Open mike 19/07/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 19th, 2023 - 67 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:


Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

67 comments on “Open mike 19/07/2023 ”

  1. Dennis Frank 1

    Gluckman on saving the world: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/494018/call-for-un-sustainable-development-goals-to-be-science-led

    "We use big science approaches to study the origins of the universe, to study particle physics, why are we not using big science approaches to address issues of existential risk to our societies." An integrated approach was desperately needed, he said.

    The knight got it right. Scientists acting like spoilt brats wasting money on trivial shit in the atomic zoo has been polluting the tech scene way too long.

    • Incognito 1.1

      Your personal bias is shining through your clouded judgment, again.

      • Dennis Frank 1.1.1

        All good. Greener is better. Thus spake the Gluckman! angel yes

        • Incognito 1.1.1.1

          And now you’re trolling and you know it.

          • weka 1.1.1.1.1

            it looks like banter to me. And not an unreasonable response to being told they have personal bias and clouded judgement without any explanation of that or addressing the original comment content.

  2. Dennis Frank 2

    Bad capitalist: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/132563683/liquidators-start-bankruptcy-proceedings-against-eric-watson

    Liquidators have started bankruptcy proceedings against Eric Watson after he failed to repay $57 million borrowed from his company, Cullen Investments. In February, Justice Neil Campbell ordered the former high-flying Kiwi businessman to pay almost $60m to KPMG, liquidators of his failed Cullen Group.

    The liquidators’ eighth and most recent report, filed on Monday, said Watson had failed to pay or settle the outstanding balance and solicitors had been instructed to begin bankruptcy proceedings.

    So he's been naughty and defied the judge. Did four months in prison for being contemptuous of a court too. Very naughty crim. Last bastion of the neolibs goes down.

    • Hunter Thompson II 2.1

      If he follows the standard route, he'll write a book about his escapades.

      I recall the geezer behind the Goldcorp saga did that.

  3. Ad 3

    Now I seriously love the city of Dunedin, and occasionally I get really encouraged when someone tries something really useful.

    This time it's the Port of Otago. They are proposing a big fat trucking hub in Mosgiel, which can take 3,500 heavy trucks a year off Dunedin roads and onto rail straight to Port Chalmers. Most of it is milk products and logs.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/proposal-inland-depot-near-mosgiel

    Yes, it puts more rail on the Port Chalmers line. But it takes most of the big trucks off that little state highway from Dunedin to the port, which makes everyone safer and ordinary motorists less aggravated.

    Also it would not be too hard to stick a commuter carriage on the back of them and bingo you have a commuter line.

    Ports of Otago have done some real stupid stuff in the past, and this isn't one of them.

  4. Bearded Git 4

    Luxon floundering as ever on Morning Report today. He hated Corin's first question where he put to him that the US and NZ were winning the global beauty pageant in terms of inflation rates according to the Herald.

    Cue Luxon spouting a lot of inaccurate information about NZ's inflation rate. Corin later asks him “isn’t he talking down the NZ economy too much” and “is it fair of National on its website to describe the NZ economy as a house of cards”.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018898972

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018898972/national-eyes-inflation-potholes-and-kiwisaver

    • observer 4.1

      He's a weekly comedy show, every Wednesday morning.

      His latest …

      Luxon said he had fond memories of attending the 1974 Games in Christchurch as a 4-year-old but "we've got to face up to reality".

      He was born in July 1970 so he can't count. But like all his "fond memories", they exist only as feeble, fabricated attempts to appear relatable.

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/07/commonwealth-games-national-leader-christopher-luxon-wouldn-t-back-new-zealand-bid-for-2026.html

      (Of course we shouldn't host the games, but every NZ politician with a pulse can work that out, he doesn't get bonus points for stating the obvious).

      • alwyn 4.1.1

        "(Of course we shouldn't host the games, but every NZ politician with a pulse can work that out, he doesn't get bonus points for stating the obvious)."

        What do you know about Grant Robertson that I don't? Although he looks a bit overweight and doesn't seem to be very fit he still seems to be breathing and to have a working heart.

        However he is certainly in favour of New Zealand hosting the Commonwealth Games and has said so on a number of occasions. " I am excited at the prospect and potential for us to host it here.". Not this year perhaps but certainly he doesn't see anything wrong with throwing money down the drain in the future.

        https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-signals-interest-hosting-2034-commonwealth-games

        • observer 4.1.1.1

          As you know perfectly well, the topic addressed by Luxon this morning was the 2026 games, as was my comment. It is right there in the title of the link.

          You don't lack comprehension skills, so please don't play the fool.

          • alwyn 4.1.1.1.1

            I really thought that you comment was arguing that we should never attempt to host these events. I was definitely in a mood to applaud your view.

            Apparently though you are only talking about the 2026 games. Why not be sensible. We should never compete to hold these stupid events. All we get from it is a way of blowing enormous sums of money so that politicians can flaunt themselves, while attending all the events free in the best seats, and pretending we get something of benefit to the people of New Zealand.

            Frankly if they want carnivals they should personally pay for them.

    • alwyn 4.2

      "Cue Luxon spouting a lot of inaccurate information about NZ's inflation rate".

      Would you care to expand on this claim you have made? I'll admit that I found it rather hard to follow this interview because of Dann's repeated talking over the interviewee but I didn't see any obvious propagation of inaccurate material. What do you claim was wrong with what Luxon said?

      • observer 4.2.1

        I can't comment on the accuracy myself (haven't listened yet) but Luxon certainly shows incredible incompetence to be talking about the inflation rate only hours before it is released.

        He's not just shooting himself in the foot, he's blown his head off.

      • Bearded Git 4.2.2

        Luxon gave the impression, falsely, that NZ's inflation rate was a disaster. Simply not true. He needs to be honest. The USA (which is only one country BTW) recent 3.0 rate is skewed by food and energy. NZ's has been skewed by one-off food inflation. Here is a comparison of some of the major economies:

        NZ's 6.0 (excl food 4.6)

        UK 8.7

        Germany 6.4

        Australia 7.0

        Italy 6.4

        USA 3.0 (excl food and energy 4.8)

        Food inflation has been a massive issue here, mostly I think because of the weather events on the North Island.

        The point is that in a world beset by inflation NZ's rate is relatively impressive.

        https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/inflation-rate

        • alwyn 4.2.2.1

          Before the current run of terrible inflation numbers over the last 18 months or so the last time that New Zealand at this level was way back in 1990.

          It doesn't make it any better if you say we are no worse than some other countries with terrible results. It just means there are other countries that are equally bad.

          Why don't you ask why we aren't doing as well as the better countries? The year on year inflation rate for Switzerland in June 2023 for example was 1.7%. Why don't we compare ourselves with them rather than with the bottom of the heap?

          • Drowsy M. Kram 4.2.2.1.1

            It doesn't make it any better if you say we are no worse than some other countries with terrible results. It just means there are other countries that are equally bad.

            Why are so many other countries "equally bad"?
            I love Central Otago cherries, but they're out of season sad

            The year on year inflation rate for Switzerland in June 2023 for example was 1.7%. Why don't we compare ourselves with them rather than with the bottom of the heap?

            Re "the bottom of the heap", do you mean countries with inflation rates >100%?

            The less one-eyed will observe that NZ is in the middle of the pack – nowhere near as bad as some would have us believe, and trending in a good direction.

            Aotearoa 6% inflation (down from 6.7%)
            Australia 7% inflation (down from 7.8%)
            EurUnion 7.1% (down from 8.1%)

            https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/inflation-rate?continent=world

          • UncookedSelachimorpha 4.2.2.1.2

            Seems the Swiss aren't particularly neoliberal in a few aspects and this contributes to lower inflation:

            Of the core products used to measure inflation in the euro zone, including food, housing and transport, almost one third (30%) are subject to price regulation in Switzerland — more than in any other European country.

            High tariffs on certain agricultural imports also mean that domestically produced foods, such as milk and cheese, are preferentially priced and less impacted by movements in global food markets. That, in turn, has helped stimulate the country’s economy.

            Swiss energy suppliers are also largely publicly owned, meaning that they are less exposed to extreme market volatility through financial safety nets, while being subject to stricter pricing regulation…. the nationalization of Swiss energy provision offered an important lesson to other countries, particularly those nations in Europe that underwent a broad shift to privatization and are now paying the price.

            • gsays 4.2.2.1.2.1

              Thanks for the link.
              So what is lacking in our politicians that stops them from adopting similar measures? (Tariffs on some imports, state owned energy entitites…)

              Courage?

              Imagination?

              • UncookedSelachimorpha

                Bind adherence to neoliberal ideology, without regards to evidence (there is plenty of evidence that privatisation often doesn't improve efficiency or public benefit, for example).

            • Gypsy Rover 4.2.2.1.2.2

              “Swiss energy suppliers are also largely publicly owned, “

              Not for long.

              European market developments and Switzerland's desire to phase out nuclear power have prompted the government to draft a new electricity supply law. This law provides for the complete liberalisation of the market and the rapid development of renewable energies in Switzerland.

              https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/explainer–how-the-swiss-electricity-market-works/47943438

              Switzerland imports around 70% of its power consumption (https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/wirtschaft/energie/energie—fakten-und-zahlen.html), of which 36% is oil and 20% nuclear. The country plans to phase out nuclear, and interestingly they have the highest density of dams in the world. With a strong focus on renewables, they are likely to be looking to private investment.

        • Gypsy Rover 4.2.2.2

          Based on your own link (which opens at a selection of G20 countries), only 7 of those countries have higher rates of inflation than NZ currently. And if you use the same reference, but select ‘World’, NZ is 94th out of 186 entries. But in any event, these are measurements focused on a moment in time. Of even more concern is this:

          “While inflation is ‘lower’, it is not ‘low’ by any stretch of the imagination,” said Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod.

          “Importantly, measures of core inflation are continuing to run at rates of around 6 per cent, and some have actually picked up in the June quarter. That points to lingering strength in underlying price pressures. Similarly, domestic inflation – aka. non-tradables inflation – remains elevated at 6.6 per cent.”

          With strong and persistent underlying price pressures, inflation was unlikely to return within the RBNZ’s target band any time soon, he said.”

          https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/have-we-walloped-inflation-new-consumers-price-index-data-to-be-revealed/YDVJYOZI2NBTDFCBSUZFY7OTRQ/

          • Bearded Git 4.2.2.2.1

            Choosing your quotes carefully there Gypsy to bolster your hero Luxon's position. I do not accept your argument.

            Looking at this rationally, NZ at 6.0, but 4.6 excluding food, is a valid statistic.

            Compare this with the EU; 27 countries with a population of 447 million. The EU inflation rate is 5.5%, and that is with fruit and vegetables in season and no weather event that has smashed their fruit and veg production (to my knowledge). That makes NZ look just fine.

            As Drowsy says above, NZ cherries are out of season. I saw some American cherries at New World the other day that were about a dollar each.

        • Gypsy Rover 4.2.2.3

          You have linked to G20 data. Compared to the G20 countries, NZ would rank as having the 8th highest rate of inflation. Using your reference further, NZ is somewhere in the middle of the countries of the world by current rate of inflation. These are not encouraging comparisons. That said, to some degree the current inflation rate is a snapshot. Of more concern is this:

          “While inflation is ‘lower’, it is not ‘low’ by any stretch of the imagination,” said Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod.

          “Importantly, measures of core inflation are continuing to run at rates of around 6 per cent, and some have actually picked up in the June quarter. That points to lingering strength in underlying price pressures. Similarly, domestic inflation – aka. non-tradables inflation – remains elevated at 6.6 per cent.”

          With strong and persistent underlying price pressures, inflation was unlikely to return within the RBNZ’s target band any time soon, he said.“

          https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/have-we-walloped-inflation-new-consumers-price-index-data-to-be-revealed/YDVJYOZI2NBTDFCBSUZFY7OTRQ/

    • Nic the NZer 4.3

      Analysis of the rapidly falling inflation rate in the US. Bill Mitchell has been highly consistent in his categorization of the present inflationary period as supply driven, imported and transitory.

      https://billmitchell.org/blog/?p=60980

      One of the main implications of this is that central bank policy (raising cash rates) has not been effective at reducing inflation. That makes comparing inflation rates between countries a bit dubious, especially if you then attribute the falling rate to central bank policy. Any rapid fall is more likely down to many other factors effecting the domestic economy (like ability to discourage corporate price gouging, release of fuel reserves) and a general fall in external supply pressures.

  5. Dennis Frank 5

    Gaia seems to be experimenting with a solution to the feral cat problem but unfortunately it also will target non-offending domestic cats:

    The outbreak in Cyprus involves a feline coronavirus – not linked to Covid-19 – that also circulates in cats in the UK, but which does not infect people. The virus normally causes only a mild stomach upset, but can lead to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), where white blood cells become infected, spreading the virus through the cat’s body and triggering an often fatal inflammatory reaction in the abdomen, kidneys and brain.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/18/experts-warn-about-feline-coronavirus-after-thousands-of-cat-deaths-in-cyprus

  6. Dennis Frank 6

    Wagner convoy enters new home base, Belarus boosted as regional power:

    On Tuesday, Belarus's President, Alexander Lukashenko – an ally of Russia – said Wagner "are currently in their camps" inside the country. "If Belarus needs them, we will instantly call upon the Wagner private military company to defend the nation," Mr Lukashenko said.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66234260

    • weka 6.1

      can you please stop using OM as a news feed. Lynn said this in the back end recently,

      This is a site for opinions to be expressed and debated. It isn't there for just copy-pasting. If I was wanting to do that, I'd just write a netscraper and curation algorithm then hook it to a front-end.

      I think you bring both interesting news items, and opinions to the commentariat. However the four comments you made today are more appropriate to FB or twitter than TS. My strong suggestion is to post less and put more into the comments you do make in terms of explaining what the issue is and what you think about it: "opinions to be expressed and debated".

      Casual and/or short comments are ok in moderation, but when they become the main way that someone posts, it becomes a problem.

      • Shanreagh 6.1.1

        It is hard to know though. Personally I usually find DF links useful on the basis that 9/10 times I would not have found the links/ideas myself.

        This comment of mine is also in response to

        19 July 2023 at 6:11 am

        Being called a 'troll', 'clouded judgement' and having 'biases' (all comments unexplained) is enough to put anyone off from posting expanded points of view, explaining items.

        If the comments are meant in banter can they at least have a smiley or wink icon, or better still not be posted at all?

        • weka 6.1.1.1

          Dennis' banter comment had two emoticons!

          People get called trolls here, I wouldn't worry about someone else being called a troll, just carry on with whatever you wanted to reply (to the original comment). There is a degree of robustness needed to comment here, because rudeness or bluntness per se isn't considered an inherent problem (personalised abuse or rudeness with the intention if flaming are where the problems start).

      • Dennis Frank 6.1.2

        Okay, will do. I agree with your reasoning. I thought the point about Belarus ascending into the regional pivot position was worth making though. Perhaps the way I did that was too brief…

        Also, I don't do twitter or facebook due to the cultures being too shallow. Seems to me folks here like to dig under the surface appearance of things. That's why I see the site operating as part of the solution rather than part of the problem – plus acceptance of centrists participating with leftists, plus non-toxic ethos.

        • weka 6.1.2.1

          Nice one Dennis. That's great feedback about the site. To clarify, there's nothing wrong with the topics you are bringing, it is indeed the brevity where that becomes a habit.

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 6.1.2.2

          "I don't do twitter or facebook due to the cultures being too shallow"

          Fair enough and IMHO a lot more wrong than just being a bit shallow over there.

          You could find Mastodon as being somewhere between The Standard and those other sites, depending on which instance you join.

        • lprent 6.1.2.3

          I thought the point about Belarus ascending into the regional pivot position was worth making though. Perhaps the way I did that was too brief…

          It doesn't make a lot of difference to the military standing of Belarus. Basically they have barely upgraded any weapons since independence from the Soviet union 30+ years ago. Most of their manpower are very poorly trained conscripts.

          With the exception of their relatively small special forces, everything I've read (wikipedia has a goodish overview) about the armed forces of Belarus tends to indicate that they're be graded as target practice quality by all of their neighbours forces. Not even up to the standards of the pre-2014 Ukrainian forces. There is a moderate amount of material around about the quality of Belarus armed forces.

          https://ecfr.eu/article/putins-last-ally-why-the-belarusian-army-cannot-help-russia-in-ukraine/
          https://icds.ee/en/the-belarusian-armed-forces-structures-capabilities-and-defence-relations-with-russia/
          https://newbelarus.vision/the-reluctant-army/
          https://kyivindependent.com/does-belarus-military-have-the-capacity-to-attack-ukraine/

          Wagner adds a core of reasonably well trained and veteran infantry. But how many of those arrive there is a question.Wagner have missions in other countries, which are unlikely to go away, so most of the time most of the mercs will be absent. Plus there are considerations of supply and logistics.

          So if they are the supply that Wagner depends on, then in all likelyhood they will at best get mostly outdated, non-updated gear and munitions that will be dangerous to handle.

          Of course the Russian armed forces have quite a lot of troops in Belarus at any one point in time doing exercises, semi-permanently based there, and doing a odd bit of invading neighbouring countries. So I guess that they could get supply from there.

          But I suspect that main value of having Wagner in-country is that they have quite a lot of experience of propping up old dictators. It is their main line of business.

          • adam 6.1.2.3.1

            Don't forget that a large section of the under 30's in Belarus will probably not fight. The crack downs of the last few years have left a high level of enmity towards the state within that age group.

          • Dennis Frank 6.1.2.3.2

            Looks like I can take you're word for it, given all that research, thanks. So not so much of a regional pivot point. I wonder how the co-founders of Wagner will adapt to their new home. Not the type to sit around playing tiddlywinks.

            I expect, when ensconced satisfactorily, there'll be some back to Africa, but if that doesn't keep them busy enough they'll need live target practice elsewhere.

            • lprent 6.1.2.3.2.1

              The 'research' was just 15 minutes on google between compiles. Like this mornings comments are being done while listening to a work "connect" on zoom. The modern version of a all-of-company meeting – but across multiple time zones.

              I keep a general eye on military and political trends in potential conflict regions. Personally I consider this is to be general knowledge. The links were just to give others something to dig into if they feel like it.

  7. observer 7

    Total creep turns out to be total creep … who could have guessed?

    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jul/18/sun-and-mail-publishers-examine-claims-against-journalist-dan-wootton

    If anyone doesn't know this guy's track record, simply Google his name and Jacinda Ardern. A vile man. And now Karma delivers.

    • AB 7.1

      From the link. Wooton claims that "GB News is the biggest threat to the establishment in decades," Heh – GB News is the establishment, just a faction of it that is a little more deranged in their use of anti-wokeness to disguise their actual intentions.

      • joe90 7.1.1

        their actual intentions

        They keep on telling everyone.

        A leading Jewish group has criticised a prominent GB News presenter for spreading “a dangerous conspiracy theory” after she tweeted that the Covid virus appeared to have been bioengineered to be less dangerous to some Jewish people.

        In a tweet sent on Tuesday afternoon, Beverley Turner supported the idea first popularised by the controversial Democratic presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy Jr that the coronavirus was engineered to target some ethnic groups and spare others.

        In her message, which has since been deleted, Turner, who co-presents a regular morning show on GB News, appeared to argue that this bioengineering could be linked to Dr Anthony Fauci, who as the chief medical adviser to the US presidency during Covid was a common target for conspiracy theorists.

        https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jul/18/jewish-group-criticises-gb-news-host-beverley-turner-over-dangerous-conspiracy-theory

        • Dennis Frank 7.1.1.1

          I know a bunch of folks in alternative Aotearoa who share these fantasies – old friends & acquaintances, university degrees & successful entrepreneurs. sad

          My technique for engaging with them again (sporadically) is to ignore such tendencies as much as possible. If they go there, I hit them with `been there done that long ago' acknowledgement. Delivered with a tone of dismissal verging on boredom usually works ok. If they act obtuse & continue, I become a critic via instant personality switch, point out where their thinking is going wrong.

          Mostly that works. It helps to share the ole govt always lies thing, along with `corporations always lie' etc. Then point out that conspiracy theorists are mostly delusional due to inventing correlations and being proud of it. Then ya gotta admit that sometimes the theories appear to be correct – but not often! Once you've led them down the garden path like that they tend to end up admiring the flowers…

    • Anne 7.2

      Thanks for the heads up observer. I avoid low hanging British tabloid fruit so had never heard of him. A right-wing DP gamer with a record of lies and deceit? He's now playing the wounded innocent who has been targeted by a jealous ex-lover.

      Having had personal experience of someone (not an ex-lover) who projected their unsound and unlawful behaviour onto me… I can see the self-same scenario playing out here. Here's hoping Karma has indeed got him.

    • tWiggle 7.3

      Wootton's NZ-born, started at The Dom-Post, and was visiting his parents in Wellington when accusation broke, according to the spinoff (see 10.02 am post). No wonder he took pleasure in (and maybe initiated) anti-Ardern messaging.

    • Mac1 7.4

      "has developed a persona as a rightwing presenter criticising “woke” issues."

      Say no more. In the best tradition of support as typified by "I am Spartacus!" I say I am a woke bloke.

    • SPC 7.5

      Marina Purkiss was invited by GB News to debate with Rees Mogg (Tory MP).

      She noted that the anti-woke GB News had a unisex bathroom and stated her fear that she might be in there when Dan Wooton walked in.

      https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/gb-news-guest-marina-purkiss-29819794

    • SPC 7.6

      A Murdoch media hack can only work for his media imitators afterwards.

      Thus from Fox News to Newsmax OAN or pod casts on Rumble (or Twitter as per TC) in the USA.

      Or the Sun to talkRADIO, MailOnline, GB News, Sky Australia.

      The disconcerting thing is his working for the MailOnline.

      Yes Prime Minister revealed how UK media covered scandals based on their prejudices

  8. weston 8

    Jfkjr is in the shit again at a private dinner he dared to suggest that cov 19 was a bio weapon that had more of an effect on some races than others an the dems have got their nickers well an truly in a twist over it declaring that he shouldnt be a witness in Jim Jordens hearing on censorship he's a racist he's an antisemetic etc etc .JFKjr is perceived as a huge threat to the dems and they're out to get him anyway they can apparently adding to all the attention he's getting of course !!.Personally i find him him intelligent warm thoughtful and capable of talking for hours on subjects with no notes something rather lacking in the big players of American politics .As i said the other night amongst the woeful selection of pres candidates currently in the race and especially compared to the incumbent he's head and shoulders above imo.



    • Dennis Frank 8.1

      Someone here yesterday even tried to give me a hard time for merely commenting on him. smiley Dunno if the guy is wacko or not, but he does have relevance to our election since conspiracy theorists have become influential in both countries in recent years.

      Anyway so despite disagreeing with you recently about something I've forgotten, I agree he's worth tracking & suggest you stand by to repel boarders, as a pirate would say. Brain-police alert!

      • tWiggle 8.1.1

        In the US, there is effectively a two-candidate presidential election by an electoral college. At the moment, candidates are strutting their stuff for the Democrat nominating convention, which chooses that party's presidential candidate. RFK jnr is one of those Democrat candidates.

        The US party presidential selection process has no relevance to upcoming NZ elections, where we are choosing a government. Here, conspiracists fortunately have a plethora of looney tunes parties amongst which to split their votes.

        The reason for pointing out RFK jnr's behaviour is to show how low the marketplace of political ideas has sunk in the US, not to draw a tenuous parallel with our own political circus.

        • joe90 8.1.1.1

          TBF, US elections, and especially US attack adds, are the greatest show on earth.

          • adam 8.1.1.1.1

            Odd as I thought all the Kennedy's were a bit off in one way or another. I mean look at the old old man, his bootlegging and lickspittle were famous.

  9. joe90 9

    When the opposition writes your adds. Gold!

    @JoeBiden

    I approve this message.

    https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1681424737384435713

    Marjorie Taylor Greene compares Biden to FDR, LBJ. Thanks for the free campaign ad!

    The predominantly ludicrous lawmaker from Georgia did Biden a solid this weekend, telling Republicans the Democratic president is fiendishly attempting to make people's lives better.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2023/07/17/marjorie-taylor-greene-biden-speech-highlights-medicare-medicaid/70418859007/

  10. adam 10

    Go to say – totally agree with the Premier of Victoria.

    Why spend 7 billion on a 12 day event? Why should Schools and Hospitals have reduced spending to cover the costs of a 12 day sports event?

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-19/commonwealth-games-victoria-daniel-andrews-decision-analysis/102616256

    • Anne 10.1

      Touché

    • SPC 10.2

      There is the case for a permanent host of the CG, with occasional diversions to other venues. Obviously cities that have hosted the Olympic Games (or could do so/aspire to) could provide alternatives from time to time.

      A nation like New Zealand could still do it – but the games village concept requires a city host.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Commonwealth_Games_venues

      The only place to host twice is Auckland and the only continent not to host is Africa. The only major city not to host (out of Africa) would be Toronto Canada.

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    24 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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