Open mike 17/04/2021
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6:00 am, April 17th, 2021 - 40 comments
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- Developing Separately – Or Together?
'He iwi tahi tātou'? Should Maori poverty be addressed as a manifestation of the economic and social injustices inherent in free-market capitalism; or, is it the inevitable consequence of colonial oppression, white privilege and institutional racism? If it’s the former, then Maori and Pakeha can tackle the problem together. If ...7 hours ago - “A Rare Misstep from Simeon Brown”: Once more playing the Useful Idiot of the National Party?
Overall, MP Simeon Brown is someone to poke fun at with his asinine takes, clearly. He can, like Collins, just not help himself to save himself. But never let yourself get seriously worked up and actually worn out over it. He’s simply not worth it, sad as it ...8 hours ago - NZ Politics Daily: 6 May 2021
Parliament’s Speaker Trevor Mallard Henry Cooke (Stuff): National v Mallard: That atrocious late-night debate is the reason people hate politicians Barry Soper (Herald): Trevor Mallard’s outburst this week questions whether he understands what a serious sexual assault is Claire Trevett (Herald): The unedifying spectacle of the Speaker v National in Parliament (paywalled) Heather du Plessis-Allan (Newstalk ZB): Mallard using his power to attack ...17 hours ago - Reducing tobacco retail availability: how could this be achieved and what evidence supports the NZ G...
Lindsay Robertson, Janet Hoek, Richard Edwards, Frederieke Petrović-van der Deen, George Thomson, Louise Marsh (*Author details) The NZ Government has published a Discussion Document outlining an Action Plan for the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 goal. This blog is one of a series examining key aspects of the plan to help inform ...17 hours ago - Ardern says China differences ‘becoming harder to ignore’; promises to work harder on ignoring t...
Ardern has been crystal clear that New Zealand “must step up” its efforts if it is to successfully dodge questions about genocide in China. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the Auckland Business Chamber on Monday that differences between New Zealand and China on human rights were “becoming more difficult” to ...1 day ago - covid-19 infection and how the spike protein is involved in doing harmJust this morning a journalist sent me a link to a press release about a new paper looking at how SARS-Cov-2 affects the vascular system, & asked to comment on it for a article. If you’d like to read the actual paper you can find it here, but be ...1 day ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #18, 2021
Bringing more certainty to uncertainty communications For the armchair dilettante observer of scientific progress a solid literature review is something akin to going to Disneyland. It's almost too much stimulation. When a review covers a salient, hot topic, so much the better. This week we're pleased to feature a vast review ...1 day ago - Punishing our saviours again
Last year public servants saved our lives, working overtime in the middle of a pandemic to stand up a response which kept out Covid and kept kiwis alive and employed. The government rewarded them with a pay freeze. And now they're extending that for another three years: Public servants ...1 day ago - Hard News: A picture of official callousness and detachment
Last night, the New Zealand Herald posted a story from its political reporter Derek Cheng which bundles together a number of current issues around medicinal cannabis. The most alarming is that of Katy Thomas and her epileptic son Eddy, which has recently been taken up by Green MP Chloe Swarbrick. Their ...1 day ago - Samoa’s dodgy dissolutionSamoa's tied elections took a turn for the worse last night, with the O le Ao o le Malo purporting to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections in what looks awfully like a self-coup. The "justification" for this was the uncertainty created by the hung parliament - a situation the ...1 day ago
- 12,000 unemployed under LabourThe quarterly labour market statistics have been released, and once again outperformed expectations, with unemployment dropping to 4.7%. So there are now 135,000 unemployed, 12,000 more than when Labour took office. Its not all good news though: the underutilisation rate is up, suggesting that more jobs are part-time. Still, compared ...2 days ago
- Labour refuses to condemn genocide in XinjiangBut they will condemn "possible severe human rights abuses". What a pack of snivelling, grovelling chickenshits. Refusing to call the crime what it is for fear of offending the criminal. But maybe this is Labour's "kindness"? Fuck the poor. Fuck the kids. Fuck immigrants. But be kind to génocidaires. But ...2 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 5 May 2021He Puapua document and the National Party Henry Cooke (Stuff): Whose race card is this anyway? Judith Collins and David Seymour both appear to have found the same wedge issue Graham Adams (Stuff): Ardern on a hot tin roof over He Puapua plan to share power with Māori Claire Trevett (Herald): Judith Collins’ has grabbed the agenda on ...2 days ago
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- #PLURV – the German #FLICC – getting popular in GermanyLongtime readers of what we are up to at Skeptical Science will be well aware of the FLICC taxonomy first suggested by Mark Hoofnagle in 2007, written about in Diethelm & McKnee (2009) and since then greatly enlarged by John Cook: A much simpler FLICC-taxonomy first started out to be utilized ...2 days ago
- https://sciblogs.co.nz/?p=276367Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz I’ve heard the gravity changes when Antarctica melts will lower ...2 days ago
- The Greens worry about morality, Labour worries about tradeThe Greens have done what was expected of them, and agreed to back ACT's motion on genocide in Xinjiang tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Labour Party is worrying about trade: Trade Minister Damien O'Connor has warned a parliamentary debate on whether Beijing is committing genocide in Xinjiang would damage trade with ...2 days ago
- Why we remember more by reading – especially print – than from audio or videoNaomi S. Baron, American University During the pandemic, many college professors abandoned assignments from printed textbooks and turned instead to digital texts or multimedia coursework. As a professor of linguistics, I have been studying how electronic communication compares to traditional print when it comes to learning. Is comprehension the ...2 days ago
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- Labour adopts NZ First’s racismNew Zealand First were a nasty pack of racists. One of the ideas they pushed was that immigrants - which in NZ First-ese means "non-white people", not those lovely people from the UK or South Africa - are coming here to steal the pensions of "hardworking" (white) New Zealanders by ...2 days ago
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- The police’s “emissions-free fleet” strategyLast year, just as the government was announcing plans for a carbon-neutral public service, the police announced they were buying new petrol-powered patrol cars. But they weren't ignoring the government's requirements, with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster quoted as saying "we are committed to reducing our carbon emissions and have outlined ...2 days ago
- NZ Politics Daily: 4 May 2021China and New Zealand Bryce Edwards (The Guardian): Ardern’s speech was not an attack on China, or even a shift away from Beijing Justin Giovannetti (Spinoff): Nanaia Mahuta’s China dilemma and the future of New Zealand diplomacy Geoffrey Miller (Democracy Project): Something for everyone in Ardern’s speech on China Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Political, economic China perspectives collide at summit Michael Neilson ...3 days ago
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- Climate Change: Cut methane nowFarmers are our biggest source of climate pollution, being responsible for 48% of our emissions. Three quarters of their emissions come from methane, caused by burping cows and rotting cowshit. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, but short-lived; its impact on global temperature over 20 years is 84 times higher ...3 days ago
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- Access: The case for a Royal Commission into Accident Compensation, Disability and Income SupportIn 1967 Owen Woodhouse proposed a principles-based comprehensive no fault compensation scheme. The principles were: Community responsibility,Comprehensive entitlements,Complete rehabilitation,Real compensation,Administrative efficiency.It was a world-leading vision but one which has never been fully implemented. The Accient Compensation Commission was established in 1973, but has only ever partially addressed the Woodhouse principles.Previous Labour ...1 week ago
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- A full-on six months: Our record since the 2020 election
New Zealanders voted for stability and security at the last election. In the six months since, we’ve worked hard to keep Kiwis safe from COVID-19, while accelerating our economic recovery and tackling long-term challenges like housing affordability, child poverty, and climate change – and we’ve made good progress. ...10 hours ago - Greens welcome US support for People’s Vaccine
The Green Party strongly supports today’s commitment by the United States joining the call to waive the morally indefensible pharmaceutical patents on the COVID-19 vaccine in order to make it accessible to Developing World communities. ...14 hours ago - Public sector pay restrictions are unacceptableThe Government’s decision to restrict the wages of many essential public sector workers for another two years does a disservice to those who have kept our communities safe during COVID-19, the Green Party said today. ...1 day ago
- The Green Party is putting reasonable renting rules on the agendaThe Green Party is launching its Reasonable Rents campaign to start a national conversation about the high cost of rents for the more than 1.4 million Kiwis who live in a rental home. ...4 days ago
- Keeping Kiwis snug this winterWe believe everyone deserves a warm, dry place to call home. One way we’re making this a reality is through our Winter Energy Payment, which helps around a million people with their heating bills through the colder months and ensures whānau stay healthy with less stress. ...6 days ago
- Our tamariki Maōri should not suffer any more: GreensThe Green Party welcomes the Waitangi Tribunal report that recognises mulitple breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by the Crown. ...6 days ago
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- E karanga ana Te Pātī Kākāriki mo te waihangatanga o tētahi Manatū Hauora MāoriI tēnei tau i Waitangi, I whakahua ake te Tira o Te Mātāwaka o te Pātī Kākāriki i tā rātau aronga matua, ki te waihanga I tētahi Manatū Hauora Māori, mā Māori te kawe, mā Māori ngā whakahaere. Ko tā te tira; Kua rongohia ngā karanga a ngā Tangata Whenua, ...3 weeks ago
- The Greens call for an empowered independent Māori Health AuthorityDuring Waitangi this year the Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka caucus announced their priority for an independent Māori Health Authority. We have heard the call from Tangata Whenua wanting any authority to be independent, and properly resourced. ...3 weeks ago
- Picton ferry terminal upgrade consent fast-tracked
The planned upgrade of the Waitohi Picton Ferry terminal has been approved under the fast-track consenting process. Environment Minister David Parker today welcomed the decision by the expert consenting panel to approve the Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment Project. The project will provide a significant upgrade to the ferry facilities ...7 hours ago - Quarantine Free Travel with New South Wales pausedCOVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced his intention to pause Quarantine Free Travel from New South Wales to New Zealand while the source of infection of the two cases announced in Sydney in the last two days is investigated. Whole genome sequencing has linked the case yesterday to a recent ...7 hours ago
- Covid-19 immigration powers to be extendedThe passing of a bill to extend temporary COVID-19 immigration powers means continued flexibility to support migrants, manage the border, and help industries facing labour shortages, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said. “Over the past year, we’ve made rapid decisions to extend visas, vary visa conditions and waive some application requirements ...9 hours ago
- Building consent numbers at an all-time highA record 41,028 new homes have been consented in the year ended March 2021 March 2021 consent numbers the highest since the 1940s Record number of new homes consented in Auckland The number of new homes consented is at an all-time high, showing a strong and increasing pipeline of demand ...10 hours ago
- Whānau-centred support for parents and tamarikiUp to 60 whānau in Counties Manukau will be supported through the first three years of their parenthood by a new whānau-centred model of care, said Associate Health Minister, Hon Aupito William Sio. “Providing this support to young parents is something we have to get right. It’s a priority both ...11 hours ago
- NZ backs moves to improve global access to COVID vaccinesNew Zealand welcomes and strongly supports the announcement made by the United States Trade Representative to work for a waiver of IP protections on COVID-19 vaccines at the WTO, Trade Minister Damien O’Connor said. “New Zealand supports equitable access to COVID vaccines for all. No one is safe from the ...12 hours ago
- Tourism communities: support, recovery and re-set planTIHEI MAURI ORA Tuia te whakapono Tuia te tumanako Tuia te aroha Tuia te hunga ora Ki te hunga ora Tihei Mauri ora Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Thank you, Hilary and thank you, Chris, and everyone at TIA for this ...14 hours ago
- Support, recovery and re-set plan for tourism communitiesFive South Island tourist communities targeted for specialist support Pressure on Māori tourism operators and Conservation facilities recognised Domestic and international-facing tourism agencies put on more secure footing Long-term plan to re-set tourism with a focus on sustainability, industry standards and regional economic diversification A plan to ensure the immediate ...14 hours ago
- Speech on NZ Rail PlanCheck against delivery E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karanga maha o te wa, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa. Ki ngā mana whenua o Taranaki Whānui anō nei aku mihi ki a koutou. Nōku te hōnore kia haere mai ki te whakanuia tēnei huihuinga whakahirahira. Nō ...14 hours ago
- Government hits massive milestone in Violence Prevention & EliminationMinister for Family and Sexual Violence Marama Davidson announced a major milestone at a hui in South Auckland today, with the launch of the national engagement process on the prevention and elimination of family and sexual violence. “There is no room for violence in our lives – there is no ...14 hours ago
- Fee waiver extended for conservation tourism businessesTourism businesses operating on public conservation land will have another six months of fees waived to help them adjust to the downturn in international visitors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Acting Minister of Conservation Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced. "We acknowledge it has been a difficult year for ...14 hours ago
- ‘Lua Wave’ to future-proof Pasifika Festivals in AotearoaPasifika festival organisers will receive additional support to adapt to the COVID-19 environment thanks to the Government’s newly launched ‘Lua Wave’ component of the Pasifika Festivals Initiative, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni announced today. “This initiative has not only been to support festival organisers to recover from ...15 hours ago
- Crown accounts show confidence in Govt economic planThe Government’s financial accounts continue to reflect the resilience of the economy and confidence in the Government’s economic recovery plan. The Crown accounts for the nine months to the end of March 2021 show both OBEGAL and the operating balance remain better than forecast in the Half Year Economic and ...15 hours ago
- Energy Trusts of NZ Autumn ConferenceIt’s a pleasure to be here today. Thank you Karen [Sherry] for the introduction and thanks to the Energy Trusts Executive for inviting me to speak at tonight’s event. It is an exciting time to come to speak to trustees of distribution companies. For many decades the electricity industry was ...15 hours ago
- New partnership to grow Māori success in STEMA new partnership with the Pūhoro STEM Academy will support thousands more rangatahi Māori to participate and succeed in the fields of science, technology, and innovation, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. Since 2016, Pūhoro has worked with Māori students to build their capability and create pathways to employment ...15 hours ago
- Rail builds platform for economic recoveryTransport Minister Michael Wood and State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dr David Clark today released the Government’s long term vision for a sustainable rail network that supports our economic recovery. New Zealand Rail Plan lays out how the Government is building a resilient, reliable and safe network, as well as the indicative ...17 hours ago
- NZ and UK agree to lift the pace of free trade talksNew Zealand and the United Kingdom have agreed to rapidly lift the tempo of talks, as the two countries enter a new phase in free trade negotiations, Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss, and I spoke today about ...1 day ago
- Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill passes first readingThe Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill has passed its first reading and will now be considered by Parliament’s Justice select committee. “The Bill updates and improves New Zealand’s counter-terrorism legislation and ensures that the right legislative tools are available to intervene early and prevent harm,” Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi said. “The ...1 day ago
- Statement on The Speaker and Annual Review Debate“The serious issue of alleged sexual assault and harassment at Parliament was poorly managed and inappropriately politicised last night. The tone of the debate did not reflect well on Parliament as a whole,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “Any investigation of claims of sexual assault should be in a manner ...1 day ago
- Govt motoring towards zero-carbon buses and protecting drivers’ conditionsTransport Minister Michael Wood is seeking feedback on options for the next phase of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM) review to better protect bus drivers’ pay conditions, and also achieving the Government’s target of fully decarbonising the public transport bus fleet by 2035. Michael Wood said investing in our ...2 days ago
- Drop in unemployment shows Govt economic plan is workingThe Government’s economic recovery plan continues to be reflected in the labour market, with more people in work and unemployment falling. Stats NZ figures show employment rose by 15,000 in the March quarter, with 14,000 more women in work. The unemployment rate fell from 4.9 percent to 4.7 percent. This ...2 days ago
- Government sets pay and workforce expectations for the Public SectorThe Government’s Workforce Policy Statement issued today sets out its expectations for pay and employment relations in the Public Sector, the Minister of Finance and Minister for the Public Service say. “New Zealand has had an exceptionally successful health and economic response to COVID-19. This has been supported by the ...2 days ago
- Author Ben Brown is New Zealand’s first Te Awhi Rito Reading AmbassadorLyttleton writer Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa) will be New Zealand’s first Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador, promoting the value of reading for children and young people, Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti announced today. A poet and award-winning author, Ben Brown writes books, non-fiction and short stories ...2 days ago
- Celebrating New Zealand’s firefighters this International Firefighters’ dayWith two fire stations already complete, and building underway on 16 fire stations around the country, today we celebrate International Firefighters’ Day for the important role firefighters have in keeping communities across the country safe, says Minister of Internal Affairs, Jan Tinetti. The work is progressing due to Government funding ...2 days ago
- Ron Brierley knighthood to goRon Brierley has written to the Clerk of the Executive Council to tender his resignation as a Knight Bachelor. The Queen has been informed. The forfeiture follows the Prime Minister initiating the process to remove his Knighthood. The Clerk of the Executive Council wrote to him on 6 April 2021 ...2 days ago
- Employment boost for rural communitiesThe Government is continuing to create opportunities for at-risk rangatahi overcome barriers to employment, education or training with the next tranche of He Poutama Rangatahi programmes, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced today. “We’re focused on supporting rangatahi to get what they need to progress in the ...3 days ago
- Pre-Budget speech to Wellington Chamber of CommerceThank you for the invitation to speak today, it is great to be here. I mean that both sincerely and literally. For this equivalent speech last year I took part virtually, beaming in from the Beehive Theatrette with only a socially distanced press gallery bearing silent witness. You are a ...3 days ago
- Budget 2021 reprioritises nearly $1 billionThe Government’s strong pandemic response and the better than expected economic recovery means not all the money allocated in the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund has been spent, Grant Robertson said in his annual pre-Budget speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce this morning. “As part of Budget preparation I ...3 days ago
- Speech on Digital Identity Trust FrameworkI'd like to start by thanking Graeme, David and Ben from NZTech and Digital Identity New Zealand for inviting me to speak to you. I’m so sorry I can’t be there in person, but I want to acknowledge those of you who are, including some of this country’s top tech ...3 days ago
- NZ Cook Islands travel bubble significant step in COVID-19 recoveryNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown have today announced that, pending final confirmation by New Zealand’s Director-General of Health and the Cook Islands Secretary of Health, two-way quarantine-free travel will commence between the two countries on 17 May (NZT). “Two way quarantine-free travel ...3 days ago
- Minister for State Owned Enterprises saddened by passing of KiwiRail ChairMinister for State Owned Enterprises, David Clark is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of KiwiRail Chairman, Brian Corban. “I know Brian was seen as a transformative leader within KiwiRail, well respected for his wisdom, honesty and sense of humour,” said David Clark. Mr Corban served as Chair of ...3 days ago
- Speech to the China Business Summit by the Minister for Trade and Export GrowthDistinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tena koutou katoa. Good morning. It is my pleasure to join you today for this China Business Summit – my first as Minister for Trade and Export Growth as well as Minister of Agriculture – and to have the opportunity to speak to you ...4 days ago
- Productivity Commission inquiry into immigration settingsThe Productivity Commission will hold an inquiry into immigration settings to ensure New Zealand’s long term prosperity and wellbeing, Grant Robertson and Kris Faafoi say. This inquiry, the first under the new Productivity Commission chair, Dr Ganesh Nana, will focus on immigration policy as a means of improving productivity in ...4 days ago
- Speech to China Business SummitLadies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, ate marie, tena koutou katoa, good morning. I am very happy to be here with you once again at my fourth China Business Summit. Thanks again to you, Fran, for being the driving force behind this event. As ever, I’m very pleased to see such ...4 days ago
- Speech to Te Taumata Wahine Toa Hui, KerikeriI would like to begin by acknowledging a few people here today. Firstly, Chris Karamea Insley for his hard work and commitment to the vision of Te Taumata. I’d also like to acknowledge Minister Nanaia Mahuta, New Zealand’s first Maori wahine Minister of Foreign Affairs, whom you have just heard ...5 days ago
- Jobs for Nature to boost employment in the SouthA suite of significant Jobs for Nature projects will boost conservation efforts and create jobs across the southern South Island, Acting Minister for Conservation Dr Ayesha Verrall announced from Te Anau today. “The Government’s Jobs for Nature programme is investing in the future of the area’s stunning environment, with projects ...6 days ago
- Regional economic potential unlocked as Bay of Plenty project gets underwayA milestone for jobs, businesses and regional economic development in Bay of Plenty is being marked as construction gets underway on the multi-million dollar Ōpōtiki harbour infrastructure project. Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash has joined Whakatōhea iwi, local councils and representatives of the aquaculture and marine industry at ...6 days ago
- New Pilot to unlock cultural potential in communitiesArts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni today announced Manatū Taonga (Ministry for Culture and Heritage) is now accepting applications from cultural sector organisations to host cultural activators in eight communities around Aotearoa. “This pilot, as part of Te Tahua Whakahaumaru (Creative Arts Recovery and Employment Fund), aims to build ...7 days ago
- Supporting New Zealanders Through Winter MonthsFrom tomorrow, 1 May, over one million New Zealanders receiving either a Main Benefit or New Zealand Superannuation will get more money each week through the Winter Energy Payment. “The Winter Energy Payment started as part of the Government’s December 2017 Families Package designed to help older New Zealanders and ...7 days ago
- New Zealand to donate 250,000 courses of COVID-19 vaccines to FijiNew Zealand has offered, and Fiji has accepted, sufficient doses of AstraZeneca for 250,000 people from New Zealand’s domestic vaccine portfolio, New Zealand Associate Minister of Health and Foreign Affairs Aupito William Sio and Fiji Health and Medical Services Minister Ifereimi Waqainabete announced today. “New Zealand and Fiji are working together closely to support ...1 week ago
- Grattan on Friday: Unblocking the passage from India
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It became clear this week repatriation flights for Australians stranded in India would have to resume ASAP after May 15, whatever the COVID situation in that country. By going too far in its effort to ...1 hour ago - The Handmaid’s Tale recap: No use crying over spilt milk
June’s on the run again, but how far will she get this time? Tara Ward recaps episode two of season four of The Handmaid’s Tale. Everyone has bad days, but June Osborne has the worst days of all. One minute she’s enjoying a lovely pash with her boyfriend on a bridge, ...4 hours ago - Where will NZ stand in rising tensions between China and other allies?ANALYSIS: By Jane Patterson, RNZ News political editor Rising tensions between Australia and China have raised the question of where New Zealand would stand if things escalate further. Close trans-Tasman friend and ally Australia is taking a more aggressive stance against China – with South China Sea and Taiwan potential ...5 hours ago
- Rail funding plan rubbished by trucking lobby and opposition
The government's plans to rejuvenate rail are being rubbished by the opposition and the trucking lobby as ideologically motivated and wasteful that will take resources away from badly needed road safety improvements. ...6 hours ago - PODCAST: Buchanan and Manning on Microlateralism – Is This How New Zealand Becomes Relevant on the...A View from Afar: In this week’s podcast Selwyn Manning and Paul Buchanan debate: How recently New Zealand Government confirmed its intention to be defined as an independent Pacific Island state, where its foreign policy should be considered against the collective values that its peoples share, and its diplomacy ...7 hours ago
- The government has pledged over $800m to fight natural disasters. It could be revolutionary — if d...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Barnes, Research Fellow (Disaster & Urban Resilience), UNSW To help Australia adapt to climate change and manage the disasters that come with it, the federal government this week pledged A$600 million towards establishing the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, and $210 ...7 hours ago
- Parliament human rights vote 'gross interference in China's internal affairs'China has issued a statement that has strongly criticised Parliament's declaration of human rights abuses in Xinjiang. ...7 hours ago
- What are waterspouts, and how do they form? An expert explainsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dean Narramore, Senior meteorologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Waterspouts are extraordinary, impressive weather events. Observers describe them as looking like “the start of an alien invasion” and post their snaps across social media. But what are these enigmatic offshore twisters, and what ...8 hours ago
- COVID has made one thing very clear — we do not know enough about Australians overseasSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By George Tan, Research Fellow, Charles Darwin University The COVID-19 crisis has thrust a largely unseen part of Australia’s population firmly into the national spotlight. These are the Australians who live and work abroad — our diaspora. For more than a year, we ...8 hours ago
- How do we actually investigate rare COVID-19 vaccine side-effects?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Wood, Associate Professor, Discipline of Childhood and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney Investigations are under way to determine whether the deaths of two people in New South Wales who developed blood clots are linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. We’ve also heard ...8 hours ago
- A helping hand from the State for a range of causes, from the tourist industry (some operators, anyw...
A bundle of statements and speeches has emerged from the Beehive in the past 24 hours. We can’t closely examine all of them but suggest public servants whose pay is being frozen or subject to a stiff test before it is increased might take a look at some of the ...8 hours ago - Media alliance calls in Jokowi’s pledge to allow foreign journalists into PapuaBy Achmad Nasrudin Yahya in Jakarta The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) is calling in a pledge made by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in 2015 over press freedom in Papua that has never been fulfilled over the past five years. AJI trade union advocacy division head Erick Tanjung said that ...9 hours ago
- Fiji’s Lautoka hospital plunges into lockdown over new covid caseBy Timoci Vula in Lautoka, Fiji Fiji’s Lautoka Hospital is now closed to members of the public after a new positive case announced last night was that of a patient who was admitted for a surgical procedure at the hospital. Health Secretary Dr James Fong said all medical services would ...9 hours ago
- Single Asian Female: A reflectionREVIEW: By Sherry Zhang Last week, writer Sherry Zhang was at the opening night of Auckland Theatre Company’s production of Single Asian Female. She’s waited to see it since 2019 and now, having finally seen it on New Zealand shores, she reflects on the play and what it means to ...9 hours ago
- ABC’s new arts show walks the line between high and low brow — and it worksSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julian Meyrick, Professor of Creative Arts, Griffith University Review: Art Works hosted by Namila Benson. Critically discussing art in the contemporary era is like walking across a minefield blindfold while juggling bowling balls and lugging an anvil. So, so many ways to ...9 hours ago
- A mission to halve NZ’s disadvantaged youth numbers is starting in InvercargillThe Vodafone Foundation wants to cut the number of youth facing exclusion and disadvantage in Aotearoa in half – and it’s starting with Invercargill. George Driver travelled to the deep south to meet the organisations that are helping transform the future for local rangatahi. How do you achieve an impossible ...9 hours ago
- COVID virus fragments have been detected in sewage in my area. What does that mean and what should I...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cobus Gerber, Associate Professor, University of South Australia If you’ve heard COVID-19 virus fragments have been detected in sewage in your area, you might be wondering: does that mean someone in my suburb has COVID-19? What should I do? Firstly, the most ...9 hours ago
- Hamish Coney: Toi Tū Toi Ora – How may we learn?
Toi Tū Toi Ora, currently nearing the end of its run at the Auckland Art Gallery - Toi o Tāmaki (until May 10) is the blockbuster for these times. Although conceived well before the Covid Pandemic, the timing of this bustling exhibition seems pre-ordained for the period of deep introspection ...11 hours ago - Public service pay will get scant lift from Robertson – but let’s see if the Budget can keep gov...
The Ardern government is cruising along with poll ratings still far above those of its opponents and a leader enjoying almost cult status. Her deputy, Grant Robertson, wears a matching suit of political armour, although one-time Labour Minister (and then ACT leader) Richard Prebble contends he is the worst finance ...11 hours ago - Maritime Union Says Coastal Shipping Must Complement Rail And Road
The Maritime Union says the Government’s announcement today of major investment in rail is a positive move, and is urging more action on coastal shipping. Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says the Government’s approach ...11 hours ago - Furious feedback: Bulletin readers respond to public sector wage freezeThis morning’s edition of The Bulletin called for feedback on the pay freeze coming for huge chunks of the public service. The reaction has been one of almost unanimous rage. Public servants don’t often get the chance to share their unfiltered views with the media. So the response this morning to ...11 hours ago
- The Government’s No Test For Forestry Conversions Is Destroying The ProvincesLobby group 50 Shades of Green prediction that regional New Zealand will be covered in exotic pine is coming to fruition before our very eyes. The wholesale removal of productive land for exotic forestry continues at pace as sales of farmland to ...11 hours ago
- Budget 2021: Found Billion Dollars A “Second Chance” To Build Back BetterGreenpeace is calling on Finance Minister, Grant Robertson to use the recently uncovered $926 million of unspent Covid Recovery funds to make good on Labour’s election promise to ‘Build Back Better’. The funds could provide a much-needed boost to ...11 hours ago
- Free speech in Parliament challenged: Maori Party MPs press the Speaker to bar questions they rega...
The Speaker was reprimanded by the PM yesterday, in the aftermath of the furore generated when he accused a former parliamentary staffer – to whom he had previously apologised for claiming he was a rapist – of sexual assault. Then he was chided by Maori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for ...12 hours ago - A sideways appreciation of the NZ Chinese Growers Monthly typefaceKerry Ann Lee looks at the enduring appeal of Chinese typeface and letterpress design in the digital age.In 1952, a slow boat from Hong Kong arrived in New Zealand carrying one metric tonne of lead type. This would be used by the Dominion Federation of New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers ...13 hours ago
- Save The Children Says New Government Approach To Tackle Family And Sexual Violence Must Include Chi...Save the Children New Zealand welcomes today’s announcement by Government of an inclusive multi-agency approach and consultation to challenge the country’s horrendous rates of family and sexual abuse. "Family violence and child abuse rates in ...13 hours ago
- “Disheartened And Dispirited” Educators Upset, Uncertain Following Public Sector Pay Res...Educators across the country are shocked that the Government has chosen to restrict public servants' pay for a further three years, says education union NZEI Te Riu Roa. Teachers, principals and support staff, and a huge range of other education ...14 hours ago
- BNZ Backing New Zealand’s Business-led RecoveryBank of New Zealand (BNZ) has today released its half year result to 31 March 2021 and is focused on supporting businesses large and small to lead New Zealand’s economic recovery. BNZ announced its statutory net profit increased by $293 million (or 80%) ...14 hours ago
- Police, post-primary teachers unions join criticism of government's public sector pay freezeThe teachers and police associations have come out hard against the government's pay freeze for the public sector, with the move being called a "kick in the guts". ...14 hours ago
- If it doesn’t sell, you’re screwedA few weeks back all three of Catherine Robertson’s Gabriel’s Bay novels made the Nielsen top 10 charts. But the series, about a small town full of hard cases, very nearly didn’t happen. She rips back the veil. I wrote Gabriel’s Bay because I was on thin ice with my publisher ...14 hours ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – May 6 2021Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Click here to subscribe to Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup and New Zealand Politics Daily. Today’s content Parliament’s Speaker Trevor Mallard Henry Cooke (Stuff): National v Mallard: That atrocious late-night debate is ...15 hours ago
- The Future Is MāoriWith Māori values becoming an increasingly integral part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s society, the future of our economy is Māori, and it is bright, Reserve Bank Assistant Governor Christian Hawkesby says. Mr Hawkesby was speaking on a panel at the Institute ...15 hours ago
- NZ To Follow Biden Decision To Back WTO Waiver For A People’s VaccineIt’s Our Future* welcomes a tweet by Trade Minister Damien O’Connor noting support for the proposal of a WTO waiver for Covid vaccines, having initially sat on the sidelines. This follows the decision by the Biden administration to back the WTO ...15 hours ago
- Mother: “Why Is Labour Harming My Child?”Video: https://www.instagram.com/tv/COeX04Fj-Xc/?igshid=13wg6ospiv38m "I don't understand how the government can be so cruel" says mother of two Katy Thomas, "they are sitting by on an issue that is more urgent than ever. They are definitely ...15 hours ago
- Dunne Speaks: Mallard Has To Go...16 hours ago
- 54% Brits Say Jacinda Ardern Most Successful Pandemic Leader...16 hours ago
- The brilliant and perverse absurdity of Labour’s austerity budget of 2021By freezing most state sector wages, cutting $926m of Covid spending plans and strangling transport projects, Labour is pivoting to budget austerity and public debt reduction too soon after a crisis, argues Bernard Hickey. This story was originally published in Bernard Hickey’s email newsletter The Kākā and is republished with permission.The Labour ...16 hours ago
- Why we should take a women-centred approach to diagnosing and treating iron deficiencySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Badenhorst, Lecturer at Massey University, Massey University Iron deficiency is a common nutritional disorder worldwide, and pre-menopausal women are most at risk of being diagnosed with it. New Zealand’s most recent nutritional survey (from 2008/09) shows 12% of women may suffer ...16 hours ago
- A cave site in Kenya’s forests reveals the oldest human burial in AfricaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Crowther, Senior Lecture in Archaeology, The University of Queensland Africa is often referred to as the cradle of humankind – the birthplace of our species, Homo sapiens. There is evidence of the development of early symbolic behaviours such as pigment use ...17 hours ago
- ‘See What You Made Me Do’ will change the way we think about domestic violence. Here’s what ne...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Associate Professor, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University It may be a familiar statistic, but it is still shocking and unacceptable. In Australia, almost every week a woman dies at the hands of her partner or ex-partner. In a much-anticipated ...17 hours ago
- ‘Fit for service’: Why the ADF needs to move with society to retain the public trustSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Damian Powell, Historian and Principal, Janet Clarke Hall, The University of Melbourne The Australian Defence Force has faced a reckoning in the past few months. First came the shocking Brereton report exposing alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan. Then, in recent weeks, ...17 hours ago
- Here’s why the planned NDIS reforms discriminate against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peo...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Gilroy, ARC Research Fellow in Indigenous Health, Disability and Community Development, University of Sydney The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is one of the greatest human services reform in Australia’s history, and holds great promise in improving the lives of hundreds ...17 hours ago
- Australia’s states are forging ahead with ambitious emissions reductions. Imagine if they worked t...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Nelson, Associate Professor of Economics, Griffith University The NSW transport minister said this week that rolling out a distance-based tax on electric car owners (as the state treasurer flagged) would make them the “laughing stock of the world”. Instead, he proposed ...17 hours ago
- Is your kid studying a second language at school? How much they learn will depend on where you liveSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mairin Hennebry-Leung, Lecturer in Languages and TESOL, University of Tasmania People learn a second language for many reasons, including work, to better understand the world, an interest in the culture of the language itself, and love. Learning a language has many benefits. ...17 hours ago
- A Belgian farmer moved a rock and accidentally annexed France: the weird and wonderful history of ma...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Imogen Wegman, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania This week, a farmer in the Belgian town of Erquelinnes caused an international ruckus when he moved a stone standing in his tractor’s path. This stone marked the boundary between Belgium and France. By ...17 hours ago
- Live updates, May 6: Wellington students challenge MPs over funding after classroom closuresWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for May 6, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz 8.05am: Hutt Valley High students challenge MPs over funding after classroom closures Students at Wellington’s Hutt Valley High School are outside parliament today, protesting the loss of ...17 hours ago
- No ‘crime against nature’ here: Why my critics are wrong about Western SpringsLast week The Spinoff published an opinion column harshly criticising Auckland Council’s decision to fell a stand of trees at Western Springs in central Auckland. Here, Auckland councillor Pippa Coom responds.I’m currently reading my way through the almost 20,000 pieces of feedback received on the Recovery Budget, Auckland Council’s 10-year ...17 hours ago
- Small businesses report strong sales for March
*This article first appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. Small businesses reported a spike in sales in March, leading to higher wages and more jobs. Accounting software firm Xero's new small business index rose sharply in March, up 17 points to 122. A reading above 100 suggests ...17 hours ago - Government lays out 10-year plan for rail investmentThe government has announced freight rail will now be funded from the same pot as roads. ...17 hours ago
- Where will New Zealand stand in rising tensions between China and other allies?Close trans-Tasman friend and ally Australia is taking a more aggressive stance against China - with South China Sea and Taiwan potential flashpoints. Where will New Zealand stand? ...17 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Shock and anger at public sector pay freezeGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Shock and anger at public sector pay freeze, Ardern reprimands but doesn’t sack speaker Mallard, and unemployment rate stays persistently low.It’s not often governments make the decisions that are genuinely surprising to observers, but what happened yesterday might come close. Finance ...17 hours ago
- Six Months Of Government Inaction“Today marks six months since Ministers in the 53rd Parliament were sworn in and they have very little to show it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “To date, just 4.8 percent of the population has been vaccinated. Jacinda Ardern’s Government ...19 hours ago
- Inequality an accident waiting to happen for children
Researchers are calling on the Government to take action after uncovering an alarming connection between childhood safety and social disadvantage Child poverty adds insult to injury, a recent study reveals. Researchers are calling for a strategy from the Government to ensure the safety of young children after analysis of Growing Up in ...19 hours ago - Virtual victory gives Kiwi Ironwoman a crack at Kona
After recovering from burn-out, Kiwi triathlete Vanessa Murray is returning for a second shot at the giant of Ironman events in Kona, having won an on-line challenge. Vanessa Murray’s first full-distance Ironman was at the biggest event of them all, the Ironman world championships in Kona, Hawaii, eight years ago. It was a ...19 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 6 May
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...19 hours ago - Rabbits: A town over-run
A small South Island town is under siege from a plague of rabbits that has taken up residence over the entire area The seaside village of Mōeraki in North Otago paints a pretty picture from a distance but up close, under the buildings, on the hills and along roadsides, things quickly get less ...19 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Thursday 6 May
...19 hours ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Thursday 6 May
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France acts to restrict air travel.
While the French government are passing legislation to restrict air travel.
The New Zealand government are making tens of $millions available to subsidise air travel.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/france-domestic-flight-ban-emissions-scli-intl/index.html
this is happening in Germany
https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/news/21218870/german-aviation-rail-industry-want-to-cut-back-on-domestic-flights
essentially cut out air transport to get to Frankfurt airport and rather use trains. Not a bad idea.
Yes. Franfurt is the focal airport for a region of 16 million people in Rhine-Main-Ruhr regions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt_Rhine-Main
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhine-Ruhr
The inter-urban services already have their own direct Frankfurt airport terminal on the Cologne Franfurt high speed line only 177 km ( the same distance as Te Awamutu to Auckland)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt_Airport_long-distance_station
Its a wonderful service they provide.
If we extended the SH1 expressway through to Tauranga and Tirau and Whangarei we could conceivably remove domestic flights from Auckland to Hamilton, Tauranga, Whangarei, and Taupo. Just needs an extra $8b and another decade.
"tens of $millions available to subsidise air travel."
International flights, mainly air cargo exports and imports – you do know how vaccines and most medicines get here ?
WE dont have the population density/ city size and the existing infrastructure – and public acceptance- of medium distance trains
Netherlands is size of Canterbury but with 18 mill people
London to Birmingham – a region with 1.5 mill people is 190km, thats the same distance to Otorohanga from Auckland
Stuttgart region has 4 mill people and its the capital of a state with 11 mill people ( more than NSW) and is the size of Hawkes Bay/Manawatu Whanganui combined.
well one day Auckland region with nigh on two million people will have a tram to the Airport. Surely one day.
Funny thing is , NZ used to have a fairly decent railway system, and it was much smaller in population then.
And goods can and in the future probably will moved again by water.
Tram to airport was just a ruse to make the Domionion road part business case stack up. They even made the tram size twice as long by runnning them coupled together, which wont happen either, even Melbourne doesnt run its articulated trams that way. All done to make the 'case' .
Trackless trams are the best solution for this route.
People in Mangere arent going want to travel city via Dominion Rd, they will transfer to catch the train in Onehunga. For most there South Auckland is their focus not 1950s style trips into town to visit George Courts, Maple or Farmers
When did the Trans-Tasman Tunnel open again?
Your comparison is a false equivalence.
No Trans-Tasman Tunnel, but a Trans-Tasman Seabridge might be a viable option.
Especially if the same amount of eye watering amount of government finance was made available.
Don't need to lay tracks, all the infrastructure and staff is transferable and mostly in place.
Your false equivalence is no comparison.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2021/04/11/guest-blog-patrick-john-odea-meet-the-bullet-trains-of-the-sea/
New Zealand isn't as flat as France and we don't have the population of Japan, even though we have similar terrain. At this time in our history for five million people aeroplanes are a far more practical way of getting around a mountainous archipelago than trying to build the rail infrastructure required.
@Sanctuary
Mass air travel is only a recent innovation.
For more than a century of European settlement the coasts of this ribbon like mountainous archipelago seperated into two main islands the coasts were our highways. And for even longer if you consider Maori transportation.
"At this time in our history….
…aeroplanes are a far more practical way of getting around"
Sanctuary
'Practical', Is not how I would describe air travel. At this time in our history, unsustainable long term, and evironmentally destructive and profligately wasteful, would be my depiction of air travel.
Sooner or later it will have to be curtailed.
Better sooner than later.
What if the $1.5 billion in financial support made available to Air New Zealand to keep them polluting was instead made available for a coastal and Trans-Tasman and coastal passenger ferry service to compete with the air lines, to permanently complete the job of grounding the airlines that the pandemic began.
And climate change will finish.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/19/climate-change-spells-turbulent-times-ahead-for-air-travel
They are confusing the public utility of subsidizing freight for exporters, with serving the community they are elected to represent.
There is no limit to what they will spend on exporters, but contemporary rail is beyond them. They imagine that carbon responsibility is something they can talk their way out of, which is why they let the agricultural sector do so. Second best is good enough they figure – perish the thought NZ should have proper government, much less proper transport infrastructure.
Shameless.
Anyone aware of extra prebudget announcements?
There don't seem to have been many outside of housing.
Doing a budget would not be easy. This budget will need to factor in a high level lock down level 3 minimum. As well not having a trans – Tasman bubble.
The way the pfizer vaccine is going (uncertainty that the vaccine is enough with two jabs and that a third jab 6-12 months from the second jab and then an annual jab may be needed) I am not confident that the trans – Tasman bubble will last.
Brian Easton was asking a similar question: https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/will-the-2021-budget-be-focused-on-wellbeing [from Feeds on TS]
You gotta admire the balls of the US elite…Biden keeps Trump appointed Russian Ambassador…you know the same Trump who was apparently in the pocket of the Russians and doing the bidding of the evil genius Vladimir Putin, how anyone with half a brain can still buy into the Russian conspiracy is quite astounding, but there you have it….
<strong>Biden Team Asks Trump-Picked Russia Ambassador to Stay in Post</strong>
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-18/biden-team-asks-some-trump-appointees-to-stay-as-ambassadors
It can only be an admittance that Russia is far far superior in cyber technology that they can so easily hack American security and able to sway the intelligent American voter in which way to vote, if only they could sway the American health authorities to use the Sputnik jab to protect those same voters. Mmm.
Why would they bother. Russians don't.
https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/vaccination-rollout-and-access/
https://www.dw.com/en/putin-gets-his-covid-jab-as-russians-stay-away-from-sputnik-v/a-56963871
Not that sort of vote meddling… it seems Manafort , Trumps crony, may have provided the Russians inside knowledge of their polling data and that sort of thing, campaign quadrants and such. Some hackers may have penetrated Democratic party DNC email system, but campaigns by candidates are separate and all it showed was party activists are two faced. Politicians rate lowly anyway so no real surprises there
US voters are inundated by advertising and saturation news coverage, what could the Russians do that could 'sway' people.
It provided an opportunity for an attack on Hillary that was sufficient to at least temporarily persuade Comey to break protocols about current elections in the crucial period in the weeks leading up to the election. If it wasn't decisive, it wasn't from want of trying.
Holy hell, you people are really living in some sort of self induced Conspiracy la la land…here is a link that might help you….
Conspiracy Theory Addiction Center
https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/conspiracy-theory-addiction/
I suppose the ignorance that comes from an unrelieved diet of RT and rohypnol is such that you slept through the Trump/Hillary election.
The Comey Letter Probably Cost Clinton The Election | FiveThirtyEight
Go back to sleep and leave the conversation to the adults.
Clinton later went on to blame the election loss squarely on Comey and the Russian meddling. Which is as ridiculous as it sounds.
It was certainly a contributing factor.
But no doubt as the lickspittle lackey of a genocidal despot you want to deny it.
" an opportunity for an attack on Hillary"
Clintons private email server wasnt hacked at all, the controversy was over her using one and its ramifications and wheter all the data was provided to FBI etc.
That wasnt a Russian operation at all. Clinton was running as an old time 'machine politician' and heir to Obama. Trump was a better campaigner/liar who got out voters who didnt normally vote
Didn't her emails end up on wikileaks? Standard Russian MO.
from your link (before the paywall sprung up):
Its also a log jam in the Senate when a new President starts as he wants his agency heads approved by the Senate first. Next comes the judges and I think last are the Ambassadors
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018791897/james-cameron-explains-dairy-cows-on-wairarapa-farm
Cameron can only go organic vege if hes got access to cheap indentured labourers!
Maybe Cameron could make a movie on organic veg and get some sort of tax relief so he can ditch the cows.
don't give them any ideas, we are going to run of tax gifts to donate to rich people.
Its not really a tax gift as such. When you export a product the GST component ( 15%) is refunded. Movies are more complicated as far as exporting goes, but this was a way of them getting the GST accumulated during production back. – with a bit more for the big projects. I would check very very closely Hollywood accounting and that various parts of the movie are done offshore ( for their tax benefits) and then recycled through NZ again to double dip.
One way or another, we the taxpayer will fund the bill. No matter the colorful and legal accounting shenanigans.
I thought OIA approval was conditional, for purchases such as this farm, upon providing extra jobs for locals not for underpaid imported labour from elsewhere. Any imported labour needs to not replace local labour, be at the living wage for a full 40 hour week and I think it is long overdue that these work visas come with a requirement for the employer to pay the union fees for all the labour with a visa so that the conditions are properly policed. Time to tell the Cameron's to sod off really – plenty of people here can run cows.
AFAIK, James Cameron is a NZ Resident.
So is whats his name,and he is a resident for life.
Ah, yes, sorry, how could I forget about what’s his name …
Wally.
Thiel ?
He was German citizen at birth, became naturalised American and again for NZ in 'instant coffee process' which none of those responsible can remember who approved it- which in politics means they are covering for the boss!
I gather Cameron has been in NZ more than he normally would have been due to Covid restrictions and needing to be in MIQ. He would not be alone with clocking up time as an NZ resident.