Open mike 15/12/2023
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6:00 am, December 15th, 2023 - 47 comments
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...13 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...1 day ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
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One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...3 days ago - MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
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- The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.
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At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...5 days ago
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...6 days ago - How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...7 days ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...1 week ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...2 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...4 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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So. to lower inflation you raise interest rates, courtesy of the RB. You succeed in engineering a recession but inflation still persists, leaving you with stagflation. Was raising interest rates ever going to impact demand and ultimately lower prices? Or do we really have a supply side inflationary problem that the RB cannot directly influence?
I look forward to reading the views of the experts.
I permanently banned you yesterday for fundamental disrespect of The Standard, but forgot to update the ban list. Fixed now.
No shortage of economists in NZ for you to look up. Do your own homework.
Kelvin Davis retires from politics.
Thankyou Kelvin for multiple decades of public service to education and in particular to the people of the Far North.
I have so many relatives up there in Kaitaia that you helped.
Also, formidable work with Corrections, steering more Maori men away from jail and into alternative sentencing. From 11,000 people in jail in 2018 down to 7,700 in jail this year. And of course shoutout to Andrew Little as the lead Minister on this.
I don't really care that you weren't that good on the Parliamentary paepae.
You were a dedicated public servant who did a lot of good.
Hopefully you get to turn your governance chops to a Far North treaty settlement.
Totally agree Ad.
He did his work quietly and efficiently without public fanfare. I once had a long chat with Kelvin in his early parliamentary years and he confessed to feeling uncomfortable in a largely Pakeha environment. He overcame it as far as I know and when he was among friends and allies he had an engaging personality – something the general public did not often see.
Kelvin Davis was useless, a waste of space and NZ politics is well rid of him
However good luck with his future endeavours
[Please stick to the one email address here and change it back in your next comment, thanks – Incognito]
Mod note
I pretty much go with whatevers saved on the device I'm using at the time if posting but I'll see if I can track another down
You don’t need to change device, you need to change your email address back to the same one that you’ve used here before. If you can’t or won’t do this, I will just stop releasing your comments held up in the SPAM filter, as I have better things to do on a Friday night after work. Your choice.
I think I've got it right this time?
Two good men who will be missed. I met Andrew Little in the Leadership race. A genuine person, and from what I have heard from family in the North Kelvin is a genuine person as well. Thanks for that Ad,
and thank you to both of them.
The initial work was in the area of parole and paperwork processing.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/107588798/corrections-cuts-prison-numbers-by-stepping-up-successful-parole-hearings
Unfortunately society issues, as per housing insecurity and costs, has had an impact on crime rates, and thus the three headed hydra confabulation imagines a different sentencing regime to be more appropriate.
Given that the issue is prison staffing levels and capacity on addiction rehab/work training/work release and work from "community release" housing.
Kelvin Davis and Andrew Little displayed sincerity, integrity and compassion. They will be missed from Parliament.
Kelvin is a gracious man with a lot of mana and I wish him all the best for the future.
Old Putin was sounding pretty cocky yesterday, but a day is a long time in politics and he'll be furious this morning that his toady Orban got so completely isolated that Hungary was basically ignored and Ukraine got a big win on it's journey to EU membership.
The humiliation of the Hungarian leader at this summit has been total, Hungary must surely reconsider it's position.
Looks like Biden will soon budge on the border issue and get Ukraine it's money & Donald Tusk was sounding super belligerent talking about Russian aggression. I stand by my prediction of a decisive Polish intervention in 2025 against the Russians in the Ukraine, their entire crash re-armament program points to being ready for a full scale war with Russia in 2025.
Interesting scenario. What do you base the Polish angle on and why 2025, not 2024? Preparedness?
Genuine questions.
Another year is a long time for Ukraine to hold on when things appear to be pretty much at a stalemate now (with minor movements).
Yes agree with the Poland move since the warning are really clear from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg yesterday that Putin will wage war into the Baltic:
"If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is real risk that his aggression will not end there," Stoltenberg told reporters during a meeting with Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico. "Our support is not charity. It is an investment in our security."
https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-chief-sees-real-risk-of-putin-attacking-other-countries-after-ukraine/
That’s a fairly in-your-face statement to Fico, a Putin supporter who won the Slovakia election and has now stopped all arms deliveries to Ukraine.
That Russian fleet into the Baltic Sea is now totally surrounded by fully-fledged NATO members, and of course the Alakurtti military base at the top near Finland is also bordered by a full NATO state now.
I'd see the chances of war expanding against a NATO country as increasingly over 50% in 2024.
The risk is on the Sulwaki path to the Kaliningrad area to separate Poland from Lithuania. But Byelorussia/Belarus forces could not do it, without Russia forces (Wagner etc, which would explain the nukes placed there as a deterrent), or the risk of a blockade on Kaliningrad.
In that regard the recent accident of a Chinese ship's anchor cutting cables and a gas pipeline to Finland (as happened earlier in the year to an island off Taiwan) is part of off the books actions/PWO.
Government position on ferries appears increasingly ideological.
With no (effective) savings to be made by cancelling the current proposal, are they advocating the end of a NI/SI rail link?
Kiwirail CEO speaking on RNZ this morning…..
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018919676/ferry-mega-budget-blow-out-where-to-from-here
Almost all of the budget blow out is due to the vastly increased cost of the shore-side facilities required for the new, much larger, ferries.
All the KiwiRail CEO has said is that it may be more cost effective to continue the build of the current ferries (probably removing the rail component) and on-sell them.
Requiring Kiwrail to go back to the drawing board and come up with (rail capable) ferries which fit the existing infrastructure – will indeed result in savings.
The 'ideological' position on the affordability of the project appears to be shared by Labour.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/grant-robertson-fires-back-at-nicola-willis-over-cook-strait-ferry-budget-blowout/HHZCLNPPINEXPJQAGGJOYSFUWQ/
The onshore works are required regardless (some necessitated by changed standards) and the wharves are at the end of their working lives…the increased size (and capacity) of the ships only adds marginally (IIRC around 7%) to the costs of the onshore facilities.
The design life period is the stated cause of the blow outs….and we know NZs history of short term savings (the cheap option) to the detriment of longer term expenses.
And that dosnt account for the productivity gains of the superior facilities (including the ferries themselves)
What barbs the pollies throw at each other is of little import …what matters is a fit for purpose transport infrastructure….unless we have decided we dont need one….somehow I doubt Labour would have canned the entire project at this late stage and sent everyone back to the drawing board….that is not to say they may not have sought modification to either the project or its funding.
If there is little effective (even initial) saving by ceasing this project at this stage then what can be the motivation be other than ideology?
If I’m in the wrong place to ask this question, sorry about that. What I want to know is can the COCs pass legislation through under urgency without any scrutiny at all?
Yes, under urgency, the government can pass legislation with only the scrutiny afforded by the opposition in the House. This means that bills do not (necessarily) go to select committee, and pass through the 'normal' legislative process.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/what-is-urgency/
There is, of course, a risk in this – as you can end up with 'bad' law (I'm speaking here of law which is badly drafted, or has unintended consequences – rather than law you may dislike). Select committees very frequently spot these issues, and they are corrected by the government before the bill progresses to the next stage.
Labour used urgency to pass a number of laws at the end of 2022 – including the highly controversial (and later reversed) entrenchment of 3 waters.
Many thanks Belladonna. Good clarification for me.
The next step is the sale of KiwiRail, it has been the plan all along.
And then Kiwibank
@ Adrian and MtL:
Bastards!
Winston selling state assets yeah…nah?
Then electricity and water
The shock and awe campaign is just starting
Why stop there? You have to start thinking like a NACT and imagine everything can be sold [off].
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/504834/firm-bidding-for-public-healthcare-as-anchor-tenant-in-private-hospital-buildings
It's like Truss and Bojo have taken over, but less encumbered by ethics
So corruption has reached the very highest places in government. The nation is truly screwed when these sort of appointments are made.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/12/attorney-general-judith-collins-appointed-as-king-s-counsel.html
”In a statement on Friday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was appropriate to appoint Collins the high honour given "her career achievements and the responsibility she holds on behalf of the Crown" as Attorney General.
Not all previous Attorney Generals have been appointed either Queen's or King's Counsel, but the Government pointed to previous examples like Christopher Finlayson in 2012 and Paul East in 1995.”
Does a kings council come with power?
Yes we are screwed. Judith Collins becoming a KC? The queen of dirty politics!
These arseholes have sunk so far in an incredibly short time and dragged our nation down with them.
It's being said they will only be a one-term government but how much damage will they do to the social fabric of Aotearoa in three years (if they last that long)?
How do we fight back against this incompetence, spite, cronyism and corruption? Labour is not the answer, so what is?
Organising is the answer.
What does that mean practically?
Especially for those of us who don't live in a main or even provincial centre.
I m in Auckland just let me know where the first
riotprotest is being heldI really hoped that Luxon would be more centrist but he's just a patsy with no spine as far as I can tell, letting the far right freaks run amok.
I miss Muldoon's "Think Big", and Bolger's "Decent Society"
The NAF government motto seems to be "I got mine and fuck the rest of you"
Judith Collins Kings Counsel! What a hoot. Talk about keeping your enemies close. She knows where all the bones are buried.
Judith Collins KC! Every other day this new government does something bizarre and illogical. Can just see the gleeful smirk on her face.
The one question the Auditor-General does not answer, because it is not his job, what were the consequences of economic uncertainty, from a lack of government action?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/133460439/former-governments-15b-infrastructure-spendup-rushed-illinformed–auditorgeneral
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/121580620/governments-shovelready-projects-wont-save-construction-industry-expert-says
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119121503/projectbyproject-where-the-infra-package-will-be-spent-around-nz
SPC is correct. That first article provides (a little) context which was entirely missing from National's attacks attack on Labour after the AG report on the NZUP and SRP projects, and deserves some response from Labour.
Wonder then what the auditor-general thinks about things like the smoke free legislation reversal or the ferry cancellation or the money paid to I am hope…
The former government’s $15 billion spend-up on infrastructure was rushed and ill-informed, and more should have been done to ensure the programmes delivered value for money, Auditor-General John Ryan says.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/133460439/former-governments-15b-infrastructure-spendup-rushed-illinformed–auditorgeneral
Come to think of it I wonder what he things about bailing out South Canterbury Finance. What does he think about the non-contestable funding of parenting courses to Parents Inc or the money National attempted to give PEDA outside normal processes.
Thank you Labour.
On TV1 he explicitly took credit for the speed of delivery.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/12/prime-minister-christopher-luxon-unveils-coromandel-s-new-gold-plated-taparahi-bridge-on-state-highway-25a.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter