Open mike 17/01/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 17th, 2024 - 75 comments
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75 comments on “Open mike 17/01/2024 ”

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  1. Morrissey 1
    17 January 2024 at 7:21 am

    Oh my God! How did this happen? cryingsurpriseangryno

    Let the conniptions begin…

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/16/trump-threat-iowa-caucus-polls

    • Phillip ure 1.1
      17 January 2024 at 8:17 am

      It pays to remember that last time iowa voted for ted cruz..

      Iowa is white/rural/reactionary..unlike most of the rest of america…

      Victory for trump in iowa in no way indicates another term for him..

      • James Simpson 1.1.1
        17 January 2024 at 10:10 am

        Indeed, it does pay to remember that. Trump has won a state he didn't pick up in 2016.

        Doesn't that tell us he is now in a better position to win the Republican nomination when he is winning states he previously lost.

        His victory in Iowa was the largest margin of victory in the history of the state’s Republican caucuses, further securing his position as the Republican frontrunner.

        This is a 1 horse race.

        The only thing that will stop him now is the Supreme Court.

        • Morrissey 1.1.1.1
          17 January 2024 at 10:18 am

          The only thing that will stop him now is the Supreme Court.

          That's not going to happen.

          • James Simpson 1.1.1.1.1
            17 January 2024 at 10:22 am

            On reflection I agree.

            Even if the States that have disqualified him, are successful in the appeal courts, Trump still wins the nomination.

            • Morrissey 1.1.1.1.1.1
              17 January 2024 at 10:53 am

              There's a really interesting analysis of the Iowa result here, following an analysis of the U.S. bombing of Yemen. The Iowa analysis, including an appreciation of Trump's comic ability, begins at the 18:30 mark…

        • Peter 1.1.1.2
          17 January 2024 at 11:02 pm

          I think it's worth mentioning that if the Supreme or some other court stops him that'll be down to what he's done not someone else.

          Naturally, for months he's been on his campaign to convince everyone he's being picked on. Don't want to do the time? Don't do the crime.

    • Corey 1.2
      17 January 2024 at 12:52 pm

      If you don't like this then don't look at the federal election polls.

      Bidens losing in all but one swing state.

      Trump beats Biden with Latinos and voters under 30.

      Bidens lead with African American voters has dissolved by 20% as black voters frustrated over their govt funding Israel and Ukraine while cutting their public services and giving public housing to refugees and immigrants turn to Cornell West, Kennedy and Trump.

      Bidens the most unpopular president seeking reelection in history.

      The senate map is extremely unfavorable to democrats this year and with Biden on the ticket Dems are gonna be obliterated in the senate and congress.

      Trumps probably going to win the popular vote this time and looking at the health of two of the democratic scotus judges… It's not good.

      The gen z and Latino polling numbers are astounding and getting worse and worse.

      • Corey 1.2.1
        17 January 2024 at 1:09 pm

        Trumps approval ratings are higher than Bidens

        The democrats won't be able to blame white people or old people for Trump winning on these numbers, only themselves.

        The irony of attacking and gleefully waving goodbye to working class voters in favor of some fanciful coalition of the college educated, generational and identity based.

        Only for large swaths of that coalition to decide "I make too much money to vote democrat"

        The way the lefts going globally whose going to be left voting for it, uni grads and the lgbt?

        If you're not representing the working class you're a tory, no matter how pretty you talk.

        The working class should be representation of the working class by the working class not by the upper middle class and anyone who says class doesn't apply to usa or nz is highly unlikely to be working class.

        • Morrissey 1.2.1.1
          17 January 2024 at 4:03 pm

          Seven years ago the former Clinton cabinet member Robert Reich summed up the rottenness of the Democratic Party. It has not gotten one bit better since then.

          What has happened in America should not be seen as a victory for hatefulness over decency. It is more accurately understood as a repudiation of the American power structure.

          At the core of that structure are the political leaders of both parties, their political operatives, and fundraisers; the major media, centered in New York and Washington DC; the country’s biggest corporations, their top executives, and Washington lobbyists and trade associations; the biggest Wall Street banks, their top officers, traders, hedge-fund and private-equity managers, and their lackeys in Washington; and the wealthy individuals who invest directly in politics.

          At the start of the 2016 election cycle, this power structure proclaimed Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush shoo-ins for the nominations of the Democratic and Republican parties. After all, both of these individuals had deep bases of funders, well-established networks of political insiders, experienced political advisers and all the political name recognition any candidate could possibly want….

          https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/10/democrats-working-class-americans-us-election

    • Sanctuary 1.3
      17 January 2024 at 1:42 pm

      Only 14% of registered Republicans voted in vile weather in Iowa, and just under half of them voted against Trump.

      Its an interesting opinion poll on where the GOP is at.

      • Phillip ure 1.3.1
        17 January 2024 at 6:59 pm

        So those record majority claims earlier in the thread are just an example of stats being total horseshit/meaningless….

        • James SimpsonYou\'re arg 1.3.1.1
          18 January 2024 at 11:03 am

          Why do you think they are meaningless Phillip?

          The turnout in 2024 was almost identical to the 2012 caucuses. There was record turnout in 2016, but event then only 24% of registered Republicans turned up?

  2. Ghostwhowalks 2
    17 January 2024 at 8:06 am

    So only 51% of the most committed republicans want Trump ?

    How is that a victory in the sense of intra party support

    It says to me 49% dont want him as their candidate – even though hes that rareity a former President

  3. Robert Guyton 3
    17 January 2024 at 9:40 am

    “And that has meant, for example there have been police investigations into those threats almost the entire time that she has been a Member of Parliament, and so obviously if you’re living with that level of threat in what is already quite a stressful situation then there are going to be consequences for that.”

    Imagine, if you will, how that might have been.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/506852/former-green-mp-golriz-ghahraman-subject-to-continuous-threats-whilst-in-parliament-shaw

    • George 3.1
      17 January 2024 at 11:32 am

      She would have been better off if she assaulted someone with a piece of furniture… Much more acceptable.

      • bwaghorn 3.1.1
        17 January 2024 at 11:38 am

        Or physically harassed a waitress by repeatedly pulling her hair, also fondling kids hair is a ok.

      • George 3.1.2
        17 January 2024 at 12:06 pm

        Also…glasshouses and all that…I worked in the fashion industry for some years, some years ago. I also worked at a very high end shop. The amount of shoplifting by the women who were well off in the high end shop was Epic! Much less in the lower socio economic areas at that time. I believe it's a way that some people use to release anxiety. We need to support our women more.

      • Robin The Goodfellow 3.1.3
        17 January 2024 at 12:13 pm

        Like, allegedly, assaulting a member of your staff?

        [right, you’re one of the people I’ve had to spend moderator time on this week. Take a day off while I have a look at your posting history, because I think you’ve been warned about trolling and commenting before. 

        ​​​​​​​In the meantime, read this and have a think about whether you want to keep your commenting ability on TS and what you are willing to do to retain that. https://thestandard.org.nz/we-need-a-better-class-of-right-wing-troll/ – weka]

        [consensus among the mods is that you’re here to troll and don’t add much to the site. Plus you’ve already been given a final warning. Permanent ban – weka]

    • weka 3.2
      17 January 2024 at 11:41 am

      the press conference yesterday where Shaw said that was quite moving. I think many people have no idea how much abuse people like Ghahraman are subjected to, or what it means.

      • bwaghorn 3.2.1
        17 January 2024 at 12:06 pm

        That should start realieasing them to public , with the senders name and photo if possible,

        • weka 3.2.1.1
          17 January 2024 at 12:18 pm

          I'm guessing there are reasons to not do that. Escalation, plus what happens when/if they get to court.

          • Visubversa 3.2.1.1.1
            17 January 2024 at 12:34 pm

            It would be very simple to have everyone who leaves an abusive message for an MP to get a swift response from some senior member of the Diplomatic Protection Squad. It should not have to threaten violence – just anything offensive should have their call or message returned.

          • bwaghorn 3.2.1.1.2
            17 January 2024 at 6:43 pm

            These are gutless cowards , they won't escalate they'll cower and run , my first thought was put them in the stocks and throw cabbages at them ,

            • weka 3.2.1.1.2.1
              17 January 2024 at 8:41 pm

              I'm sure most of them are. However, poking the bear is not a safe response. It's only going to take one for us to step over the line and become more like the US.

      • Robert Guyton 3.2.2
        17 January 2024 at 6:55 pm

        Shaw, on behalf of the party, is showing genuine empathy and balance, all of which will be lost on those who don't wish to be empathetic. I admire that guy.

        • weka 3.2.2.1
          17 January 2024 at 8:29 pm

          nearly every time he fronts on something like this he comes through. Lots of respect. Agree that it will be lost on some, and likewise that empathy is choice. Maybe not social and emotional intelligence.

  4. ianmac 4
    17 January 2024 at 10:00 am

    No Right Turn has strong words for Willis claiming that the previous government had cooked the books and left the new government with a financial mess to clean up. It was a serious allegation from Willis but …

    https://norightturn.blogspot.com/2024/01/willis-made-no-complaints-about-prefu.html

  5. Ffloyd 5
    17 January 2024 at 12:46 pm

    I believe texting 13 year old girls by certain ministers is also acceptable.

  6. SPC 6
    17 January 2024 at 1:05 pm

    The most noticeable stat is that Northland, BOP/Rotorua have a problem in their primary schools – Waikato also, to a lesser degree.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/01/vaping-smoking-bigger-issue-in-primary-schools-than-secondary-new-figures.html

  7. Rolling-on-Gravel 7
    17 January 2024 at 2:27 pm

    This article by David Farrier is exactly how I feel about the Golriz Ghahraman affair:

    Yesterday, Ghahraman resigned. It’s a big news story here, as it would be if any MP was caught shoplifting. These are elected officials, and we have to hold them to account. But New Zealand is covering it like they’ve caught a serial killer. Our biggest website, Stuff, is soaking in it:

    https://www.webworm.co/p/golriz

    We have to do better by our female politicians and our minority group politicians in our beautiful land.

    • Ad 7.1
      17 January 2024 at 2:37 pm

      Agree.

      Compare it to the massive hui for this weekend and the roll-on it will have to Waitangi.

      Compare it to the policy issues that are released today such as the Electoral Commission's 500-page report with masses of recommendations, including

      – Votes for all prisoners

      – 4 year voting term

      – MMP threshold down to 2.5%

      … and many more.

      List MPs are just changed within weeks requiring no further political focus.

      We don't need to whitewash any allegation, but can we get back to the actual policy contests.

      • Rolling-on-Gravel 7.1.1
        17 January 2024 at 4:31 pm

        – 4 year voting term

        – MMP threshold down to 2.5%

        These are very important policies that should be considered the most in our society. This absolutely affects Aotearoa/NZ the most in terms of policies.

        I find it weird that our lip-licking & gore-grubbing media don't seek out to be thoughtfully and humanly discussing this sort of proposed policy for our country given that we will be affected by a longer parliamentary term, a house full of more political parties and politicians and so on…

        The 4th Estate is in crisis.

        • Phillip ure 7.1.1.1
          17 January 2024 at 6:03 pm

          I think the horrors this gummint is going to unleash..mean that a four year term is dead in the water..

      • George 7.1.2
        17 January 2024 at 5:52 pm

        Nothing quite like feeding people to the lions as a distraction from their own dodgy issues…

  8. Sanctuary 8
    17 January 2024 at 2:33 pm

    The North Asian arms race gets very little coverage here, which is bizarre because a big conflict there would almost certainly involve us via our status as a military client state of Australia.

    South Korea is an excellent example of the rapid decline of the influence of the traditional European military power houses. The ROK provided Ulraine with a third of a million 155mm artillery shells with six weeks of the request and last year provided more of this vital ammunition type to Ukraine than the entire EU combined, and hardly raised a sweat doing it.

    Poland is buying thousands of Korean tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery – and it's all being done on a timeline of a few years, not decades and with handy locally assembly offsets. Estonia, Finland, Norway and Romania have all made recent large orders for South Korean equipment which is cheaper, as good as anything produced in Europe, gets delivered promptly, has excellent supply chains and doesn't come with protracted debates in the Bundestag about if they should be allowed them in the first place.

    Outside of Europe the ROK has made waves with big orders to Egypt and Australia for their Self-propelled artillery and Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The Germans, who used to dominate the tank market, haven’t had a big non-EU sale in a long while.

    The Naval arms race is simply mind boggling. The Chinese PLAN currently launches about one major warship every 12-14 weeks, and has done for almost a decade and plans to continue to do so for the foreseable future. The Japanese Navy has 30 submarines, mostly built in the last 15 years, and forty or so majore surface combatants. To put it another way, the JMSDF is bigger than the British and French navies combined. South Korea's navy has 22 attack submarines and is 50% bigger than the Royal Navy in major surface warships. Again, mostly new. The ROK is mulling building an aircraft carrier or two and since they they have 1000s of Short Range Ballistic Missiles's they are wondering about developing nuclear warheads for them.

    The United States is scrambling to re-open closed shipyards and dockyards to again mass produce warships.

    Australia as well know want a dozen nuclear attack submarines and a big surface fleet, whilst the Australian arms industy os going gangbusters – they've just signed a deal to produced ATACMS and HIMARS missiles domestically.

    The Phillipines, sick of being pushed around by China, is ordering new ships and is re-opening the Subic bay naval base for it’s allies to use if they need a helping hand.

    Arguing if we should have an arms industry is now moot. We should be building a modern 155mm ammunition plant next to Glenbrook steel mill, think of the export $$$$!!!!

    • Ad 8.1
      17 January 2024 at 2:39 pm

      Did you check out the Chinese ballistic missile scandal and resulting 'restructures'?

      • Sanctuary 8.1.1
        17 January 2024 at 3:04 pm

        I don't believe half of what was reported about the Chinese scandal, some of it read like wishful thinking from the West. For a start, liquid fuelled missiles are really, really old technology and I would be surprised if those that are still in service would be particularly relied on. Everyone has used solid rocket fuel since the 1980s and I can’t imagine China hasn’t had the plans of Russian ICBMs on their harddrives since the 1990s when the chaos of Yeltsin’s Russia meant everything was for sale (I read a possibly apocryphal and hair raising tale of a couple of wags who rang a Russian naval base in the late 1990s pretending they were from Venezuela and asking after a cruise missile submarine. The were asked if they wanted it with the missiles or without…)

        The faulty silo lids I could believe, simply because that is a classic n00b mistake and mirrors similar Russian problems from ages ago – I assume the Chinese acquired those Russian blueprints as well.

        But the meta is a military that has undergone breakneck expansion in an economy where quality control isn't much of thing and corruption and kickbacks in the CCP is rampant. I was reading just the other week that foreign observers of Chinese peacekeepers found Chinese equipment fragile and of poor construction. The J-20 stealth fighter has a powerplant plagued with reliability issues, high fuel consumption, and inability to develop the promised thrust while the Chinese struggle with the high maintenance costs of their latest kit as much as the Americans do with theirs.

        China hasn't fought a major war since Korea, and I suspect that lack of warfighting experience would lead to initial major systemic failures in combat against an opponent like the United States.

  9. Ad 9
    17 January 2024 at 4:24 pm

    Shoutout to Bernie Sanders for tabling a proposal that the US subject Israel to scrutiny about its human rights record (the overlooked provision 502B) by analysing the human rights record of any country receiving US aid.

    The 11 Senators voting in favour included Rang Paul, Elizabeth Warren, Peter Wlch, and Jeff Merkley.

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-gaza-senate-vote-against-human-rights-report_n_65a70499e4b00bbb446d0088

    Sure it was a doomed effort, but it was a principled one. So good on Bernie.

  10. observer 10
    17 January 2024 at 4:59 pm

    When you witness violent offending and various other crimes in central Auckland (as I have numerous times) you soon learn that it's hardly worth calling the cops. They are too busy and/or understaffed, we're told. Especially for places like dairies, when there are robberies. Just not important enough.

    But five – yes, five – officers are available to visit an obviously non-violent person who is then charged with a non-violent crime. They'd get exactly the same result by asking "please pop round to the police station". She's not running away.

    I have never seen five cops at a local dairy, unless there is blood on the floor.

    Police charge former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman over shoplifting allegations – NZ Herald

    • higherstandard 10.1
      17 January 2024 at 5:45 pm

      "I have never seen five cops at a local dairy, unless there is blood on the floor."

      Even then you'd be hard pressed. Five officers required to interview one non violent young woman about some shoplifting ? This is pathetic behaviour from PC Plod.

    • Anne 10.2
      17 January 2024 at 5:50 pm

      Reminds me of the overkill when they ransacked Nicky Hager's home cos… rawshark etc. etc. He eventually got recompense and an apology, but it sometimes seems they don't learn from their own mistakes.

    • George 10.3
      17 January 2024 at 6:00 pm

      Only if the pies are being restocked

    • Incognito 10.4
      17 January 2024 at 6:49 pm

      Not sure what your angle is and what fantastic narrative you’re trying to create here …

      I’d add that this seems very unlike you surprise

      • Anne 10.4.1
        17 January 2024 at 7:08 pm

        I think Observer's angle is the obvious over-kill in sending five cops plus more in unmarked cars for a violent free crime when the culprit was obviously not a violent person and had already confessed to her guilt.

        Unless they saw it as good PR… see here folks, we’re doing our job. 😉

      • observer 10.4.2
        17 January 2024 at 7:11 pm

        The only angle or narrative is that this is ridiculous overkill, as other commenters have noted.

        According to the Stuff report, the police were there all day, from 7 am. A strange priority for police resources. There was no risk of Golriz doing anything except co-operate. Make one phone call, one appointment, court date Feb. A few minutes of formalities, nothing more.

        So why the big show?

        Police lay charges following Golriz Ghahraman shoplifting allegations | Stuff

        • Robert Guyton 10.4.2.1
          17 January 2024 at 8:05 pm

          Perhaps they were protecting a woman who has received death threats.

          • observer 10.4.2.1.1
            17 January 2024 at 8:24 pm

            I thought that too and would really like to believe it. Problem is, death threats don't go away on schedule this afternoon. But the police did.

            • weka 10.4.2.1.1.1
              17 January 2024 at 8:28 pm

              Or, the police went round early hours or overnight because of concern, and now it's less of an threat for whatever reason. For whatever reason because none of us know what is going on.

              I think the least likely explanation is that the police felt they needed 5 police people to interview Ghahraman.

          • weka 10.4.2.1.2
            17 January 2024 at 8:25 pm

            that would be my guess. Reporter said an unmarked police car was outside her house since 7am. Doesn't say if that's when police arrived or the reporter arrived. But odds on she has received death threats.

        • Incognito 10.4.2.2
          17 January 2024 at 8:46 pm

          frown

  11. Bryan Dods 11
    17 January 2024 at 6:43 pm

    In one fell swoop five plods have attained a better work story.

    I have not seen footage. Did a police-person of the female persuasion visit Golriz or was it just the boys?

  12. Morrissey 12
    17 January 2024 at 9:03 pm

    To take your minds off unpleasant things like overbearing police and the character assassination campaign against one of our few decent politicians, here's the latest release from Bucklands Beach's finest…

  13. adam 13
    17 January 2024 at 10:03 pm

    God bless the UAW – getting new union members and pushing for better wages and conditions.

    Message from UAW President Shawn Fain. On the attack on workers trying to unionise.

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    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • No Alarms And No Surprises

    A heart that's full up like a landfillA job that slowly kills youBruises that won't healYou look so tired, unhappyBring down the governmentThey don't, they don't speak for usI'll take a quiet lifeA handshake of carbon monoxideAnd no alarms and no surprisesThe fabulous English comedian Stewart Lee once wrote a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Five ingenious ways people could beat the heat without cranking the AC

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Every summer brings a new spate of headlines about record-breaking heat – for good reason: 2023 was the hottest year on record, in keeping with the upward trend scientists have been clocking for decades. With climate forecasts suggesting that heat waves ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago
  • No new funding for cycling & walking

    Studies show each $1 of spending on walking and cycling infrastructure produces $13 to $35 of economic benefits from higher productivity, lower healthcare costs, less congestion, lower emissions and lower fossil fuel import costs. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 99

    Dad turned 99 today.Hell of a lot of candles, eh?He won't be alone for his birthday. He will have the warm attention of my brother, and my sister, and everyone at the rest home, the most thoughtful attentive and considerate people you could ever know. On Saturday there will be ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Open Government: National reneges on beneficial ownership

    One of the achievements of the New Zealand’s Open Government Partnership Fourth National Action Plan was a formal commitment from the government to establish a public beneficial ownership register. Such a register would allow the ultimate owners of companies to be identified - a vital measure in preventing corruption, money ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt One.

    This project analyzes security politics in three peripheral democracies (Chile, New Zealand, Portugal) during the 30 years after the end of the Cold War. It argues that changes in the geopolitical landscape and geo-strategic context are interpreted differently by small … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Tea and Toast

    When the skies are looking bad my dearAnd your heart's lost all its hopeAfter dawn there will be sunshineAnd all the dust will goThe skies will clear my darlingNow it's time for you to let goOur girl will wake you up in the mornin'With some tea and toastLyrics: Lucy Spraggan.Good ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • NLTP 2024 released – destroying pipeline of shovel ready local projects

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Waka Kotahi yesterday released the latest National Land Transport Plan (NLTP) for 2024-27. The NLTP sets out what transport projects will be funded for the next three years, including both central and local government projects. As expected given the government’s extremely ideological transport policy, it’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago
  • Can Brown deliver his roads

    The Government’s unveiling of its road-building programme yesterday was ambitious and, many would say, long overdue. But the question will be whether it is too ambitious, whether it is affordable, and, if not, what might be dropped. The big ticket items will be the 17 so-called Roads of National Significance. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • New paper about detecting climate misinformation on Twitter/X

    Together with Cristian Rojas, Frank Algra-Maschio, Mark Andrejevic, Travis Coan, and Yuan-Fang Li, I just published a paper in Nature Communications Earth & Environment where we use the Computer Assisted Recognition of Denial and Skepticism (CARDS) machine learning model to detect climate misinformation in 5 million climate tweets. We find over half ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • Excerpting “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies.”

    In the late 2000s-early 2010s I was researching and writing a book titled “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Chile, New Zealand and Portugal.” The book was a cross-regional Small-N qualitative comparison of the security strategies and postures of three small … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • Hating for the Wrong Reasons: Of Rings of Power, Orcs and Evil

    A few months ago, my fellow countryman, HelloFutureMe, put out a giant YouTube video, dissecting what went wrong with the first season of Rings of Power (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ6FRUO0ui0&t=8376s). It’s an exceptionally good video, and though it spans some two and a half hours, it is well worth your time. But ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago
  • Climate Change: “Least cost” to who?

    On Friday the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released their submission on National's second Emissions Reduction Plan, ripping the shit out of it as a massive gamble based on wishful thinking. One of the specific issues he focused on was National's idea of "least cost" emissions reduction, pointing out that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Israeli Lives Matter

    There is no monopoly on common senseOn either side of the political fenceWe share the same biology, regardless of ideologyBelieve me when I say to youI hope the Russians love their children tooLyrics: Sting. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Luxon Cries

    Over the weekend, I found myself rather irritably reading up about the Treaty of Waitangi. “Do I need to do this?” It’s not my jurisdiction. In any other world, would this be something I choose to do?My answer - no.The Waitangi Tribunal, headed by some of our best legal minds, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Just one Wellington home being consented for every 10 in Auckland

    A decade of under-building is coming home to roost in Wellington. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday September 2:Wellington’s leaders are wringing their hands over an exodus of skilled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Container trucks on local streets: why take the risk?

    This is a guest post by Charmaine Vaughan, who came to transport advocacy via her local Residents Association and a comms role at Bike Auckland. Her enthusiasm to make local streets safer for all is shared by her son Dylan Vaughan, a budding “urban nerd” who provided much of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #35

    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, August 25, 2024 thru Sat, August 31, 2024. Story of the week After another crammed week of climate news including updates on climate tipping points, increasing threats from rising ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • An Uncanny Valley of Improvement: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power, Episodes 1-3 (Season ...

    And thus we come to the second instalment of Amazon’s Rings of Power. The first season, in 2022, was underwhelming, even for someone like myself, who is by nature inclined to approach Tolkien adaptations with charity. The writing was poor, the plot made no sense on its own terms, and ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Alcohol debris and Crocodile Tears

    I write to you this morning from scenes of carnage. Around the floor lie young men who only hours earlier were full of life, and cocktails, and now lie silent. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • When Do We Look Away?

    Hi,The first time I saw something that made me recoil on the internet was a visit to Rotten.com. The clue was in the name — but the internet was a new thing to me in the 90s, and no-one really knew what the hell was going on. But somehow I ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • The decades just fly by

    You turn your back for a moment and a city can completely transform itself. It was, oh, just the other day I was tripping up to Kuala Lumpur every few months to teach workshops and luxuriate in the tropical warmth and fill my face with Char Kway Teow.It has to ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: August

    Completed reads for August: Aesop’s Fables (collection), by Aesop Berserk: Volume XXV (manga), by Kentaro Miura Benighted, by J.B. Priestly Berserk: Volume XXVI (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVIII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXIX (manga), by Kentaro Miura ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Is recent global warming part of a natural cycle?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is recent global warming part ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • White Noise

    Now here we standWith our hearts in our handsSqueezing out the liesAll that I hearIs a message, unclearWhat else is there to decide?All that I'm hearing from youIs White NoiseLyrics: Christopher John CheneyIs the tide turning?Have we reached the high point of the racist hate and lies from Hobson’s Pledge, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • The Death Of “Big Norm” – Exactly 50 Years Ago Today.

    Norman KirkPrime Minister of New Zealand 1972-1974Born: 6 January 1923 - Died: 31 August 1974Of the working-class, by the working-class, for the working-class.Video courtesy of YouTubeThese elements were posted on Bowalley Road on Saturday, 31 August 2024. ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Claims and Counter-Claims.

    Whose Foreshore? Whose Seabed? When the Marine and Coastal Area Act was originally passed back in 2011, fears about the coastline becoming off-limits to Pakeha were routinely allayed by National Party politicians pointing out that the tests imposed were so stringent  that only a modest percentage of claims (the then treaty ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Honours Maori King ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • The Principles of the Treaty

    Hardly anyone says what are ‘the principles of the treaty’. The courts’ interpretation restrain the New Zealand Government. While they about protecting a particular community, those restraints apply equally to all community in a liberal democracy – including a single person.Treaty principles were introduced into the governance of New Zealand ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Only Other Reliable Vehicle.

    An Elite Leader Awaiting Rotation? Hipkins’ give-National-nothing-to-aim-at strategy will only succeed if the Coalition becomes as unpopular in three years as the British Tories became in fourteen.THE SHAPE OF CHRIS HIPKINS’ THINKING on Labour’s optimum pathway to re-election is emerging steadily. At the core of his strategy is Hipkins’ view ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • A Big F U to this Right Wing Government

    Open to all - deep thanks to those who support and subscribe.One of the things that has got me interested recently is updates about Māori wards.In April, Stuff’s Karanama Ruru reported that ~ 2/3 of our 78 councils had adopted Māori wards in NZ.That meant that under the Coalition repeal ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: James Shaw’s legacy keeps paying off

    One of the central planks of the previous Labour-Green government's emissions reduction policy was GIDI (Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry). This was basically using ETS revenue to pay polluters to clean up production, reducing emissions while protecting jobs. Corporate welfare, but it got the job done, and was often a ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Gravity

    Oh twice as much ain't twice as goodAnd can't sustain like one half couldIt's wanting moreThat's gonna send me to my kneesSong: John MayerSome ups and downs from the last week of August ‘24. The good and bad, happy and sad, funny and mad, heroes and cads. The week that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Ditch the climate double speak and get real

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The Government announced changes to the Fast-Track Approvals Bill on Sunday, backing off from the contentious proposal to give ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to August 30

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest science of changing sea temperatures and which emissions policies actually work; on the latest from Ukraine, Gaza and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • This Govt’s infrastructure strategy depends on capital gains taxes & new road taxes

    Billions of dollars in value uplift was identified around the Transmission Gully project, but that was captured 100% by landowners and not shared to pay for the project. Now National is saying value capture should be used for similar projects. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/ Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 30-August-2024

    Kia ora and welcome to the end of another week. Here’s our regular Friday roundup of things that caught our eye, in the realm of cities and transport. If you enjoy these roundups, feel free to join our growing ranks of supporters by making a recurring donation to keep the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Table Talk: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.

    “That’s the sort of constitutional reform he favours: conceived in secret; revolutionary in intent; implemented incrementally without fanfare; and under no circumstances to be placed before the electorate for democratic ratification.”TO SAY IT WAS RAINING would have understated seriously the meteorological conditions. Simply put, it was pissing down. One of ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Big Norm and Chris Hipkins

    It’s 50 years ago today that “Big Norm” Kirk died of a heart attack in Wellington’s Home of Compassion. Home of Compassion. Although he was Prime Minister for only 623 days, he has an iconic place in New Zealand history, particularly Labour history. When Labour leaders like Jacinda Ardern recite ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

    5 September 2024  The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

    On the occasion of the official visit by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to the Republic of Korea from 4 to 5 September 2024, a summit meeting was held between His Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

    Results released today from the International Visitor Survey (IVS) confirm international tourism is continuing to bounce back, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. The IVS results show that in the June quarter, international tourism contributed $2.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy, an increase of 17 per cent on last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government confirms RMA reforms to drive primary sector efficiency

    The Government is moving to review and update national level policy directives that impact the primary sector, as part of its work to get Wellington out of farming. “The primary sector has been weighed down by unworkable and costly regulation for too long,” Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.  “That is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Weak grocery competition underscores importance of cutting red tape

    The first annual grocery report underscores the need for reforms to cut red tape and promote competition, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “The report paints a concerning picture of the $25 billion grocery sector and reinforces the need for stronger regulatory action, coupled with an ambitious, economy-wide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government moves to lessen burden of reliever costs on ECE services

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the Government has listened to the early childhood education sector’s calls to simplify paying ECE relief teachers. Today two simple changes that will reduce red tape for ECEs are being announced, in the run-up to larger changes that will come in time from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Over 2,320 people engage with first sector regulatory review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says there has been a strong response to the Ministry for Regulation’s public consultation on the early childhood education regulatory review, affirming the need for action in reducing regulatory burden. “Over 2,320 submissions have been received from parents, teachers, centre owners, child advocacy groups, unions, research ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government backs women in horticulture

    “The Government is empowering women in the horticulture industry by funding an initiative that will support networking and career progression,” Associate Minister of Agriculture, Nicola Grigg says.  “Women currently make up around half of the horticulture workforce, but only 20 per cent of leadership roles which is why initiatives like this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government to pause freshwater farm plan rollout

    The Government will pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today. “Improving the freshwater farm plan system to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers is a priority for this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Milestone reached for fixing the Holidays Act 2003

    Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden says yesterday Cabinet reached another milestone on fixing the Holidays Act with approval of the consultation exposure draft of the Bill ready for release next week to participants.  “This Government will improve the Holidays Act with the help of businesses, workers, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New priorities to protect future of conservation

    Toitū te marae a Tāne Mahuta me Hineahuone, toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, toitū te taiao, toitū te tangata. The Government has introduced clear priorities to modernise Te Papa Atawhai - The Department of Conservation’s protection of our natural taonga. “Te Papa Atawhai manages nearly a third of our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Faster 110km/h speed limit to accelerate Kāpiti

    A new 110km/h speed limit for the Kāpiti Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS) has been approved to reduce travel times for Kiwis travelling in and out of Wellington, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • IVL increase to ensure visitors contribute more to New Zealand

    The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) will be raised to $100 to ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka say. “The Government is serious about enabling the tourism sector ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Delivering priority connections for the West Coast

    A record $255 million for transport investment on the West Coast through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s road and rail links to keep people connected and support the region’s economy, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Government is committed to making sure that every ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Road and rail reliability a focus for Wellington

    A record $3.3 billion of transport investment in Greater Wellington through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will increase productivity and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Delivering infrastructure to increase productivity and economic growth is a priority for our Government. We're focused on delivering transport projects ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Record investment to boost economic and housing growth in the Waikato

    A record $1.9 billion for transport investment in the Waikato through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more efficient, safe, and resilient roading network that supports economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “With almost a third of the country’s freight travelling into, out ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Building reliable and efficient roading for Taranaki

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