Open mike 17/02/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 17th, 2021 - 52 comments
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52 comments on “Open mike 17/02/2021 ”

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  3. RedLogix 3
    17 February 2021 at 10:08 am

    Can we please have some adults in the room pay attention to this?

    The Capital and Coast DHB confirms that of its roughly 61 full-time staff, 17 positions are vacant – nearly a third of its midwifery workforce.

    One midwife said not a single application was made for eight new graduate positions funded for the region.

    A serious shortage of midwives at Capital and Coast DHB has seen the maternity service go into "code black" three times recently – meaning it cannot look after any more women.

    An experienced midwife at the DHB said staff were at breaking point.

    Both my children were born at home and I have a deep respect for midwives as a profession. Their pay and resourcing in no way reflects their onerous, life critical responsibilities, and successive govts have ignored this slow burning issue.

    Time for a Labour govt – headed by a mother no less – to step up and make the difference.

    • Rosemary McDonald 3.1
      17 February 2021 at 12:09 pm

      These women will be treated in the same way as the nurses in MIQ.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-stressed-miq-nurses-warn-theyre-going-to-get-sloppy/LNDXBRMA65M2YMKOGSADOFVF3E/

      She said the working conditions weren't sustainable, and believed this could result in a breach of Covid-19 at the border.

      "The big concern is always that it's going to get out into the community, and that standards of infection control practices are going to slip, because everyone is exhausted. Really exhausted. We're going to get sloppy, because we're tired and stressed."

      She said nurses were leaving en masse, resulting in huge gaps in their rosters.

      "I've done two 24-hour shifts, where you work a day and there was nobody to cover the night, so I stayed on and worked through until the next morning. There's literally nobody, literally nobody.

      However, the Word from the Very Top is…

      In response, Hipkins said they had "no evidence" of these claims. He said extended shifts would be on an on-call basis only.

      Way to go Hipkins. Call your frontline medical staff liars.

      "There is a provision in the contract where you can work a shift and you can be 'on-call', so basically staying overnight. That's part of their collective contract agreement and there are people who have done that, but there's no evidence of anyone having worked a 24-hour shift."

      One nurse has provided a timesheet to RNZ showing that she was rostered on for a 21.5-hour shift.

      Another nurse said they worked three 24-hour shifts.

      They detailed an occasion where they were 'on-call', which involved actively working for 19 hours with a rest period of about five hours.

      • RedLogix 3.1.1
        17 February 2021 at 12:21 pm

        Yup. This is definitely a concern where a bit of basic activism and political pressure can and should make a difference.

        And Hipkins is making a fool of himself here blindly taking the word of his senior advisors without doing some checking.

      • Incognito 3.1.2
        17 February 2021 at 1:27 pm

        Way to go Hipkins. Call your frontline medical staff liars.

        No, he did not. Does this make you a liar too?

        • Rosemary McDonald 3.1.2.1
          17 February 2021 at 1:34 pm

          So. How are we to interpret "…they had no evidence of these claims."

          • Incognito 3.1.2.1.1
            17 February 2021 at 1:46 pm

            You are free to “interpret” it as you see fit, of course. Point is, Hipkins didn’t call them “liars”, did he now? You made that up.

            I read it as: I don’t know about this but I will look into it and if there’s a problem then I’ll make sure it gets dealt with ASAP.

            • Rosemary McDonald 3.1.2.1.1.1
              17 February 2021 at 2:07 pm

              I read it as: I don’t know about this but I will look into it and if there’s a problem then I’ll make sure it gets dealt with ASAP.

              But he didn't say that, did he?

              Some irony here as the nurses had (perhaps in anticipation of their honesty being called into question?) provided evidence of having worked ..

              One nurse has provided a timesheet to RNZ showing that she was rostered on for a 21.5-hour shift.

              …and to explain the three and a half hour shortfall…

              They detailed an occasion where they were 'on-call', which involved actively working for 19 hours with a rest period of about five hours.

              https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/covid-19/436079/no-evidence-of-nurses-working-24-hour-shifts-at-miq-facilities-hipkins

              And the latest plea from the sector…

              https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE2102/S00053/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-must-hear-nurses-on-their-own-terms.htm

              The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is urging Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to invest time into hearing real stories from frontline MIQ nurses and other health workers.

              The Prime Minister has stated publicly that frontline MIQ workers are being prioritised, but NZNO believes the Government is not listening to nurses’ voices so there is little trust on the part of these health workers.

              Trust? Hmm…could that in any way be related to "truth", or its counterpart "lies"?

              Do you perhaps think that there is any relationship between Hipkins stating there was no evidence and the NZNO going over his head and appealing to the PM?

              Of course not. I'm just making shit up.

              • Incognito …
                17 February 2021 at 2:09 pm

                I’d like to think that the first four words gave it away but you’re so wedded to your own narrative that all I can say is: SSDD.

                Bye

  4. Adrian Thornton 4
    17 February 2021 at 10:15 am

    I urge anyone who has an opinion about rampant 'cancel culture' that is dividing the Left, to read this piece by Chris Hedges.

    Chris Hedges: Cancel Culture, Where Liberalism Goes to Die

    "Elites and their courtiers who trumpet their moral superiority by damning and silencing those who do not linguistically conform to politically correct speech are the new Jacobins."

    I like this bit…
    “When the town Campbell lived in decided the Klan should not be permitted to have a float in the Fourth of July parade Campbell did not object, as long as the gas and electric company was also barred. It was not only white racists who inflicted suffering on the innocent and the vulnerable, but institutions that place the sanctity of profit before human life.

    “People can’t pay their gas and electric bills, the heat gets turned off and they freeze and sometimes die, especially if they are elderly,” he said. “This, too, is an act of terrorism.”

    • Stephen D 4.1
      17 February 2021 at 1:49 pm

      Jonathan Pie gets it.

      https://youtu.be/e5TVLEaqqdI

    • Nic the NZer 4.2
      17 February 2021 at 5:45 pm

      An amazing and pertinent story. I don't know how the US will back down from its political polarization.

      • Adrian Thornton 4.2.1
        17 February 2021 at 9:44 pm

        I don't know, but I do know that NZ Labour will have spent all it's credibility and good will with New Zealand's workers, students and disenfranchised by the time Adern's time is up..the Centrist ponzi scheme that they try and pass off for an economic ideology has quite plainly run it's course, and they have nothing else left to offer that I can see…tough times ahead for a large percentage of us, that much you can take for granted.

        Turn Labour Left!

    • Sabine 5.1
      17 February 2021 at 11:19 am

      When we start funding mental healthcare to the needs of the country rather then the needs of the book keepers.

    • Peter 6.1
      17 February 2021 at 6:28 pm

      It's just Mitchell saying stuff and taking a punt. It's just stuff said and soon forgotten .

      BUT if the worst happens and there is a community outbreak of significance he will loud and long be in, "I told you so, I was right" mode. Hosking will be all, "Why didn't we listen to the genius? He could be National's new leader."

  7. Sabine 7
    17 February 2021 at 11:48 am

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christchurch-quake-victim-gets-236k-in-backdated-acc-more-than-half-taken-to-repay-benefits-she-needed-to-survive/3AYOPS7C44YDQRXCWOGGOQPIDI/

    love the headline

    Christchurch quake victim gets $236K in backdated ACC – more than half taken to 'repay' benefits she needed to survive

    She said repaying MSD out of Singh's back payment was "punishing her on punishing her".

    "If there was no error in the decision of April 2013 to say Bonnie could work fulltime, then why is ACC back paying to the same exact date?

    "The fact that ACC wants her to pay the debt, which they created by placing her there, is obscene.

    "ACC placed Bonnie in this position and then does not wish to rectify the problem.

    "It is a regrettable decision for ACC to continue with its abuse of power."

    Radford said she had also complained to ACC Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Associate Minister Willie Jackson about Singh's case.

    "They have never responded to complaints directly to them in 2020," she said.

    "Bonnie has had to fight every single step of the way – from the rubble of an earthquake to this.

    "It's disgusting."

    • Rosemary McDonald 7.1
      17 February 2021 at 12:20 pm

      Not just ACC. Likewise with settlements after successful claims on other government departments. All payments from MSD during the period of the claim are deducted.

      Be interested to hear if there is a way of finding out if the $$$ are actually paid back to MSD hence leaving a null balance on a claimant's MSD record for that time.

      Considering the benefit is set at subsistence levels, the losing Government department in a claim should be paying an extra 30% (the averaged amount the WEAG suggested benefits should be raised by. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2001/S00009/weag-benefit-increases-urgently-needed-budgeting-expert.htm ) as a way of acknowledging the harm.

    • RedBaronCV 7.2
      17 February 2021 at 2:12 pm

      I can't through to the paywalled article but I would like to think that the ACC settlement is for eligible wages (net or gross ? looks like around $30k p.a) plus interest plus any other costs ACC would have paid medical etc plus legal fees if any plus some thing for the general mucking around.

      Unlike ACC weekly payments to compensate for wages I assume this settlement is free of income tax.

      I expect the benefits claw back should have been net of any thing like accommodation supplement that can be claimed by earners or anyone on earners compensation.

      But beyond that I don't get the level of outrage. The MSD benefits ( even though they are inadequate – a separate but important issue) are the fall back we have as a society and unless the criteria is met they cannot be claimed whilst earning other income.

      So I don't see the outrage at double dipping being fixed even if retrospective. Others cannot do it.

      • Sabine 7.2.1
        17 February 2021 at 3:01 pm

        this is not outrage at having to refund winz – we are way past that.

        this is an outrage at ACC forcing someone back to work who had 8 vertrebrae broken during the earthquake and was declared fit to work while clearly not.

        this is an outrage because she found it easier to deal with Winz in her situation, despite having a valid claim with ACC.

        this is an outrage because ACC while paying her 230.000 NZD in lost payments declares it has done nothing wrong, when clearly they did, see the payment of 230.000 NZD.

        this is an outrage because now WINZ wants to claim and successfully has claimed 130.000 of the settlement.

        Nevermindd that in order to get anything in NZ via WINZ one has to put up with a lot of bullshit and emotional abuse – kinder and gentler only applies to the WINZ Drones and other Government 'servants', never to those that need help.

        It is an outrage because if she would have received was she was entitled to – medical care, accident compensation so as to be able to heal fully, she might have found a way back to employment much earlier.

        But its ok that you don't see the outrage that someone who by virtue of luck survived a bloody earthquake and was fucked about by healthy wealthy people in government employment for shits n giggles and gets to pay for it too.

    • Chris 7.3
      17 February 2021 at 2:38 pm

      Even if you believe that weekly compensation for lost earnings is akin to a social security benefit (unlike other income a beneficiary may receive, weekly compensation reduces benefits dollar-for-dollar instead of the gradual abatement brought by other income) there are two further inequities that everyone should be outraged by.

      The first is that the level of backdated weekly compensation the person receives is reduced by the gross amount of benefit received, not the net, even though the person has only received the net rate of benefit. So what's repaid is in fact more than what was received.

      The second is that the backdated weekly compensation is taxed in the single year it's received, therefore is more likely to include a higher tax rate. So again, the amount received is less than what would've been received had the weekly compensation been assessed and paid correctly in the first place.

      These problems are compounded by the fact that the Court of Appeal has said in no uncertain terms that this is what the legislation says, regardless of how unfair it might be. The heinousness of this is that the problems have been with us for years including the conclusions reached by the CA, yet no government, national or labour, has had the balls to do anything about it. Lees-Galloway put his head in the sand whenever these issues arose. Total piece of work. Thank goodness he's fucked off.

      • Sabine 7.3.1
        17 February 2021 at 2:52 pm

        Carmel Sepuloni is nothing more then a big fat waste of taxpayers funds. But then i guess she is simply Paula Benefit but in red. Owes her life to decent social assistance – in more then one aspect – but now that they could do something to help those that are being screwed over by the dear civil servants of the country, they are too busy collecting a pay check and lecturing people about the 'value of work'.

      • RedBaronCV 7.3.2
        17 February 2021 at 3:41 pm

        I don't believe that weekly compensation for lost earnings is akin to a social security benefit but it is there to provide wages compensation after the right to sue was removed.

        So it basically should prevent people having to use the social welfare net of last resort.

        I take your point about the tax and timing effects and have absolutely no issue with taking aim at ACC and the government over that where law changes are needed.

        Yes ACC does appear to misuse its power around complainants but the story headline ( It's paywalled so I can't read the rest) focuses on the benefit repayment. The story must be at variance to this.

        As to the way ACC uses it powers – I don't know who the board are or when they where appointed but the Nact government spent time revamping ACC in little slices.

        Maybe labour need to take better control of the board members and the rules they are using – it looks like it may be well overdue.

        I actually think Labour has been slow to appoint new people to a lot of entities. My pet beef is the privacy commissioner where they reappointed the incumbent who is rather too business friendly for my taste.

        • Chris 7.3.2.1
          17 February 2021 at 4:36 pm

          "I don't believe that weekly compensation for lost earnings is akin to a social security benefit but it is there to provide wages compensation after the right to sue was removed.

          "So it basically should prevent people having to use the social welfare net of last resort."

          I'm not saying that you or anyone else believes this. The fact is that the legislation is based on that assumption by requiring a main benefit to be reduced by weekly compensation dollar-for-dollar. Most other income a person receives affects the benefit rate by way of gradual abatement. From 1 April, for example, a person receiving the unemployment benefit will be able earn up to $160 a week without affecting the benefit.

          The two further issues I outlined, which no government has ever shown an interest in fixing, involves situations where weekly compensation is initially refused, but then granted later on following review or appeal of that initial refusal. It's how back-dated weekly compensation affects benefit payments that’s the problem, not so much the payments themselves (although there's still the dollar-for-dollar issue). So when you say that social security benefits should act as a safety net of last resort, well, that's not the issue here because the need for the social welfare benefit has come about because of ACC's initial refusal to grant weekly compensation.

          You also say that the government needs to take more control of who is appointed to the ACC board. Yes, it does – there have been three recent appointments made: a lawyer from Russell McVeigh, an accountant and an insurance boffin. (It needs to be noted, also, that ACC uses Russell McVeigh to defend its decisions in the courts when they’re appealed.) Wider representation is needed, for claimants, advocates etc. But the source of the problems here is the legislation. Better representation on the board may help with putting pressure on government to fix the legislation, but ultimately it's government, or more precisely Parliament, that has the responsibility to sort this complete and utter shambles out.

        • Chris 7.3.2.2
          17 February 2021 at 8:15 pm

          Anyway, the reality is, like most issues affecting the poor, very few people give a fuck, until it affects them, of course. So you can bet your house on nothing changing on this front any time soon.

    • Patricia 2 7.4
      17 February 2021 at 9:23 pm

      I have had clients in a similar situation and a large pay out calculated ; MSD payments were deducted before the final payment to client. One client even received a large extra payment of interest on the pay out. It seems there is no consistency in their decision making.

  8. greywarshark 8
    17 February 2021 at 12:03 pm

    Be wary of this man. I think a study has been done that shows that people who will carry out cruel practices on animals will be likely to have little moral consideration when it comes to treating vulnerable humans compassionately. This man is 59 and likely to have behaved in this manner before in his life.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/436574/morrinsville-farmer-fined-after-starving-26-cows

    The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) was tipped off to the abuse by a member of the public in July last year, investigated, and told 59-year-old Alastair Robert Kane Hughes to feed his cattle double what he had been giving them.

    MPI animal welfare and NAIT compliance regional manager Brendon Mikkelsen said charges were laid after Hughes was non-compliant with the order.

    "After the first visit, Mr Hughes continued to underfeed his cattle, providing them approximately half of their daily feed requirements resulting in the cattle continuing to lose weight.

    "Four of those cattle required urgent attention to improve their body condition."

    • Jimmy 8.1
      17 February 2021 at 1:04 pm

      They should have fined him a lot more than that! He has to pay less than $5k! Talk about the wet bus ticket.

  9. Ad 9
    17 February 2021 at 12:31 pm

    In a little announcement from Joe Biden, he committed to changing the entire Federal vehicle fleet to electric. That's 645,000 vehicles, with 225,000 of those being owned by the independent US Postal Service.

    https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/biden-replace-entire-federal-fleet-electric-vehicles/story?id=75488441

    No timetable, but promised that they would be made in the US.

    Nice little challenge for James Shaw there while he's got those draft Commission recommendations in front of him A lot of our Postal Service neighbourhood deliveries are electric already, but their courier vans aren't. Would be a neat addition to the Transport GPS though.

  10. Peter chch 10
    17 February 2021 at 12:55 pm

    Yet another attempt by China to provoke a military reaction and play the victim card and so rally the people behind the CCP:

    https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/02/16/national/china-senkakus-armed-ship/

    Xi plays it straight from the Nazi play book. Step by step towards war.

    • Scud 10.1
      17 February 2021 at 5:05 pm

      Yep, China has changed it’s Rules of Engagement (ROE) and it’s Orders For Opening Fire (OFOF) for its Coastguard a few weeks ago and I believe it may also include it Military as well.

      Weather China has a crack at Taiwan, the Senkakus Islands or in the SCS it will be the Asia- Pacific Region’s Rhineland Moment. At how we respond to that will telling as it was when Hitler cross into the Rhineland and the world did SFA which lit the slow burning fuse off for WW2.

      [Fixed error with user name]

  11. Gabby 11
    17 February 2021 at 2:01 pm

    Many thanks for providing the opportunity to subscribe. Are there any more subscriber-only pages you could direct me to?

  13. Anker 13
    17 February 2021 at 2:43 pm
    • Random thought for today…. what has become of the plan B group who, ya know wanted us to go down the path of Sweden. Hmm
  14. Stuart Munro 14
    17 February 2021 at 6:05 pm

    There is a class action proceeding against slaving chocolate companies. Mars, Nestlé and Hershey to face child slavery lawsuit in US | Global development | The Guardian Roll on the day NZ fishing companies are in the dock for their similar crimes.

  15. DukeEll 15
    17 February 2021 at 7:24 pm

    Didn’t see you supporting the protest against Mike Smiths sinophile blog post. Is the disallowance of a single enemy of the west a tragedy while the genocide of a whole minority muslim Population a statistic to you?

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

  16. Treetop 16
    17 February 2021 at 7:28 pm

    I am not optimistic about the level changes going down. More contact tracing and retesting required at this stage.

    The UK B.1.1.7 strain seems to have a long incubation period.

  17. Anker 17
    17 February 2021 at 7:47 pm
    • Treetop interested to hear you say the new UK variant has a longer incubation period.

    genuine question, where did you read this?

    • Sabine 17.1
      17 February 2021 at 9:25 pm

      This might be of interest to you.

      https://theconversation.com/yes-a-16-day-incubation-period-for-covid-is-possible-but-its-extremely-rare-155027

      The ‘day 16’ test

      For the small minority of people who incubate the virus beyond 14 days, this can be related to underlying conditions, especially those that weaken a person’s immune response.

      Over the weekend, NSW began testing returned travellers on day 16 — that is, two days after they finish hotel quarantine. This is how the latest case in NSW was detected.

      The test is not compulsory and if the person doesn’t have symptoms, they don’t need to isolate until receiving their result.

      This day 16 test is designed to pick up infections that may develop after the expected maximum 14-day incubation period on which Australia’s quarantine period is based.

      Other states are reported to be considering implementing this measure too. This is a good safety net because, not only could it pick up the very rare case where a person might incubate the virus for longer, it could also catch missed cases of the virus being contracted in quarantine.

    • Treetop 17.2
      17 February 2021 at 9:49 pm

      This is not based on anything I have read. Perhaps using the words appears to would have been better. I wanted MIQ to be extended to 21 days as I felt 14 days was not enough for more infectious variants.

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    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    16 hours ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    16 hours ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    17 hours ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    18 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    19 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    22 hours ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    22 hours ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    22 hours ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    23 hours ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    24 hours ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    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 in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    50 mins ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
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