Open mike 16/04/2023
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While today’s inflation numbers are good news for Kiwis, there are still struggles ahead with rising rents, rates, insurance and high unemployment. ...2 weeks ago
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Stats NZ has confirmed that higher rent prices were the biggest contributor to the annual inflation rate. Almost a fifth of the 2.2 per cent annual increase in the CPI was due to rent prices. ...2 weeks ago
- New Charter to guarantee better access for hunting and fishing
Minister for Hunting and Fishing Todd McClay has today launched an Access Charter (the Charter) to ensure better access for recreational hunting and fishing on public conservation land (PCL) across New Zealand. “This Charter establishes guiding principles for the Department of Conservation (DOC) to provide clear and transparent decisions on ...12 hours ago - Pou Whenua blessing honours Tongariro
A beautiful new Pou Whenua at the beginning of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing will introduce visitors to the sacred landscape they are entering, says Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. Mr Potaka attended a blessing for the specially carved Pou Whenua at Mangatepopo, at the start of the track on 1 November. ...1 day ago
- New members appointed to the NZTA Board
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today announced two new appointments to the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Board. Mary-Anne Macleod and Mike Rudge have both been appointed as members for three-year terms commencing 1 November 2024 and ending 31 October 2027. “Transport is a critical part of our Government’s plan ...1 day ago
- Welcome relief from new oestradiol gel funding
Associate Health Minister David Seymour is welcoming Pharmac’s funding of oestradiol gel, following global shortages of oestradiol patches earlier this year. “I’m well aware of the stress caused by the global shortage earlier this year. At the time I said I was confident Pharmac was working hard to find a ...1 day ago
- Deputy Prime Minister visit to Australia
Foreign Minister and Racing Minister Winston Peters will visit Australia next week. “Australia is New Zealand’s closest partner, and we are pleased to make this second official visit there for 2024 following the first ever Foreign and Defence Ministers 2+2 Meeting between our two countries in Melbourne in January,” ...1 day ago
- Applications now open for new training pathway
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- Increased medicines access continues following budget boost
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see further increased availability of medicines for Kiwis following the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When this Government assumed office, ...2 days ago
- New Zealand concludes high quality trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
New Zealand and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have concluded negotiations on a trade agreement that will open up significant opportunities for New Zealand exporters in the Gulf region, Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay announced from Doha today. Today’s announcement follows significant reengagement with the GCC following meetings ...2 days ago
- Government seeks views on remote court attendance
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- Breast screening age extension begins in Nelson Marlborough
Free breast screening has been extended for 70 to 74-year-old women living in the Nelson Marlborough district, ahead of a national roll-out late next year, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand with about 3,400 women diagnosed with the disease ...2 days ago
- Te Māori Manaaki Taonga Trust Board strengthened
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- Affordable housing project supporting home ownership
Up to 300 affordable, healthy, community-tailored homes helping to support home ownership are set to be built in eastern Porirua, supported by Government funding for Our Whare Our Fale through the Building Homes for Pacific in Porirua initiative, Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti and Associate Housing Minister Tama ...2 days ago
- Dire benefit forecasts show the need for Welfare that Works
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- Trade Minister travels to Doha for GCC trade discussions
Trade Minister Todd McClay will hold trade discussions with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) trade ministers in Doha this week. Minister McClay will meet with all six GCC Trade Ministers, as well as the GCC Secretary General. “This will be my seventh visit to the region this year including two Ministerial ...3 days ago
- Podiatry prescribers will boost patient care
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister David Seymour say it’s great news that podiatrists will soon be able to prescribe medicines, meaning patients with painful foot and leg conditions don’t have to make a separate trip to the doctor. “This simple step means a big change for people ...3 days ago
- Historic redress inequities finally resolved for Lake Alice Unit survivors
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- ERO report shows Government’s truancy emphasis is vital
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that the Education Review Office’s (ERO) timely report on chronic school absence released today is further evidence of a truancy crisis. “Chronic absence has doubled since 2015. This report reinforces that action is needed to ensure this generation reaches its full potential,” says Associate ...4 days ago
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- Trusted building professionals able to self-certify
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- New appointments to the TEC board
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Tēnā koutou Nau mai haere mai ki tenei hui Thank you to Vice Chancellor Williams, and the University of Western Sydney, for inviting me to speak today. I speak to you today in my capacity as Attorney-General – the New Zealand Crown’s Senior Law Officer. In this capacity, I serve ...4 days ago
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- Jones heads to international mining conference
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- NZ investing in Pacific disaster preparedness & climate resilience
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- Police to increase presence on Auckland public transport
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- Government funds helicopter replacements
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- China and New Zealand strengthen organic trade
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- Judicial appointments announced
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- Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track becomes New Zealand’s 11th Great Walk
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka joined tangata whenua from Ngāi Tahu and local community members today to celebrate the opening of New Zealand’s eleventh Great Walk – the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track. “The 60km upgraded track provides the opportunity to do one of New Zealand’s world-class multi-day walks, and will bring ...1 week ago
- New Chief Criminal Cases Review Commissioner
The Honourable Denis Clifford has been appointed Chief Commissioner of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. Hon Clifford brings a wealth of expertise and experience that will prove invaluable to the Commission. “He has served as a judge at both the Court of Appeal and High ...1 week ago
- Changes to improve building fire safety
The Government is progressing changes to better protect Kiwis and their property from fires, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Following the tragic Loafer’s Lodge fire in 2023, 37 boardings houses across the country were assessed and I am pleased to say that all fire safety recommendations from the ...1 week ago
- Germany and New Zealand partner to support agriculture and tackle global emissions
New Zealand and Germany have announced the official start of a partnership aimed at supporting the agriculture sector and tackle global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “The partnership, called the Alliance for the Climate – Dialogue on Climate and Agriculture between New Zealand and Germany (Agri-DENZ project), ...1 week ago
- New members appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka today confirmed the appointment of two new members to the Waitangi Tribunal, as well as the reappointment of Kevin Prime. The members appointed and reappointed are: Hon Richard Prebble (CBE). Mr Prebble is a former Cabinet Minister where he held a broad range of portfolios. ...1 week ago
- New appointments to the Local Government Commission
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has today announced the reappointment of the current Chair and the appointment of a temporary member to the Local Government Commission.Current Chair Brendan Duffy ONZM has been reappointed as Chair for a one-year term ending 23 October 2025, while Gwen Bull CNZM will be joining ...1 week ago
- New Electoral Commission Chair appointed
Today the House agreed to Justice Simon Moore KC being appointed chair of the Electoral Commission, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Justice Moore brings with him a high level of legal acumen and decision-making ability, strategic planning skills and unquestionable personal integrity and independence. “He retired from the High Court ...1 week ago
- Education Minister attending conference in Australia
The Education Minister is travelling to Australia today to attend the 23rd edition of public policy conference, Consilium. “New Zealand and Australia share common challenges and aspirations for education. New South Wales has recently introduced a new curriculum that is explicit, sequenced and knowledge based while Victoria is requiring structured ...1 week ago
- Launching VisAble to enable safer lives
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- Cook Islands PM calls for easing of tensions in New Caledonia
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“In his message for the day, the secretary-general underscores that a free press is fundamental to human rights, to democracy and to the rule of law,” Dujarric said. ‘Alarming rate of fatalities’“Recent years have seen an alarming rate of fatalities in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza, which has seen the ...9 hours ago
- Chris Penk lays foundations for self-certified building scheme
As the government sets about laying the foundations for tradespeople to sign off their own work, RNZ sits down with the minister responsible to hammer out the details. ...11 hours ago - Short story: 3rd place, Sargeson Prize
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- The making of Donald Trump
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- A new novel imagines a New Zealand version of the conservative South Asian grifter
There’s little to like about figures like American politician Vivek Ramaswamy, but there is a lot to learn. Earlier this year, American politician and failed Republican candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, hosted notorious bagpipe, Ann Coulter, on his podcast. They talked for an hour, and frankly there’s no way I’m going to ...16 hours ago
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- Philippine Supreme Court orders ‘temporary protection’ for abducted environmental activist
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RNZ Pacific Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has been elected as the new president of Fiji, despite opposition from women’s rights groups. Ratu Naiqama was the current Speaker of Parliament and nominated by Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. He was elected yesterday after getting 37 out of 55 votes. He is the ...1 day ago
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The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/131771613/how-an-offensive-joke-reveals-a-problem-with-how-national-choses-its-mps
National selecting more quality candidates,
Yep, likely a rational strategic selection aimed at bringing the cooker / Groundswell vote into National rather than being wasted going to one of the minors. Jack will speak to that that constituency very well.
Taieri, while being about as red as you can get, has a large and noisy rural aspect to it going down to Balclutha, and with a liberal candidate that can take votes off labour, could easily go blue. But hey, a cocky from Balclutha might just have a go at overtaking a 12,398 vote majority (party vote was 17,000 between Lab and Nat). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taieri_(New_Zealand_electorate)
You have left out the "cis". The obligatory kiss up to gender ideology is required for every utterance.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Have you looked in the mirror recently and listened to your own utterances?
Good interview this morning on Q & A with Jack Tame & Kieran McAnulty about the government water infrastructure proposal.
At last a minister from Labour who fronts up & answers all questions with responses that Explain their position on why they are doing what they are doing & the acceptance that it isn’t strictly democratic.
Not something I agree with, but Kieran delivered really well, his slight ice man demeanour should see him go a long way in politics.
I have met Keiran informally and he's actually a funny easy-to-talk-to guy away from politics.
Apparently we have a logistics problem processing those arrested (bail offences and the like) because of a shortage of capacity in Rimutaka prison.
Meanwhile in the US state trying to remove people from their Congress for supporting peoples right to protest this is happening.
A mentally ill man dies in prison from being eaten alive by bed bugs.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2023/04/family-say-man-was-eaten-alive-by-bed-bugs-in-us-jail.html
Is that this issue?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/frontline-police-told-to-consider-necessity-of-bail-arrests-as-nzs-largest-prison-nears-capacity/4NNGEWB5PNFFNIIR5F3VP2HZ5M/
ACT says they want more New Zealanders in prison, so we can be more like the USA.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/04/act-party-hits-out-at-email-urging-police-to-consider-necessity-of-arrests-due-to-prison-capacity-issues.html
ACT wants the right kind of people in prison.
https://twitter.com/QasimRashid/status/1646706058956611584
https://twitter.com/SawyerHackett/status/1646683812749885440
Should be a mentally ill man dies in
prisoncounty jail from being eaten alive by bed bugs (3 months after incarceration).Tennessee has 73% of its "felons" in state prisons and 27% in local jails. De Tocqueville said that county jails in the USA were the worst in the world, little has changed.
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2021/06/08/prison_mortality/
https://eji.org/news/audit-finds-troubled-conditions-in-poorly-managed-tennessee-prisons/
Some of the biggest lies you were will hear in the media from those in the media.
No 1. Tucker Carlson – he says Fox News did not want to repeat the lies being spun on other media
This is the same person who swore on oath in court that he did not believe the things he said in his commentary in support of Trump's claim the election was stolen.
No 2. Glenn Greenwald
He claims the recent leak sourced to Air National Guard was a deliberate exposure of government secrets to reveal the truth (apparently the individual had asked those he shared the info with on small user group not to share with others). And claims that media helping the authorities identify the leaker was somehow not protecting their source (it went on 4 chan and Telegram).
Fox News had Greenwald on because it supports their narrative against support for Ukraine (as Carlson put it collective security is not one of the top 15 things for the USA and the priority should be the well-being of the dollar). Deceitful as usual.
The most monumentally dumb Green Party policy so far is to successfully campaign to shut down all of Germany's nuclear reactors, which was completed today.
As found everywhere else that nuclear generators have been shut down, the winner is coal and gas, throwing billions of particulates in the air and damaging peoples lungs and of course CO2.
No. Renewables weren't the answer on this scale.
I saw this morning and was reminded that when some is acting in a manner that contradicts their expressed motivation – you know that it is the motivation they are lying about.
Bookmarking for kater
https://twitter.com/mrmatthewtodd/status/1647342469367857153