Open mike 17/06/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 17th, 2019 - 73 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

73 comments on “Open mike 17/06/2019 ”

    • RedLogix 1.1

      The opening discussion on trust is exceedingly on point. Trust is the foundation of all things; the lack of it will kill us faster than climate change.

      I also must confess to a mild crush on Stacey 🙂

  1. Cinny 2

    Is simon not doing Monday morning interviews anymore and does anyone know why please?

    I'm going to have to look elsewhere for my Monday morning humor crying It’s just not the same.

  2. Robert Guyton 3

    Presumably, the threat to our wellbeing from climate change is worse today than it was yesterday?

  3. Rapunzel 4

    It's slightly creepy feeling, what is and if so what exactly is "going on behind your back" this is how this feels to me that China has a stake in what we read and can read what NZers now can;t read unless they pay for. Along with the Herald pushing Hoskings to the front with his opinion makes me queasy.

    How come this "The New Zealand Herald, Stuff and NBR have not been blocked and can still be seen in China."

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/06/17/636037/chinese-nz-herald-retracts-misleading-article

    • James 4.1

      you understand that they are two different websites right ?

      • Rapunzel 4.1.1

        Well I'm guessing one's in Chinese but the Herald, Stuff and NBR won't be and the "Chinese NZ Herald is an NZME joint venture, with Chinese Herald publisher and director Lili Wang owning a 50 percent stake, and NZME Publishing holding the other half.

        For me sharing "news" in such a way and the retraction are an issue – not just for me but those that held them to account and brought about the retraction, right?

  4. Macro 5

    The symbolism of an illegal settlement in an illegal occupation being named after Donald Trump is hard to deny.

    Netanyahu inaugurates ‘Trump Heights,’ Israel's newest town on the Golan Heights

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/netanyahu-inaugurates-trump-heights-israels-newest-town-on-the-golan-heights/2019/06/16/2207cd24-9041-11e9-956a-88c291ab5c38_story.html?

    • Ad 5.1

      GReat to see Netanyahu's wife indicted.

      Him next.

      • Macro 5.1.1

        Yes! But we shall have to wait until September I gather before any further moves on that front. We wait in anticipation.

    • SPC 5.2

      Let's hope Netanyahu only feels the need for there to be a sense of crisis in the Gulf to get re-elected, rather than a war.

  5. SPC 6

    Just wondering what might happen in National caucus meetings.

    Kaye, I'm going to go on the media and say why are the declie 8-10 schools not getting money so they do not need to charge fees – claiming its "inequitable" that they do not get the same deal as decile 1-7 schools.

    Novice MP, but are we not questioning the untargeted provision of money – such as the income supplement for power given to all those on super – because not everyone needs it?

    Older MP, breathe through your nose newbie – nothing we say has anything to do with consistency of argument or principle. It's either blatant partisanship for our haves vs the have nots, or just an attempt to put a negative spin on whatever they do. FFS who did your induction into the party, let alone this caucus.

    The deputy leader, well said just look at Soimon, he goes terminator on the person who leaked his expenses and then releases confidential information obtained by unathouraised access as if he is providing a public service. With no shame whatsoever. Truely inspirational. When I was a Minister I was like that.

    • James 6.1

      It would appear a career in comedy is not for you.

      • SPC 6.1.1

        It's a comment about the absurd cynical duplicity of those in that caucus.

        • marty mars 6.1.1.1

          It's okay – right wingers have very poor senses of humor imo – a good way to tell a fake leftie is check their funny bones – if they don't get it, often they are deep right. As for james well just lol really

      • Gabby 6.1.2

        You're right jimbo, it's not at all funny.

    • Peter 6.2

      Kaye is not a novice MP. She is a cynical opportunist.

  6. Adrian Thornton 7

    Here is the blood thirsty manic Mike Pompeo in his own words, who is now out in the open doing everything in his power to start a war in Iran (and Venezuela) , and who all our news sources give free air time to, for him to spout his sick unhinged bullshit, and all without the slightest hint of critique…what the fuck is wrong with our media?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfrhATD4nM0

  7. greywarshark 9

    The Simpsons looking round outside the USA and giving an example of why USA is so well liked and respected all over.

    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvyrMN4rnoM

  8. greywarshark 10

    Spartan system. Should we think about changing the way we do things. We might become prosperous and attend to what needs to be done. Young males can satisfy their desires for adventure, action and violence by practising active defence (or minor warfare).

    Is this what Israel might do as they have settled in a place which they feel the have invaded and therefore must stay in a state of armed readiness and defend themselves by showing readiness to attack with regular demonstrations?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppGCbh8ggUs

    • RedLogix 10.1

      This is really important, children of both sexes need to be accustomed to hardship and difficulty. For young males especially it's important to be able to handle physical risk and develop the mental resilience to handle mistakes and setbacks. Learning that almost everything you fear is nothing more than a creation of your imagination, and therefore can be confronted, is the basis of courage and moral strength.

      There is increasing evidence that over-protective parenting sets up adolescents for anxiety and depression. Young men in particular absolutely need to be successful at something. It almost doesn't matter what, but competency, performance and being useful is going to be central to their adult lives. And those first handful of years in their late teens, early twenties will set the pattern.

      • AB 10.1.1

        "children of both sexes need to be accustomed to hardship and difficulty."

        Hardship and difficulty are going to happen anyway – there's no need to go out of our way to specially set kids up for it. And in the wrong hands, this slogan will be used as justification for doing nothing about grotesque economic equality. I think we should choose our language carefully so as not to give succour to the sociopaths.

        • RedLogix 10.1.1.1

          I see what you're getting at, fair enough I can see how my language could be hijacked.

          You are right, life as the Buddhists say is suffering, and parents can and should gradually accustom children to being able to confront it. I recall commenting on this years back but Jonathon Haidt puts a modern take on it:

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKW3vKpPrlw

          • AB 10.1.1.1.1

            Apologies for jumping on your comment so hard. Sensitive topic for a parent of a kid with a disability.

            • RedLogix 10.1.1.1.1.1

              Same here, not one but two. One of the best bit's of advice we ever got was never to let them use their disability as an excuse. No need to apologise, I really don't mind people challenging my assumptions wink

  9. greywarshark 11

    Search results gone.

  10. Ad 12

    Anyone going to the big rail conference in Auckland this week?

    I'm in for a total nerdathon.

  11. greywarshark 13

    I received with my newspaper a leaflet advertising a memorial clock with small model of Lancaster bomber on it for $150. I was thinking about it but checked a number of review sites. These made me think! It confirms to me that we should be mostly shopping locally, face to face and trying to put money into our own community businesses, not the large mass sellers who don't give a fancy f.. for us as people.

    I have recently had the unfortunate experience of coming into contact with this company while acting on behalf of an elderly relative who is no longer able to do so themselves.
    I made 8 phone calls to their number and EVERY time their recording advises that they are experiencing high call volume and are unable to take my call then they hang up.
    The only emails that they have responded to are those concerning an account issue.
    After several requests that my elderly relative be removed from their mailing list they continue to send offers to her. …

    and

    I fell for the gold Anzac coins i paid for the first one as it was discounted, but then they started flooding me with more offers that i didn't ask for ,then another coin turned up and then another ,initially i had forgotten how i paid for the first one and thought they must be taking the payments of my credit card ,until i started getting debt collection agencies sending threatening emails so i sent two back straight away but they continued to ask for more money, so i sent everything back including the ones i paid for and yey again they continue to want more money i am a disabled pensioners and had a perfect credit rating i think they are parasites.

    • Peter Christchurch NZ 13.1

      AVOID. This seller employs underhand tactics to elicit more and more money out of you. They will never leave you alone. Worse thing is, if you pay by direct debit, you may well find additional or higher payments being deducted and the chances of correcting the 'errors' will be almost nil.

      There are some pretty good items like this available from reputable companies advertised (I think) Military History magazine. There are two magazines very similar, one US and one UK. It is the US one. In library in ChCh but maybe not elsewhere.

    • Exkiwiforces 13.2

      If you are after such a model? May I suggest you have a look at Corgi Diecast Aircraft in 1/144 Scale as they have a number limited edition Lac's over the yrs and even some second hand one that still have the box in good condition at reasonable prices.

      Since Corgi has moved back its design office and production line back to UK the workmanship and quality has improved.

      I mainly collect in 1/72 Scale and V Bombers in 1/144 focusing on Brit/ Commonwealth Airforces and FAA from WW2 to the present and WW2 Luftwaffe.

      HobbyMaster has a good collection of RAAF and RNZAF Aircraft in 1/72 and 1/48 Scale. The latest RNZAF aircraft from HobbyMaster is the P51 ZK-TAF in old Ray Archibald's markings when he was CO of 3TAF Sqn in the 50's based out the old Wigram AFB and a P40 Gloria in Sth Pacific markings.

      For Military vehicles its very small market? With only two from Oxford Diecast in 1/76 with a Sherman in 4Armd Brigade colours and a White Scout Wagon in NZ 4Fld Rgt colours when they were in Desert. There maybe a Dingo Scout Car out as well from Oxford, but i'm sure atm?

  12. Incognito 14

    However, a review by ANZ found that one of the risk models, to calculate operational risk, had been decommissioned in 2014 without its knowledge.

    Key added that the issue was created by a "junior staffer". It would have been inappropriate for him to resign as the board had been told in writing that the model was compliant. [my bold]

    These ‘junior staffers’ carry a lot of responsibility nowadays, especially when they’re working for a Nat or ex-Nat.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113534617/anz-chief-executive-leaving-following-review-of-personal-expenses

  13. greywarshark 15

    I am concerned that conservative Christians are baying at the door, if they haven't already entered the childcare arena. The conservative Catholic side has already been revealed in discussions and suggestions concerning social matters by Bill English and his wife Mary English. I note that there is an emphasis on the importance of family life by the Maxim Institute.

    But concern from this side of the socially moral may quickly lead to a moral outrage that leads to preventative measures that control in a punitive way those who don't measure up to the rigid and strict codes they wish to impose on young women particularly. Parenting classes and support and help with health and contraception would lift the parents and to be there for them would be excellent with the emphasis on self-help and mentoring. Sometimes to provide accommodation in a shared facility with new female-head families having 2-3 rooms and assistance and controlled surroundings would be good and I don't know if that has been done for young mothers.

    But government often takes this disparaging view that leads the public to follow. Government could take a lead in changing this damaging stereotype to one of admiring the efforts and achievements gained. Then there wouldn't be the pile-on that we saw on Metiria Turei for doing all she could to continue with her study and succeed, and also make ends meet by giving up much of her home and privacy for extra rental income.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10819669 Big families mean big welfare dollars.

    Taxpayers are forking out $2000-plus a week to a select group of benefit-dependent parents with more than 10 children. Official figures show that twelve families on welfare have 10 or more kids, receiving a range of top-up payments on top of their average of nearly $1000 a week.

    Social Development minister Paula Bennett said she was keeping a close eye on them. "There's two words we don't use often enough in this country and that's self-responsibility," Bennett told the Herald on Sunday. "The size of someone's family is their business, so long as they don't expect someone else to pay for it."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/392199/oranga-tamariki-inquiry-won-t-be-released-to-the-public-in-full

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/392172/family-justice-review-urges-integrated-approach-to-services

    • RedLogix 15.1

      I am concerned that conservative Christians are baying at the door,

      Lay off the Christophobic hate speech comparing them to dogs or wolves. devil

      • greywarshark 15.1.1

        RL That's what you thought of. I didn't say that. And I think it is an appropriate adjective for the situation.

        • RedLogix 15.1.1.1

          Can you see how a serious Christian might not think it ‘appropriate’? Of course I'm just confirming the point you made earlier; that hate speech laws could have all manner of unintended effects.

          Incidentally I once at an authentic Soviet era cafeteria. To this day I cannot think how they managed to make everything on the plate look and taste some shade of grey. Even the cabbage.surprise

          • mac1 15.1.1.1.1

            I had a meal in Kobe in Japan where everything was boiled/simmered and was grey. Tasty enough. I asked at this little working class restaurant whether this was Kobe beef. The diners there laughed and laughed. Little did I know, Kobe beef was about $200 a kilo.

        • In Vino 15.1.1.2

          True – wolves howl; dogs bark.. I think baying is generally used for the funny yowl that hunting hounds make. Still dodgy: did you mean something different again GWS?

    • Shadrach 15.2

      "I am concerned that conservative Christians are baying at the door, if they haven't already entered the childcare arena."

      You are well out of date. Christian ECE centres have been operating successfully for decades.

      "Then there wouldn't be the pile-on that we saw on Metiria Turei for doing all she could to continue with her study and succeed, and also make ends meet by giving up much of her home and privacy for extra rental income."

      Most people study and succeed without having to rort the taxpayer.

    • Ad 15.3

      Conservative Christians have made up the social welfare system before the idea of a state social welfare system was even invented.

      It's the current government that needs to be held to account for misuse of state powers.

  14. greywarshark 16

    Bikes and pedestrians, mobile runarounds and all, bides and e-bikes. The authorities have allowed all manner of off-road vehicles onto footpaths and brought in no new laws although it is obvious that there is a problem of putting metallic vehicles where there are soft-fleshed slower people trying to walk which is an ordinary, normal activity that we've done since Adam was a cow-boy. Here is one where a cyclist was hit by someone on an e-bike who appears to be fairly unconcerned.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12240906 Injured cyclist begs Auckland Transport to crack down on e-bike cycleway users

    But [Tony] Hickey is worried that the cycleway has become "awash with a***holes" who are endangering legitimate users, including children.

    The cycleway had become a de facto road where self-powered cyclists were treated as a nuisance, Hickey said. "In fact, it is worse than a road because it is lawless and unregulated."

    Visibility issues needed fixing, but those would not be a problem "if people do not overtake when they cannot see, and learn that ringing a bell, like tooting a horn in a car does not give you right of way, and the right to endanger others".

    (He is saying what I am thinking – and a lot of others too.)

    Our government and Local Government NZ should be sued for not doing a proper job as they should have set up a legal framework. I think bikes should be licensed and have number plates and if they run into anything they should have to pay compensation – no Knock-for-knock thank you.

    All this hoo-ha about bikes and mountain bikes has arisen because it has become a fashion, and a sport, and those who ride bikes see themselves as very green, and have become very deserving and above censure. Sanctimonious types. There will be a backlash soon, water pistols with dye in them perhaps, a whippy willow stick to give the lash.

    Walkers are not going to put up with being menaced when they want to go out for a soothing walk in the open air, which incidentally is part of the Green Prescriptions that GPs give out to their patients.

    What a mixed up country we are, totally unco-ordinated, and haring off after the latest craze and money-maker. Like immature children – encouraged by crazed desires from politicians to be a powerful and rich country.

    And just when we should be looking at something different. Can anyone think how to make thinking forward and considering risks and future scenarios sexy? Someone who has worked in advertising and PR perhaps.

  15. Marcus Morris 17

    Is Sir John Key's teflon coating starting to wear a little thin – wearing through even??

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12241106

  16. Marcus Morris 18

    I see the issue is now on Daily Review. Blaming a junior staffer – now where have we heard that before.

  17. greywarshark 19

    I saw in post about Mr Makhlouf that Wild Katipo at 11.1 pointed the finger at Mr Harold Titter for something to do with health. I thought I would find out a little more about this person. It is interesting to know what people involved with our NeoLib dive in the 1980's ended up.

    I was interested in this person Harold Titter that WK referred to. So have looked him up and his roles have been many-splendoured things.

    https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2017/04/nicholas-kerr-other-passion-of-sir.html   (About the wealthy POV as to the intro of New Lib Ec.)

    About 1985 – Doug Walker MD of NZ Forest Products Limited was the initial Chairman of the NZ Business Roundtable. He was succeeded by Harold Titter who was MD of Feltex New Zealand Limited. I became the Secretary (I was Company Secretary/General Counsel of Feltex). In February 1985 Ron Trotter became Chair. It was during his Chairmanship that it was decided to have a fulltime executive director of the Round Table and Roger was appointed
    Noel Vautier

    Feltex in which Harold Titter was MD for a time in the 1980s. It went into receivership in 2006. (Interesting view on how small and inbred NZ business is.) https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10394633

    The twist to this: the McKendrick family sold Kensington Carpets to Feltex in the 1970s and the late George McKendrick continued as managing director under the new owners. He was dismissed, went to Australia, set up Godfrey Hirst and retained a dislike for his former employer. His family, which still controls Godfrey Hirst, are now in a strong position to avenge their father's dismissal.

    2007 Sue Bradford mourns Feltex' loss. http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog/13/03.htm

    2007 – http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0712/S00076/the-feltex-debacle-new-zealands-enron.htm

    2007 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10430514  – Harold Titter appointed as Commissioner to Auckland District Health Board.

    2012- Harold Titter – The award is named for foundation trustee Harold Titter, a former Managing Director of Feltex New Zealand, Commissioner of the Auckland Area Health Board and Pro Vice Chancellor at The University of Auckland. https://mhsfaculty.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/newsandevents/deans-diary/issue245-11may2012.aspx

    Social Bonds for Mental Health are SCARY. Here's what you can do -…https://thedailyblog.co.nz/…/social-bonds-for-mental-health-are-scary-heres-what-you…
    Jun 10, 2015 – Do any of you remember the name ' Harold Titter ' ?…. he was the … an angle for private concerns to make a buck out of the public of NZ ?

    https://investmentnews.co.nz/investment-news/former-money-managers-linked-trustee-firm-restructures-gets-licence-hires-up/
    2018 – Heritage earned its licence from the Financial Markets Authority last December joining a market dominated by just three firms Trustees Executors, Public Trust and Guardian Trust. The FMA also licenses two smaller supervisors: Covenant Trustee Services (owned by Guardian); and, Anchorage Trustee Services, which operates exclusively in the retirement village domain….

    Last month Viking offloaded its share to Wellington-based Vaughan Stanley while Cargill retains a 51 per cent stake in Heritage. In February Heritage also appointed, Harold Titter, to the board to join Richard Hanna and Edward Russell. Hanna was named Heritage director last December when Colin McCloy and Christopher Darlow retired as board members. Russell, who was with Calibre Asset Services when it served as trustee of the failed Money Managers First Steps funds, joined the Heritage board in 2014.

    It is interesting how many lives these directors have, rising like phoenixs after dropping out of sight, into some new position.

    • Gabby 19.1

      It's amazing what a trail of wrecked, trashed, gutted, tanked companies some leave behind them too. The bigger the failure the bigger the payout.

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    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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