Open mike 14/06/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 14th, 2015 - 75 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmikeOpen 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 …

75 comments on “Open mike 14/06/2015 ”

  1. Michael 1

    http://www.salon.com/2015/06/12/the_democrats_tpp_rebellion_just_drew_blood_everything_you_need_to_know_about_todays_shocking_vote/

    Democrats have rebelled on the TPP/fast track, and its passing is looking less and less likely. Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic leader is not supportive. Hopefully Democrats retain some backbone, which is a bit less likely…

    It’s a bit funny how Democrats are almost unanimously opposing Obama. Pretty embarrasing for him – even the Republican Party can’t garner full support because Tea Party Republicans don’t want to give Obama more power.

    • Wairua 1.1

      … activists are celebrating a pyrrhic victory today as Fast Track was apparently blocked in the House of Representatives by a coalition of Democrats and Republicans.

      The truth is that only its companion bill, the Trade Adjustment Assistance bill (TAA), was defeated in the House. The Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), i.e. the Fast Track legislation, was passed by a small margin of votes (219-211). But, due to the fact that these two bills were passed as one bill in the Senate, both need to be passed in the House before either becomes law. Fast Track has been sidelined for now, but it will be back soon to bite us.

      What isn’t being widely disseminated is that it is likely that the TAA will be voted on again next week. This vote (or one further down the road) will decide whether or not the TAA is passed and if Fast Track will be the means by which the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will be voted on in Congress once Obama finishes negotiating the deal with his counterparts.

      More at
      http://us6.camp aign-archive1.com/?u=ffdc278104b5964bb04b4251e&id=eb83cb3a87&e=f36be083ee

      • Tracey 1.1.1

        still time for some dissenters to be bought off, like a few weeks ago, when those changing their minds miraculously received donations for their upcoming re-election campaigns.i

      • Kevin 1.1.2

        Only an increase in campaign donations required to pass this. It’s always about the money.

  2. Anne 2

    Reposted from OM – late last night:

    The following is purported to be an excerpt from Hooten’s latest NBR article. It concerns the Think Tank named “Progress” to be set up by Pagani, Leggett, Quinn and co. If the ‘quote’ is accurate (comes from blubber boy’s site which we don’t link to here) then it means someone has YET AGAIN leaked… this time last week’s caucus meeting:

    To discuss their idea, Mr Leggett and Ms Pagani met Mr Little, his deputy Annette King and Labour’s political director Neale Jones. Shortly after, word was put out that Ms Pagani was “stroppy.” According to the leader’s office, Ms King had taken particular offence to Ms Pagani while the leader himself said relatively little.

    Having observed how Ms Clark had responded to her own attempt to roll her in 1996, Ms King acted quickly to arrange a confrontation at Tuesday’s caucus meeting. Ms King, Mr Robertson, Te Atatu MP Phil Twyford and chief whip Chris Hipkins made clear to MPs suspected of being involved with Progress that they should have nothing further to do with it.

    The head of the Rainbow faction, Louisa Wall, supported by Wigram MP Megan Woods, even urged that those involved be expelled from the party altogether. As he had largely done in the original meeting, Mr Little kept his own counsel. Mr Shearer and Mr Parker also knew to stay above the fray. Progress now seems to be going nowhere.

    Setting aside Hooten’s snide dig at Annette King (he can’t help himself and it will bring him down one day) this is becoming an intolerable situation. I’m inclined to agree with Louisa Wall and Megan Woods….

    • Charles 2.1

      In the leaked electoral review document it talked about the “harsher” kind of discipline that could also be summed up as “Mr.Little kept his own counsel”. Anything Hooten says, implies or incites that Labour is, or should do, is wrong.

      There will be leaks. There will be problems. Labour will do everything except change their name to The Lational Party in order to lose voter support between now and 2017. It isn’t intolerable. Don’t be fooled. Support the positive message of the important socially-cohesive issues.

      • Anne 2.1.1

        Charles, I’m not supporting anything Hooten says/implies Labour should say or do. I long ago saw through his often spurious commentary. But if this is what happened then someone has leaked confidential caucus matters and it has ended up in Hooten’s hands. Whoever it was, did so with spiteful intent. It IS intolerable and caucus must stamp out this leaking forthwith. Every time it happens it gives the Nats and their media acolytes another chance to consolidate the perception Labour is a party racked with division. The truth is that under Little it is now a very united caucus but clearly there is still at least one maverick present.

        I have no qualms about Little keeping his own counsel. In matters of a similar nature Helen Clark did the same thing. That is, keep the leader as free as possible from controversy and let other senior caucus personnel do the talking.

        • Karen 2.1.1.1

          If looking for leaks from caucus I’d first look at the MP linked with the Pagani/Quin group, and that is Stuart Nash.

          • Anne 2.1.1.1.1

            I read somewhere that Nash was approached by the Pagani/Quin group but he turned down any involvement in the project. But who knows what the truth really is…

    • David H 2.2

      This continual leaking needs to dealt with. Find the leaker and expel them from the party. No if’s, No but’s, No amnesties!

      • Weepus beard 2.2.1

        The leaker in this instance is the party who walked away from the meeting unhappy, namely Pagani and co, who coincidentally have very strong connections to Hooten, Slater, and Farrar and it is those people who continually quote Quin and Pagani and Nash and Davis as the divine way forward for the centre, centre left in New Zealand.

        All the other leak problems within Labour have come from this same right-of-left group of people who have ambition but no power (the only power they weald is the ability to squeal to Cameron Slater when they don’t get their way).

        The question is, are these people still useful? If so then something will have to be done to include them and create one message. Otherwise, expel them. Out of the current crop of leaders, Little seems the most likely to be able to achieve it.

    • Kiwiri 2.3

      Let’s see … Pagani would have been quite happy that it leaked so that she and her project get more publicity? And the leaker’s ambition exceeds his/her own power or influence (or intelligence) and is aiming at creating more mischief and damage?

    • Tracey 2.4

      and so the recent revelations of problems in National’s caucus have faded away to be replaced by LP problems… and who is helping fan that fire? Why Hooton and WO…

      Those doyens of truth and justice.

      🙄

      • Karen 2.4.1

        And Phil Quin and Josie Pagani have been adding extra fuel. Don’t forget WO’s links to Pagani, and Stuart Nash’s links to Simon Lush. Quin was a major part of the anti Cunliffe movement.

      • Anne 2.4.2

        The reality is Tracey Labour has not been so unified since the Clark days. I’m 90% sure the right wing Nat. hump of mischief-makers have been egging the Pagani/Quin crowd on. I’d go so far as to say that Pagani and co. spend more time socialising with them than they do with anyone from the L.P.

        It sounds like Annette King took intense umbridge with whatever Pagani was saying when the LP leadership met her and Leggett recently. In 2013/14 whenever Pagani was on TV or radio slagging off the LP membership, I wanted to swipe her across the face I felt so angry and insulted. I think it might have happened to Annette only she was able to curb any temptation to do the same. 🙂

        • Tracey 2.4.2.1

          Hooton just said that all parties have factions within them… you wouldn’t know it from the media or other things he writes.

          So who in the Nat caucus is the women faction, the gay faction, the left faction, the right faction, the whatever faction?

          I have to agree with Hooton (well, I don’t have to, I choose to). Annette King has probably done her dash. not cos of her age but her roots and connection to the old days… OTOH she does seem to ably represent those of middle NZ that Hooton and Williams say LP needs back… so Hoots also kind of contradicts himself.

  3. AsleepWhileWalking 3

    Update on global push for a cashless society – need to keep people informed about this and how it can be used to steal from the population. This particular update is from Chris Martenson, one of the most rational futurists around.

  4. Molly 4

    Not even a lapsed Catholic, but this current Pope is making my day with his latest papal letter, due to be released on Thursday: Explosive Intervention by Pope set to transform climate change debate.

    “…In a recent speech widely regarded as a curtain-raiser to the encyclical, Turkson said: “Much of the world remains in poverty, despite abundant resources, while a privileged global elite controls the bulk of the world’s wealth and consumes the bulk of its resources.”

    The Argentinian pontiff is expected to repeat calls for a change in attitudes to poverty and nature. “An economic system centred on the god of money needs to plunder nature to sustain the frenetic rhythm of consumption that is inherent to it,” he told a meeting of social movements last year. “I think a question that we are not asking ourselves is: isn’t humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature? Safeguard creation because, if we destroy it, it will destroy us. Never forget this.”’

    • weka 4.1

      Incredible.

      Pope Francis will call for an ethical and economic revolution to prevent catastrophic climate change and growing inequality in a letter to the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics on Thursday.

      In an unprecedented encyclical on the subject of the environment, the pontiff is expected to argue that humanity’s exploitation of the planet’s resources has crossed the Earth’s natural boundaries, and that the world faces ruin without a revolution in hearts and minds. The much-anticipated message, which will be sent to the world’s 5,000 Catholic bishops, will be published online in five languages on Thursday and is expected to be the most radical statement yet from the outspoken pontiff.

      More locally, according to NewstalkZB, James Shaw is about to announce some new GP initiatives around CC today.

      • weka 4.1.1

        The pope is “aiming at a change of heart. What will save us is not technology or science. What will save us is the ethical transformation of our society,” said Carmelite Father Eduardo Agosta Scarel, a climate scientist who teaches at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina in Buenos Aires.

        This.

        Ironic that it’s coming from one of the more conservative parts of society.

    • Ergo Robertina 4.2

      It’s not for nothing that we lapsed catholics call him the PR Pope.
      It’s just another strategy designed to revive a degraded institution; other examples are the United States presidency and the royal family.

  5. Wairua 5

    Re. TPP

    The truth is that only its companion bill, the Trade Adjustment Assistance bill (TAA), was defeated in the House. The Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), i.e. the Fast Track legislation, was passed by a small margin of votes (219-211). But, due to the fact that these two bills were passed as one bill in the Senate, both need to be passed in the House before either becomes law. Fast Track has been sidelined for now, but it will be back soon to bite us.

    What isn’t being widely disseminated is that it is likely that the TAA will be voted on again next week. This vote (or one further down the road) will decide whether or not the TAA is passed and if Fast Track will be the means by which the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will be voted on in Congress once Obama finishes negotiating the deal with his counterparts.

    http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=ffdc278104b5964bb04b4251e&id=eb83cb3a87&e=f36be083ee

    [lprent: Please don’t put up near identical comments, especially under different handles. It makes me immediately think that you are an astroturfer. Nobody likes them, especially me. I fixed up your link. ]

    [They were both stuck in span and I released both and intended to then delete one but didn’t get round to it – MS]

    • Paaparakauta 5.1

      Aargh .. double post. Apologies ..

    • Paaparakauta 5.2

      Thanks .. good to see are up. I posted an apology which did not appear.
      Too much caffeine in my system, and on-screen responsiveness seemed slow.

      • Paaparakauta 5.2.1

        It’s might be the old laptop I’m using at the moment.

      • lprent 5.2.2

        The server will have been slightly more sluggish this morning. Added two more disks to the main TS array. Means that the cache both locally (memcache) and overseas (CDN) got flushed. It will be rebuilding this morning as people requested static data from various browsers and devices. It usually takes 3-4 hours of NZ day traffic to get to steady state again.

  6. weka 6

    White Man Behind A Desk was on Media Take last week. Starts at 14 mins, but the whole show is worth a watch for its look at NZ satire and news.

    http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/media-take/S02E012/media-take-series-2-episode-12

    • Marvellous Bearded Git 6.1

      Thanks Weka-excellent.

      We are experiencing the delicious irony that Maori now make by far the best stuff on TV while Pakeha, with all their supposed knowledge and hugely superior resources, mostly make total crap.

      Next Maori will be out-thinking Pakeha on the battlefield…..oh I forgot they’ve already done that.

  7. Ffloyd 7

    Gorgeous photo of Gerry Brownlee on Stuff. Obviously dashed over to rally the troops. Cap, check. Dashing shades, check. FLAK JACKET! Check. A copy will be going on my wall for when I need a good belly(pun intended) laugh. The article is on obesity in the forces. Oh, the irony! Mr Brownlee declined to comment. His mouth was full of doughnut at the time. When I first read this the article commented that Admiral Brownlee had an above average BMI himself (think HUGE) but this has been deleted. Would his flak jacket have had to be especially made? If so, at what cost.?

    • Incognito 7.1

      Gerry doesn’t need a flak jacket because he can dodge Airport Security and bullets better than Neo in The Matrix. The pièce de résistance is, of course, the little white Kiwi on his cap [fully intentional pun]. Aren’t all National MPs made of Teflon and Kevlar but not of blood & bones?

    • David H 7.2

      Oh hell NZ’s version of the Bacon Sandwich

  8. Karen 8

    Phil Twyford ‏@PhilTwyford 1h1 hour ago
    “Nick Smith won’t debate me on @NZQandA but demands unchallenged right of reply after my interview.
    He’s under pressure.”

    Just saw this tweet. How come Smith is allowed to dictate the terms for an appearance on a current affairs show?

  9. joe90 9

    Derek Fox’s appearance on this mornings Marae was a fucking disgrace.

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1

      Of course another crash is coming. Nothings been done to change the financial system from the failure it was in 2008 so it was inevitable that it would fail again and inevitable that it would be another housing crisis that triggered it.

      • Colonial Viper 10.1.1

        in fact the Too Big To Fail banks are today even more massive and more over leveraged, than they were in 2008

    • maui 10.2

      If I can paraphrase Peter Schiff, we haven’t had the real crash yet, but it is coming. He also talks about a US dollar crisis. Once other countries lose faith in the US dollar and stop lending them money (because they know the US is in so much debt they won’t be able to pay the money back) then they really are in trouble. China is already moving away from the US dollar.

  10. weka 11

    This from an Action Station email a few days ago,

    Following the ratings crash at TV3, Jay Wintrob the CEO of Oaktree Capital (the company poised to take 100% ownership of MediaWorks) and Jonas Mitzschke (also of Oaktree Capital) are in New Zealand to find out what has been going on at MediaWorks New Zealand. They’ll be making a review of the decisions that have led to this steady decline in ratings for their network. [1] [2]

    This could be our chance to bring back Campbell Live. Will you take 2 minutes to send a quick email to these US bosses asking them to consider bringing back our favourite show?

    Click here to send a quick email to Jay Wintrob and Jonas Mitzschke, Mark Weldon (CEO of MediaWorks) and Julie Christie (Board of Directors at MediaWorks).

    Together we can show them that if they are serious about saving the network they need to bring back John Campbell and Campbell Live. Some people have asked, would John and his team really want to go back to the channel that has treated them so poorly? We can’t speak for John Campbell or his team, but we have spoken to some of them to ensure this isn’t a terrible idea. In fact, we think if there was a big enough shake up at TV3, they may well be happy to return. Wouldn’t that be bloody marvellous?

    Let’s stand together once again and show our commitment to quality, public interest, investigative journalism for the people of NZ.

    Click here to send a quick email: http://www.actionstation.org.nz/secondchance

    We’ve made it really easy for you to do.

    With hope and determination,

    Laura, Marianne, Ryan and Nina.

    ~ References ~

    ‘Ratings 7pm post-Campbell Live’, Throng Website
    ‘US fun poised to take 100pc of MediaWorks’ NZ Herald Business.

    • Ron 11.1

      Why would JC even bother with TV3 after the way they treated him. We want hin on Radio NZ 9-noon slot.

  11. Philip Ferguson 12

    Some recent additions, hopefully of interest, on Redline blog:

    The West on the rampage (1997, but highly relevant): https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/06/13/from-the-vaults-the-wet-on-the-rampage-1997/

    Review of New Zealand and the New World (Dis)Order: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/from-the-vaults-new-zealand-and-the-new-world-disorder-reviewe1997/

    New Zealand nationalism, racism and the immigration non-debate: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/nz-nationalism-racism-and-the-immigration-non-debate/

    Ireland: “the class struggle is the source of the national struggle” – interview with eirigi general-secretary Brendan Mac Cionnaith: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/ireland-the-class-struggle-is-the-source-of-the-national-struggle/

    And an excellent piece by James Heartfield on the postmodern abyss from a quarter of a century ago: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/06/10/from-the-vaults-staring-into-the-postmodern-abyss-1990/

  12. weka 13

    James Shaw:

    All new legislation would be subject to a “climate change test” if a Green Party bill is passed.

    Today new Green Party co-leader James Shaw announced a new private members bill, which would require official documents assessing the impact of new legislation to include a section about the impact on the environment.

    The Climate Impact Disclosure Statement Bill will require all new legislation introduced to Parliament to be accompanied by a Climate Impact Disclosure Statement that “outlines what impact, if any, the new legislation would be likely to have on New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions”.

    Already new legislation is subject to Regulatory Impact Statements and Bill of Rights Act Reports.

    “Climate change is impacting almost every aspect of our lives. This bill will ensure that the government considers climate change in everything it does,” Shaw said.

    “This bill will mean that government can’t ignore how their decisions impact on our climate.”

    Shaw announced the bill at the Asia-Pacific Green Federation Congress in Lower Hutt on Sunday, where Green politicians from 16 countries are meeting.

    The environmental impact assessment wouldn’t prevent Parliament from voting through any piece of legislation Shaw said, but would give politicians and the public the opportunity to asses it.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/69371923/green-party-wants-climate-test-for-new-laws

    • Michael 13.1

      That is a great idea.

        • weka 13.1.1.1

          I was working for PriceWaterhouseCoopers. It’s a global consultancy firm.

          At the time there was this fake debate in politics and in the media, about whether climate change was real or a hoax.

          You had all these scientists debating energy lobbyists who were pretending to be scientists.

          Politicians were saying ‘Well, we just don’t know who to believe. The science is disputed.’

          But some businesses had to take climate change seriously because their profits depended on scientific modelling and long term forecasts.

          Like insurance companies, which rely on accurate actuarial forecasts.

          I read this report commissioned by the insurance industry on the long terms effects of climate change.

          It did some projections based on the available data and it was all very calm and methodical.

          And it concluded that the cumulative impact of extreme weather events and flooding caused by climate change would cause such catastrophic damage to property and loss of lives over the upcoming decades that it would bankrupt the entire insurance industry by the year 2050.

          • Macro 13.1.1.1.1

            That report was commissioned by ReMunich (by the way one of the largest reinsurers in the business) and they have been actively pursing policies to combat AGW ever since because they realise that if BAU continues the insurance industry is stuffed – people will not be able to bear the cost of insuring – so no insurance companies anymore. Essentially they are right. Report released today on Scientific American notes we are already committed to 5m of SLR. 🙁

        • weka 13.1.1.2

          That’s a bloody good speech.

          This is the essence of Green government: smart, strategic policies that slowly but surely lead to transformational change.

    • Ron 13.2

      That is a little weird, Greens cannot introduce any bills unless they suddenly become a government. I presume what he is saying is that they will submit a private members bill into the ballot system. it will sit there until such time as it gets drawn which may never happen. Lot of other bills in there and when they are drawn it depends on the government whether the bill proceeds. This bill would require expenditure so most unlikely to happen.

      • weka 13.2.1

        If you read either the Stuff link or the speech, they both talk about a Private Members Bill.

        What expenditure?

        • weka 13.2.1.1


          Climate Impact Disclosure Statement

          Ensuring every new piece of legislation acknowledges the reality and costs of climate change.

          Green Party Co-leader James Shaw has released a Member’s Bill to require all Government legislation to have a Climate Impact Disclosure Statement – a report, prepared by the Ministry for the Environment, that outlines the likely impact of the legislation on the climate.

          This means that when a bill is introduced, all MPs, and the public, will get to learn the likely implications of the legislation on New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions and/or New Zealand’s ability to meet its international greenhouse gas reduction target. It will also detail any relationship between the legislation and the Climate Change Response Act.

          It’s a way to ensure that in the development of legislation, climate is a key consideration. It will also give opposition parties good information to hold the Government to account on climate issues.

          Climate change is the biggest issue. We need to be thinking about it when we’re introducing new laws. We need to know the cost of legislation on our climate.

          By ensuring every new piece of legislation acknowledges the reality and costs of climate change, we will see a cumulative, gradual effect – having parliament thinking about our climate all of the time.

          https://www.greens.org.nz/policy/cleaner-environment/climate-impact-disclosure-statement

        • Ron 13.2.1.2

          If every bill requires a disclosure statement about Climate effect then whom are you supposing will provide that research at no charge. If it requires a government department or even non government service to provide a service that requires money then the bill is immediately defeated as only ministers can introduce bills that require expenditure.
          Also to introduce a bill into parliament when you are not a minister requires the bill to be submitted to the ballot. The bills can only be debated on Wednesday’s and only 8 bills can be in the ballot on any Wednesday. Bills are withdrawn from the box by ballot and if a bill wins the ballot it can then be debated. Until such time as Government outvotes the bill then it dies.
          You can read about bills here http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/legislation/proposed-bills
          All this could be avoided if National decided to adopt the bill and I guess it is possible that Greens and National have agreed to do this.

          • weka 13.2.1.2.1

            Re the disclosure statements, read the links, it’s explained there.

            This is win/win for the GP. It continues their agenda of raising awareness of CC. If the Bill gets selected, then there are a whole bunch of opportunities to raise awareness whether National support it or not. We’re past the point where government can ignore this, too many people are waking up to reality.

            • Ron 13.2.1.2.1.1

              Have read and in the first line it states it will require the Ministry of Environment to provide the disclosure. That surely requires them to spend money and it is not permissible for a bill to proceed if it requires expenditure unless the government picks up the bill and take it over.
              Basically it seems like grandstanding to enter a bill into the ballot with the knowledge that it would be ruled out as soon as the government want to.
              This is despite the rules that govern private members bills. Read the parliamentary url I gave you and you will see there is little chance of it getting near the ballot. Of course maybe some of those Green bills already in the system could be withdrawn that might help.

              • weka

                Can you please link to the bit about expenditure?

                • Ron

                  Its in your previous comment but here it is again from the actual Green media release. It requires a government department to prepare a report for every piece of Government Legislation.
                  I dont know if you have ever worked for a State Department but that report will cost a lot of money. They do not have staff sitting around just waiting for work. It would require a lot of research and that would mean staff needing to travel possibly and hours of work to pull it together.
                  I asked you before who do you think will pay for that. If you are suggesting that it will just be picked up by the department then it is expenditure and is not allowed in a members private bill.

                  Green Party Co-leader James Shaw has released a Member’s Bill to require all Government legislation to have a Climate Impact Disclosure Statement – a report, prepared by the Ministry for the Environment, that outlines the likely impact of the legislation on the climate.

                  • weka

                    “I asked you before who do you think will pay for that. If you are suggesting that it will just be picked up by the department then it is expenditure and is not allowed in a members private bill.”

                    I’m not suggesting it, James Shaw is stating it.

                    I’m asking for a citation that a bill like this won’t be allowed because of expenditure.

                    • Colonial Rawshark

                      Sheeezus, the government of the day funds Ministeries and Departments to carry out their statutory duties via the Budget. The funding is not defined in the bloody legislation.

                    • Ron

                      Good grief Do they not teach anything in schools these days. The Parliamentary system requires that only governments can commit expenditure. It would be chaos of it was otherwise. Why do you think we have a budget? And then a budget debate. Governments expend opositions critique.
                      If a government cannot get a finance bill past parliament they effectively resign.
                      Don’t take my word go do some research I just hope that the Greens are not as naive as some of its supporters.

                    • weka

                      All I’m asking is that you explain what you are talking about. You obviously can’t do that, and now just look like someone trying to undermine the GP.

                      How is this Bill any different than other Members’ bills that would require expenditure?

                      The GP have been in parliament a very long time. Stop being a trole and address the issues.

  13. The New Medical Cannabis based charitable trust has just been registered, and is seeking donations.
    Please donate and spread the word if you support legal access to safe, effective and afforable cannabis derived medicines.
    http://unitedincompassion.org.nz/2015/06/13/united-in-compassion-is-officially-registered-and-seeking-donations/

  14. John Shears 15

    Having pasted the interview with Dame Sylvia Cartwright, (Inside Story A9 Herald Saturday- David Fisher) in my scrapbook I then had a bit of a browse and came across this clipping from Finlay MacDonald SST 2009
    Still makes interesting reading in 2015, nothing changes.

    Cut the waffle and answer the question | Stuff.co.nz
    Jul 19, 2009 … For those readers who missed John Key’s speech last week about New Zealand’s economy, here’s a quick summary: Bla bla bla productivity …
    http://tinyurl.com/n9b3eke

  15. Rodel 16

    Great to see Helen Clark interviewed at length by Oksana Boyko on Worlds Apart-RT television,Sunday night. Her depth of intellect, sincerity and grasp of the issues is such a contrast to our current PM.

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    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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