), a barefooted academic from ‘down under’ who was hailed by Jimmy Carter as “the man who saved the world”, as he proved the fallacy ...5 days ago
- That’s Democracy?
The landedAnd the wealthyAnd the piousAnd the healthyAnd the straight onesAnd the pale onesAnd we only mean the male ones!If you're all of the above, then you're ok!As we build a new tomorrow here today!Lyrics Glenn Slater and Allan Menken.Ah, Democracy - can you smell it?It's presently a sulphurous odour, ...6 days ago - Think laterally: government air and shipping services can boost Australian defence
US President Donald Trump’s unconventional methods of conducting international relations will compel the next federal government to reassess whether the United States’ presence in the region and its security assurances provide a reliable basis for ...6 days ago
- Reserve Bank, bank capital etc
Things seem to be at a pretty low ebb in and around the Reserve Bank. There was, in particular, the mysterious, sudden, and as-yet unexplained resignation of the Governor (we’ve had four Governors since the Bank was given its operational autonomy 35 years ago, and only two have completed their ...6 days ago - Luxon’s ‘going for growth’ actually means ‘going for debt reduction’
Long story short: PM Christopher Luxon said in January his Government was ‘going for growth’ and he wanted New Zealanders to develop a ‘culture of yes.’ Yet his own Government is constantly saying no, or not yet, to anchor investments that would unleash real private business investment and GDP growth. ...6 days ago - Luxon’s ‘going for growth’ actually means ‘going for debt reduction’
Long story short: PM Christopher Luxon said in January his Government was ‘going for growth’ and he wanted New Zealanders to develop a ‘culture of yes.’ Yet his own Government is constantly saying no, or not yet, to anchor investments that would unleash real private business investment and GDP growth. ...6 days ago
- Life after D-notices: Australia can learn from Britain’s updated system
For decades, Britain and Australia had much the same process for regulating media handling of defence secrets. It was the D-notice system, under which media would be asked not to publish. The two countries diverged ...6 days ago
- Life after D-notices: Australia can learn from Britain’s updated system
For decades, Britain and Australia had much the same process for regulating media handling of defence secrets. It was the D-notice system, under which media would be asked not to publish. The two countries diverged ...6 days ago
- Should Auckland demolish Spaghetti Junction?
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. In this article, I make a not-entirely-serious case for ripping out Spaghetti Junction in Auckland, replacing it with a motorway tunnel, and redeveloping new city streets and neighbourhoods above it instead. What’s ...6 days ago
- Should Auckland demolish Spaghetti Junction?
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. In this article, I make a not-entirely-serious case for ripping out Spaghetti Junction in Auckland, replacing it with a motorway tunnel, and redeveloping new city streets and neighbourhoods above it instead. What’s ...6 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Wednesday, April 2
In short this morning in our political economy:The Nelson Hospital crisis revealed by 1News’ Jessica Roden dominates the political agenda today. Yet again, population growth wasn’t planned for, or funded.Kāinga Ora is planning up to 900 house sales, including new ones, Jonathan Milne reports for Newsroom.One of New Zealand’s biggest ...6 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Wednesday, April 2
In short this morning in our political economy:The Nelson Hospital crisis revealed by 1News’ Jessica Roden dominates the political agenda today. Yet again, population growth wasn’t planned for, or funded.Kāinga Ora is planning up to 900 house sales, including new ones, Jonathan Milne reports for Newsroom.One of New Zealand’s biggest ...6 days ago
- Diplomacy is the newest front in the Russia-Ukraine war
The war between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated. Neither side is in a position to achieve its stated objectives through military force. But now there is significant diplomatic activity as well. Ukraine has agreed to ...6 days ago
- Release: Flaws in Govt’s climate strategy will cost us money
The Government’s plan to achieve our climate goals falls short, and will cost New Zealanders money and jobs. ...5 hours ago - Green Party differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill
Read the Green Party's differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill, prepared by Tamatha Paul. ...11 hours ago - Te Pāti Māori Urges Governor-General to Block Repeal of 7AA
Today, the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading, but there is one more stage before it becomes law. The Governor-General must give their ‘Royal assent’ for any bill to become legally enforceable. This means that, even if a bill gets voted ...4 days ago
- Release: Abortion care quietly shelved amid staff shortage
Abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...4 days ago
- Release: Govt guts Kāinga Ora, third of workforce under axe
The gutting of Kāinga Ora shows public housing is not a priority for this Government as it removes a third of the roles at the housing agency. ...4 days ago
- Release: Thousands of submissions excluded from Treaty Principles Bill report
Thousands of New Zealanders’ submissions are missing from the official parliamentary record because the National-dominated Justice Select Committee has rushed work on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...4 days ago
- Release: Uncertainty remains over the impact of tariffs
Today’s announcement of 10 percent tariffs for New Zealand goods entering the United States is disappointing for exporters and consumers alike, with the long-lasting impact on prices and inflation still unknown. ...4 days ago
- Release: Worst February for building consents in over a decade
The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour supports Willie Apiata’s selfless act
Willie Apiata’s decision to hand over his Victoria Cross to the Minister for Veterans is a powerful and selfless act, made on behalf of all those who have served our country. ...6 days ago
- Te Pāti Māori MPs Denied Fundamental Rights in Privileges Committee Hearing
The Privileges Committee has denied fundamental rights to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, breaching their own standing orders, breaching principles of natural justice, and highlighting systemic prejudice and discrimination within our parliamentary processes. The three MPs were summoned to the privileges committee following their performance of a haka ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt health and safety changes put workers at risk
Changes to New Zealand’s health and safety laws will strip back key protections for small businesses and put working Kiwis at greater risk. ...1 week ago
- Release: Kiwis worse off this April thanks to Govt choices
April 1 used to be a day when workers could count on a pay rise with stronger support for those doing it tough, but that’s not the case under this Government. ...1 week ago
- Release: Three more years for Interislander ferries
Winston Peters is shopping for smaller ferries after Nicola Willis torpedoed the original deal, which would have delivered new rail enabled ferries next year. ...1 week ago
- Release: Myanmar junta must stop the airstrikes
The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake. ...1 week ago
- Release: National failing to deliver on supermarkets
National is paying lip service to its promises to bring down the cost of living, failing to make any meaningful change in the grocery sector. ...1 week ago
- Release: Labour backs farmers’ call for better process on GE
Labour shares farmers’ concerns that the Gene Technology Bill is moving too fast. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Bar still too high for small mental health providers
Small mental health providers will still be locked out of co-funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund despite a lower threshold. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for Govt to scrap proposed ECE changes
The Green Party is calling for the Government to scrap proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, after attending a petition calling for the Government to ‘Put tamariki at the heart of decisions about ECE’. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill That Gives Democracy Back To The People
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill today that will remove the power of MPs conscience votes and ensure mandatory national referendums are held before any conscience issues are passed into law. “We are giving democracy and power back to the people”, says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. ...2 weeks ago - Speech: Navigating the New World (Dis)order in Turbulent Times
Welcome to members of the diplomatic corp, fellow members of parliament, the fourth estate, foreign affairs experts, trade tragics, ladies and gentlemen. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Call for Mandatory Police Body Cameras
In recent weeks, disturbing instances of state-sanctioned violence against Māori have shed light on the systemic racism permeating our institutions. An 11-year-old autistic Māori child was forcibly medicated at the Henry Bennett Centre, a 15-year-old had his jaw broken by police in Napier, kaumātua Dean Wickliffe went on a hunger ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Kiwis lose faith in job market
Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens question Govt commitment to environmental protection with RMA reform
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt must tackle meth use crisis
New data shows methamphetamine use is spiralling out of control while the Government sits on its hands. ...2 weeks ago
- “Make New Zealand First Again”
“Make New Zealand First Again” Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you for being here today. We know your lives are busy and you are working harder and longer than you ever have, and there are many calls on your time, so thank you for the chance to speak ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt’s continued lack of action on Gaza condemned
Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National at sea over Defence jobs
National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: National standards returning by stealth
It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Kiwis still struggling as economy stumbles along
Kiwis aren’t feeling any better off despite figures showing a very slight growth in GDP in the December quarter. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...3 weeks ago
- Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility
The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes
Christopher Luxon seems to have thrown New Zealand’s principled anti-nuclear advocacy under a bus. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...3 weeks ago
- New planning laws to end the culture of ‘no’
The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court. “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build ...2 weeks ago - New Zealand & India Comprehensive FTA consultation begins
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has today launched a public consultation on New Zealand and India’s negotiations of a formal comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. “Negotiations are getting underway, and the Public’s views will better inform us in the early parts of this important negotiation,” Mr McClay says. We are ...2 weeks ago
- Cost of living support coming for 1.5 million New Zealanders
More than 900 thousand superannuitants and almost five thousand veterans are among the New Zealanders set to receive a significant financial boost from next week, an uplift Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says will help support them through cost-of-living challenges. “I am pleased to confirm that from 1 ...2 weeks ago
- Iwi join discussion on geothermal potential
Progressing a holistic strategy to unlock the potential of New Zealand’s geothermal resources, possibly in applications beyond energy generation, is at the centre of discussions with mana whenua at a hui in Rotorua today, Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is in the early stages ...2 weeks ago
- Building consent data shows need for bold reforms
New annual data has exposed the staggering cost of delays previously hidden in the building consent system, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I directed Building Consent Authorities to begin providing quarterly data last year to improve transparency, following repeated complaints from tradespeople waiting far longer than the statutory ...3 weeks ago
- Reining in water price increases for Aucklanders
Increases in water charges for Auckland consumers this year will be halved under the Watercare Charter which has now been passed into law, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say. The charter is part of the financial arrangement for Watercare developed last year by Auckland Council ...3 weeks ago
- Strong interest in modernising biosecurity law
There is wide public support for the Government’s work to strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity protections, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “The Ministry for Primary Industries recently completed public consultation on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act and the submissions show that people understand the importance of having a strong biosecurity ...3 weeks ago
- New independent review function for civil aviation decisions
A new independent review function will enable individuals and organisations to seek an expert independent review of specified civil aviation regulatory decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Director of Civil Aviation, Acting Transport Minister James Meager has announced today. “Today we are making it easier and more affordable ...3 weeks ago
- Enhanced urgent care service for Napier
The Government will invest in an enhanced overnight urgent care service for the Napier community as part of our focus on ensuring access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown has today confirmed. “I am delighted that a solution has been found to ensure Napier residents will continue to ...3 weeks ago
- Construction begins on new adult mental health building in Christchurch
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey attended a sod turning today to officially mark the start of construction on a new mental health facility at Hillmorton Campus. “This represents a significant step in modernising mental health services in Canterbury,” Mr Brown says. “Improving health infrastructure is ...3 weeks ago
- It’s official: Kiwis can look forward to better days
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed confirmation the economy has turned the corner. Stats NZ reported today that gross domestic product grew 0.7 per cent in the three months to December following falls in the June and September quarters. “We know many families and businesses are still suffering the after-effects ...3 weeks ago
- Sealing improves safety on Forgotten World Highway
The sealing of a 12-kilometre stretch of State Highway 43 (SH43) through the Tangarakau Gorge – one of the last remaining sections of unsealed state highway in the country – has been completed this week as part of a wider programme of work aimed at improving the safety and resilience ...3 weeks ago
- NZ – US relations on strong footing
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters says relations between New Zealand and the United States are on a strong footing, as he concludes a week-long visit to New York and Washington DC today. “We came to the United States to ask the new Administration what it wants from ...3 weeks ago
- International Anti-Money Laundering rule changes support government reforms
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed changes to international anti-money laundering standards which closely align with the Government’s reforms. “The Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) last month adopted revised standards for tackling money laundering and the financing of terrorism to allow for simplified regulatory measures for businesses, organisations and sectors ...3 weeks ago
- New electronic system to support pharmacy efficiency
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he welcomes Medsafe’s decision to approve an electronic controlled drug register for use in New Zealand pharmacies, allowing pharmacies to replace their physical paper-based register. “The register, developed by Kiwi brand Toniq Limited, is the first of its kind to be approved in New ...3 weeks ago
- RIF delivering for regional NZ, more to come
The Coalition Government’s drive for regional economic growth through the $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund is on track with more than $550 million in funding so far committed to key infrastructure projects, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “To date, the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) has received more than 250 ...3 weeks ago
- Comments following bilateral with US Secretary of State Rubio
[Comments following the bilateral meeting with United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio; United States State Department, Washington D.C.] * We’re very pleased with our meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio this afternoon. * We came here to listen to the new Administration and to be clear about what ...3 weeks ago
- New State Highway 2 roundabout to improve road safety in Eastern Bay of Plenty
The intersection of State Highway 2 (SH2) and Wainui Road in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be made safer and more efficient for vehicles and freight with the construction of a new and long-awaited roundabout, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop. “The current intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road is ...3 weeks ago
- Ocean Race returning to Auckland
The Ocean Race will return to the City of Sails in 2027 following the Government’s decision to invest up to $4 million from the Major Events Fund into the international event, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand is a proud sailing nation, and Auckland is well-known internationally as the ...3 weeks ago
- Do I need another COVID booster? Which one should I choose? Can I get it with my flu shot?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Griffin, Professor, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Queensland Tijana Simic/Shutterstock Australians are being urged to roll up their sleeves for a flu vaccine amid rising cases of influenza. It’s an opportune time to think about other vaccines too, ...3 hours ago - NZ shares fall sharply as US tariff chaos hits
Three billion dollars has been wiped off the value of New Zealand's share market as the rout of global financial markets finally caught up with the local market. ...3 hours ago - Caitlin Johnstone: Hamas succeeded in exposing the true face of the empire
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone One thing October 7 did accomplish was getting Israel and its allies to show the world their true face. Getting them to stand before all of humanity to say, “If you resist us, we’ll kill your ...3 hours ago
- Financial markets are tanking. Here’s why it’s best not to panic
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Hartigan, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Financial markets around the world have been slammed by the Trump adminstration’s sweeping tariffs on its trading partners, and China’s swift retaliation. Share markets have posted their biggest declines since the COVID pandemic ...3 hours ago
- Coalition retains power in latest TVNZ poll
National slightly extended a lead over Labour in the latest 1News-Verian poll. ...3 hours ago
- Without women, Australia’s defence force will struggle to recruit enough people
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Percy, Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Australia faces crisis-level workforce shortfalls in security and defence. Recruiting more people to the defence force is now an urgent matter of national security. So, comments – such as those recently made ...4 hours ago
- Bougainville president condemns ‘dangerous’ AI-generated fake video of scuffle with Marape
RNZ Pacific Autonomous Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama has condemned the circulation of an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video depicting a physical confrontation between him and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape. The clip, first shared on Facebook last week, is generated from the above picture of Toroama and Marape ...4 hours ago
- ‘Clearly Anti-Māori’: Local Leaders Slam Member’s Bill On Race-Based Services
"We need to continue speaking out against the government about this. Ka whawhai tonu tātou. We all benefit as New Zealanders when our indigenous people do well – nobody loses, because we all win,” Dr Will Flavell says. ...4 hours ago - NZDF’s Obscene Military Spending Plans
This Defence Capability Plan will ensure that desperately needed public services here in Aotearoa are starved of resources and primed for privatisation, while US weapons companies drain our treasury and the US military sets us up to service them ...4 hours ago
- Live: NZ shares fall sharply as US tariff chaos hits
Three billion dollars has been wiped off the value of New Zealand's share market as the rout of global financial markets finally caught up with the local market. ...4 hours ago
- Greens Claim Intellectual Property Rights And Demand Changes To “Defund The Police” Billboards
Spokesperson for The Sensible Sentencing Trust Louise Parsons says: “We were happy to make the image changes, but find it telling that they are trying to have our billboards taken down when they simply state what their MPs advocate for - the ‘radical abolition ...5 hours ago
- Batteries for all, not just the rich? Labor’s home battery plan must be properly targeted to be fa...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Best, Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics, Macquarie University NOWRA photography/Shutterstock Over the weekend, Labor promised to subsidise home batteries by 30%. This would save about A$4,000 per household up front for an average battery. The scheme has a goal of ...5 hours ago
- Government unveils $12 billion Defence Capability Plan
Of the $12 billion of spending, $9 billion is new money that will equate to a significant boost in annual funding for the force. ...5 hours ago
- Govt Must Reverse Cuts To Civilian Workforce If Defence Spend Up Is To Be Effective
The Government today announced a $12 billion dollar investment in defence capability over the next four years. But at the same time NZDF is planning to slash 374 roles from the civilian workforce, coming on top of cuts late last year which saw 144 civilian ...5 hours ago
- Watch live: Coalition unveils $12 billion Defence Capability Plan
Christopher Luxon speaks to media after today's Cabinet meeting. ...6 hours ago
- Billboards attacking Green MPs appear in Wellington and Auckland
The billboards, which resemble Green Party campaign hoardings, contain the slogans "Defund the Police" and "Vote Green". ...6 hours ago
- What our reaction to Adolescence tells us about our fear of boys, sex and the internet
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra James, Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University News feeds have been flooded with reactions to Adolescence, Netflix’s newest viral hit. Released in March, the limited series racked up over 66 million views in just ...7 hours ago
- 47% of Gen Z mainly vote to avoid a fine. It’s a sign of younger Australians’ discontent with de...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Young Australians will shape the upcoming federal election. For the first time, Gen Z and Millennials are the dominant voter bloc, outnumbering Baby Boomers. But over the past couple of years, we’ve heard stories from around ...8 hours ago
- Do we need a Martyn’s Law for venue security in Australia? The MCG gun scare is a wake-up call
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Two men were arrested for allegedly bringing loaded firearms into the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during Thursday’s AFL match between Collingwood and Carlton. The incident didn’t ...8 hours ago
- 98% of Queensland prawn areas at risk of inundation by rising seas this century
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitie Kuempel, Lecturer, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University As climate change wreaks havoc with the world’s oceans, future production of fish, crustaceans and other aquatic organisms is under threat. Our new research shows how this disturbance will play out for ...8 hours ago
- New Research Finds Dumped South Island Whānau Ora Agency An exemplar Of Effective, Community-Led Pu...
Pouārahi, Ivy Harper, said the Government and Te Puni Kōkiri had consistently overlooked clear research and data. The latest evaluation, completed by Ihi Research, was particularly compelling, she said. ...9 hours ago
- ‘Sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber’: nutrition experts on the viral TikTok trend
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland @logansfewd via Instagram “Sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber.” So begins a series of viral videos by TikTok “cucumber guy” Logan Moffitt, who has raked in ...9 hours ago
- ‘Should Put It To A Public Referendum’ Tauranga Proceeds With Māori Wards By-election
“Mayor Mahé Drysdale has labelled this an exercise of local democracy. Let’s call it what it is—undemocratic by its definition.” ...9 hours ago
- Richard Wagstaff To Launch NZCTU Policy Platform
The event will also feature speeches from workers and a panel of experts including Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo, Shamubeel Eaqub, Lyndy McIntyre and Ed Miller. ...9 hours ago
- Looking inward: why Trump’s tariffs highlight the need for NZ to build local capacity
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rod McNaughton, Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images When retail executives start swearing during earnings calls, something is clearly amiss. That’s what happened recently when the CEO of United States-based luxury furniture retailer Restoration Hardware ...9 hours ago
- Our wildest predictions for tonight’s The White Lotus finale
The Spinoff’s resident White Lotus geeks guess who’ll cark it in season three’s finale. (Legal disclaimer: Contains spoilers for the first seven episodes.) After eight weeks of analysing the theme song, drooling over the scenery and wondering how twisted the storylines can get, season three of The White Lotus concludes ...10 hours ago - ‘Unchecked’ industry lobbying needs regulating, say ex-politicians
Health experts and former politicians want transparency and accountability to 'end hidden lobbying'. ...10 hours ago
- Health Coalition Aotearoa Demands Fairness In Government Decision-making
The cost of unchecked influence The New Zealand public will gain many benefits from a fairer, transparent public policy making process - like a greater recognition of what the public values and more trust in government decision makers. ...11 hours ago
- What’s so bad about being mid?
The most reliably brutal burn is to call someone average. Why? This article was first published on Madeleine Holden’s self-titled Substack. I have a painful confession: I’m responsible for not just one but two of the most viral anti-male slogans of the 2010s. I coined “dick is abundant and low value” ...12 hours ago
- Live: NZ shares fall sharply as market opens to US tariff chaos
The New Zealand sharemarket has fallen sharply in early trading. ...12 hours ago
- New Zealand ‘incredibly well-positioned’ to weather tariff storm – Christopher Lux...
Trump's tariffs sent global markets reeling, with losses comparable to the global financial crisis and the arrival of Covid-19. ...12 hours ago
- Friend, tutor, doctor, lover: why AI systems need different rules for different roles
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brian D Earp, Associate Director, Yale-Hastings Program in Ethics and Health Policy, University of Oxford Cybermagician / Shutterstock “I’m really not sure what to do anymore. I don’t have anyone I can talk to,” types a lonely user to an AI ...13 hours ago
- Reform clock is ticking – the big policy challenges the next government must urgently address
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aruna Sathanapally, Grattan Institute The 2025 federal election coincides with a period of profound global uncertainty, as the Trump administration wreaks havoc on the free trade system and longstanding alliances. The events of recent months have underscored how, at each election, ...13 hours ago
- MyMedicare promises better health care. But only 1 in 10 patients has signed up
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jialing Lin, Research fellow, International Centre for Future Health Systems, UNSW Sydney Rose Marinelli/Shutterstock MyMedicare is a scheme that encourages patients to register with a regular GP practice to improve their health. But few patients have enrolled. Since its ...13 hours ago
- New satellite data shows NZ’s major cities are sinking – meaning rising seas will affect them so...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jesse Kearse, Postdoctoral Researcher, Geophysics, Kyoto University Shutterstock/Jakub Maculewicz Rising seas are already affecting coastal communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. On a global average, the sea level is now 18 centimetres higher than it was in 1900, and the annual rate ...13 hours ago
- Biosecurity policies can be annoying – but a century of Antarctic data shows they work
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Leihy, Ecologist, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Visitors to Australia are often shocked at having to declare an apple or wooden item under our biosecurity policies. Biosecurity policies are used to keep out pest species and diseases. But they’re expensive ...13 hours ago
- From flowers to stalking: how ‘nice guy’ narratives can lead to male entitlement and violence ag...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamilla Rosdahl, Senior Lecturer, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Being labelled a “nice guy” was once considered a form of flattery. Today, however, anyone privy to the world of dating and romance will know this isn’t necessarily a compliment. The term ...13 hours ago
- Government considers u-turn on baby formula rules after industry shift
The formula companies wanted the government to opt out of tougher regulation, but now they want back in. ...13 hours ago
- Poets and perfume: In praise of themed street names
Shanti Mathias scrolls through council archives and Papers Past to discover where street names come from. In Sydenham, a suburb south of Christchurch’s CBD, there are some familiar names on the road signs. Milton Street. Coleridge Street. Wordsworth Street, which, naturally branches into Shakespeare Road. There’s Tennyson Street, of course, ...13 hours ago
- Live: ‘Not true’ – Christopher Luxon pushes back on US tariff claims
The PM says New Zealand only has a real tariff rate of about 1.9% against the US. ...13 hours ago
Well that is good to see a critique of the Hobson's Pledge "ad" in the Herald. The "ad" seemed deliberately aiming to foster anti-Maori division.
https://subslack.substack.com/p/just-giving-this-a-push-along?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=40073&post_id=147652367&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=25honw&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Also discussed here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/525042/nzme-to-review-advertising-policies-after-hobson-s-pledge-ad
I think NZH is hiding behind its advertising policy. Unless an AI bot made the decision to place the add, it was a human who did it.
Exactly Incog…they knew what they were doing. But none of us should forget that the Herald has shown clear support for the Far Right.
I recall NZH ramping up on crime reporting in the six months before an election in the eighties, aligned with a Law'NOrder campaign by the Nats. It's been pushing that agenda for decades.
Never has it been truer that money speaks volumes.
An accountant who is out of work is trying to find an accountancy job. He may live in a part of the country where such jobs are scarce. He is currently on a benefit. He has been told his benefit is to be halved because he failed to attend a meeting last Friday. He has been through all his emails and was never informed of it in the first place.
Oh, that’s nice of them. (sarc.)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350377819/jobseekers-already-being-warned-benefit-cuts
Pricks.
/
Teachers at state schools could be required to fill in for charter schools and share resources with them, granted the request to do so is “reasonable,” under current proposals from Associate Education Minister David Seymour.
[…]
“Charter schools will be publicly funded but will be operated by sponsors holding a contract with the Crown.”
On April 2, Cabinet agreed on plans to share resources between schools – approving charter schools to use their own curriculum if standards are “at least equivalent” to students at state schools.
The issue of shared resources is being put forward “so that students continue to have access to shared resources and are not disadvantaged by attending a charter school”. If approved, state school workers “may not refuse” requirements from their employer to provide services to a charter school or to students enrolled at one, provided it’s lawful and “reasonable”.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/inside-the-goverments-plans-to-implement-charter-schools-and-convert-35-state-schools-timeframes-and-advice-revealed/3VJBM32COVABLHZBHIAMQMF3LU/ ( https://archive.li/QoxxN)
The precedent is already set with private hospitals dependent on the public system to
makeprofitsbe viable.Charters are all about leveraging and bludging on public assets by for profit operators. A gift from the Atlas Network, and theft from previous generations of citizens and taxpayers.
And a major union busting attempt to undermine Education Unions NZEI and PPTA which stood up well against Hekia Parata’s National Standards and original charters. The institutional knowledge may not be there now from newer teachers to mount a strong campaign but hopefully this will be resisted.
Does anyone have any suggestions we to where we migrate at the end of the month? Are there any other blogs or sites like this in New Zealand?
Eh? Wot?
LPrent has decided to close down the site
Really?…I missed that memo…don’t blame LP at all if that transpires as much as a number of people would miss the site.
There are few more entitled people than those that don’t pay a cent to the upkeep of an online presence and then whinge about the rules of engagement. I have read The Standard and put the odd comment on almost since it started.
Yep, and we have agreed to disagree many times as the barbs after they had been placed and the furore diminished.
Is this true, Lprent? You're closing down the site? That's a damn shame
How do you know this and others don't?
sorry Grey for the delay
Over on the Gender Olympics thread is where LPrent announced it
If you can get past the bombast and ignore the comments there is The Daily Blog.
They do have really good guest bloggers like John Minto, Murray Horton, Susan st John,Ian Powell.
But not so much serious long form commentary from commenters as here.
There's not the intemperate aggression and somewhat unhinged abuse from moderators either.
Nah.
No room for reasoned debate on TDB. Mostly fanatics and trolls. I gave up on it a couple of years ago.
How do you know this? What end of the month?
Bugger! Maybe forming a Sub-Reddit like "LeftInNewZealand" (suggested name) may be viable I have no idea if there are costs associated with that – I believe moderators on reddit are unpaid. Just spit balling here….
r/newzealand is more consistently leftie than The Standard, I reckon.
Lprent is shutting down the site because he is uncomfortable with gender-critical points of view and the debates that ensue. Lprent: feel free to correct me if I have mischaracterised your position. For reference, these points of view include:
Apparently these POV are so problematic and evil that lprent does not want to deal with the arguments that ensue.
This is relevant to your comment, because Reddit is notorious for banning exactly the same points of view. Entire subreddits have been deleted.
So, it might actually work, because important and controversial topics would just not be discussed. So we could all sit around agreeing with each other about how shit Luxon is and how scary the climate crisis is. And we could all sink into the warm pillow of bland agreement on issues we all agree with.
I don't see the point though.
[lprent: I don’t see the point of lazy sanctimonious self-appointed busybodies misrepresenting me with misinformation. But hey, that is your thing isn’t it.
There is literally nothing in your statement that is not misinformation, playing the victim, and denigrating the lawful decisions of others. What I keep asking for is something concrete that can be debated. Not misinformation bullshit. Things that can actually be made into legislation, regulation, or policy. None of that ever appears. Just whinging and trading misinformation is pointless and that is all I ever seem to see on this topic.
As usual for for a busybody, you don’t suggest anything useful like a feasible course of action. It appears that your only active action you ever do is to just finger your small and shrivelled ego by denigrating others to make yourself feel bigger. Characteristic of busybody.
Banned. ]
You're such an arse.
As a long time user I'll be sad to see the site go. I've come across such a varied and knowledgeable range of people on here over the last 10 years or so, including Lynn, that has enriched my life and knowledge.
A place where poor working class people had a voice. People who did not elsewhere.
There's been plenty of robust debate and right wing trolling and disagreement. Lots of tangental stuff as well about growing forests.
It feels like a small group of people have used the site to be toxic. It isn't like the issues aren't important and they could have discussion it just feels it was their way or no way.
If you don't see the point then just go. Take you negativity towards people who have been here, many for a long time, and go spread it somewhere else. You clearly have no love for The Standard in any way shape or form. Many of us do.
Nice comment. And like Barfly, I avoid the topic in general – mostly because I don't understand enough about the topic to reliably converse, but also I can't agree to a pile on to a people who are choosing to exercise a choice and already demonized by far too many. That feels like an unfair and irresponsible thing to do but as always it's a YMMV thing.
I'll miss this site for sure even though in recent times I've been frustrated at the displays of horrible politics often put forth about a minority that hasn't really done anything to merit that level of vitriol or dark mutterings.
I'm sorry that I've been so angry about being on The Standard nor wanting to be on it sometimes. It's one thing to say you're worried about how children may be affected by certain gender-related issues so these children can be well-served and properly helped, yet it's another to relentlessly pile on whatever's happening with that minority of people in terms of unearned skepticism.
At times, it felt suffocating to be around that sort of politics. It felt so hardgoing to read all that resentment and anxiety about such a small minority that really hasn't affected you in any sense.
It has personally affected my mood due to my experiences of being a non-binary adult person which meant reading such stuff is something I should never have subjected myself to doing.
Anyway, my relationship with the Standard was as a long-time reader. I think I have been reading for over a decade until I recently joined due to my fears about the coalition.
It's been real, y'all.
I try to avoid gender critical like the bloody plague
It's one of several issues used by elites and their propaganda organs to divide the people. (Others include race and vaccine paranoia).
It's bait and sometimes I have engaged when I probably shouldn't have.
Solidarity is more important.
Same – I dislike gender critical ideology immensely.
Moderator note.
Everybody on here is unpaid; it’s a Labour of love until the love runs out.
That is easy enough to do. However as someone just noted to me, they are not only unpaid but they also
My response was
And would add – depends on the moderator team – but in my experience on r/newzealand (the main NZ subreddit) – they will lock threads, and from what I hear, ban people for dissent, and just for being annoying or provocative – in their eyes.
Just read at the top of the thread about lprent calling it a day. This had been a great place to visit and to pick up snippets of context that miss the news. Plus the quality of the posts has been excellent.
There is a huge amount of behind-the-scenes work with a site like this. It's a big thanks from me for those workers, for providing this playground of ideas.
For a snigger: Musk cartoon at the Guardian.
And another teeheehee: the United Auto Workers union in the US has filed charges against Trump and Musk. It is illegal in the US to threaten to fire workers for striking. Trump congratulated Musk on his anti-union stance, including firing strikers, in their highly-publicised chat yesterday.
“When we say Trump is a scab, this is what we mean. When we say Trump stands against everything our union stands for, this is what we mean,”
“Donald Trump will always side against workers standing up for themselves, and he will always side with billionaires like Elon Musk said Fain. “Both Trump and Musk want working-class people to sit down and shut up, and they laugh about it openly. It’s disgusting, illegal and totally predictable from these two clowns.”
Orr has cut the OCR by 0.25%.
More good news for people with mortgages.
And business overdrafts/loans.
Very good news. Fingers crossed this triggers a recovery
It will take more than a 0.25% cut in lending rates. This government has engineered a depressed economy.
It is now common knowledge that many builders are now short of work. The halcyon days of record building consents under Labour are long gone.
Like the proverbial oil tanker, it takes a long time to turn this around. Maybe by talking the economy down the Coalition of Cuts has shot itself in the foot?
Its amazing how people can bring politics into any statement. The OCR has been at 5.5% since May 2023. 5 months before the election. That has been the main reason for the state of the economy as households and businesses have shut their wallets to counter higher interest rates.
There is plenty to hit this government over the head about, but it would be disingenuous to suggest that they engineered a depressed economy when it was depressed well before they came to power due in main to the OCR being set high, to counter high inflation.
Shorts an understatement its turning into a bloodbath worse than gfc now.
What about savers? It's interesting how dependent society and this economy has become on record low rates. It wasn't like this for a long time, yet people seem to have forgotten and assume the key is to keep rates as low as possible.
That was before the property market exploded and people borrowed at low rates to service 7 figure bank loans.
I agree our economy now seem to be dependent on historically low interest rates.
Very saddened to read that Iprent is going to close down the site. The site is a valuable meeting place for ideas and recording the issues that matter. As an elderly person it is accessible and reasonably free of nasty opinions. I will miss it.
And hope that there is a reprieve???
Hold that thought. I would also hate to see it go. Am working through some options.
Keep us posted. While I've only recently discovered The Standard, I've found the quality of people and comments to be a small gem.
I accidently discovered it while doing family tree research. A relative was involved in producing the original paper based printed Standard. Found it, enjoyed it and stayed.
I've been reading every day since I found this site via a commenter on The Daily Blog a few months ago. All these years and I didn't know about it. The Standard the best I've seen, I really appreciate all the great commentary here, I've loved it. I haven't commented as am not confident to do so, but wanted to put in my 10c worth today about keeping it afloat – please keep it going somehow Micky! I would also pay a small sub. Thank you to all those who have made it what it is, it must be a big job to moderate
A great big Thank You to those who have come on here with a Left view, and an open heart. In Key’s days while awaiting a hip operation, I had many a support from people here. I think we have all become a little shattered by events, and age. I will miss this venue. Go well Iprent, "we never know what we've got till it is gone" Hope you can come up with something Micky.
Loathe your politics Patricia, but i know from your posts you are a good and well meaning person. I hope you stay healthy and well . Fight the good fight as you see it.
I appreciate you truly, Patricia
You've been a true light in the landscape of the Standard for a very long time.
How about some modest advertising and pay someone to keep the server going…
I’d do a small sub rather than see The Standard end. But then, maybe blogs have a lifespan and it is thoughtful to let them go when the original movers and shakers have had enough…
Fingers Crossed.
Ditto! I read TS every day but seldom comment. Where will I go for comments on the news of the day that is so well moderated for rational and respectful comment?
Well said.
+1,000,000 ianmac.
As another daily reader of your site I am sorry to hear that you are leaving us. Fully support the previous comments. Go well. Regards. Keith
Always a daily reader, and will miss the site ( and im very right wing, but know your enemy and all that ). But yeah sometimes things just reach their natural end point. No doubt folks will find other sites to express their thoughts.
Appreciate the comment, thanks.
I’d like to think that TS was a little more than that.
No shit? You left off right wing troll.
Please no pointless personal attacks, thanks
Its my personal opinion, as I have been trolled by same. Thanks.
If/when you’re feeling that you’re being trolled then call them out on it then & there and alert the Mods. This instance is nothing more than a pointless personal attack and uncalled for.
BTW, I found one exchange between you two that occurred 2 years ago; it was about Muldoon and fairly low on the trolling scale, IMO.
This is sad news that the site is shutting down. I will miss my daily dose of mostly very sane and well thought through thinking on the issues of the day and things brought to my attention that I've missed. I hope we can find another home somewhere, where left thoughts can shine. I don't know why the trans debate has become so, so toxic, and I wonder if understanding that toxicity might give us better insight into other issues too.
Go well lprent, and thank you very much. It's been swell.
This (very) unexpected OCR cut smells of political manipulation.
Everything the Reserve Bank has said for the last year up til now has been "no cuts at least until the new year".
And now, miraculously for those with mortgages, the bank does a 180 degree turn and tries to fob it off as "we received new information…..".
This smells of b…s!
This is a case of the CoC so worried about opposition to their right-wing ideological hamfisted policies – so worried about the rising cost of living that had to engineer a "good news story" to divert attention away from the harm they are inflicting on a sizeable proportion of society.
I bet that Adrian Orr didn't want to lower the OCR but was told by the three stooges to do it or he could look for another job.
A more balanced appraisal
https://www.reuters.com/markets/real-possibility-new-zealand-central-bank-start-cutting-rates-this-week-2024-08-12/
Widespread recent speculation about the possibility of a cut – as the economy slowed, and inflation reduced.
You can't attribute *everything* to machiavellian manipulation (and you're also attributing major-league political skills to the trio, whom the left prefer to characterize as bumbling incompetents)
I'm sure that the government will endeavour to spin this in the most positive way. But that's a far cry from the blatant political corruption you're alleging.
Ah excuse me!
I never mentioned corruption, that was YOUR terminology.
It was manipulative, planned political brinkmanship.
Just because you are feeling charitable to the three stooges because your mortgage repayments might go down a peg, I'm not.
"I bet that Adrian Orr didn't want to lower the OCR but was told by the three stooges to do it or he could look for another job."
Claiming that the government leadership threatened the Reserve Bank governor with being fired, if he didn’t follow their orders – is absolutely accusing them of political corruption. Own your own slurs.
And once again 'three stooges' are the masters of political manipulation – don't you even see the inconsistency of your own rhetoric.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer had it just right describing the three stooges as the dark triad, which is made up of:
It was a very neat description of, in order, Luxon, Seymour, and Peters. Perception of personality and intent is one of the many strengths of the Maori world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_triad
I'm sure you wouldn't want to read the character analysis of Ngarewa-Packer from the right!
NB: some of them are Maori, too…..
Maori from the right have pretty much abandoned the Māori world. They see little value in tikanga, in being Māori. Rather, they see the future to be more like Pakeha. You can see this in the reckless dismantling of recent moves to support Te ao Māori.
Thankyou for that in depth analysis – Thankfully most people have moved on from 'Uncle Tomming'.
I do question whether the framing of Māori vs. Pakeha, or indigenous vs. [white] settler/colonialist, is helpful and possibly even misleading. It easily allows in labels and accusations of racism, for example, and changes genuine class war into a phony culture war. Unfortunately, TPM and its supporters are also all too happy to buy in and propagate this narrative, further polarising debate and further dividing people.
Randians oppose just about anything and anyone promoting even the slightest hint of unification and unionisation. This gives rise to pseudo-arguments such as TPM doesn’t speak for all Māori, Māori X doesn’t speak for all Māori, and person Y is Māori [but a rabid Randian]. This can and does easily slide down a slippery slope of stupid claims that person Z is ‘not Māori enough’ or that such-and-such is a ‘redneck racist’. We have seen many examples of this here on TS too, both from LW and RW commenters.
I admire the energy and directness TPM bring to their activism. Could do with a bit more of that sort of fight on the left if you ask me.
After all, should we not be loud and proud against those who seek to minimise and dominate the vulnerable and marginalised? Only the comfortable feel threatened by TPM…
And talk about one Maori not speaking for all Maori, let's be clear, that one Maori, David Seymour, is all too happy to draw a line over which no other Maori shall cross with the highly divisive principles bill. We know that if it goes to referendum the weight of centuries of white privilege in funding will be brought to bear on a result which benefits them.
Representative, participatory democracy will be taken out the back and abused. Once again the powerful will have their way.
Fight it now, energise people, because soon it will be too late.
Okay, my comment hasn’t landed and found fertile soil, so let’s agree to disagree on this.
@ Incognito.
The use of language by TPM might be confronting to some people but that is what they feel is necessary to energise their base and their allies. It's much harder for low-income, marginalised people to make their voices heard and it is largely done through direct action and making noise.
We might not see Seymour speak in the same way publicly but the intensity of activism against Maori is there, just behind closed doors with hugely wealthy fellow activists. He doesn't need to speak loudly to energise his base, just calmly in the school debating style safe in the knowledge they are backed by huge resources with which to market opinion.
The well-bred and powerful know the system is to be used at their will and the only thing they are afraid of is mass movement of people. People need to be fired up.
TPM aims to do just that.
TPM is a different beast from the days of Tariana Turia and its coalition with National under John Key. But so is the National Party.
The current atmosphere is highly charged with arseholes like Seymour stirring pots and driving wedges.
TPM don’t seem to realise that they’re wrestling with a pig and the pig is loving it.
Muttonbird @ 13.1.1.1.1
Anyone – or any group of people – who has been systematically stigmatised, put down and denied what belongs to them becomes wiser and more intuitive than most of their fellow citizens. So it is with Maori who have been subjected to all three for nearly 200 years.
But, according to Muttonbird, only those people from that group who politically agree with him….
Seen on X (@thematrixwizard)
The RBNZ are saying the difference between the May statement and the August cut is the data was worse then expected.
Well, you can thank the National led government for that because they have run a sustained negative campaign on the economy since before the election. What happens when you insist on 7% cuts across the board in the public sector? Answer, the private sector, and households will do the same.
I think the RBNZ might have been caught out by the rank incompetence of Luxon and Willis and have been forced, on the insistence of NZ’s monied elite, to reprime the country before it is ready.
Well, that's a more interesting argument, than the apparent belief of Mike the Lefty, that it's all a cunning plot by the government.
It will be interesting to see if A) the rate cut triggers more business confidence and individual spending (begins to turn the economy around), and B) holds inflation at at least the current rate.
Achieving both is a big ask. But we'll see.
I'd concur with that reasoning. My understanding is that RBNZ had been talking next year before any rate cut but the current contraction in activity (it's bloody hard work for retailers right now) and a looming wave of business collapses forced their hand.
There could be more bad news from dairy land coming up too, which would really put the skids under things.
lprent, you have been attacking people rather than their points. I think you've made the right decision to go. I hope this site continues as it's a great forum to read, even if I don't make many comments.
lprent attacks people because of what they are saying not because of who they are. His style may not meet with approval by some, but it is who he is. If you follow the subject matter he is talking about rather than how he says it, you would know he is always bang on in his analysis.