Assuming that is a genuine question, I am shocked you even have to ask it. Have you looked at the list of contributors? They only represent some of the very best brains in the country.
Would you buy a car or a house from an unknown seller without enquiring first about their reputation and track record? Would you simply rely on online reviews from sources that you don’t know anything about? Or would you do a bit of research aka fact-checking and apply sound judgment to make well-informed decisions?
The expected standard on The Standard is that commenters contribute to robust informed debate by making sound arguments founded on reality and presenting their reliable trustworthy information sources with links. This helps build a culture and community of trust and respect.
SUVs no longer unaffordable for those desperately troubled Groundswell gentlemen?
I may have misunderstood a recent advertising campaign but it would appear that the Triton (Mitsubishi) is being offered with the surcharge being paid for them by MMC. Now they might be able to buy another GPS-controlled-air conditioned-cab-tractor for exclusive use on demonstrations.
Mitisbushi have had to be very proactive to sell the Triton in Aotearoa. Reality is they're not that good compared to a Hilux or Ranger, very much built down to a price.
In my circle they are referred to as an Itsbitsy Tighton.
Nearly double the Clean Car rebates ($203.3 million) have been paid for EVs and low emission vehicles compared with about $105.1m in fees collected for importing polluting vehicles.
….The Motor Industry Association (MIA) reported the surge in electrified vehicle sales for last year and December 2022, saying such registrations increased 77%.
The rebate scheme is affirming what people want in the market and looks like the market is responding.
I'm also hearing people say they are putting of buying a new ute until hybrids or BEVs come out later this year or early next. Unfortunately the decision is being driven by running cost and business image, rather than pure environmental thinking, but result is same.
In fact both sides are just increasing anxiety and hate in voters. Cars are a tool for freedom for many people. People live in their cars/vans/rvs for heavens sake.
But then in the end neither side actually has anything meaningful to offer to those that need cars.
I mean here in NZ we are giving money to quite rich people to buy cars they can afford on their own, but we are not subsidizing a single EV bike, or better even an EV – Cargo bike. Nah, you environmental considerate person, go buy your own toys you lazy bludgers.
Its all just a constant ramping up of crappy feelings that both sides guilty of.
Neither one of them is courageous to admit that private transport will be phased out, will be a privilege for a very few, generally connected people with the correct credentials, whilst the rest can take a hike. No pun intended.
Neither one of the whole lot irrespective their house colors is courageous to admit that their tinkering on the edges has done nothing but frayed the edges, caused rips in the fabric and sadly we never created enough public transport to remove the need for private transport already years ago. And here we go, let us bamboozle you with meaningless drivel so that you can hype up the comrades.
Never mind, that the banning/phasing out of private transport is what is being implemented but as always it is sadly to late.
A box on both of their houses. May their buses be late, their trains broken down and their flights cancelled.
That sounds good. I used to bus daily and it was hit and miss in 2010 – 2015 but if a bus were late it usually was several due to road mayhem elsewhere.
Ditto upper Queenstreet. Love the Onehunga Depot though. That was well done.
Getting more free dental care is like pulling teeth. It seems a no-brainer but one with a huge price tag, allegedly. Let’s see if National and/or ACT will sink their teeth into this. My guess is that apart from the usual hollow meaningless National SM flutters they won’t.
Thats a frankly absurd way to discuss dental care. The cost is completely irrelevant to the question.
Probably there are some serious questions, such as would dentists want to work for a nationalised service, how would treatment costs be allocated and would it be worth the restructuring process in results. That would be worth discussing.
I also expect changing from price rationing to need rationing would immediately demonstrate shortages of dentists.
No need to waste much time & energy on this as it is not top-priority. Government is clearing the desk for the policies that they will want to push through this year and an extension of free dental care ain’t one of those. If any other Party wants to campaign for/on it they’ll need to do the work and the onus is on them to sell it to the people aka voters. It is sensible politics in an election year, IMO.
The problem is lack of dentists and providing free service to those privileged enough to afford care now (and being in areas where they are available) is clearly not a priority.
There are not enough for free care to those under 18's (and problems getting services to isolated areas – mobile vehicles being one lack atm)***.
These are already in play
free toothbrushes and toothpaste in schools***
fluoride in water (for mine to 0.5)***
heath education/healthy food in schools
There has been the increase in subsidy for private dentist treatment (via Work and Income) from $300 to $1000 (improves chances to get a job/be work able).
I would add that examination for tooth removal at hospitals is free for those with CSC, and they also do the removal. Those not eligible such as those in work have been pulling their own teeth out.
There should be an extension of the free tooth removal to those on low incomes or otherwise a subsidy for such private dentist work.
The next need is a subsidy for an annual check for those with CSC and low income parents.
It is a known fact that poor dental care impacts on health – infections can lead to heart problems and thus cost to the health system.
Free dental 'care' means different things to different people. To someone on a benefit or minimum wage it means getting a tooth ache fixed so they can do more than just exist. To a retiree it's getting properly fitting dentures or implants so they can eat and converse to have a life. To someone entering the workforce at a mid to upper level it's getting your teeth straightened so you look acceptable and can get a good job. to an up and coming manager or sales professional it getting the perfect smile to really look the part. The industry is geared about leading customers to the expensive options.
The cost of those services goes from a couple of hundred up into high tens of thousands + so setting the stage for some really intense boundary issues.
I'm not sure how well the free treatment for under 18 works for people who haven't a hope of ever affording more cosmetic dental work. The places are set up to be comfortable to people who can afford extensive treatments and are quite intimidating if you can't. I think we lost a lot when the School Dental Service was shut down, that should have been broadened to be a multi disciplinary school health service in all schools. But I'm biased, Mum worked at the murder house.
There used to be dental services through some of the DHBs at hospital level, but that was really for people who were in a very bad way and beyond a local anaesthetic.
Probably the best option would be to make the dentist a primary healthcare provider and fund them like GPs, with similar treatment pathways to public or private services at different levels and funding sources.
Right now though we're seeing people who are stuffed because they can't get, or afford dental care. Something's not working.
What is Newsroom doing? Is it becoming the media-friendly face for Government announcements? Where is the critical analysis?
Anywho:
The policy work has been coming thick and fast, the Emissions Reduction Plan, Reshaping Streets, the clean car discount and the transport choices package to name a few.
Major projects to get people out of their cars are also expected to make progress in 2023, including Auckland light rail and the long-awaited Let’s Get Wellington Moving plan.
“We want to get on with early works for Auckland light rail next year, get a decision made on the preferred option for the alternative crossing, …
On dental care I have been under the impression for at least 50 years that the handbrake, in fact the full emergency stop, has been down to dentists. In the late 40s or early50s I think it was when theGovt of the day dragged doctors kicking and screaming into subsidised care the dentists held out. That’s why dental care is so bloody expensive, the dentists did not want the government determining the fee structure.
No business confidence is down because the people that shop, that need doctors/dentists/carfixed/houses bought/sold etc are telling everyone that they don't earn enough, their costs are through the roof, they are wondering if they can afford to still rent/pay the mortgage in a month times.
Business confidence is down because despite the 'low unemployment' it seems everyone needs either an emergency grant or a food parcel or ends up in emergency housing for lack of affordable rentals.
Business confidence is down because you can't get ingredients, tools, materials etc and what ever you can get is getting more expensive by the day, costs that will be rolled over into the end price of said product that people eventually can't afford anymore and thus will go without it.
Business confidence is down because you have two main parties that are seemingly out of touch with the reality that businesses are dealing with and well that does not bode well for the future.
Business confidence is down because you have a major war in Europe which most likely will spill over and escalate, and a whole lot of other quibbles that could seriously disrupt the world wide trading and dealings.
And 21.20 per week on a 30+ hour is not a lot before tax when your median rent is 580 NZD per week, your gorceries have gone up 10+%, never mind electricity and all the other jazz. And that too is something that businesses know, and they also know that you can not have enough increases in min wage to make up the lack of regulations in the rental market, food market, energy market. So even if you put the min wage to 50 per hour you would still not make enough for hte median wage of 1250 per week.
For men, the unemployment rate was 2.9 percent, compared with 3.1 percent last quarter.
For women, the unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, compared with 3.6 percent last quarter.
and then of course what is employed vs unemployed
So, if you tell Stats NZ you are unemployed, are you counted in the statistics?
No, it’s not quite that straightforward.
To be counted as unemployed in the survey, people must not have a part-time job, even if it is only for one hour a week.
They must also be available for work in the week in question and have actively sought work during the four weeks preceding the interview, or else be just about to start work.
Someone on a Jobseeker allowance who hadn’t been looking for work because they were undertaking training might not be counted, for example.
underemployement:
In the September quarter, there were 98,000 people Stats NZ described as ‘unemployed’, 97,000 defined as underemployed, and 84,000 who were classed as potential jobseekers, so they are all pretty large groups worth worrying about.
Together, they put the underutilisation rate at 9.2 per cent.
So no, we don't have a booming economy. We might have a few sectors that are 'booming' if you count banks making record profits on increasing interest rates as booming for example, but does that actually help the overall economy? And does it make for a good economic outlook? No, no it does not.
This year will be tough as there are many people due to come to the end of their mortgage fixed interest period and will likely face interest increases from around 3% to +6%. So people will have less money to spend in the economy. Also, rental interest deductibility on private rentals is reducing from 75% to only 50% being able to be claimed as a tax deduction (from 1April 2023). I will be increasing the rent on my property to cover this. Tenant has been there for more than 15 years and is totally understanding about it.
As long as you could deduct the interest paid on a loan to buy the property from your taxable income you got as rent it would make very good sense to have a mortgage. Indeed you would be best off by never paying it off.
You might get a little worried if you were unable to rent the property out and you were as highly geared as that implies of course.
I have had my mortgage for 41 years, For about 30 of them, it had a zero balance. I did not discharge it so it just sat there until I wanted to borrow some more $$$$ about 5 years ago.
Bit of a downside of using monetary policy, rather than fiscal policy, to moderate demand. Even after deciding the OCR needs to go back it will be up to ~5 years before the prior decisions stop having impact. This generates a real risk of the RBNZ having ongoing, unwanted impacts and unnecessary overtightening.
The Government's tax haul has topped $100b, powered by a lift in corporate profits, wage growth and low unemployment.
Tax revenue of $107.9b was up from $97.4 billion in 2021 and is one of the reasons the yearly deficit was far below what was projected in May.
The … Financial Statements of the Government .. a breakdown of the country's financial books – how much revenue the Government received, how much was spent and if that means a deficit or surplus.
No one expected a surplus as the Government's had to channel a significant amount of money into COVID-19 spending. But the final result still ended up much better than expected. In May, at the Budget, a $19b deficit was forecast, but Wednesday's figure was a $9.7b deficit – nearly $10b better than expected.
Treasury said $3.3b of this increase was down to wage increase and growth in employment. There's currently near-record unemployment at 3.3 percent, while StatsNZ said in August that wage inflation jumped 3.4 percent in the June quarter. Though that's below annual inflation of 7.3 percent.
There's also been a whopping 26.2 percent increase in corporate tax revenue. The $4.1b jump was "mainly owning to growth in taxable profits".
"What I would say though is anybody thinking about significant changes to the tax system needs to be able to make it add up. There is still a job of work to do here to make sure we bring debt down to more sustainable levels and continue to invest."
There is another way to understand these budget forecast errors.
The deficit (surplus) in the budget is associated with an acceptable inflation forecast. When the deficit is over-estimated (as happens frequently) that says the forecast error amount in public spending was left on the table within budgeted inflation forecasts.
Yeah but I've talked to self employed guys in various building related businesses, not builders, that have nothing large coming there way from mid year sounds like that's when it's going hit
There's the other side to that with clients stepping back from the market until things settle down a bit. Heck, six months work ahead of you in construction is normally good times.
Actually a 'normal' state for most builders in normal trading conditions.
Once the forward work gets out to 12 months prices start going silly and clients start dropping out of the market.
The last three years have been exceptional for the building industry, probably the best ever for the work that's out there. It's good to see it moving back to some sanity.
Judges need to actually impose a sentence that keeps people like this who constantly re-offend off the street to keep the public safe. Three months community detention……what a joke. He's probably already driving again!
Lets hope they actually get around to installing the alcohol interlock although that doesn't stop him jumping into another vehicle.
The current deterrents are obviously not working. And from the article:
"although he was attending counselling, Judge Krebs described his cavalier attitude of having a beer before his sessions as “counterproductive”."
I would hate to be driving (or riding my bike) on the same road. The judge did say it warranted a prison sentence.
Perhaps while in jail (I would suggest three to four months in jail) attending compulsory alcohol counselling where hopefully he cannot drink beforehand may make a difference. The interlocking device although not foolproof should be compulsory after jail IMO.
Three months’ community detention, with a 7pm to 7am curfew, and 18 months’ intensive supervision plus a zero alcohol licence for the next three years after 12 months of having the interlock in his car: tick
Being in a positive relationship and a pro-social family environment for the first time: tick
Jail time: no tick
A very considered and bold sentence by Judge Jonathan, IMO. Judge Jimmy still has a lot to learn.
"Three months’ community detention, with a 7pm to 7am curfew, and 18 months’ intensive supervision plus a zero alcohol licence for the next three years after 12 months of having the interlock in his car: tick"
This wouldn't get the tick from judge Jimmy as we all know the intensive supervision would not be possible we do not have the resources, and he will coming and going as he pleases with an occasional check to see if he is sticking to the rules (of which he hasn't previously). Even the terrorist bloke who stabbed people in Countdown Lynn Mall had constant supervision.
Be interesting to see if he gets caught again driving in several months time and we have the same debate.
The PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel said in 2020 that crypto was one of two poles of technological conflict, the other being artificial intelligence. AI could “theoretically make it possible to centrally control an entire economy” while crypto “holds out the prospect of a decentralised and individualised world”. He concluded that AI is communist and crypto is libertarian; it was unnecessary to add which of those he thought was better.
[…]
I think Thiel is right: crypto is the ultimate technology of libertarianism, the final frontier of discovery. He just missed the second footfall, which is that, through crypto, we will discover that libertarianism is bullshit.
Well…you'd need a LOT of something, to hide the shit taste …
But yea a creepy scumbag for sure. Back in time he might have been a Count..(Count, I say : ) in a castle on the lurk for "wirgen blood"…
But apparently..Now…he is NOT a vampire
Speaking at the New York Times Dealbook conference Mr Thiel said: "I want to publicly tell you that I'm not a vampire. On the record, I am not a vampire."
What’s the dirty politics going on in the National Party in Tukituki?
”Allegations of “dirty politics” have emerged from a National Party candidate selection, with one would-be MP claiming “concocted fabrications” and “half-truths” surround his bid for Parliament.”
Tenants starting to see some justice after 2000 years. In this case a win for wrongful eviction. That's nice but what is better is the Tenancy Tribunal is finally slamming slumlords with (slightly) better fines and reparations. Said landlord had to pay the tenant $2000 for two years of illegal dealings. But that's just $20/week fine over the length of tenancy. Still a long way to go before amateur landlordism is crushed for good.
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
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:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
One of the strongest narratives about "our" spy agencies is that they are basically institutional traitors, working for foreign powers (or just themselves), without any control or oversight by the elected government. And today, we have yet another report from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security which explicitly confirms this. ...
“It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April to meet the Prime Minister’s ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track 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 publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
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 publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
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What is climate denial?
Much of the stuff out there is discussion on how best to deal with climate change – it seems to me.
We most certainly cannot have a Static Climate for it is certain changes have been continuously occurring over millions of years.
Surely a policy of least present damage for least future damage has some attraction?
I am trying not to ask questions that are too difficult to answer and hope that open communication can get to the best answer – for us all.
[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.]
You've put your finger on it – the current rate of change is 'unnatural'.
For the purposes of commenting under my posts, here is what I consider climate denial,
I also take a dim view of arguments along the lines of 'there's nothing we can do' or 'it's too late.
Is this a good place to get information from?
https://theconversation.com/nz/topics/climate-explained-74664
Assuming that is a genuine question, I am shocked you even have to ask it. Have you looked at the list of contributors? They only represent some of the very best brains in the country.
Or are you one of those science deniers.
why are you asking me that?
FOMO (Fear Of Moderator Ostracism)
Consulting the Oracle
The one source of truth?
ROFL Incognito!
thanks for clarifying where you stand, this makes things easier.
Would you buy a car or a house from an unknown seller without enquiring first about their reputation and track record? Would you simply rely on online reviews from sources that you don’t know anything about? Or would you do a bit of research aka fact-checking and apply sound judgment to make well-informed decisions?
The expected standard on The Standard is that commenters contribute to robust informed debate by making sound arguments founded on reality and presenting their reliable trustworthy information sources with links. This helps build a culture and community of trust and respect.
very nicely put.
SUVs no longer unaffordable for those desperately troubled Groundswell gentlemen?
I may have misunderstood a recent advertising campaign but it would appear that the Triton (Mitsubishi) is being offered with the surcharge being paid for them by MMC. Now they might be able to buy another GPS-controlled-air conditioned-cab-tractor for exclusive use on demonstrations.
Mitisbushi have had to be very proactive to sell the Triton in Aotearoa. Reality is they're not that good compared to a Hilux or Ranger, very much built down to a price.
In my circle they are referred to as an Itsbitsy Tighton.
But reality is that demand is shifting very quickly from diesel double cabs to EVs
The rebate scheme is affirming what people want in the market and looks like the market is responding.
I'm also hearing people say they are putting of buying a new ute until hybrids or BEVs come out later this year or early next. Unfortunately the decision is being driven by running cost and business image, rather than pure environmental thinking, but result is same.
Meanwhile, in Wyoming
Wyoming bill calls for ban on EV sales by 2035 (motorauthority.com)
They tried to ban motorcars in Queenstown NZ back in the day too, ended up with a flag man in front of the car on some roads for a while.
Good grief, really? Sounds like an invitation to angry petrol heads to revolt!
yes, and the other side wants to ban sell of the other cars. https://www.npr.org/2022/08/25/1119456396/california-is-set-to-ban-sales-of-new-gasoline-powered-cars-by-2035#:~:text=Press-,California%20bans%20the%20sale%20of%20gas%2Dpowered%20cars%20by%202035,global%20warming%20and%20health%20issues.
china too https://apnews.com/article/technology-china-electric-vehicles-south-sea-42eb8e86a31d24506c8e463a5af3a718
https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-state-to-ban-sale-of-gasoline-powered-vehicles-by-2035-11664487387
it is literally just all a fucking useless tit for tat.
In fact both sides are just increasing anxiety and hate in voters. Cars are a tool for freedom for many people. People live in their cars/vans/rvs for heavens sake.
But then in the end neither side actually has anything meaningful to offer to those that need cars.
I mean here in NZ we are giving money to quite rich people to buy cars they can afford on their own, but we are not subsidizing a single EV bike, or better even an EV – Cargo bike. Nah, you environmental considerate person, go buy your own toys you lazy bludgers.
Its all just a constant ramping up of crappy feelings that both sides guilty of.
Neither one of them is courageous to admit that private transport will be phased out, will be a privilege for a very few, generally connected people with the correct credentials, whilst the rest can take a hike. No pun intended.
Neither one of the whole lot irrespective their house colors is courageous to admit that their tinkering on the edges has done nothing but frayed the edges, caused rips in the fabric and sadly we never created enough public transport to remove the need for private transport already years ago. And here we go, let us bamboozle you with meaningless drivel so that you can hype up the comrades.
Never mind, that the banning/phasing out of private transport is what is being implemented but as always it is sadly to late.
A box on both of their houses. May their buses be late, their trains broken down and their flights cancelled.
"May their buses be late, their trains broken down"
In Auckland, you've already got your wish
Symond Street. No buses for hours, suddenly all the buses at once.
T’was always so.
Symonds St. 100 bus movements an hour pre-pandemic. Basically a bus sewer. An even now – we have never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus.
That sounds good. I used to bus daily and it was hit and miss in 2010 – 2015 but if a bus were late it usually was several due to road mayhem elsewhere.
Ditto upper Queenstreet. Love the Onehunga Depot though. That was well done.
"black ute's matter" was their rather clever slogan
Getting more free dental care is like pulling teeth. It seems a no-brainer but one with a huge price tag, allegedly. Let’s see if National and/or ACT will sink their teeth into this. My guess is that apart from the usual hollow meaningless National SM flutters they won’t.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/free-dental-care-a-political-win-but-a-financial-nightmare
Thats a frankly absurd way to discuss dental care. The cost is completely irrelevant to the question.
Probably there are some serious questions, such as would dentists want to work for a nationalised service, how would treatment costs be allocated and would it be worth the restructuring process in results. That would be worth discussing.
I also expect changing from price rationing to need rationing would immediately demonstrate shortages of dentists.
No need to waste much time & energy on this as it is not top-priority. Government is clearing the desk for the policies that they will want to push through this year and an extension of free dental care ain’t one of those. If any other Party wants to campaign for/on it they’ll need to do the work and the onus is on them to sell it to the people aka voters. It is sensible politics in an election year, IMO.
The article covers the knowns.
The problem is lack of dentists and providing free service to those privileged enough to afford care now (and being in areas where they are available) is clearly not a priority.
There are not enough for free care to those under 18's (and problems getting services to isolated areas – mobile vehicles being one lack atm)***.
These are already in play
There has been the increase in subsidy for private dentist treatment (via Work and Income) from $300 to $1000 (improves chances to get a job/be work able).
I would add that examination for tooth removal at hospitals is free for those with CSC, and they also do the removal. Those not eligible such as those in work have been pulling their own teeth out.
There should be an extension of the free tooth removal to those on low incomes or otherwise a subsidy for such private dentist work.
The next need is a subsidy for an annual check for those with CSC and low income parents.
It is a known fact that poor dental care impacts on health – infections can lead to heart problems and thus cost to the health system.
https://locustfamilydentistry.com/5-reasons-why-oral-hygiene-is-important/
Free dental 'care' means different things to different people. To someone on a benefit or minimum wage it means getting a tooth ache fixed so they can do more than just exist. To a retiree it's getting properly fitting dentures or implants so they can eat and converse to have a life. To someone entering the workforce at a mid to upper level it's getting your teeth straightened so you look acceptable and can get a good job. to an up and coming manager or sales professional it getting the perfect smile to really look the part. The industry is geared about leading customers to the expensive options.
The cost of those services goes from a couple of hundred up into high tens of thousands + so setting the stage for some really intense boundary issues.
I'm not sure how well the free treatment for under 18 works for people who haven't a hope of ever affording more cosmetic dental work. The places are set up to be comfortable to people who can afford extensive treatments and are quite intimidating if you can't. I think we lost a lot when the School Dental Service was shut down, that should have been broadened to be a multi disciplinary school health service in all schools. But I'm biased, Mum worked at the murder house.
There used to be dental services through some of the DHBs at hospital level, but that was really for people who were in a very bad way and beyond a local anaesthetic.
Probably the best option would be to make the dentist a primary healthcare provider and fund them like GPs, with similar treatment pathways to public or private services at different levels and funding sources.
Right now though we're seeing people who are stuffed because they can't get, or afford dental care. Something's not working.
What is Newsroom doing? Is it becoming the media-friendly face for Government announcements? Where is the critical analysis?
Anywho:
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/pro/2023-when-rubber-hits-the-road-for-lgwm
National MPs seem to be stuck in potholes and ACT is racing to get the speed limits dropped but hardly anything else as far as I can tell.
Someone says something positive about Labour's policies/achievements and they must be biased Incog?
You have been reading the Herald too much.
On dental care I have been under the impression for at least 50 years that the handbrake, in fact the full emergency stop, has been down to dentists. In the late 40s or early50s I think it was when theGovt of the day dragged doctors kicking and screaming into subsidised care the dentists held out. That’s why dental care is so bloody expensive, the dentists did not want the government determining the fee structure.
https://twitter.com/nz_voter/status/1615420935317905408
Yep. Had the same conversation with a mechanic last week. Walked him round that circle and maybe moderated his pretty rabid anti Government attitude.
No business confidence is down because the people that shop, that need doctors/dentists/carfixed/houses bought/sold etc are telling everyone that they don't earn enough, their costs are through the roof, they are wondering if they can afford to still rent/pay the mortgage in a month times.
Business confidence is down because despite the 'low unemployment' it seems everyone needs either an emergency grant or a food parcel or ends up in emergency housing for lack of affordable rentals.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/govt-has-spent-1b-on-emergency-housing-grants-including-motel-accommodation/ZISPLXHMVIOIYV34HCE5KSJIVM/#:~:text=Currently%2C%20there%20are%20roughly%204000,New%20Zealand%20%E2%80%93%20many%20in%20motels.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/129337880/emergency-food-parcels-numbers-skyrocket-since-pandemic
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/i-have-never-seen-it-as-busy-huge-increase-in-struggling-families-needing-support/X5UIJ7RN3BDBNILCSXP73M7TJA/
Business confidence is down because you can't get ingredients, tools, materials etc and what ever you can get is getting more expensive by the day, costs that will be rolled over into the end price of said product that people eventually can't afford anymore and thus will go without it.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/476633/construction-costs-for-new-homes-rise-by-record-9-point-6-percent-over-12-months
Business confidence is down because you have two main parties that are seemingly out of touch with the reality that businesses are dealing with and well that does not bode well for the future.
Business confidence is down because you have a major war in Europe which most likely will spill over and escalate, and a whole lot of other quibbles that could seriously disrupt the world wide trading and dealings.
And 21.20 per week on a 30+ hour is not a lot before tax when your median rent is 580 NZD per week, your gorceries have gone up 10+%, never mind electricity and all the other jazz. And that too is something that businesses know, and they also know that you can not have enough increases in min wage to make up the lack of regulations in the rental market, food market, energy market. So even if you put the min wage to 50 per hour you would still not make enough for hte median wage of 1250 per week.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/130801129/by-the-numbers-the-rental-market-at-years-end
https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-food-price-increase-remains-at-a-13-year-high-of-8-3-percent/#:~:text=of%208.3%20percent-,Annual%20food%20price%20increase%20remains%20at%20a,year%20high%20of%208.3%20percent&text=Food%20prices%20were%208.3%20percent,the%20highest%20since%20July%202009.
You can have high income, high inflation, 'low unemployment' and be poorer then you were ever before.
Underemployment at 9% https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/underutilisation-rate/
Youth Unemployment 9% https://tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/unemployed-persons#:~:text=In%20New%20Zealand%2C%20unemployed%20persons,and%20actively%20seeking%20to%20work.
Unemployment by 'sex'
and then of course what is employed vs unemployed
underemployement:
So no, we don't have a booming economy. We might have a few sectors that are 'booming' if you count banks making record profits on increasing interest rates as booming for example, but does that actually help the overall economy? And does it make for a good economic outlook? No, no it does not.
This year will be tough as there are many people due to come to the end of their mortgage fixed interest period and will likely face interest increases from around 3% to +6%. So people will have less money to spend in the economy. Also, rental interest deductibility on private rentals is reducing from 75% to only 50% being able to be claimed as a tax deduction (from 1April 2023). I will be increasing the rent on my property to cover this. Tenant has been there for more than 15 years and is totally understanding about it.
Interesting that you still have a mortgage after 15 years
As long as you could deduct the interest paid on a loan to buy the property from your taxable income you got as rent it would make very good sense to have a mortgage. Indeed you would be best off by never paying it off.
You might get a little worried if you were unable to rent the property out and you were as highly geared as that implies of course.
Was originally a 25 year mortgage so is now less than 1/2 original amount
Fair enough.
I have had my mortgage for 41 years, For about 30 of them, it had a zero balance. I did not discharge it so it just sat there until I wanted to borrow some more $$$$ about 5 years ago.
Bit of a downside of using monetary policy, rather than fiscal policy, to moderate demand. Even after deciding the OCR needs to go back it will be up to ~5 years before the prior decisions stop having impact. This generates a real risk of the RBNZ having ongoing, unwanted impacts and unnecessary overtightening.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/10/government-s-108b-tax-take-what-s-behind-the-haul-and-are-tax-cuts-on-the-table.html
The following shows
New Zealand Tax Revenue was reported at 78.791 USD bn in Dec 2022 up from 76.972 USD bn for Dec 2021. Note this is in US dollars.
https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/new-zealand/tax-revenue
It’s over NZ $120B.
There is another way to understand these budget forecast errors.
The deficit (surplus) in the budget is associated with an acceptable inflation forecast. When the deficit is over-estimated (as happens frequently) that says the forecast error amount in public spending was left on the table within budgeted inflation forecasts.
There's the other side to that with clients stepping back from the market until things settle down a bit. Heck, six months work ahead of you in construction is normally good times.
Six months work in todays market is half a house….in other words no forward orders.
Actually a 'normal' state for most builders in normal trading conditions.
Once the forward work gets out to 12 months prices start going silly and clients start dropping out of the market.
The last three years have been exceptional for the building industry, probably the best ever for the work that's out there. It's good to see it moving back to some sanity.
The cure for high prices is high prices….whats the cure for debt defaults?
"Concerns about failures in the building industry are beginning to be backed up by statistics.
Nearly a quarter of all liquidations last month were businesses from the building and construction sector.
Simplicity Living's Shane Brealey said within six months the construction of new homes will halve and the industry will basically "fall off a cliff".
He believes the industry could lose up to 45,000 jobs"
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2022/12/building-industry-downturn-could-cost-45-000-jobs-as-construction-halves-expert.html
Judges need to actually impose a sentence that keeps people like this who constantly re-offend off the street to keep the public safe. Three months community detention……what a joke. He's probably already driving again!
Lets hope they actually get around to installing the alcohol interlock although that doesn't stop him jumping into another vehicle.
Drink-driver gives up attempt to flee police, sculls beer, throws away keys before arrest – NZ Herald
You would have thrown him jail, no doubt, for how long? And then what?
Only Judge Jimmy can judge Right.
The current deterrents are obviously not working. And from the article:
"although he was attending counselling, Judge Krebs described his cavalier attitude of having a beer before his sessions as “counterproductive”."
I would hate to be driving (or riding my bike) on the same road. The judge did say it warranted a prison sentence.
Perhaps while in jail (I would suggest three to four months in jail) attending compulsory alcohol counselling where hopefully he cannot drink beforehand may make a difference. The interlocking device although not foolproof should be compulsory after jail IMO.
A very considered and bold sentence by Judge Jonathan, IMO. Judge Jimmy still has a lot to learn.
This wouldn't get the tick from judge Jimmy as we all know the intensive supervision would not be possible we do not have the resources, and he will coming and going as he pleases with an occasional check to see if he is sticking to the rules (of which he hasn't previously). Even the terrorist bloke who stabbed people in Countdown Lynn Mall had constant supervision.
Be interesting to see if he gets caught again driving in several months time and we have the same debate.
Being taxed into penury would be too good for this fucker. Let's eat him.
https://twitter.com/yasmin_poole/status/1615133384036040709
No surly he isn't a complete arshole, I mean national gave him citizenship didn't they?
Not a complete arshole.
The PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel said in 2020 that crypto was one of two poles of technological conflict, the other being artificial intelligence. AI could “theoretically make it possible to centrally control an entire economy” while crypto “holds out the prospect of a decentralised and individualised world”. He concluded that AI is communist and crypto is libertarian; it was unnecessary to add which of those he thought was better.
[…]
I think Thiel is right: crypto is the ultimate technology of libertarianism, the final frontier of discovery. He just missed the second footfall, which is that, through crypto, we will discover that libertarianism is bullshit.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/17/whats-the-true-value-of-crypto-it-lays-bare-the-lies-of-libertarians-ftx
Well…you'd need a LOT of something, to hide the shit taste …
But yea a creepy scumbag for sure. Back in time he might have been a Count..(Count, I say : ) in a castle on the lurk for "wirgen blood"…
But apparently..Now…he is NOT a vampire
Still..he is some kind of blood sucker.
These people are disgusting.
https://twitter.com/RawiriTaonui/status/1615024623489544194
1990 National cut benefits because of budget concern and yet also ended the estate tax.
2008 Key increased GST to afford promised income tax cuts.
2023 ACT want to reduce the incomes of the poor and cut tax for the rich.
What’s the dirty politics going on in the National Party in Tukituki?
”Allegations of “dirty politics” have emerged from a National Party candidate selection, with one would-be MP claiming “concocted fabrications” and “half-truths” surround his bid for Parliament.”
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/01/election-2023-allegations-of-dirty-politics-in-national-candidate-selection-as-parties-set-to-kick-off-political-year.html
Tenants starting to see some justice after 2000 years. In this case a win for wrongful eviction. That's nice but what is better is the Tenancy Tribunal is finally slamming slumlords with (slightly) better fines and reparations. Said landlord had to pay the tenant $2000 for two years of illegal dealings. But that's just $20/week fine over the length of tenancy. Still a long way to go before amateur landlordism is crushed for good.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/tenant-given-notice-after-sparking-council-investigation-over-missing-rubbish-bin/2R6XYLIOWVCRBAEEYZDKJORTA4/
Eugenie Sage is leaving parliament this year, and I just heard on twitter that Jan Logie is too. Those are two experienced MPs the Greens are losing.
https://twitter.com/Adam_Currie_NZ/status/1615571431768850432