At the end of last year -1919 – Tourism was rolling in massive money. Indeed the word Billion$ was being bandied around. It was deemed New Zealand's biggest Asset !
Just two short months later – year 2020 – there was not a penny to be found in the Tourism biscuit tin.
All I want to know is where did that massive money go in 1919 ?
And why is the Tourism coterie trying to Crush a decent man – Kelvin Davis ?
Is he too honest for New Zealand's so called biggest Asset ? Will he dig too deep into the 1919 jar ? dragging
Lisa Owen silently along full of her abuse.
Did you see Michelle Boag? "Mark, you'd be good!" As a Nat MP, perhaps. I wouldn't go further than that. Being grounded is good, being partisan isn't. Success as a politician comes when you can communicate with most folks easily.
Toby Manhire made a similar observation to mine (last night): "The most astonishing of all the numbers in last night’s poll wasn’t expressly party-political at all. Echoing the result of Stickybeak surveys for The Spinoff, an extraordinary 91.6% said they believe the government made the right call in putting New Zealand into lockdown for four weeks. That number is the centre of gravity for the rest of the Newshub poll". https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/19-05-2020/simon-bridges-leadership-hangs-by-a-thread-after-mind-blowing-poll/
That 90% holding up for so many weeks is a sustained political quake. The other poll results were consequences of that huge body of public opinion. That's what the Nats & Mark Richardson are up against. Not Labour.
Declaration of interest: I cite this for the entertainment value. I worked with Kate often enough long ago to develop an easy rapport (never discussed politics).
Arguable. Herald verbiage is to be expected. Someone who thinks National is at historic lows is ignoring the English wipeout due to Bolger/Shipley loathing, 2002.
I'd go for Greens within margin of error of govt – but only due to Jacinda's thinking (collaboration, any other Labour leader too stupid with the possible exception of Parker).
Fair enough, given his surprise transcendence into big-picture thinking three years back – and good collaboration with NZF/Greens in referendum design.
Next Hawkesby will be saying we all have another mental health diagnosis. She needs to be pulled up on using the term Stockholm syndrome.
She needed to express her own anxiety, the National Party are in the shit and how she feels about having to stomach a Labour Government for another 3 years. I did read the link as painful as it was.
Professor Garner is just one of thousands discovering how tiring COVID-19 can be.
Scientists are still uncovering the deadly secrets of the virus and the long-term impact for those who recover from the disease is yet to be fully understood.
In serious cases there are concerns about major organ damage.
The World Health Organisation states those with less severe cases of COVID-19 should recover within two weeks, and serious cases could take up to six weeks.
But even patients with what are considered mild bouts of the virus, are experiencing fatigue and breathlessness well beyond the suggested recovery period.
On a much brighter note NZ had another all zero day with only 45 active cases left. As a country we should take exceptional pride in getting this far collectively. If we can do this, we can face the challenges ahead.
After the Dunedin chocolate factory went wonkers, they didn't give up and looked for viable alternatives. Hail OCHO. Coping with Covid-19 and giving it whatever it takes.
The two Whittaker brothers in Porirua ate their lunch.
I commissioned an imported moulding machine for them back in the 90's and it was a lot of fun working for Andrew and Brian. Two quite different characters who have worked to each other's strengths to take a small multi-generational family business to a true kiwi success story.
Actually in that small area around the back of Porirua there were quite a few strong kiwi manufacturing stories. Tough little survivors of the neo-liberal onslaught.
Which skin conditions are treated with hydroxychloroquine?
Skin disorders caused or aggravated by the sun (photosensitive skin disorders)
What are the possible side effects of hydroxychloroquine?
Side effects are uncommon; however, a few people may develop one of the following: rash, indigestion, diarrhoea, headache, blurred vision, cramps or muscle weakness, darkening of the skin, or bleaching of the hair. [my italics]
Kemrin Begrie – the perpetual truculent adolescent – now on the Epidemic Response Committee calling for asset sales to pay for the larger government deficit due to COVID-19. The amount of cover the deficit will give some future National government to re-implement the neolib playbook is frightening. In truth as Mark Blyth says, we shouldn't 'sweat the deficit' – but the false comparison to household budgets still has hold of the public mind. Grant Robertson will need to be very smart in his defusing of this danger.
Cellphone location data suggests that demonstrators at anti-lockdown protests – some of which have been connected with Covid-19 cases – are often traveling hundreds of miles to events, returning to all parts of their states, and even crossing into neighboring ones.
The data, provided to the Guardian by the progressive campaign group the Committee to Protect Medicare, raises the prospect that the protests will play a role in spreading the coronavirus epidemic to areas which have, so far, experienced relatively few infections.
I don't know about other people, but I find this scary. I could be looking in the wrong places, but it seems like progressive Americans just don't know what to do about what is happening in the US.
It comes down to the Senate and House this November, moreso even than potus. Dolt45 enables nazi-adjacents (and their adjacant-adjacent fools like this jerk probably is), but McConnel enables dolt45.
Without another 2018-style wave, it'll get much worse.
Not sure on senate. In 2018 dems lost 2 and repubs gained 2, but that was the class 1 stream which was 2/3 dem. The third of senate up for election this year is class 2, which is 2/3 repub and no independents. So this one will be a real test of repub popularity. If dems gain 3 and repubs lose 3, dems un the Senate and dolt45 is lame.
The dems got the House last time and I suspect they'll do even better there this time.
The House is looking fairly good to stay in Dem control.
I'm fighting a battle to not get my hopes up of the Senate flipping to Dem control, but it's getting harder. At this stage I don't think it's even 50/50 yet, but the trendline is going in a good direction. Here's a reasonable bunch of state-by-state thumbnails:
There is some hope that there will be a shift to the Dems come Nov – its 50:50 at the moment. but some repugs could lose, Susan Collins in Maine, for instance is looking vulnerable
Then again Doug Jones in Alabama who was voted in over the repugnant Moore may not survive. He has toed a pretty conservative line to appease the voters, but it will depend on the votes of women again there, if he is to succeed again.
But as Andre says – I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much.
One interesting article I came across today on fivethirtyeight looks at the shift in voting preference of older people across the country. In 2016 they swung mostly behind Trump. But the polls are showing that that is no longer the case and there is a definite swing towards Biden and down the ticket as well which bodes well if it can be sustained. Trumps petulance and ineptitude over this recent crises hasn't helped his chances with this demographic either.
Progressive Americans are way too busy sitting on their purity ponies bagging the Democratic party. Meanwhile, repugs are more than happy to assist the tRump crime family consolidate power, ditch any semblance of a cooperative society and transform 'Murica into their version of a laissez-faire republic.
President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign announced Monday a new “investigative” website that prioritizes “truth over facts.” The site, in fact, is called TheTruthOverFacts.com.
Actually you are in premod, not the ban list. My note there says troll watch. I'll let you out, but you do seem to be popping up on my radar a bit. Sometimes you bring good debate to the table, other times it just looks like poking at the lefties /shrug.
Asked a 'gotcha' question in the presser – "Use one word to describe Jacinda Ardern," obviously designed to elicit 'political bias,' he paused a moment, then answered, "Can I use two! Prime Minister."
First it reveals the right's preparedness to make stuff up in order to justify their "cure is worse than the disease" message. More importantly, it suggests that a sense of common purpose, collective responsibility, mutual aid and kindness is good for mental health. Much better than being an isolated individual locked in mortal economic competition with everyone else. The danger of course – is that as we go back to that alienating sh*tshow called 'the economy', especially in a deep recession, it will all get worse again.
will be very interesting if someone does some research on this. I'm not going to be surprised if there are more suicides in places like the US. Ardern's leadership around framing and messaging has served us well in helping build the sense of we're all in this together despite the stress.
Í'm pleased to hear it went down and as I recall I thought/hoped on these pages a couple of months ago that that would be the case as the same trend happened in the Second World War and in other times of threat. Sometimes things are just a bit bigger than your own problems.
I also thought that NZs population would go up slightly if we got the lockdown done effectively, less road deaths , work fatalities, murders and other all-round stupidities would leave more Kiwis alive at the end than at the start.
What I didn't factor in was 250,000 ( was it? ) coming home in a hurry. Welcome back.
our missing health minister appears about 1:30 into this, just as well this will get no coverage, and does the Hon. D.Clark read what he said FFS look after the disadvantaged
perhaps after the recent polling success we could extend the strength of our triumvirate within the Labour Party and that they could seek out some achievers and not allow some desk warmers to bask in the success of our PM
China has slammed claims it backed down and Australia had a victory over the probe into COVID-19 as a “joke”.
In the latest diplomatic war of words between the two nations, the Chinese embassy has lashed out at claims it has backed down over the investigation under international pressure.
“The draft resolution on COVID-19 to be adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) is totally different from Australia’s proposal of an independent review,” a spokesman said.
Again the CCP blatantly acting to piss as many nations off as possible. And also openly admitting that the investigation they have committed to is totally different from Australia’s proposal of an independent review.
Those who choose to believe the WHO recently became a puppet of China have no reason to accept the WHO's future report on Covid-19 – they intend to dismiss findings at odds with their own worldview even before the scope of the investigation is agreed.
So Australia sticks it's neck out and demands an independent investigation (which is the position I've been advocating for). Over 100 countries sign on.
Xi Xinping then gets an unprecedented invite from Tedros, widely perceived to be a CCP puppet, to speak to a major WHO conference where China unilaterally preempts an investigation on it's own terms.
“Historians love chapter breaks,” said Robert Kaplan, an American foreign-policy expert and former member of the U.S. Defense Policy Board, who this month briefed officials at 10 Downing Street on the potential second-order effects of the coronavirus crisis. “COVID-19 will come to be seen as a chapter break.”
Yes I am very much afraid so. When people here hope that post-COVID life will be different I'm deeply concerned they will be right, but in ways none of us would wish for.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 18, 2020– Moderna, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNA), a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients, today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of $1.25 billion in shares of common stock. In addition, Moderna expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $187.5 million in shares of common stock in connection with the public offering. All shares of common stock will be offered by Moderna.
Dang! Newshub asked voters for one word to describe Jacinda and simon, they then formed those words into word clouds. The bigger the font the more often the word was said.
What a great idea, using word clouds in polls to show the public's perception, awesome.
The top ten words to describe Jacinda included 'amazing', 'good', 'compassionate', 'leader', 'great', 'strong', 'empathetic', 'capable', 'excellent' and 'awesome'.
and simon….. 'Idiot' topped the chart, followed by 'don't know', 'average', 'good', 'annoying', 'weak', 'useless', 'unsure' and 'disappointing'.
Hot Toddy! Actually, as someone who always had an extremely hostile attitude to Bolger, I thought he came across well. Balanced, sensible, seems to have mellowed with age. Wouldn't surprise me if his advice turns out to be more influential than Key's.
I listened to his interview on the 9th floor, and he has really had a few changes of mind since he was PM, would probably fit in the centre left of current NZ economic orthodoxy, but is obviously tribal National.
"In the past the MoW took the positive planning approach to making New Zealand. In partnership with elected representatives they identified projects that would advance the development of the country. The MoW had their own economists who could evaluate and determine how nation-building projects might fit into wider considerations, such as, the economic cycle. The Ministry was at odds with a neo-liberal Treasury, as it could hold its own in economic debates. Given this fight for political-economic attention it is not surprising the MoW was dis-established."
There is some positive news the worlds carbon footprint shrinks
That's is cool the virus contact tracking AP.
Buying New Zealand made that the way.
That's a great way to raise funds for water shortage solution for South Africa auctioning a famous painters painting.
Ruby will have a good future as a reporter.
I say that Our government has the $20 billion backstop money set aside because we don't know the true impact of long the virus effects will last you can't take it back once its spent.
The problem with having wealth business people leading a country is they are to self centered to have a great economy you need to take everyone up there economic ladders not just the wealthy.
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 ...
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 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
The unidentified foreign intelligence operation discussed in a scathing report by New Zealand’s Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) last week appears to be a controversial United States intelligence system. The IGIS report said the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) decision to host a foreign system from 2012-2020 was “improper” ...
As a young gymnast, Aimee Didierjean was always conscious of making sure her underwear wasn’t showing on the competition floor. A peek of a bra strap, or briefs if a leotard rode up, would cost a gymnast points in her routines. “When I was growing and going through puberty, it ...
Jubi/West Papua Daily Repeated cases of Indonesian military (TNI) soldiers torturing civilians in Papua have been evident, as seen in the viral video depicting the torture of civilians in the Puncak Regency allegedly done by soldiers of Raider 300/Brajawijaya Infantry Battalion. There is a pressing need for stringent law enforcement ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In 2023, Anthony Albanese was shooting for the moon, his eyes on the Voice referendum. On one view, he looked like the idealist reflecting his left-wing roots. In 2024, we’re seeing a pragmatic, determined, ...
The House - The principle that all MPs are honourable and that they should be taken at their word has been tested multiple times this week in Parliament. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Dickinson, Professor, Public Service Research, UNSW Sydney Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock Since the review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) released its recommendations in December, there has been a series of Town Hall events to discuss them around the country ...
Where have all the Flowers gone ?
At the end of last year -1919 – Tourism was rolling in massive money. Indeed the word Billion$ was being bandied around. It was deemed New Zealand's biggest Asset !
Just two short months later – year 2020 – there was not a penny to be found in the Tourism biscuit tin.
All I want to know is where did that massive money go in 1919 ?
And why is the Tourism coterie trying to Crush a decent man – Kelvin Davis ?
Is he too honest for New Zealand's so called biggest Asset ? Will he dig too deep into the 1919 jar ? dragging
Lisa Owen silently along full of her abuse.
2019 surely
mark richardson is having a melt down about the poll, hehehehehe.
Did you see Michelle Boag? "Mark, you'd be good!" As a Nat MP, perhaps. I wouldn't go further than that. Being grounded is good, being partisan isn't. Success as a politician comes when you can communicate with most folks easily.
Toby Manhire made a similar observation to mine (last night): "The most astonishing of all the numbers in last night’s poll wasn’t expressly party-political at all. Echoing the result of Stickybeak surveys for The Spinoff, an extraordinary 91.6% said they believe the government made the right call in putting New Zealand into lockdown for four weeks. That number is the centre of gravity for the rest of the Newshub poll". https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/19-05-2020/simon-bridges-leadership-hangs-by-a-thread-after-mind-blowing-poll/
That 90% holding up for so many weeks is a sustained political quake. The other poll results were consequences of that huge body of public opinion. That's what the Nats & Mark Richardson are up against. Not Labour.
Boag's losing whatever is left of her mind.
(08:30)
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018746951
Who said that satire and parody are dead? Boag does it so well and without even a hint of irony.
That wild-eyed stare had me captivated. And as for that… shirt. Wtf was she thinking?
It’s called performance art, to captivate the audience.
Yes, by crikey she is in a world of her own.
Kate Hawkesby: "we all have Stockholm syndrome. We have fallen in love with our captor." https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12332935
Declaration of interest: I cite this for the entertainment value. I worked with Kate often enough long ago to develop an easy rapport (never discussed politics).
NZ Herald and verbs:
"National dropped to 30.6 per cent, the Green Party sunk to 5.5 per cent and NZ First slumped to 2.7 per cent."
Can you spot the party which is in government, the one which is a margin of error from government and the one which is at historic lows?
Arguable. Herald verbiage is to be expected. Someone who thinks National is at historic lows is ignoring the English wipeout due to Bolger/Shipley loathing, 2002.
I'd go for Greens within margin of error of govt – but only due to Jacinda's thinking (collaboration, any other Labour leader too stupid with the possible exception of Parker).
And Andrew Little.
Fair enough, given his surprise transcendence into big-picture thinking three years back – and good collaboration with NZF/Greens in referendum design.
I reckon it goes back further than three years.
No Dennis this is not something to be airily waved away.
It should have been "National plummeted to 30.6, the Greens were steady on 5.5 while NZF look to be struggling to get 5 per cent".
The Herald should report the facts.
Dennis Frank in combination with Michelle Boags massive f/up of not realizing the list vote counts
I'm picking she knows abit about Stockholm syndrome being tangled up with a road like hosking ,but shes got this one wrong.
Next Hawkesby will be saying we all have another mental health diagnosis. She needs to be pulled up on using the term Stockholm syndrome.
She needed to express her own anxiety, the National Party are in the shit and how she feels about having to stomach a Labour Government for another 3 years. I did read the link as painful as it was.
Is she unable to escape the neocon Horeskin Den? What an horrible predickament.
Hawkesby is a victim of the Stockholm syndrome her and Hosking saying looking at how Sweden is dealing with covid is not damaging their economy.
Pretty clear that neither looked at the actual economic data and predictions by the financial authorities in sweden
https://www.ft.com/content/93105160-dcb4-4721-9e58-a7b262cd4b6e
Also from Hosking- Boris and Trump are popular. Not keeping up with current polls then. He cites a lot of numbers, but none for those two.
Quite a few stories like this keep popping up:
On a much brighter note NZ had another all zero day with only 45 active cases left. As a country we should take exceptional pride in getting this far collectively. If we can do this, we can face the challenges ahead.
After the Dunedin chocolate factory went wonkers, they didn't give up and looked for viable alternatives. Hail OCHO. Coping with Covid-19 and giving it whatever it takes.
https://ocho.co.nz/pages/chocolatetour (Tours are off luv just now, but on-line biz is going full tilt.)
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/new-chocolate-factory-opens-in-dunedin-one-year-after-cadbury-closes-its-doors
Huh to all foreign owners playing us like dice in a bored game. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/112529623/cadburys-owner-mondelez-sees-nz-business-shrink-29-per-cent
The two Whittaker brothers in Porirua ate their lunch.
I commissioned an imported moulding machine for them back in the 90's and it was a lot of fun working for Andrew and Brian. Two quite different characters who have worked to each other's strengths to take a small multi-generational family business to a true kiwi success story.
Actually in that small area around the back of Porirua there were quite a few strong kiwi manufacturing stories. Tough little survivors of the neo-liberal onslaught.
I'm sure Cadbury's still has it's place in Pak n Save, but Whittakers is trouncing Cadbury's most elsewhere. Good to see your part in it.
Just a nibble
~sigh~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSAoeIz8xPY
he must have a lot of stock to sell 🙂
The adverse events profile for hydroxychloroquine includes this gem:
"feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there"
Hmm- maybe it's all starting to make sense?
He's hoping it is homeopathic.
Which skin conditions are treated with hydroxychloroquine?
What are the possible side effects of hydroxychloroquine?
Side effects are uncommon; however, a few people may develop one of the following: rash, indigestion, diarrhoea, headache, blurred vision, cramps or muscle weakness, darkening of the skin, or bleaching of the hair. [my italics]
http://www.skinsupport.org.uk/conditions-details/hydroxychloroquine
I heard from a reliable source that the side effects can be obliterated by applying a mixture of pumpkin and carrot juice to the face 3 times daily.
What have you got to lose?
Not letting the facts getting in the way of his truth.
Kemrin Begrie – the perpetual truculent adolescent – now on the Epidemic Response Committee calling for asset sales to pay for the larger government deficit due to COVID-19. The amount of cover the deficit will give some future National government to re-implement the neolib playbook is frightening. In truth as Mark Blyth says, we shouldn't 'sweat the deficit' – but the false comparison to household budgets still has hold of the public mind. Grant Robertson will need to be very smart in his defusing of this danger.
Asset sales are a huge vote loser. He should campaign for National
I'm sure you recall them campaigning on selling their asses and winning an election on said promise.
Power company shares anyone?
A helping hand and history will repeat.
Cellphone location data suggests that demonstrators at anti-lockdown protests – some of which have been connected with Covid-19 cases – are often traveling hundreds of miles to events, returning to all parts of their states, and even crossing into neighboring ones.
The data, provided to the Guardian by the progressive campaign group the Committee to Protect Medicare, raises the prospect that the protests will play a role in spreading the coronavirus epidemic to areas which have, so far, experienced relatively few infections.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/18/lockdown-protests-spread-coronavirus-cellphone-data
/
https://twitter.com/AngryBlackLady/status/1262468391463350272
https://kymkemp.com/2020/05/16/at-the-courthouse-friday-a-group-protested-against-stay-at-home-orders/
I don't know about other people, but I find this scary. I could be looking in the wrong places, but it seems like progressive Americans just don't know what to do about what is happening in the US.
Scary and depressing.
It comes down to the Senate and House this November, moreso even than potus. Dolt45 enables nazi-adjacents (and their adjacant-adjacent fools like this jerk probably is), but McConnel enables dolt45.
Without another 2018-style wave, it'll get much worse.
is it likely the Democrats will win in the House and/or Senate?
Not sure on senate. In 2018 dems lost 2 and repubs gained 2, but that was the class 1 stream which was 2/3 dem. The third of senate up for election this year is class 2, which is 2/3 repub and no independents. So this one will be a real test of repub popularity. If dems gain 3 and repubs lose 3, dems un the Senate and dolt45 is lame.
The dems got the House last time and I suspect they'll do even better there this time.
The House is looking fairly good to stay in Dem control.
I'm fighting a battle to not get my hopes up of the Senate flipping to Dem control, but it's getting harder. At this stage I don't think it's even 50/50 yet, but the trendline is going in a good direction. Here's a reasonable bunch of state-by-state thumbnails:
https://news.lee.net/news/national/ranking-the-top-10-senate-seats-most-likely-to-flip-in-2020/collection_fc1dd1c0-8a41-11ea-bdcd-3b80be912d70.html#1
There is some hope that there will be a shift to the Dems come Nov – its 50:50 at the moment. but some repugs could lose, Susan Collins in Maine, for instance is looking vulnerable
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/senate/me/maine_senate_collins_vs_gideon-6928.html
as is Martha McSally in Arizona.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/senate/az/arizona_senate_mcsally_vs_kelly-6801.html
Then again Doug Jones in Alabama who was voted in over the repugnant Moore may not survive. He has toed a pretty conservative line to appease the voters, but it will depend on the votes of women again there, if he is to succeed again.
But as Andre says – I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much.
One interesting article I came across today on fivethirtyeight looks at the shift in voting preference of older people across the country. In 2016 they swung mostly behind Trump. But the polls are showing that that is no longer the case and there is a definite swing towards Biden and down the ticket as well which bodes well if it can be sustained. Trumps petulance and ineptitude over this recent crises hasn't helped his chances with this demographic either.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/are-older-voters-turning-away-from-trump/
Progressive Americans are way too busy sitting on their purity ponies bagging the Democratic party. Meanwhile, repugs are more than happy to assist the tRump crime family consolidate power, ditch any semblance of a cooperative society and transform 'Murica into their version of a laissez-faire republic.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1262491686963490816
tRump's war on facts has a new name.
President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign announced Monday a new “investigative” website that prioritizes “truth over facts.” The site, in fact, is called TheTruthOverFacts.com.
https://www.thewrap.com/trump-biden-truth-over-facts-website/
Is there a reason my comments are not appearing? Have I been put on a ban for some reason?
[No the machine put you into auto moderation for some reason. Now letting you through – MS]
Quality filter.
Actually you are in premod, not the ban list. My note there says troll watch. I'll let you out, but you do seem to be popping up on my radar a bit. Sometimes you bring good debate to the table, other times it just looks like poking at the lefties /shrug.
Snap!
Because a Moderator had put you in Pre-Moderation and on troll-watch.
You are still in Pre-Moderation until that Moderator decides you’re behaving yourself.
The algorithm knows you well Gossy.
I heard today that there will be another poll released at the end of the week via TVNZ. Has anyone else heard the same please?
TV1 Colmar Brunton poll this Thursday, according to Lisa Owen from RNZ.
Thanks Fireblade, looking forward to it, two more sleeps 🙂
My goodness, Ashley Bloomfield is good!
Asked a 'gotcha' question in the presser – "Use one word to describe Jacinda Ardern," obviously designed to elicit 'political bias,' he paused a moment, then answered, "Can I use two! Prime Minister."
Nice.
Was that a Tovaructation, or is it catching?
I was listening at the time and that was my guess for the answer – he did not disappoint.
So despite the scaremongering, hopes, and even wagers by some tories, Level 4 did not see an increase in suicides – actually the reverse is true.
The coming depression/recession will be tough, but we can do without the political scaremongering.
may or may not be statistically significant. Good to know there wasn't an obvious spike during lock down though.
That's the main thing. There were a couple of folks I was worried about
The alarmists will no doubt be asked to justify their nonsense now.
This is important for a couple of reasons – suicide rate went down slightly under L4 lockdown rather than up.
First it reveals the right's preparedness to make stuff up in order to justify their "cure is worse than the disease" message. More importantly, it suggests that a sense of common purpose, collective responsibility, mutual aid and kindness is good for mental health. Much better than being an isolated individual locked in mortal economic competition with everyone else. The danger of course – is that as we go back to that alienating sh*tshow called 'the economy', especially in a deep recession, it will all get worse again.
Edit: Snap to McFlock above at 14.
will be very interesting if someone does some research on this. I'm not going to be surprised if there are more suicides in places like the US. Ardern's leadership around framing and messaging has served us well in helping build the sense of we're all in this together despite the stress.
Life expectancy in the US went up during the Great Depression! Something to do with purpose, diet and a disease prevention discovery.
And I wouldnt mind betting increased solidarity and an "all-in-it-together" mentality
Inequities tend to promote self esteem issues and bad mental health outcomes
My mother had lots of stories of how people helped each other during those depression years, even when they had very little themselves
Í'm pleased to hear it went down and as I recall I thought/hoped on these pages a couple of months ago that that would be the case as the same trend happened in the Second World War and in other times of threat. Sometimes things are just a bit bigger than your own problems.
I also thought that NZs population would go up slightly if we got the lockdown done effectively, less road deaths , work fatalities, murders and other all-round stupidities would leave more Kiwis alive at the end than at the start.
What I didn't factor in was 250,000 ( was it? ) coming home in a hurry. Welcome back.
I wouldn't be surprised if there's a wee population bump in nine months, either. L4 was boring… 😉
our missing health minister appears about 1:30 into this, just as well this will get no coverage, and does the Hon. D.Clark read what he said FFS look after the disadvantaged
perhaps after the recent polling success we could extend the strength of our triumvirate within the Labour Party and that they could seek out some achievers and not allow some desk warmers to bask in the success of our PM
https://m.facebook.com/WHO/videos/565543234382636/?v=565543234382636
He's toast in September: won't even get in Cabinet again.
The new batch in 2017 were very strong, they will make a great cabinet (touch wood) in October.
Big boys playing big boy games.
Again the CCP blatantly acting to piss as many nations off as possible. And also openly admitting that the investigation they have committed to is totally different from Australia’s proposal of an independent review.
The fix is in.
Those who choose to believe the WHO recently became a puppet of China have no reason to accept the WHO's future report on Covid-19 – they intend to dismiss findings at odds with their own worldview even before the scope of the investigation is agreed.
So Australia sticks it's neck out and demands an independent investigation (which is the position I've been advocating for). Over 100 countries sign on.
Xi Xinping then gets an unprecedented invite from Tedros, widely perceived to be a CCP puppet, to speak to a major WHO conference where China unilaterally preempts an investigation on it's own terms.
And at the same moment doubles down on a trade retaliation by announcing an 80% tariff on Australian barley. (Which everyone agrees has zero substance and was not even being discussed until a week or so back). Then China pretends it really isn't a retaliation when it obviously is.
And then smugly states the investigation will not be independent, and only done when China thinks the time is right.
FFS what part of bad faith, manipulative bullshit don't you get?
Didn't mean to anger you – IMO your reply validates my comment.
I believe theories about Covid-19 being constructed in China are batshit – could be wrong, could be right.
Nah. This is a proper conspiracy theory.
The poms are in on it too, but they've linked 5G into it as well.
https://fullfact.org/online/5g-coronavirus-20-note/
He invited chumpers too roddles.
And the best is yet to come.
“Historians love chapter breaks,” said Robert Kaplan, an American foreign-policy expert and former member of the U.S. Defense Policy Board, who this month briefed officials at 10 Downing Street on the potential second-order effects of the coronavirus crisis. “COVID-19 will come to be seen as a chapter break.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-pandemic-second-wave-geopolitics-instability/611668/
Yes I am very much afraid so. When people here hope that post-COVID life will be different I'm deeply concerned they will be right, but in ways none of us would wish for.
At least that author is getting to some of the right questions.
Probably.
https://twitter.com/antihobbes/status/1262541231394963456
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 18, 2020– Moderna, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNA), a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients, today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of $1.25 billion in shares of common stock. In addition, Moderna expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $187.5 million in shares of common stock in connection with the public offering. All shares of common stock will be offered by Moderna.
https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-announces-proposed-public-offering-shares-common-stock-0/
Things that make you go hmmm …
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/coronavirus-vaccine-czar-divest-holdings-amid-conflict-concerns/story?id=70753267
Hawkesby thinks we all have Stockholm Syndrome.
Honestly, how patronising can a person be? She probably tanked National and Bridges' another 2-3% with this idiot column.
Good times.
Dang! Newshub asked voters for one word to describe Jacinda and simon, they then formed those words into word clouds. The bigger the font the more often the word was said.
What a great idea, using word clouds in polls to show the public's perception, awesome.
Will post a link when it comes up 🙂
Here's the link
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/national-mps-doing-the-numbers-on-simon-bridges-as-newshub-poll-shows-what-kiwis-think-of-him.html
The top ten words to describe Jacinda included 'amazing', 'good', 'compassionate', 'leader', 'great', 'strong', 'empathetic', 'capable', 'excellent' and 'awesome'.
and simon….. 'Idiot' topped the chart, followed by 'don't know', 'average', 'good', 'annoying', 'weak', 'useless', 'unsure' and 'disappointing'.
I like how "dickhead" seemed to be in the top ten but O'Brien only highlighted and said 9 for Bridges 🙂
True ! 🤣
Air NZ being difficult with refunds – according to Checkpoint.
Luxon's legacy!
Ouch..
https://twitter.com/annafifield/status/1262463294696157184
She’s the Washington Post’s Asia correspondent too. What passes for journalism at the Herald must be a terrible shock for her.
Jim Bolger backs Todd Muller for next National Party leader.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/former-pm-jim-bolger-backs-todd-muller-next-national-leader
Hot Toddy! Actually, as someone who always had an extremely hostile attitude to Bolger, I thought he came across well. Balanced, sensible, seems to have mellowed with age. Wouldn't surprise me if his advice turns out to be more influential than Key's.
I listened to his interview on the 9th floor, and he has really had a few changes of mind since he was PM, would probably fit in the centre left of current NZ economic orthodoxy, but is obviously tribal National.
Are the wheels falling off ERC?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300016164/kelvin-davis-cancels-on-epidemic-response-committee-after-treasury-noshow
No mana thanks to its chair.
"In the past the MoW took the positive planning approach to making New Zealand. In partnership with elected representatives they identified projects that would advance the development of the country. The MoW had their own economists who could evaluate and determine how nation-building projects might fit into wider considerations, such as, the economic cycle. The Ministry was at odds with a neo-liberal Treasury, as it could hold its own in economic debates. Given this fight for political-economic attention it is not surprising the MoW was dis-established."
https://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/105080/brendon-harre-sees-ministry-works-template-how-we-should-develop-our-national
Many government departments had their own economists prior to lab4. Then Treasury said there was an inefficient duplication of roles.
Then Treasury became pretty much the sole source of government economic advice. A monopoly, one might say…
Kia Ora The Am Show.
There is some positive news the worlds carbon footprint shrinks
That's is cool the virus contact tracking AP.
Buying New Zealand made that the way.
That's a great way to raise funds for water shortage solution for South Africa auctioning a famous painters painting.
Ruby will have a good future as a reporter.
I say that Our government has the $20 billion backstop money set aside because we don't know the true impact of long the virus effects will last you can't take it back once its spent.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Newshub.
Yes the price of Kai hit the roof during isolation.
Telcompowder has aspestos in That's not on.
I don't think that person should be fined for savings the baby whale caught in that shark net.?????.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
All Iwi should invest in Whare for their Tangata it will good for the tangata and the Iwi may be sheared ownership models.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Looks like a nice day in London Lloyd.
Its good to respect our elderly people.
The problem with having wealth business people leading a country is they are to self centered to have a great economy you need to take everyone up there economic ladders not just the wealthy.
Ka kite Ano.