Open mike 17/07/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, July 17th, 2019 - 126 comments
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126 comments on “Open mike 17/07/2019 ”

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  1. Marcus Morris 1
    17 July 2019 at 8:05 am

    This is the link to Phil Twyfords excellent rebuttal of the nonsense that Heather du Plessus (National's regular cheer leader in the Herald) wrote re Labours roading programme.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12249942

    I can never understand why the Herald gives her print space, her articles are so lacking in balance.

    • Rapunzel 1.1
      17 July 2019 at 8:45 am

      It is a shame it is pay-walled I eventually succumbed that is very interesting to read, as is this story on how ANZ – I see they have stepped up the advertising again – did its best to hide how useless their oversight methods are and which cost losts of investors money.

      Those who lost out were kept completely in the dark re litigation information that they should have had, hopefully they will join in the action that is now being provided free to them.

      https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/07/17/685359/anz-loses-the-key-to-transparency

      • Marcus Morris 1.1.1
        17 July 2019 at 9:15 am

        My apologies to those who, for good reason, did not pay the sub to access all Herald articles. I am seriously debating whether or not I will continue with mine when it runs out. However I am pleased that Phil Twyford was given the opportunity to state his case and to debunk the rubbish that was written.

        • Rapunzel 1.1.1.1
          17 July 2019 at 9:59 am

          Likewise I will see after a couple of months how I feel but I bypass a lot of the Hoskings etc tripe, but items on how many financial institutions and insurance companies need to be brought into line tempted me over for a while.

      • ianmac 1.1.2
        17 July 2019 at 9:32 am

        Just read that Rapunzel. A fascinating read but outstanding is the gall of one John Key claiming transparency as with the Hisco affair while for three years the ANZ was blocking transparency on a massive scale involving millions of investors money.

        Key regards reporters, investors courts and voters with contempt.

        • Rapunzel 1.1.2.1
          17 July 2019 at 9:57 am

          Yes I know I try, I'm not sure why, to be specific as to otherwisw only brings down contempt re "personality" politics and is used to deflect away from the true details of many things that are only slowly over time being revealed.

      • A 1.1.3
        17 July 2019 at 1:11 pm

        Point of the story which may have been missed is that IF you were an investor in Ross Asset Management (RMA) they are taking a court case which is already funded (further explained in the article towards the end). You have only until September 2019 to sign up so decide now.

    • Kevin 1.2
      17 July 2019 at 10:29 am

      Phil Twyford: Spending more on roading projects while prioritising safety

      Phil Twyford says the Government is investing $1.4 billion in upgrades on more than 1500km of dangerous roads to prevent 160 deaths and serious injuries every year.

      [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12249942]

      [Please do not do that again, ever! You are breaching the policy of this site and making this site liable to copyright violation. Next time will result in an instant permanent ban without prior warning, as this is very serious – Incognito]

      • Anne 1.2.1
        17 July 2019 at 11:39 am

        Thanks for that Kevin.

        Who was it said Twyford was "incompetent" and inferred he was not capable of dotting the i’s and t’s?

        When he was a candidate (twice) for the North Shore electorate we had to gently suggest it might be a good idea to reduce the number of i’s and t’s on his pamphlets because it would put off the average voter from reading them.

        He was good boy and obliged. 🙂

        • AklTransport 1.2.1.1
          17 July 2019 at 6:47 pm

          Twyford is incompetent. His transport plans are weak at best. Hiding behind “safety on the current roads” is pathetic as well his ministers and governments policy aims will result in thousands more car trips, exponentially increasing the risk of deaths on the road.

          [lprent: Thousands more car trips isn’t in any policy. I consider that is just a lie. And you didn’t bother to present any supporting argument or link. If you can’t present a link or an argument to support it by this time tomorrow then I will ban you for 3 months. Looking at your comments, you are just a very stupid troll, so I can’t be bothered warning you. ]

      • Marcus Morris 1.2.2
        17 July 2019 at 12:01 pm

        Thanks for printing in full the article I was referring to. I wasn't if that was allowed.

        • McFlock 1.2.2.1
          17 July 2019 at 1:46 pm

          Seems to be a clear copyright violation to me,

        • Andre 1.2.2.2
          17 July 2019 at 2:09 pm

          Your first instinct was sound. From this site's policy:

          Similarly pasting long materials from other sites, especially copyrighted materials, is not permitted. Just link and selectively quote.

        • lprent 1.2.2.3
          17 July 2019 at 2:20 pm

          it isn't. On the other hand I would also argue that granny is a bit naughty putting what looks like a press release behind a paywall.

          When I get back to a large screen I will have a look at it.

          • Incognito 1.2.2.3.1
            17 July 2019 at 2:25 pm

            Ok, but I have taken the precautionary step of deleting the material and added a link to NZH. In the end, it is your call.

      • Incognito 1.2.3
        17 July 2019 at 2:24 pm

        See my Moderation note @ 10:29 AM.

        • Marcus Morris 1.2.3.1
          17 July 2019 at 2:44 pm

          I put the link in my original post. Cheers.

          • Incognito 1.2.3.1.1
            17 July 2019 at 3:01 pm

            Yes, I know, thanks. I didn’t want to delete the text without leaving and repeating the link; it was deliberate on my behalf.

            To me, it looked like a clear case of copyright violation. I am quite sure that it was not (from) a press release but it there’s one it still doesn’t excuse Kevin’s mistakes of not providing a link, not providing attribution, and quoting the complete (!) text instead of selectively quoting from it.

            I’m sure it was a genuine mistake but ignorance is no defence. If you want to use this site, you must read the site’s policy. https://thestandard.org.nz/policy/

            • veutoviper 1.2.3.1.1.1
              17 July 2019 at 3:21 pm

              Not trying to excuse it but also think it was probably a genuine mistake. IIRC K is an old timer here going back to Nov 2008 – originally as K W…h. Pretty sure that is the same avatar.

              • Incognito …
                17 July 2019 at 3:59 pm

                You are correct, he goes back a long way here, which really means he should know better than to risk the site. The warning was not just for him but also for everyone else, i.e. a general reminder that even helpful comments can have dire consequences. I hope it’ll serve as a lesson and that we can all move on from here without blowing it out of proportion. After all, it was likely a genuine mistake, as I said in my comment 1.2.3.1.1.

  2. Observer Tokoroa 2
    17 July 2019 at 8:33 am

    penguins are smart

    Over the past 20 years our Politicians seem to have dropped the ball. In spite of having told us over and over how brilliant they are.

    Not a single one of them has matched rise in population with equivalent production of housing.

    Winston Peters muttered some words about too much people flow into gods own mess but has done nothing about it. The Right Honourable Sir John Key actually built one House in the year 2017, but ran a sub political national ratbag outfit in parliament for the purpose of secrecy, staffed by unknowns, as well as hecttingly tying knots in liitle girls Ponytails for suspected Senual satisfaction. Without getting Consent.

    Bernard Hickey did the equivalent of running a forklift through the economy every now and again. But nothing straight forward – such as a penguin might do. Namely we have thousands of people happening and little housing happening.

    Only Phil Twyford had the sense and the Guts to say that New Zealanders were being sold down the river without so much Crusha Kayak.

    The screaming against Twyford was horrendous. Sir John got back on the Ponytails. And the Pretty Morsel Bennett declared Racism – whilst selling off New Zealand houses to unknown purchasers of houses in NZ and Abroad. I kid you not. Talk about Hypocrit !

    In Twenty years Parliament did stuff all.

    I put it to you, that the Current Government unlatches itself from the Free Martket, stops all immigration, and builds quaility 3 bed room houses / or apartments.

    Further, Parliament shall immediately make it a crime to allow immigration when there is no quality Housing available.

    Finally, Phil Twyford should be given Highest honors by the Governor of New Zealand.

    Billy English at her side.

  3. vto 3
    17 July 2019 at 8:46 am

    How not surprising that John Key says one thing but does the opposite.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/114291409/anz-loses-the-key-to-transparency

    a liar and a cheat to the end

    • A 3.1
      17 July 2019 at 9:16 am

      Not sure if someone at Stuff has it in for ANZ or the increasing coverage of them is just desserts.

      New account has been opened 😀

      • ianmac 3.1.1
        17 July 2019 at 9:38 am

        Those who have money invested in ANZ better withdraw it quickly before the run on the bank gets underway.

      • vto 3.1.2
        17 July 2019 at 9:50 am

        I mentioned to someone recently that it seems a lot of people have Key in their sights… and this is more evidence of that I think

        • Herodotus 3.1.2.1
          17 July 2019 at 11:25 am

          Perhaps as a current director he does not have the knowledge of history ??

          But his comments are starting to come back, wonder if anyone on the ANZ board has made themselves available for follow up interviews/comments ?

          Not sure who a suitable reporter would be, able to ask the tough questions, especially given the $ that banks spend with tv, print etc. to further their profile & to give confidence to the market ? As how would we know that the interview wasn’t a paid Advertorial

      • Muttonbird 3.1.3
        17 July 2019 at 3:35 pm

        A liar and a cheat to the end

        Very well said.

        As if we didn't know already; trust, honesty and integrity are totally foreign concepts to Key. Always have been.

    • Incognito 3.2
      17 July 2019 at 6:10 pm

      John Key’s reputation is worth gold to ANZ. However, if the bank’s reputation is becoming (more) damaging to John Key’s reputation, I reckon he’ll step down (soon). The captain is not going to go down with the Titanic; watch the space.

  4. Blazer 4
    17 July 2019 at 8:49 am

    'I put it to you, that the Current Government unlatches itself from the Free Martket, stops all immigration, and builds quaility 3 bed room houses / or apartments.'

    can you imagine the mayhem if they did that!

    The elite,aided by the NSA would use 'Venezuela' tactics.

    No NZ politicians have the balls to face that.

  5. Adrian Thornton 5
    17 July 2019 at 9:10 am

    While Israeli lobbies relentlessly and shamelessly bully activists all over the World, without any pushback or a peep from any of our media, the apartheid state of Israel continues it's occupation and violent repression of Palestinian people and land, also without any pushback from most MSM media.

    Israeli Army Vet’s Exposé – “I Was the Terrorist”

    • Gabby 5.1
      17 July 2019 at 4:30 pm

      Surely he's been smeared by now. Has no UK Labour membership card surfaced yet?

  6. Blazer 6
    17 July 2019 at 9:10 am

    Tension with Turkey a NATO member.

    'the first shipment of a Russian missile defense system has arrived in Turkey, the Turkish Defense Ministry said Friday, moving the country closer to possible U.S. sanctions and a new standoff with Washington.'

    'The deliveries make it almost certain the Middle East’s largest economy will be subject to punitive U.S. action. By law, Trump needed to pick at least five out of 12 different sanctions — ranging from mild to harsh — under the sanctions act, once delivery was certified.

    The administration has been weighing when to punish Turkey, according to a person familiar with the deliberations who asked not to be identified discussing the sensitive situation. Washington is wary of announcing sanctions too close to the anniversary of the July 15, 2016, coup attempt that Erdogan blamed on Fethullah Gulen, an ally-turned-enemy now in exile as a Muslim cleric in Pennsylvania.'

    And India wants some too.

    'A senior Trump administration official said on Thursday there were “serious concerns” about India’s planned acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defense systems that could not only leave India vulnerable to sanctions but also “limit” interoperability between US and Indian militaries, a key focus of growing ties between the two countries.

    India’s acquisition of S-400s “effectively could limit India’s ability to increase our own interoperability”, Alice Wells, head of the state department’s South and Central Asia bureau told lawmakers at a congressional hearing.'

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic…ssian-missiles

    • Kevin 6.1
      17 July 2019 at 11:31 am

      Kind of makes the hundreds of billions invested into the F35 a bit redundant now.

      No wonder the USA is pissed.

  7. ScottGN 7
    17 July 2019 at 9:32 am

    After months of debate and legal manoeuvres the city of Berlin has put its money where its mouth is (and remember this city is always pretty skint) and spent nearly 100€ to buy back nearly 700 apartments on Karl-Marx Allee that were privatised in the 90s. It’s the latest salvo in the city’s ongoing battle to rein in housing costs (earlier this year the city Senate enacted laws to freeze rents for the next five years).
    https://www.citylab.com/equity/2019/07/berlin-apartment-rent-control-affordable-housing-landlord/594055/

    • Francesca 8.1
      17 July 2019 at 10:16 am

      How you can post that with all its "potentials" and fact less conjecture points to a pretty gullible mind set

      • aj 8.1.1
        17 July 2019 at 10:21 am

        Yes I watched the original segment on CNN. A story woven around pictures with not a skerrick of fact or proof presented.

      • Morrissey 8.1.2
        17 July 2019 at 10:58 am

        This bloke Andre is the sort of stooge that, in other regimes, would have published Kremlin propaganda against "Jewish doctors" or joined in with the Red Guards denouncing "revisionists" and "running dogs of imperialism."

        • McFlock 8.1.2.1
          17 July 2019 at 1:48 pm

          Whereas you just try to make the world safe for rapists.

          • Morrissey 8.1.2.1.1
            17 July 2019 at 2:29 pm

            Such as?

            • McFlock 8.1.2.1.1.1
              17 July 2019 at 2:32 pm

              Anyone you like who rapes someone. Hell, if you like them enough you'll even reject all evidence to the contrary and claim that nobody accused them of rape in the first place.

              • Morrissey …
                17 July 2019 at 2:42 pm

                Everything you've said is false, and deliberately false.

                • McFlock …
                  17 July 2019 at 3:07 pm

                  See what I mean?

                  You literally wrote only two days ago that Assange has not even been accused of rape.

                  Easily refuted by linking to an article titled "The rape allegation against Julian Assange, explained".

                  • Morrissey …
                    17 July 2019 at 3:11 pm

                    He hasn't. This whole bizarre fantasy case is concocted by the U.K. and U.S. secret police.

                    • McFlock …
                      17 July 2019 at 3:19 pm

                      Cognitive dissonance, much?

                      If the "bizarre fantasy case" doesn't allege Assange did anything, then there is no case. If it does allege something, there are allegations. So what do you think the "bizarre fantasy case" alleges?

        • Psycho Milt 8.1.2.2
          17 July 2019 at 2:33 pm

          He must be crushed that such a renowned psychoanalyst as yourself has made this unflattering diagnosis of his character.

          • Morrissey 8.1.2.2.1
            17 July 2019 at 2:41 pm

            Andre doesn't care, obviously. He's a fanatic.

            • The Al1en 8.1.2.2.1.1
              17 July 2019 at 2:48 pm

              Wrote the bloke who can't let an incident on TV go from 1983 lol

            • greywarshark 8.1.2.2.1.2
              17 July 2019 at 2:54 pm

              On nos not Morrissey and McFlock again? Gather round children while all the bad in the world is solved.

              Or you could think about something else. I thought this piece good from Neil Gaiman, who I think has written with Terry Pratchett.

              https://antonysimpson.com/2016/the-story-of-neil-gaimans-cousin-helen/

              “Helen is 96 and now lives in Florida. At the end of World War II, Helen and her two sisters wound up in a refugee camp in Southern Europe having fled Poland. Homeless and displaced, they finally ended up in America.

              In Poland, Helen had been smuggled into the Warsaw Ghetto. There was a corpse run every morning, transferring the corpses out of the ghetto and she snuck back in on the returning transport. I think she snuck back out that way, amongst the corpses, too. Inside the ghetto, she started teaching the local girls arithmetic and grammar. At that point in time, books were illegal and there was a death sentence for anyone found possessing one. However, Helen had a Polish translation of Gone with the Wind and she kept it hidden behind a loose brick in the wall. She would stay up late every night reading so that when the girls came in the next day she could tell them what had happened in the chapters she had read the previous night and just for that hour these girls got out of the Warsaw Ghetto and they got to visit the American South.

              Helen’s story – this story – made me realise that what I do is not trivial. If you make up stuff for a living, which is basically what I do, you can feel kind of trivial sometimes but this made me realise that fiction is not just escapism, it can actually be escape, and it’s worth dying for.” – Neil Gaiman

              (From The UN Refugee Agency, Last accessed: Sunday 17th July 2016.)

              Isn't that great. A way to escape and explore for a while, even if just in your mind.

            • Incognito 8.1.2.2.1.3
              17 July 2019 at 3:18 pm

              I’d suggest that you keep your opinions of other TS commenters reserved for posts on your own blog site. Even better, keep them to yourself and address the points made rather than trying to attack their perceived character flaws.

              • Morrissey …
                17 July 2019 at 4:47 pm

                Fair comment. But why did that scurrilous lie at 8.1.2.1. go without comment by any moderators?

                • Incognito …
                  17 July 2019 at 5:15 pm

                  <sigh>

                  That was a response to another “scurrilous lie” @ 8.1.2, it seems.

                  At the back-end, we read comments in reverse order, most recent first. When I send a signal, I like to think that the most recent ‘violation’ is the most appropriate place and time. I’d also like to think that others read my signal too and take heed. Ignorance is not an excuse.

                  One day, I will lose my patience, go in Lynn-moderation mode, and ban a regular (culprit) for a very long time. His reasoning is starting to sound more compelling to me that the element of surprise will keep everyone on their toes and at good behaviour.

                  Oh, and BTW, there are only a few moderators active here and we all have full-time jobs and busy lives. That is why the site relies on self-moderation by mature adult commenters 😉

                  [lprent: Or I roll the dice and decide that the border is close enough. ]

                • Psycho Milt …
                  17 July 2019 at 7:27 pm

                  Have you even for a moment considered the possibility that you could avoid all this aggro with moderators by not dumping your personal assessments of other commenters' characters on their blog? It would also reduce the volume of the hostile responses you get from other readers who don't rate your personal opinion as highly as you do.

                  • Morrissey …
                    17 July 2019 at 7:32 pm

                    Very good points, well made. However, there's a long established tradition here of "having a go" at one another….

                    https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-clobbering-machine-strikes-again.html

                    Same goes for Mr Brown's site…..

                    https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/12/mr-browns-boys-part-2-of-3-dec-31-2013.html

                    • Incognito …
                      17 July 2019 at 8:31 pm

                      Fair point, but IMHO you’re conflating “a long established tradition” with ‘bad habits that have crept in over time’. In any case, "having a go" is a euphemism for ‘robust debate’ but not a green light for ‘personal insults and attacks’. Lastly, you may have noticed that moderators have changed here on TS and consequently moderation has too. Change is the only constant 😉

                    • Morrissey …
                      17 July 2019 at 10:15 pm

                      Good points well made, Mr. Cognito. Fair play to you!

                      https://i.imgflip.com/1cx5fe.jpg

                    • Incognito []
                      17 July 2019 at 10:40 pm

                      Déjà vu 😉

                    • Sacha …
                      17 July 2019 at 10:50 pm

                      Same goes for Mr Brown’s site…

                      That's just a slur. The only long established tradition of "having a go" at one another is in your fanciful characterisation of the conversation on Public Address.

                      You must have linked here to that tired post of yours half a dozen times over the last couple of years. Obsessed much?

                    • greywarshark …
                      18 July 2019 at 10:52 am

                      Morrissey – all seems change, but the eternal is the need to support each other, try to improve, choose to cast aside the hating and those enjoying assaults on each other, verbal, literate, physical. So join in the good and limit the desire to snipe.

                      Neil Simon says it – These are the days of miracles and wonders and don't cry baby don't cry.

                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy5T6s25XK4

                    • Morrissey …
                      18 July 2019 at 2:55 pm

                      the need to support each other, try to improve, choose to cast aside the hating and those enjoying assaults on each other, verbal, literate, physical.

                      I'm more than happy to be positive and supportive of my fellow Standardisti, but when they post scurrilous fantasies and black propaganda from the secret police, please don't expect me or anyone else to take it with equanimity. When the people currently heaping the foulest imprecations and calumnies against Julian Assange and the democratically elected leader of Venezuela cease their foul behaviour, we can all get some much needed rest.

                      Until then, my friend, the fight goes on.

                      So join in the good and limit the desire to snipe.

                      Speaking of sniping, we have a couple of creatures on this site who loudly applaud snipers killing or maiming doctors, nurses, journalists, children, and crippled people. What "good" is there in those people?

                    • Incognito []
                      18 July 2019 at 4:54 pm

                      sigh

                      When you have a difference of opinion and cannot agree to disagree, it is best to walk away rather than to attack other commenters personally. Taking aim at public people and off-load a barrage of expletives is one thing, and gets on people’s nerves after a while, but to engage in a willy-waving ball-kicking contest with other commenters is another.

                      Did you see Lynn’s note @ 5:15 PM? I don’t have a dice handy but I can use a random generator any time …

                      Inciting violence is not acceptable and neither is “applauding” it. However, the TS is not the place to fix people’s perceived or real ‘character flaws’. We are interested in robust debate and a bit of banter and can tolerate a little bit of (friendly) jostling and ‘discourage’ behaviour that gets in the way of that; we go as far as necessary …

                    • Morrissey …
                      18 July 2019 at 3:33 pm

                      The guys and gals over at Mr Farrar's salon enjoy the occasional "barney" as well….

                      https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/01/encounter-on-kiwiblog-feat-dime-brito.html

                  • Incognito …
                    17 July 2019 at 7:34 pm

                    heart

                    • Sacha …
                      18 July 2019 at 3:08 pm

                      I'm more than happy to be positive and supportive of my fellow Standardisti, but "

                      As the popular saying goes ..

                      https://www.etsy.com/listing/530643196/everything-before-the-word-but-is

                    • Morrissey …
                      18 July 2019 at 5:08 pm

                      Serious people derive their thoughts and opinions from reading books, conversation, rumination, meditation, listening to learned and worthy people speaking.

                      But Sacha gets hers from a T-shirt.

                    • Incognito []
                      18 July 2019 at 5:37 pm

                      Does it matter what sets a train of thought in motion?

                      If you don’t like the T-shirt, don’t buy it, don’t wear it. Why look down on somebody who does? If they change garment, do you still look down on them?

                      This touches on what I tried to explain in my comment …

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      18 July 2019 at 6:42 pm

                      "Serious people" don't post pointless, obviously-untrue shit like "Sacha gets hers from a T-shirt."

                    • Incognito []
                      18 July 2019 at 10:06 pm

                      Some “serious people” get their bullshit inspiration from other people’s T-shirts and behold it as the Truth.

        • AklTransport 8.1.2.3
          17 July 2019 at 6:53 pm

          a leninesque useful idiot is old Morrissey. Pointing at his reflection calling it the traitor as he pretends he wouldn’t need be on the forefront of the cultural revolutions red guards

    • Kevin 8.2
      17 July 2019 at 11:34 am

      Sorry, but CNN is just not a credible news source on pretty much anything.

    • Andre 8.3
      17 July 2019 at 3:13 pm

      And now the Ecuadorian president that allowed Assange to hide in the embassy confirms they knew about Assange's election fuckery.

      https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/16/politics/ecuador-response-assange-wikileaks/index.html

      • francesca 8.3.1
        17 July 2019 at 5:12 pm

        About Correa, from your link

        He says nothing that he hasn't gleaned from newspaper reports .As he said, he's never met the guy, he has nothing to offer as an "insider"

        The complaint that stuff about Trump wasn't published smacks of whataboutism, the charge many like to lay on Russia. The information about Clinton's and the DNC's dishonesty was 100% accurate, and can't be discounted because ..Russia! Trump!

        Never mind that you would rather that info had been suppressed.

        Publishing truthful information is not election fuckery.We're in deep shit if we subscribe to that view.

        CNN published plenty of damning info about Trump , while whitewashing Clinton.

        Did they engage in election fuckery?

        • Morrissey 8.3.1.1
          17 July 2019 at 7:14 pm

          CNN published plenty of damning info about Trump , while whitewashing Clinton.

          Did they engage in election fuckery?

          They're certainly engaging in election fuckery now—they're continuing to invest in this ludicrous "Russiagate" fantasy, and virtually ignoring stories of the Trump regime's actual crimes. They're up to their eyeballs in fake news; instead of simply covering the news which alone would damn Trump, they're purveying insane fantasies hatched by the "brains trust" of the DNC—the same people that brought us the Hillary Clinton campaign. No one with a lick of common sense trusts anything on CNN.

        • Psycho Milt 8.3.1.2
          17 July 2019 at 7:23 pm

          He says nothing that he hasn't gleaned from newspaper reports.

          Right – I mean, he was just the president of Ecuador at the time, it's not like he'd be allowed to see any reports by Ecuadorian diplomats or anything.

          • francesca 8.3.1.2.1
            17 July 2019 at 9:47 pm

            read for yourself what he actually said .

          • Morrissey 8.3.1.2.2
            18 July 2019 at 5:27 pm

            1980-88: Reagan was President "at the time" his "administration" terrorized Central America.

            1984-9: Lange was P.M. "at the time" his cronies Douglas, Prebble, De Cleene, and Moore were tearing our institutions apart.

            2000-08: George W. was President "at the time" the U.S. raped Iraq and Afghanistan.

            2016-present: Trump is president.

            Did and do ANY of the above have a fucking clue what was/is happening under their watch?

  9. Andre 9
    17 July 2019 at 10:02 am

    Dreaming about a car that's solely powered by solar panels on the car's body? It's doable, if you live somewhere sunny and only want to do less than 50km/day.

    https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2019/07/this-prius-can-harness-the-power-of-the-sun-god-ra/

  10. greywarshark 10
    17 July 2019 at 11:46 am

    An information piece by Anne Salmond (with concerns about NZ effort to plant tonnes of trees) on Newsroom was spotted by Save NZ who put it up on The Daily Blog. I am spreading it further as Robert G and WtB will be interested.

    As I learned recently from forestry experts in Germany, these are not the only factors affecting the future of plantation forestry. Recent articles in Nature and Science strongly advocate growing trees as an effective way to tackle climate change, but point out that on average, natural forests sequester forty times more carbon than plantation forests.

    According to the author of one of these studies, "There is a scandal here. To most people forest restoration means bringing back natural forests, but policy makers are calling vast monocultures 'forest restoration'. And worse, the advertised climate benefits are absent."

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/07/16/682858/forestry-facing-a-perfect-storm#

    • Kevin 10.1
      17 July 2019 at 11:49 am

      The policy makers just see the trees as something to be cut down at a later date to make money off.

      • greywarshark 10.1.1
        17 July 2019 at 12:08 pm

        Are you sure about that Kevin – I think they have a bigger capacity of understanding than that – even if it could be better.

    • gsays 10.2
      17 July 2019 at 5:47 pm

      Hi Grey, here is a fascinating item from RNZ, about Hugh Wilson who, 30years ago, decided to work with nature and used gorse as a shelter plant for the restoration of 10's of thousands of hectares of native forest.

      He is of the opinion that the regrowth happens quicker than 'managed' forest plantings.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018703481/gorse-for-the-trees-how-one-man-brought-back-a-forest

      • greywarshark 10.2.1
        18 July 2019 at 10:58 am

        I had glanced at that and wondered about the difference that gorse can make, it was always such a no-no especially when you stood on it. Perhaps it would be good as a co-plant with honey producing manuka. The thieves for hives would have to suffer for their dishonesty, it might put them off, and be good for the soil too. The bees would likely not be affected.

  11. greywarshark 11
    17 July 2019 at 12:06 pm

    Corbyn has been attacked on antisemitism by Labour Lords protecting the brand no doubt. He really has to get off the pot if he isn't going to do anything dramatic – or another cliche' – might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb!

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/16/tom-watson-backs-labour-motion-auto-exclude-racism

    Boorish Johnson feels Corbyn enables him to shine apparently. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/conservative-leadership-race-boris-johnson-plans-early-election-to-hit-corbyn-h7d0rq090

    Brexit:

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu/eu-braces-for-no-deal-brexit-or-another-delay-under-boris-johnson-idUSKCN1UB1GF

    https://www.ft.com/content/89bff8c8-95dd-11e9-9573-ee5cbb98ed36 What the UK’s ‘left-behind’ areas want after Brexit

    Anand Menon, director of The UK in a Changing Europe, said politicians could only find policies to heal the country’s Brexit divisions if they know what caused them. He added that the UK’s planned departure from the EU was a rare chance to re-examine the laissez faire economic model Britain has adopted since the 1980s. “We have a unique moment in British politics,” said Prof Menon. “Anything is possible.”

    This is an interesting report and readers are asked to support the work.

    • Gabby 11.1
      18 July 2019 at 11:53 am

      It'd be helpful to see some specific examples of this antisemitism a bit more recent than Ken Livingston, that aren't just Labour disagreeing that they're antisemitic.

      • greywarshark 11.1.1
        18 July 2019 at 12:02 pm

        I feel that the antisemitic thing is puzzling and rather amorphous? There seems the same sort of logic behind it as in the old joke about the kid told by his mother to wash behind his ears who replied, 'How can they be dirty when they are so far off the ground'. I feel that people who are assiduous at unearthing antisemitism wherever it is lurking, will find some dirt wherever they look, by hook or by crook.

      • Morrissey 11.1.2
        18 July 2019 at 5:17 pm

        How is Ken Livingston anti-Semitic?

  12. Morrissey 12
    17 July 2019 at 12:09 pm

    Just like NewstalkZB, Magic Talk is an outlet for racist bilge and pernicious nonsense. (Magic Talk, Monday 8 July 2019, 10:20 a.m.)

    Peter Williams always cut a rather ridiculous and awkward figure on television. When he was a young sports broadcaster he was embarrassingly callow and loud, trying and failing to trade witticisms in the broadcast booth with, of all people, Henry Blofeld. But that could be forgiven; other cricket commentators, like John "Mystery" Morrison, also came across as stumble-tongued bumpkins compared to the incomparable "Blowers."

    Less forgivable was Williams's insensitivity and lack of common sense, as well as his brassplated bumptiousness and insensitivity. These unfortunate traits are memorably illustrated by two incidents, equally disastrous, but separated by more than fifteen years. The first, showing his insensitivity and lack of common sense, was in 1983. Williams, from the studio in Wellington, fronted what was supposed to be a live broadcast from the World Rowing Championships in Germany. He started the broadcast in his usual voluble manner, chattering as the satellite feed was being teed up. Then the rowing broadcast began—except it wasn't the rowing, it was a telecast of an American college basketball game. Sports fans all over the nation sat up straight with excitement and incredulity—in 1983, our coverage of U.S. sports was virtually non-existent, and this was like manna from heaven. The basketball game continued, unbelievably, for several minutes.

    But then something horrible and stupid happened. The basketball game was suddenly gone, and Peter Williams's grinning physog filled the screen. He was snorting with a mixture of amusement and mortification. This is what he said: "Ahhhh, it looks like there's been a MISTAKE! We WERE going to bring you the World Rowing Championships from Duisburg, but—ha ha ha!—it looks like we've inadvertently booked the WRONG satellite and we've got a COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAME from the United States instead! Ha ha ha! So while our technicians get that SORTED, in the meantime I'll just talk to you and go over a few of the New Zealand prospects for the rowing! Ha ha ha! Well…." This playing for time continued for what seemed like several minutes. All over the nation, no doubt, people were screaming at their television sets: "Get that fucking idiot off, and put the fucking BASKETBALL back on! That fucking clueless fucking MORON!"

    At any rate, that's what the situation was at Chez Breen. After several minutes of preventing sports fans from seeing the basketball, Williams touched his earpiece and said: "Oh! Apparently we have received many, many phone calls from our viewers, and you're telling us that you want to see the basketball, and not listen to me talking! All right then…." Mercifully, viewers were spared any more of Williams and they were allowed to watch the rest of the basketball unmolested by nincompoops.

    For a mortifying example of his bumptiousness and insensitivity, we will fast forward a decade and a half, to the late 1990s. Williams, for some obscure and hellish reason, had been appointed as the "Australian correspondent" for Television One. Now, that's a position that requires someone with "people skills." Even if you do what most of these "correspondents" do, and just ask a few questions of the odd celebrity passing through the airport, you still have to establish at least a modicum of rapport with that celebrity. Williams, who since his early days as a grinning sports guy, had developed into a sour, surly, taciturn grouch, seemed like precisely the last person you'd appoint to the position. Predictably enough, he proved to be even worse in that role than Jack Tame was a few years later as One's "U.S. correspondent". [1] In his short-lived career in Sydney, Williams sent in interview after interview where the subjects winced, frowned, and stared in frustrated wonderment at the questions he put to them. Williams seemed to rub nearly everyone up the wrong way; it's obviously a lot harder conducting an interview than it looks.

    The short career as an "Australian correspondent" of this anti-Larry King came to a screeching halt after his catastrophic interview—at Kingsford Smith Airport, naturally—of the supermodel Cindy Crawford. The atmosphere in the room was wrong from the very beginning: Cindy Crawford frowned a couple of times as he asked her highly personal and inappropriate questions, which some mischievous staffer had obviously given to him. But he never took the hint, never divined that she was getting impatient and, eventually, angry. She became extremely agitated and actually ended up shouting her disapproval of his questions, and looking desperately off camera for someone to save her. Cruelly, someone at Television One made the decision to go ahead and screen that abortion. Within weeks, Williams was back in New Zealand and someone else had been appointed to the vital role of sitting in Australian airports waiting to accost a celebrity.

    Williams eventually was re-installed as a TV newsreader, where he developed something of a cult following for his Gloomy Gus countenance and his dependably sour, and inexpert, takes on whatever topic took his fancy. In the lead-up up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, after an item about Ma'a Nonu struggling to find his form, Williams scowled and snarled in a stage whisper: "Get RID of him!" He continued his one-man campaign of denigration and belittlement for months, then lapsed into silence after Nonu made the All Black squad and ended up being the outstanding player of the entire tournament.

    Recently, Williams ended his career as Television One's resident curmudgeon and took up a position as a grouch on the pisspoor chat station MagicTalk. Predictably, he's been as awful as people feared: his political opinions are on the Leighton Smith end of the spectrum, and he's still exhibiting a lack of nous about sports—providing a platform for and encouraging the hopeless "Man in the Stand", who sufferers of Radio Sport a generation ago will not be happy to learn is still polluting the airwaves. [2]

    Last Monday, July 8th, Williams had the perfect program set up for the morning: a "discussion" (I use the word loosely) about a TVNZ1 program from the previous evening, entitled That's a Bit Racist. Williams informed his listeners that he had not actually seen the program because he had been traveling at the time of broadcast.

    For the first hour, Williams took calls from mean and twisted individuals who were outraged at the premiss of the program—the very idea that we are a racist society! They expressed support for poor, beleaguered, saintly Don Brash, a man hated by the "P.C. crowd" simply because he "has the courage to tell the truth." Several callers took advantage of yet another opportunity to castigate Maori for abusing children.

    However, at 10:20 a.m. the stream of ridicule and abuse of Maori was interrupted. A caller named Dion pointed out that Pakeha also abuse children, but it's always Maori that are emphasized in the media, and by nasty politicians like Don Brash.

    PETER WILLIAMS: Oh, I'm sure, Dion, that if a Pakeha killed a child, it would be ROBUSTLY covered. The media are always concerned about the victim first, and then the perpetrator.

    After seeing off Dion, the next caller was "Stephen", and the program was back on track….

    STEPHEN: I watched that program for five minutes. Don Brash was on, and yes, what they showed of him, it did make him look like a racist, but they didn't show EVERYTHING he said.

    PETER WILLIAMS: The Stuff review I read described him as a "racist". That's a LUDICROUS way to describe one of our leading thinkers.

    At 10:40 a Denise L'Estrange-Corbet soundalike rang in and bellowed: "Don Brash tells the truth! Maori seats are JUST LIKE APARTHEID! And that Jack Tame said this morning that he was "ashamed" that the Crusaders didn't announce after the Super Rugby final on Saturday night that they would change their name.

    PETER WILLIAMS: [grimly] I wouldn't pay too much attention to anything THAT particular person says. ….

    ad nauseam.

    As bad as this was, things only got worse in the afternoon. The host was…. Sean Plunket.

    [1] https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/jack-tame-emotes-after-newtown.html

    [2] https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/05/one-of-most-hapless-talk-radio-tragics.html

  13. greywarshark 13
    17 July 2019 at 4:17 pm

    Three men went out for the day in a ute that got trapped in a river. They had a nine-year old boy with them. The three men got out and the boy was drowned. They were in charge of a minor. Are they up for manslaughter or at least wilful neglect. Women are charged when children in their care get harmed. These men should have read the website with precautionary information and known it was "only recommended for experienced parties with suitable vehicles". And that may not have applied as it was a flooded river. Strong, outdoor men should have had the ability to save that young boy. If they weren't strong or outdoor-experienced men then they should not have even started, wilfully irresponsible and neglectful.

    (There were three flood-related calls for help for the Canterbury Westpac helicopter on Sunday 14/7 alone. The third incident was when two men got stuck in the middle of a river, plus one other who had tried to help them out.

    I wonder how many men cause callouts for emergencies while they are out there in the wild? It wouldn't do to reduce our community services for them, as much as we have limited our care for pregnant mothers who are very vulnerable with spasms, contractions and pain and the baby-to-be needing care as well.)

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

    • Incognito 13.1
      17 July 2019 at 4:46 pm

      This is a tragic story about yet another preventable death of a child.

      How does it relate to the post? I’m inclined to move this to OM unless you can explain.

  14. Gabby 14
    17 July 2019 at 4:27 pm

    Jesus Christ morpissey,

    19 EIGHTYFUCKINGTHREE. Fucking BASKETBALL.

    You really need to get a grip.

    • Morrissey 14.1
      17 July 2019 at 6:58 pm

      Don't forget the crucial factor in that traumatic episode: FUCKING PETER fucking WILLIAMS.

  15. Muttonbird 15
    17 July 2019 at 4:30 pm

    I see this disgraceful animal is hiding from the law. There's more than a little evidence he's still writing for Whaleoil yet his family claims he can't show up to court because, "he had to be isolated from stress".

    Perhaps the shit-stain should have thought of that before peddling the misery he did. Let's not forget this is one of John Key's best mates…

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz//nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12250358&ref=clavis

    Frankly, I don’t think he’s unwell at all, apart from being sick in the head, but that was always so.

    • Anne 15.1
      17 July 2019 at 8:32 pm

      Let's not forget this is one of John Key's best mates…

      Not best mates since "Dirty Politics". Key disentangled himself from Slater while at the same time claiming the book was “all lies” and the media stayed mute. It was just before the 2014 election.

      There is a book to be written about the part the media – and certain National Party luminaries – played in assisting Slater and co. to cause so much political and personal upheaval in this country. It was as if the journalists had collectively descended into hysterical mode and they were fawning over him like he was some kind of anointed political god. Even a former SIS Director got into the act at one point.

      It was a disgraceful period in our political history and it's no coincidence it began soon after Key became PM and ended soon after he left office.

      • Muttonbird 15.1.1
        17 July 2019 at 8:47 pm

        Those were the days!

        Yes, the media themselves were entangled with Slater because they relied on him for stories, and he got them on a direct line from the highest levels of government.

        It should also be remembered that the ponytail pulling happened about six months after Dirty Politics so Key learned nothing.

        The fallout from the ponytail pulling eventually forcing him to resign.

      • greywarshark 15.1.2
        18 July 2019 at 11:02 am

        If he was to be a god or an acolyte who anointed him – Michelle Boag? I had an uneasy feeling in a recent image of her looking squarely at the camera between two Mayoral hopefuls, great shot of her like a self-contained spring.

        • Anne 15.1.2.1
          18 July 2019 at 11:36 am

          If he was to be a god or an acolyte who anointed him – Michelle Boag?

          Good grief no. Michelle Boag was an enemy of Slater's from day one. She was never forgiven by Slater junior for ousting his father, Slater senior from the presidency of the National Party back in the 1990s.

      • Gabby 15.1.3
        18 July 2019 at 11:49 am

        Maybe just a quiet 'leave Fatcambo alone, or no free lunches for you' kind of thing.

  16. francesca 16
    17 July 2019 at 5:18 pm

    America spreading a good old dose of democracy and freedom via ticks

    How to weaponise nature

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/16/pentagon-review-weaponised-ticks-lyme-disease

    • greywarshark 16.1
      18 July 2019 at 11:07 am

      Please God send down an angel from above to your benighted people in the USA who have bowed to Mammon and the golden calf, and taken to themselves your Old Testament, which you hoped to revise, and now want to send disease and pestilence on whomever transgresses against their august plans or happens to be in the way of the righteous.

      • Gabby 16.1.1
        18 July 2019 at 11:48 am

        They're more the wolf coming down on the fold greysie, the cities of the plains an all that.

  17. Eco maori 17
    18 July 2019 at 2:37 pm

    Some Eco Maori music for the minute.

    https://youtu.be/SKprXO-f2pM

  18. Eco maori 18
    18 July 2019 at 5:06 pm

    Some Eco Maori music for the minute.

    https://youtu.be/5Yj4j_lZMBo

    Still getting a off grid TV going for Eco Maori posting

  19. Eco maori 19
    19 July 2019 at 6:27 pm

    Kia ora Newshub.

    That was a big explosion in Christchurch.

    Cleo that young fella is a idiot chasing that Chinese family around and terrorising them.

    The Australian government is saving heaps of money by deporting anyone who's was born in Aotearoa and trained as a criminal in Australia it the usual the big bully tipical Neanderthals

    trump will play ang card to con his supporters even if he puts other people lives in danger Ka kite ano

  20. Eco maori 20
    19 July 2019 at 6:48 pm

    Kia ora Te Ao Maori News.

    It would be cool if the Maori Wardens got more funding for the great mahi they do in Maori communities.

    Kia ora Mike Smith I tried to take the JUSTICE system to court but can't find a lawyer to represent Eco Maori. I will file my own court actions.

    Tupapa story telling the story about turanga the plarks should be respected it's good to have the true story of turanga and Te Tairawhiti .

    Got the genny going and the sky dish turned into to watch Te Ao Maori News and Newshub the solar system is coming courier delivery services seems to always take 5 days to deliver Eco Maori goods I wonder why thank for the mana sandflys they still don't get It ka kite ano

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    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

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

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

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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