Open mike 16/11/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:29 am, November 16th, 2013 - 99 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 right up to the mike …

99 comments on “Open mike 16/11/2013 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Paul 1
    16 November 2013 at 6:40 am

    Claire Trevett writing the usual fawning nonsense for her masters at the Herald.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/claire-trevett/news/headlines.cfm?a_id=74

    • Murray Olsen 1.1
      16 November 2013 at 6:26 pm

      Looking at the accompanying photo, I’m again reminded how much I hate the aggressive body language of these politicians, who throw themselves at a person they’re meeting and forcefully grab their hand as if to impose dominance. With Abbott, it looks like he’s reliving his days as a boxer, of whom a sparring partner said “I never saw a punch that Tony Abbott couldn’t block. With his face.”

  2. AsleepWhileWalking 2
    16 November 2013 at 6:42 am

    On a day of action against rape culture I ask why ACC who are legislated to prevent accidents (ref: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2001/0049/latest/DLM103143.html ) have not acted to prevent sexual abuse from happening?

    Am I wrong about this or is a corporation that makes profits in the billions simply ignoring their obligations under legislation because it is convenient to to so, or perhaps because they haven’t been challenged to do so?

    In sharp contrast we have a very grateful RPE for the $11K raised through social media: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1311/S00196/social-media-raises-over-11k-for-rape-prevention-education.htm

    • weka 2.1
      16 November 2013 at 7:33 am

      Good point!

    • Ed 2.2
      16 November 2013 at 8:25 am

      You are wrong in one respect, ACC should never make a profit in the same sense as a company which can then pay a dividend to shareholders. It is more like a mutual society or cooperative – it should only be charging levies to provide what it needs to generate the money to pay claims, including reserves for future payments necessary to preserve generational equity. If National starts plundering the ACC for money to reduce its growing borrowing obligations, we should all vigorously protest!

      • Draco T Bastard 2.2.1
        16 November 2013 at 12:54 pm

        ACC was never supposed to even run at a surplus or have investments as it was a pay-as-you-go scheme. As I point out over here such can be run at very close to cost and is thus far cheaper than any system that requires a profit.

        It got changed because of the stupidity of the neo-liberals in Labour.

    • QoT 2.3
      16 November 2013 at 7:15 pm

      One speaker at the Wellington march today made the point that rape isn’t an accident and it’s actually a bit shit to make people who have been assaulted go through the same process as people who’ve fallen off a ladder putting up Christmas lights.

  3. Tigger 3
    16 November 2013 at 7:58 am

    The visits to Sri Lanka epitomise everything wrong with our government.

    http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9407222/McCully-sits-on-fence-on-Sri-Lanka-war-crimes

    “As world leaders converged on Colombo for the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting this weekend, there is growing momentum for an international inquiry into alleged atrocities carried out in the final months of the 26-year conflict, which ended four years ago. The New Zealand government is yet to back calls for an inquiry.

    McCully rejected a suggestion it is a deliberately soft stance to protect burgeoning dairy trade with the island nation.

    “No, it’s not. And I don’t think that our stance is soft by comparison. We sit pretty much in the middle of the spectrum,” he insisted.”

    What is the ‘middle ground’?

    “Key is due to meet with President Rajapaksa tomorrow and has pledged to raise Sri Lanka’s human rights record. He will spend much of the weekend lobbying for a seat on the UN Security Council.”

    Nothing public that would on love taking any moral stand. BS he will. He’ll laugh, say ‘sorry everyone is being mean to you’ and ask for support.

    Key, fence sitter.

    • miravox 3.1
      16 November 2013 at 8:06 am

      Apparently human rights in Sri Lanka is such an mild, non-controversial topic that Key and his mates will ‘mull over’ torture, illegal imprisonment and murder of non-combatants while having a few drinks.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9405539/hope-they-vomit-on-it

    • BM 3.2
      16 November 2013 at 8:29 am

      Key needs to wave a flag, that would show them.

    • BLiP 3.3
      16 November 2013 at 9:10 am

      ‘

      Huh? New Zealand is in no position to lecture Sri Lanka about humans rights. John Key is there to get handy hints for going forward.

      . . . “There have been twelve pieces of legislation in recent years that have been identified as inconsistent with the rights and freedoms protected in the New Zealand Bill of Rights, and on a number of occasions urgency has been used in Parliament to limit or bypass select committee scrutiny,” he [New Zealand Law Society President Chris Moore] says.

      “The Law Society is also concerned that there has been legislation prohibiting review of government decisions by the courts, and proposing restrictions on rights to legal representation in Family Court proceedings. Other significant concerns include giving the power to amend legislation by regulation without parliamentary scrutiny, and not vetting late amendments to draft bills for their consistency with the Bill of Rights” . . .

      • Tigger 3.3.1
        16 November 2013 at 9:13 am

        While I agree that our govt is poor, it could be worse.

        http://guardianlv.com/2013/11/sri-lanka-tortures-and-rape-become-uncovered/

        • Paul 3.3.1.1
          16 November 2013 at 9:23 am

          The Canadian and Indian leaders boycott CHOGM because of genocide.
          The UK Prime minister visits the Northern city Jaffna and lectures the SRA Lankan government over these atrocities.
          Our PM mulls it all over a drink.

          David Tong commented how he was ashamed to be a New Zealander over the government’s reaction to the Philippines.
          adoptanegotiator.org/2013/11/12/and-they-laughed/

          This is just another example of how quickly we are becoming a laughing stock in the world thanks to our merchant banker P.M.
          He knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

        • Paul 3.3.1.2
          16 November 2013 at 9:23 am

          The Canadian and Indian leaders boycott CHOGM because of genocide.
          The UK Prime minister visits the Northern city Jaffna and lectures the SRA Lankan government over these atrocities.
          Our PM mulls it all over a drink.

          David Tong commented how he was ashamed to be a New Zealander over the government’s reaction to the Philippines.
          adoptanegotiator.org/2013/11/12/and-they-laughed/

          This is just another example of how quickly we are becoming a laughing stock and a pariah in the world thanks to our merchant banker P.M.
          He knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

    • greywarbler 3.4
      16 November 2013 at 11:18 am

      Our politicians and powerful poohbas ideas about history I view with sadness and resignation.
      I hear McCully about the decision of the government to go to Sri Lanka and to look forward and not dwell on the past. Otherwise what a waste of opportunity for poster boy. McCully is well placed in this government bogged down in self serving attitudes. Forget history, ignoring it is more convenient for making personally and politically advantageous moves.

      And the same thinking is what applies to Pike River’s people hurt and bruised from the coldness of government, the callousness after warm heartfelt words from Key. It takes energy to maintain will though, and NZ is short of energy, National finds it too expensive. They have done a cost benefit on the energy required to stand behind promises and avowed intentions and meet people’s expectations, and have matched it to the ratio of votes they might lose by not spending it and like the shareholder owners of Pike River now have decided that the putea is empty.

      There is a piece on Radionz this morning on Pike River from Rebecca Macfie who is a gem seam of information. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday
      Audio will probably be up around 12 pm.
      11:05 Rebecca Macfie
      Rebecca Macfie is a senior writer with the New Zealand Listener. She has 25 years’ experience in journalism and many awards to her credit including magazine feature writer at the 2013 Canon Media Awards. Her new book is Tragedy at Pike River Mine: How and Why 29 Men Died (Awa Press, ISBN: 978-1-877551-90-1).

      And our attitudes to history. Do we forget about World War 1? No. It is personally and politically advantagous to ride a popular wave of gathering around on Anazc Day. There are votes in it. People go to a parade and then there are heads down while pious things are said and people take their boys along to see the uniforms and feel the drama.

      I go along to a small civic memorial held by a memorial by the local high church. A few years back I asked for some input, some words from ordinary people, a poem from someone, some thoughts from the College youngsters. I think done once, but now I have to stir again just to get a mike so people can hear the set program read from year to year. I should memorise it.
      How often does WW2 get remembered and officially mentioned at ceremonies? It took ages for Vietnam.

      Don’t bother about history. Don’t learn from history. It makes it easier if you choose to not look at the near past, the medium past.. It is safe to go back to the classic past and quote from Roman, Greek, conflicts, the Bible. Then look forward and follow the trend to be punitive, to show them, to act in revenge, to do the pre-emptive strike, to see everything from your own perspective with no deflecting to admit there are other points of view to understand, with rituals that satisfy shallow sentiment and convention

    • Naturesong 3.5
      16 November 2013 at 1:44 pm

      “Key, fence sitter.”

      You spelt “coward” wrong

  4. BLiP 4
    16 November 2013 at 9:06 am

    ‘

    Home of the brave and land of the . . . ummm . . . what was it again?

    . . . A few months later Jackson was convicted of shoplifting and sent to Angola prison in Louisiana. That was 16 years ago. Today he is still incarcerated in Angola, and will stay there for the rest of his natural life having been condemned to die in jail. All for the theft of a jacket, worth $159.

    Jackson, 53, is one of 3,281 prisoners in America serving life sentences with no chance of parole for non-violent crimes. Some, like him, were given the most extreme punishment short of execution for shoplifting; one was condemned to die in prison for siphoning petrol from a truck; another for stealing tools from a tool shed; yet another for attempting to cash a stolen cheque . . .

    Moar from the ACLU.

  6. chris73 6
    16 November 2013 at 10:06 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11157962

    – An astute piece of commentary with some sage advice for Cunliffe…but is he man enough to take it?

    • tricledrown 6.1
      16 November 2013 at 11:02 am

      c73 what utter trash

      • chris73 6.1.1
        16 November 2013 at 11:07 am

        Remove your blinkers and you might see what a large portion of the voting public sees…

        • fender 6.1.1.1
          16 November 2013 at 11:20 am

          I think you mean what Armstrong wants the voting pubic to see with the help from his blue tinted glasses.

          • chris73 6.1.1.1.1
            16 November 2013 at 11:55 am

            Not really, I’ve noticed (and if I’ve noticed then others must have) that when hes speaking to the converted hes all fire and brimstone and he’ll do this and he’ll do that and then at the end he’ll quietly say something like “if the books allow” but when hes talking to business groups the message changes considerably

            • fender 6.1.1.1.1.1
              16 November 2013 at 12:23 pm

              “If the books allow” seems a fiscally responsible stance to have. I know you righties would like him to make huge promises he may not be able to deliver due to the economic straightjacket Nact have fastened, but it’s DC who is being astute in not over promising.

              DC deserves praise for wanting to minimise gambling harm, and Key deserves scorn for caring more about the owners of a gambling den he gives preferential treatment to.

              • felix …
                16 November 2013 at 4:59 pm

                Yep, chris73 is upset because Cunliffe isn’t making rash promises.

                Sucks because chris73 already had all his lines worked out so now he has to lie about reality to make it fit his fantasy.

              • newsense …
                22 November 2013 at 1:16 am

                “But the Labour leader seems to want to have it all ways. He told Parliament that Labour – if it won power – would not “dynamite” a half-built convention centre. Neither would it rip up the contract . Yet, Labour reserved the right to review the contract, particularly the number of gaming tables.

                That would still amount to breaking the contract. But Cunliffe says Labour is not guaranteeing that it would pay compensation.”

                Sky City certainly never got broad parliamentary agreement for this, so farken tough luck. If Sky City want to win a bid through avoiding process and Key personally leaving his mark on the landscape, well tough farken luck. If the process was open and rigorous and had achieved satisfaction from all major stakeholders, no problem. If we want to buy a few jobs by selling some sick gamblers to an arrogant Aussie corporate to feast on…well they weren’t going to vote National anyway right?

          • McFlock 6.1.1.1.2
            16 November 2013 at 1:32 pm

            A voting pubic? With a blue tint?
            Sounds like a style fashion to follow the Brazilian 🙂

        • muzza 6.1.1.2
          16 November 2013 at 11:44 am

          The voting public are sheep , C73, just they way you are having to play trollop in this site.

          Large portions of the voting public, don’t see, or understand, squat!

          FIFY

          Baa

          • chris73 6.1.1.2.1
            16 November 2013 at 12:36 pm

            Large portions of the voting public, don’t see, or understand, squat!

            – I won’t disagree thats why the headline of the article is so important, most people will read the headline and skim over the rest

            • fender 6.1.1.2.1.1
              16 November 2013 at 12:47 pm

              So the headline is the most important (astute) thing in a one-eyed propaganda piece?

              You should have just said that in your initial comment/link.

        • Paul 6.1.1.3
          16 November 2013 at 11:55 am

          You vote for the Tories, Chris. They offer you your nirvana. Offer them advice.
          Just don’t expect all parties to listen to Tories’ and their sage advice.
          Something tells me that their advice has other motivations.
          Maybe you should be posting your thoughts on right wing websites for your kind of people.

          • chris73 6.1.1.3.1
            16 November 2013 at 12:26 pm

            Well I’d offer them advice except that they one the last two elections and look like they’re on traack to win the next so I don’t think they need any

            • Paul 6.1.1.3.1.1
              16 November 2013 at 12:52 pm

              Then relax.
              Find something better to do.

              • fender …
                16 November 2013 at 1:03 pm

                He can’t relax because it’s not really looking like “they’re on track to win the next” election.

            • ropata 6.1.1.3.1.2
              16 November 2013 at 1:02 pm

              Hoorayyy (slow clap) the blue team won.
              Never mind the effects of the national govt on the people, environment, and economy of NZ.

              drooling infant soils himself and leaves a mess for others to clean up.. thanks chris73

              • chris73 …
                16 November 2013 at 4:29 pm

                Geez I thought you guys would have gotten used to National being power by now, no matter you’ll have another three years for it to sink in

                But seriously the reason they’ll get in is because the voters know they’ve done a good job in trying times

                • Rogue Trooper …
                  16 November 2013 at 4:31 pm

                  hope you’re enjoying the sunshine while it fades.

                  • chris73 …
                    16 November 2013 at 5:12 pm

                    Certainly did, bought some new boots, went gun city to look at ammo and took the dogs to the dog park…a full day in my book (bit warm though)

                    • Rogue Trooper …
                      16 November 2013 at 5:26 pm

                      change from re-loading your own ammo at Cameron’s then.

                    • Murray Olsen …
                      16 November 2013 at 7:47 pm

                      Ha. Some people got to the cinema to look at a movie, or Kelly Tarlton’s to look at fish. Tories go to gun city to look at ammo. Did it look back?

                • ropata …
                  16 November 2013 at 8:06 pm

                  Yes, chris73, banksters, corporations, and millionaire property developers are very pleased with their investment in Nactional™ Inc.©®. You can bask in the glow of John Keys beatific smile and trust in his benevolent nature.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1.4
          16 November 2013 at 1:01 pm

          Just Armstrong in his PR for National guise.

    • fender 6.2
      16 November 2013 at 11:15 am

      Astute would be a poor word to use for that attempt to paint Cunliffe as some kind of two headed beast. If Armstrong thinks DC is a liar he should be ‘man enough’ to say so. Maybe you mean he’s astute for trying to sow seeds of doubt about Labours ability to be fiscally responsible when he says:

      “Labour already has its work cut out convincing voters it would be a responsible manager of the economy without being lumbered with the perception that it might ride roughshod over a contract without paying compensation, and could yet do so.”

      The whole piece just screams “I’ve got friends a SkyCity too, and we all want to know exactly what financial hit (if any) we could be in for.”

      Maybe Chris you could point out the bits you feel are so ‘astute’…

    • Murray Olsen 6.3
      16 November 2013 at 7:44 pm

      John Armstrong does not get to write Labour policy on Sky City. Cunliffe is man enough to know that. I wish they would rip up the contract and refuse to pay compensation. Sky City should be paying us compensation instead.

  7. phillip ure 7
    16 November 2013 at 10:29 am

    noelle mccarthy to replace chris laidlaw on nat-rad sun-morn..?

    ..yes please..!

    ..phillip ure..

    • greywarbler 7.1
      16 November 2013 at 11:45 am

      phillip ure
      Noelle? Are you serious? Father Christmas would do as well. He has vast international, cultural and manufacturing experience. A man of the people and loved by nearly all.
      What do you think about Mark Sainsbury then? His name has come up.

      Chris Laidlaw does have a brain even if sometimes it is a bit RW. I do want someone who can match him and who has ideals and some background of proving them and can think about the hard subjects including philosophy ethics what it means to be human. How we can keep on living etc.

      I don’t want to listen to mainly stories that would find their way into middle class magazines, how to garden, dress, listen to music,but it might be interesting to hear about fabrics that indicate your mood on a science bit. But actual thought, research – many of the invited commenters have written books. They have to be read by a really interested, able, literate interviewer so they can do the interview for the best result. We need to have a top notch thinker and presenter not just someone who has been around and has shown promise. Brian Edwards I think liked Paul Henry. We need someone better than those two for a start. No excuses for the crass style adopted by someone playing to the idle-brain gallery. Now I always like a sense of humour, but who is the butt, and how often? What about political satire? You have to understand more than which side your bread is buttered to do good stuff there.

      The sort of dross that gets delivered is what gets largely delivered by Jim Mora. His what you would take on a journey to Mars is just not the modern version of being cast on a desert island. Today there are poohbas and curious coves who really want to spend a lot of money, sometimes their own, setting up space expeditions of various kinds. It’s part of the creepy modern world that we constantly enjoy the thought of being in the grip of the fabulously rich and powerful manipulating us from above and all around really, which shows that many of us don’t have two parts of a brain to rub together.

      • phillip ure 7.1.1
        16 November 2013 at 12:09 pm

        @ greywarbler..yes i am serious..

        ..if you have heard mccarthy subbing for mora..

        ..you will know that she is a very skilled broadcaster..

        ..one of her strengths is the amount of research/information she comes armed with..

        ..that combination of work-ethic and natural skills/intelligence/’oirish-charm’ is a potent/entertaining mix..

        ..and one of the marks of a good broadcaster is that ability to switch from the seemingly frivilous to the deeply serious..and to be good at both..and mccarthy can do that..

        ..’sainsbury’..?..now it is my turn to ask if you ‘are serious’..

        ..like laidlaw is now..sainsbury was flogged out in his final days..

        ..both just going thru the motions..

        ..none of the other suggestions..(save for mora taking sunday..and mccarthy taking his spot..)..comes within a bulls-roar of mccarthy…

        (disclaimer:..i have never met/communicated with mccarthy..and have been critical of her in the past..)

        phillip ure..

        • greywarbler 7.1.1.1
          16 November 2013 at 1:43 pm

          phillip ure
          So its not just the carefully accented oirish then. And she will switch from serious mainly to frivolous only occasionally? guarantee? it would be good to have a bloke though. i think one or two men of perception are around i just want someone as good as kim hill but bald?

          • phillip ure 7.1.1.1.1
            16 November 2013 at 2:51 pm

            “.. i think one or two men of perception are around..”

            ..um..!..don’t mean to man-bash here..

            ..but got any names..?

            ..i can’t think of any..

            ..hirsute or not..

            ..and surely gender doesn’t matter..?

            ..quality of product should be the sole-determinant..

            ..eh..?

            ..phillip ure..

            • greywarbler 7.1.1.1.1.1
              16 November 2013 at 2:59 pm

              No phillip gender does matter. Men need to have role models too. I don’t want all the top Radionz announcing positions to go to women. Let’s try for equality here. Let’s get et searching for some good men.

              Would they be able to come from private radio, or does that bend a bloke’s mind to unattractive pavlovian responses. What about television, likewise?

            • Bearded Git 7.1.1.1.1.2
              16 November 2013 at 3:08 pm

              …..Noelle is completely up herself…..

              ……her politics wishy-washy in the extreme…….

              …..and she was also done for plagiarism a few years back…..

              …..why have I adopted the ridiculous ure-style……?

              • phillip ure …
                16 November 2013 at 3:52 pm

                have you tried shaving..?

                (but seriously..!..)

                ..don’t/didn’t you find it liberating to be free of those illogical-lingual-conceits..?

                (and for true homage..ease back on the dots a bit..

                ..and throw in the odd -..

                ..otherwise a good effort..a b+..

                ..(it failed a tad on coherence of content..eh..?..)

                phillip ure..

      • Ad 7.1.2
        16 November 2013 at 3:06 pm

        Laidlaw has long since degraded into a kind of bourgeoise neurotic sludge, and should have been shovelled out of the Aegean Stables long ago.

        We need someone under 30, with a sense of humor, who can provoke us to laughter, anger, and to a great book, within one hour.

    • kenny 7.2
      16 November 2013 at 8:55 pm

      No, thank you!!

  8. ropata 8
    16 November 2013 at 11:00 am

    Russell Brand:

    Like most people, I regard politicians as frauds and liars and the current political system as nothing more than a bureaucratic means for furthering the augmentation and advantages of economic elites.”

    In their single-minded focus on serving the interests of the economic elite, says Brand, politicians are allowing the planet to go to rack and ruin, ignoring the people they are supposed to serve and fostering massive inequality which in turn has created a sullen, apathetic underclass.

    Paul Thomas writes:

    In America, the spiritual home of democracy, Republicans in the House of Representatives are now solely concerned with pandering to the zealots who dominate party membership in their gerrymandered districts.

    This week New Jersey’s Republican Governor, Chris Christie – one of the few remaining recognisable human beings in his party – pointed out that Republican obstructionism in Washington had held up distribution of billions of dollars in federal aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy by six months.

    Is that the “government of the people, by the people, for the people” that Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, evoked in the Gettysburg Address? Or does Brand have a point?

    • Ad 8.1
      16 November 2013 at 3:03 pm

      It’s not Tea Party politics per se; it’s their character as people.

      Any fool politician can destroy something.

      It takes a leader to build something.

  9. joe90 9
    16 November 2013 at 11:17 am

    Something else to ignore.
    /

    Abstract

    Changes in global (ocean and land) precipitation are among the most important and least well-understood consequences of climate change. Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations are thought to affect the zonal-mean distribution of precipitation through two basic mechanisms. First, increasing temperatures will lead to an intensification of the hydrological cycle (“thermodynamic” changes). Second, changes in atmospheric circulation patterns will lead to poleward displacement of the storm tracks and subtropical dry zones and to a widening of the tropical belt (“dynamic” changes). We demonstrate that both these changes are occurring simultaneously in global precipitation, that this behavior cannot be explained by internal variability alone, and that external influences are responsible for the observed precipitation changes. Whereas existing model experiments are not of sufficient length to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic forcing terms at the 95% confidence level, we present evidence that the observed trends result from human activities.

    http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/11/05/1314382110

  10. Paul 10
    16 November 2013 at 12:08 pm

    Chapters in a future history book of New Zealand??

    NZ ‘God’s zone’ A dream of utopia on earth
    1935 – 1984

    NZ Corporate playground for the world’s elite
    1984 – ??

  12. Naturesong 12
    16 November 2013 at 1:53 pm

    So Colin Craig is trying to grab any remaining religious bigots that still vote Labour / New Zealand First

    Craig – No mandate for Govt to sell more state-owned assets

    • Draco T Bastard 12.1
      16 November 2013 at 2:02 pm

      However, he said his stance was not necessarily a deal-breaker in any coalition his party may form with National after next year’s election.

      LOL

      Translation: Yes, we’re against asset sales but we’ll support continued selling of them when we enter coalition with National.

    • Ad 12.2
      16 November 2013 at 3:01 pm

      So that would put him in play as a potential Labour coalition partner as well.

  13. Tim 13
    16 November 2013 at 2:15 pm

    Oh PLEASE!!! NO!!!!
    As a locum for Mora, just as Lynne Freeman is as one for Rinny – maybe.
    I’d hoped that at least weekends and nights could keep Natrad something worth listening to. I guess Sunday Mornings will soon become off limits.
    Just as well there are other options.
    You do surprise me Phillip! Still, stranger things have happened at sea.

    • Tim 13.1
      16 November 2013 at 2:29 pm

      btw – you’ll probably get your wish though.
      Bill Ralston (that bastion of wisdom and sage advice, foreskin of what he himself described as “State TV”)) says if it was up to him, it’d be between Noelle and a Walrus. (Stuff 12/11/2013 from memory)
      (Next: just watch Kim Hill signal her intention to resign – uphill shit push).

      If it were up to me Phil – I’d rather see her on 7#.
      Delve a little deeper!

    • phillip ure 13.2
      16 November 2013 at 3:05 pm

      tim..

      i actually think freeman is better than the current inhabitant of that slot..

      ..a major quality that freeman has..is that she gives interview subjects the space to say/finish what they have to say/to make their case..if they have one..

      ….she doesn’t view it as a gladiatorial-contest..from the get-go..

      ..she seems to attempt interview more as a conversation..

      ..whereas the current seat-warmer does too often go all gladatorial from the get-go..

      ..it is her major fault as a broadcaster..

      ..and the current warmer (admits she) watches far too much fox-tv..

      ..and i think a process of osmosis has taken place..

      ..she has become quite ‘foxy’..

      ..and you listen to that nat-rad nite-person..?..crump..?..

      ..really..?

      ..whoar..!

      ..i think you are the first person i have ever met who does..

      ..careful..demographers/profilers/’ists’ of all sorts –

      – will descend upon you..!

      .phillip ure..

      • Tim 13.2.1
        17 November 2013 at 2:38 pm

        …. ffffff whoar!!!1 (core – hot pants brutha – MOVE over!)
        Do I listen to that nitetime stuff with Barry or Bryan or whatever his name is – Bryan – yes him
        … not often, probably once in the last 6 months, but what did strike me when I did was the diversity of sources (as contributors) to his? programme
        I’m picking though that my reply to your last is now so passe as to now be irrelevant
        …. next
        …. next (with an upper case, octave higher-even inflecSHUN?)
        ….. nexxxt ??

  14. North 14
    16 November 2013 at 2:40 pm

    This from Billy Boy Ralston on Stuff re Chris Laidlaw’s replacement on Sunday Morning:

    “Blogger Martyn “Bomber” Bradbury: He’s too Left even for National Radio.”

    Ignore the Bomber reference. Check out “…….even for National Radio”.

    For Christ’s Sake Billy Boy. Where did that shit come from ?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/9408108/Top-talent-to-chase-Radio-NZ-spot

    • alwyn 14.1
      16 November 2013 at 2:52 pm

      Why on earth would you “Ignore the Bomber reference”?
      You aren’t treating it as being in some way derogatory are you?
      After all the man himself positively wallows in its use. I personally think it is more appropriate for a person of 15 or so to adopt such a name than a middle-aged man but if he wants to use the nickname why shouldn’t everyone else?

    • phillip ure 14.2
      16 November 2013 at 3:12 pm

      don’t forget north..ralston was the coalface of the dismantling of any serious current-affairs/news-culture @ tvnz..

      ..he took it to its’ darkest place..

      ..as the unquestioning-tool of that current political-elite/elites-paradigm

      ..from which to this day it still struggles to return..

      ..ralston was the media-tool for the neo-lib-revolution..

      ..he spun/danced to that tune..

      ..in fact he led one of the bands..

      ..and he still sings those songs..

      ..that’s where that ‘shit comes from’..

      ..phillip ure..

      • phillip ure 14.2.1
        16 November 2013 at 3:49 pm

        the pieces of the case against ralston..

        http://whoar.co.nz/?s=ralston

        phillip ure..

        • North 14.2.1.1
          16 November 2013 at 9:07 pm

          Fantastic misunderstanding of my comment Alwyn – I was getting at Billy Boy’s pathetic assertion that National Radio is left wing, for Christ’s Sake. As it happens PU your comment pretty much reflects my appreciation of BB’s contribution (not) to political journalism.

          • alwyn 14.2.1.1.1
            17 November 2013 at 10:00 am

            OK. I see that this can be interpreted in two ways.
            I read it as being two comments on the one opinion rather than the first part merely identifying the phrase you were talking about.

  15. Rogue Trooper 15
    16 November 2013 at 4:28 pm

    Sweet! . 😀

  16. chris73 16
    16 November 2013 at 5:35 pm

    Well well:

    NZ First believes in environmental sustainability but far too many of the Green Party’s comments are about “stopping everything”.

    “We have difficulty understanding a lot of their intentions and motives,” Mr Peters says, adding that the chance of being part of a coalition that would include the Greens is “extremely remote“.

    – Never say never with winnie but interesting comments

  17. Rogue Trooper 17
    16 November 2013 at 6:53 pm

    edX Courses for Horses.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    17 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    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
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    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
    16 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
    19 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
    19 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
    21 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
    23 hours 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
    24 hours 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

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-26T23:26:30+00:00