Open mike 19/12/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 19th, 2022 - 168 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 …

168 comments on “Open mike 19/12/2022 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. SPC 1
    19 December 2022 at 7:03 am

    The French experience the house of peine. A missed penalty kick in the semi-final here and then some more after extra time in the World Cup football final.

    • tinderdry6 1.1
      19 December 2022 at 1:38 pm

      The match itself was an illustration of why football remains the most popular sport in the world.

      • Hanswurst 1.1.1
        19 December 2022 at 8:36 pm

        It's a prety boring sport, if you ask me (which, of course, nobody did, but it warrants mentioning occasionally).

        • tinderdry6 1.1.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 9:08 pm

          Oh, come now, you can't be serious. Football has everything – skill, athleticism, speed, drama. It truly is the beautiful game.smiley

  2. SPC 2
    19 December 2022 at 7:18 am

    Elon Much ado about nothing but himself Musk tweets – the woke mind virus is either defeated or nothing else matters.

    Caitlin Johnstone takes him at his word, and profiles who he is.

    The Ruling Class Promotes Identity Politics And 'Anti-Wokeism' For The Exact Same Reasons

    The world is roaring toward multipolarity and the empire is doing everything it can to slam on the brakes, up to and including ramping up for a global confrontation with noncompliant nuclear-armed powers, and meanwhile the public is growing more and more disaffected with stagnant wages and soaring inequality even as concerns grow that we are headed toward environmental collapse.

    So of course, at this crucial point in history, they've got everyone arguing about "wokeness".

    https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/the-ruling-class-promotes-identity

    • Adrian Thornton 2.1
      19 December 2022 at 7:58 am

      I agree 100% with Caitlin Johnstone on who Elon Musk actually is..however his revelations confirming what most already knew, the collusion to supress the Hunter Biden story six days before the US general election are very important…and we all know that if we flipped this story and it was Trump/Republican’s caught red handed, meddling so obviously with an election, it would have been front page news on all Liberal media still now…even on our own little US/UK hand puppet, RNZ…instead of the almost total silence/obfuscation and whataboutism that we have experienced….not to mention he has also revealed that both the FBI and CIA were deeply embedded in Twiiter (and I am sure still are)….so not a nothing story at all , by any metric of how news stories might be measured..it’s just not news to the Liberal media it exposed as being shit….proving yet again how little they can be trusted in delivering fair and balanced news.

      Of course we all knew this about MSM Rightwing media long long ago, which is why that point isn’t worth discussing again here on a Left leaning forum today.

      Fairness and Balance in reporting…is there no MSM organization capable of that one simple task left in the English language?…..I can’t think of one, who am I missing?.. there must be at least one.

      • SPC 2.1.1
        19 December 2022 at 9:44 am

        the collusion to supress the Hunter Biden story six days before the US general election are very important

        Should such a story influence an election result? (and it probably would not have because of all the early voting and postal voting in 2020).

        And how was it that this story just happened to emerge at such a time anyway? Maybe some in the media were just unwilling to be played.

        The decision of Comey to announce an investigation into Clinton in the last month of a campaign in 2016 (ended just before the election) might have influenced close results in the rust belt that decided the election.

        Such issues distract from focus on governance policy.

        • Adrian Thornton 2.1.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 12:50 pm

          "Maybe some in the media were just unwilling to be played"….the media is there only to report on the news and information in receives, end of story…who are they to decide if or when the public should receive that information?…unless of course that itself same media has skin in the game on a particular story, or worse still has an ideological stake in the information it is blocking the public from being informed about…which of course all US Liberal media, including Twitter and Facebook did in the Hunter Biden story…..which of course is yet another reason why public trust in Fair and Balanced reporting is at all time low's…an almost completely self inflicted wound on their part…they don't deserve out trust…which includes our own media…like RNZ who are one of the worst offenders in the NZ media landscape.

          Americans' Trust In Media Remains Near Record Low

          • SPC 2.1.1.1.1
            19 December 2022 at 2:11 pm

            The thing is, timing news to influence election results is a corruption of the democratic process.

            • Adrian Thornton 2.1.1.1.1.1
              19 December 2022 at 5:34 pm

              "timing news to influence election results is a corruption of the democratic process."…you do understand that every single political party in the entire world does that exact thing when given the opportunity right?

              • SPC …
                19 December 2022 at 5:49 pm

                Do you think MSM is serving the public by being manipulated? A professional and competent media estate would investigate "the source" of the "timed release" before publishing.

                • Adrian Thornton …
                  19 December 2022 at 6:52 pm

                  God you can't be really as naive as you are making out…are you?

                  What I think isn't important. what happens in the real world is…and in the real world, indisputably, every single political party (and those acting for them) in the world, including the Democrats and NZ Labour, will and do, release whatever dirt they have on the opposition to the press at a time during the election cycle when they think it would have the most effect…and as long as the information is true (like the Hunter lap top story or Hillary's hack both were), then the media's only job is to inform the public of those facts….and remember both those stories had important, if unsavoury facts, that the public had the right to be informed of before voting.

                  …if they were neutral players they would do so…but as already established, Liberal MSM is not neutral (as the R/Wing press isn’t either)…more than not, they are active partisan players in the political process now…so in other words, not Fair and Balanced reporting by any stretch of the imagination…and I know many people on this site have powerful imaginations.

                  • SPC …
                    19 December 2022 at 7:17 pm

                    In summary you think it is the media's job to be a cipher for manipulation, because they operate in the real world where everyone does it.

                    If you just accept the real world where everyone does it, why complain about anyone doing anything, such as operating to a partisan bias in reporting and exercise of power in self interest?

    • Incognito 2.2
      19 December 2022 at 9:22 am

      The binary bigotry of war vs. peace is polarising and divisive. It causes trench wars between camps that have much more in common than they realise but the real common enemy stays out of sight, mostly, and has successfully weaponised their moral sensibilities to set them up against each other. The Left has no defences against this subversive manipulation, which is why they lose ground and election battles, time after time.

      PS this was intended as a reply to Ed (https://thestandard.org.nz/push-back-against-tyranny-and-win/#comment-1927047) but that likely would have almost zero impact.

      • Sacha 2.2.1
        19 December 2022 at 9:54 am

        Far too easy to get the left fighting amongst ourselves. And listening to distractions.

        • Incognito 2.2.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 10:11 am

          Exactly. They make for the perfect decoy because they always fight back, each and every time. And it is for a just cause, of course. And they hate perceived traitors; Roger Douglas is a case in point but equally some so-called Left pundits or even the Parties on/of the Left when they slip up for not being ‘pure & perfect’ enough. It goes on and on …

      • adam 2.2.2
        19 December 2022 at 2:02 pm

        When the US military can't account for 21 trillion dollars and your saying war vs. peace is divisive and polarising. Could I suggest if your pro the military machine at this point, your not left wing. Liberal, sure, but left wing – nope.

        • Incognito 2.2.2.1
          19 December 2022 at 2:14 pm

          No, you cannot suggest any of the kind. But what you can do is to re-read my comment and specifically “[t]he binary bigotry of war vs. peace …” [emphasis added]. Besides that, sticking lazy labels with a clear derogatory intent is nothing more than a personal attack. As usual, you’ve added nothing but noise here.

  3. Adrian Thornton 3
    19 December 2022 at 7:24 am

    Here is a good clip with long time Democrat and anti war activist explaining how the Democratic party and by extension the Liberal class have become captured by the US war machine…..and sadly, as have many good people on this very site…

    • Ed 3.1
      19 December 2022 at 7:49 am

      What a relevant video.

      This explains what happened to sectors of the ‘liberal’left and applies in part to the parts of the left in New Zealand as well.
      Some of the most belligerent and bellicose voices can be found on this and the Daily Blog website.

    • SPC 3.2
      19 December 2022 at 9:51 am

      Glenn Greenwald

      1. Harmon and Pelosi backing illegal spying of Americans after 9/11 (GWB authorised it).

      2. the NYT not publishing the story until after the 2004 election

      3. Why Snowden did not go to MSM

  4. x Socialist 4
    19 December 2022 at 8:03 am

    This may explain why so many people are dying suddenly during the Covid epidemic.

    Sub clinical Myocarditis ( heart inflammation) without symptoms may be very common, and only identifiable if MRI scanning is used.

    Quote:

    ''Most striking, however, is that only nine of the athletes had symptoms of myocarditis; the vast majority of the group were diagnosed with subclinical myocarditis, based solely on findings from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging that detected inflammation in the heart muscle. The researchers say this finding likely means that a significant percentage of those in the general population who were infected with COVID-19 developed subclinical myocarditis but were never diagnosed because they weren’t screened with a cardiac MRI.''

    In 2005 myocarditis took out the only Green MP I had respect for- Rod Donald. The gulf between him and current Green Party leadership is stark.

    https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/news/2022/UM-School-of-Medicine-Researchers-Participate-in-Big-Ten-Health-Registry-to-Study-Heart-Inflammation-in-Athletes-Recovering-from-COVID-19.html

    • weka 4.1
      19 December 2022 at 9:26 am

      This may explain why so many people are dying suddenly during the Covid epidemic.

      can you please provide the evidence that many people are dying suddenly in the past three years (other than known covid deaths)?

      Also, as far as I can tell the research is investigating sub clinical carditis in student athletes and the markers for that, with an eye on future problems if undiagnosed.

      • x Socialist 4.1.1
        19 December 2022 at 12:39 pm

        https://www.newscientist.com/article/2335991-there-are-thousands-more-uk-deaths-than-usual-and-we-dont-know-why/

        Also look up Dr John Campbell on YT if you want.

        ''Also, as far as I can tell the research is investigating sub clinical in student athletes and the markers for that, with an eye on future problems if undiagnosed.''

        From the quote above:

        ''The researchers say this finding likely means that a significant percentage of those in the general population who were infected with COVID-19 developed subclinical myocarditis but were never diagnosed because they weren’t screened with a cardiac MRI.''

        I took that to mean an extrapolation of clinical results with athletes to a guesstimate of myocarditis in the general population.

        • weka 4.1.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 2:39 pm

          Not everyone with carditis dies. Equally significant here is undiagnosed sub clinical damage from covid that causes problems in the future. I would guess including because of high intensity training. In other words, they could be causing further damage playing sport while undiagnosed

          • x Socialist 4.1.1.1.1
            19 December 2022 at 3:45 pm

            Quite true. Yes, future damage is possible. I do a HIT workout once a week and I'm stuffed for 2 days afterwards. A pro sports person would be doing such workouts on a daily basis for most of the week. Inflammation would be a problem regardless of Covid.

            But could I switch things around. The athletes may have better long term outcomes than the general public because their fitness benefits outweigh the negatives they impose on their bodies by hard training?

            But:

            Jacko Gill, a NZ sports person became seriously ill at one stage This is his training schedule from Wiki:

            ''I enjoy weight-lifting, power-lifting mainly, so will lift for around four hours a day, and throw only a couple of times per week. ''

            That would kill an average man. It nearly killed Gill.

            Gill developed Myocarditis

            https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/big-read-jacko-gill-opens-up-on-life-threatening-illness-and-stalled-career/ZL3RI5GJLTXWEPA7BHSQ7AC5ZE/

            • weka 4.1.1.1.1.1
              19 December 2022 at 5:08 pm

              most people are cavalier about covid. It's basically a lottery at this point. We were very focused in the first year or so on deaths and impacts on the health system. NZ isn't very good at disability and chronic illness. We're most likely in for some wake up calls over the next five years.

    • Robert Guyton 4.2
      19 December 2022 at 10:06 am

      You had no respect for Jeanette Fitzsimmons, Once-was-a-sort-of-socialist?

      How so?

      • x Socialist 4.2.1
        19 December 2022 at 1:00 pm

        Well, Council Boy, it goes back to the late 1990s. One, Lindsay Perigo, had a TB show. During one show a recording was played of Jeanette addressing an audience.

        The most important part went something like( this was along time ago):

        ''Most would consider our policies we want to implement as communist. Therefore a Green vehicle is the best way to introduce such policies to the general public. A Green platform is something most people will understand even if they disagree with our policies.''

        • Robert Guyton 4.2.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 1:18 pm

          Is that a quote (it's inside quotation marks) or just your distant remembering?

          • Incognito 4.2.1.1.1
            19 December 2022 at 1:21 pm

            He can’t even remember if he was a Socialist once or not.

          • x Socialist 4.2.1.1.2
            19 December 2022 at 1:47 pm

            My distant remembering. But that was the general jist. I just used quotation marks to highlight my remembering. Since then I have paid no mind to the Greens. When they went crazy over peak oil ( remember that?) I had to smile. I believe they are now big time into Climate Change. I think they should be rebranded ''The Precautionary Principle Party''

            BTW- have you heard anything about the new protocols for measuring methane? I'm still searching the internet for them. If confirmed, would that mean our methane reduction targets are redundant?

            • Sacha 4.2.1.1.2.1
              19 December 2022 at 2:12 pm

              I just used quotation marks to highlight my remembering.

              Yeah, that's not how they work.

            • Robert Guyton 4.2.1.1.2.2
              19 December 2022 at 2:12 pm

              We shouldn't then, pay the words you attribute to Jeanette, any heed.

              Methane? Urea in, methane out; sequestered hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere by ruminants – something has to be done.

              • x Socialist …
                19 December 2022 at 2:52 pm

                ''We shouldn't then, pay the words you attribute to Jeanette, any heed.''

                Of course not. That is your choice ( enjoy democracy while we still have it). But I swear on a sacred mung bean, she said words to that affect.

                ''Methane? Urea in, methane out; sequestered hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere by ruminants – something has to be done.''

                Apparently not according to Dr Tom Sheahan. He appeared on Jamie Mackay's farming show and said Methane isn't a problem. The response to this interview was quite intense. Jamie, I believe, had to invite other scientists onto the show to counter what Sheahan had said. The public had to be told the 'real truth' that is acceptable to consensus scientific, public and political opinion.

                @ 3.58

                https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/the-country-full-show-thursday-november-24-2022/3K75OE6ROFFJHMBUNSJNJZV5CU/

                • Robert Guyton …
                  19 December 2022 at 3:06 pm

                  Everyone who appears on Jamie Mackay's farming show says Methane isn't a problem.

                  • Incognito …
                    19 December 2022 at 3:14 pm

                    They would say that, wouldn’t they? Why else go on the show or listen to it? People tune in and hear what they want to hear. At best, it is infotainment, because it is clearly ‘sponsored’ content.

                  • x Socialist …
                    19 December 2022 at 3:26 pm

                    Not Damien O'Connor. They are mates. But of course you don't listen to the show and wouldn't believe a Tory and Leftie could be mates. To be fair Damien has many views that align with the right.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 4.3
      19 December 2022 at 12:32 pm

      Myocarditis is often a response to something else. In Rod Donald's case, a bacterial infection.

      • x Socialist 4.3.1
        19 December 2022 at 12:45 pm

        Correct. And when you have sub clinical myocarditis with an unfit heart or other concurrent pathologies, a healthy person can drop dead. Pity we all can't all have a MRI scan should we catch Covid. I caught Covid a few weeks back. Had it for 3 days.

        • Incognito 4.3.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 12:58 pm

          … with an unfit heart or other concurrent pathologies, a healthy person can drop dead. [my italics]

          The contradictions are like a sore thumb. Lift your game or ship out.

          • x Socialist 4.3.1.1.1
            19 December 2022 at 1:13 pm

            Oh, yes, I forgot the word 'supposedly.'

            • Incognito 4.3.1.1.1.1
              19 December 2022 at 1:31 pm

              Nope, you already used too many words that you know very little about stringed together into a hopeless mess of nonsense as with most of your comments here. The addition of one little word doesn’t change this.

              Are you now a heart specialist, public health expert, or an expert in epidemiology after you’ve had Covid-19 for 3 days?

              • x Socialist …
                19 December 2022 at 2:04 pm

                Tom is a forklift driver. He is unfit. He's carrying a little extra weight. He has undiagnosed diabetes. He contracts Covid; recovers and feels fine. But he also has undiagnosed sub clinical myocarditis after his bout of Covid. His wife leaves him. His cortisol levels rise with the shock of his wife leaving. That pumps glucose into his blood stream. His heart, unready under stress ( unbeknown to him), stops. People then say '' but he looked fine.''

                ”Are you now a heart specialist, public health expert, or an expert in epidemiology after you’ve had Covid-19 for 3 days?”

                No, so what?

                • Robert Guyton …
                  19 December 2022 at 2:14 pm

                  He had undiagnosed sub clinical myocarditis long before he got Covid.

                • Incognito …
                  19 December 2022 at 2:43 pm

                  Tom is unfit and generally unhealthy and the signs are there. And he has marital problems too, apparently. Tom’s life is a wreck and Covid is not the cause. Tom died while watching the Soccer World Cup and drinking and smoking too much and sitting in his chair far too long – the clot caused a major stroke – and they found him 2 days later.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    19 December 2022 at 2:59 pm

                    "Tom is a forklift driver… he's carrying a little extra weight."

                    Well, it's his job, innit!

                  • x Socialist …
                    19 December 2022 at 3:22 pm

                    ''Tom is unfit and generally unhealthy and the signs are there. ''

                    Yes.

                    Tom’s life is a wreck and Covid is not the cause.

                    Possible.

                    ''Tom died while watching the Soccer World Cup and drinking and smoking too much and sitting in his chair far too long – the clot caused a major stroke – and they found him 2 days later.''

                    Possible…but the link I posted to Weka had this headline:

                    ''There are thousands more UK deaths than usual and we don’t know why''

                    Bear in mind this is just in the period from April 2022. And is not limited to Britain.

                    My first link posited a link between athletes and myocarditis during recovery from Covid. So Tom MAY still have be alive if he hadn't contracted Covid as the link also makes hints to Covid recovery and myocarditis in the general population.

                    • Incognito …
                      19 December 2022 at 3:55 pm

                      Tom’s marital problems were not caused by Covid unless he refused to wear a mask in the bedroom.

                      How many of the deaths in the UK were student athletes? Given that Tom is not a student athlete by any stretch of the imagination you’re on highly speculative ground here and wasting our good time and sucking up our oxygen. It is déjà vu all over again.

                    • x Socialist …
                      19 December 2022 at 4:04 pm

                      No, its not. Read my last paragraph. Tom comes into the general population demographic covered in the study.

                      Tom’s martial problems could have been a contribting factor( stress wise) to his death.

                      Sure some of it's speculative. But until these spikes in deaths are accounted for all things must be considered.

                    • Incognito []
                      19 December 2022 at 5:32 pm

                      Tom comes into the general population demographic covered in the study.

                      Nope, he doesn’t, as he is not a student athlete as included in the study. You invented Tom and a colourful narrative that is speculative, as even those US researchers explicitly stated. You’re making up things, as usual, but with some editorial assistance you could become a second-rate fiction writer.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      19 December 2022 at 4:35 pm

                      All things must be considered.

                      The diesel from Tom's forklift is a red flag for starters.

                      I'm also leaning toward the possibility that Tom's keen interest in athletes, particularly pole-vaulters, coupled with his viewing habits, were a factor.

    • mauī 4.4
      19 December 2022 at 3:33 pm

      Raises some questions. From the article:

      "The rate of COVID-associated myocarditis equals or greatly exceeds the rate of vaccine associated myocarditis in most populations. Furthermore, the severity of myocarditis is much worse from an infection…”

      Given in NZ we're up to 4 recognized deaths linked to myocarditis from the vaccine. Then what would the "much worse" myocarditis from infection look like??

      [Provide a link to support your ambiguous claim “in NZ we’re up to 4 recognized deaths linked to myocarditis from the vaccine” with clarification of what you mean exactly. You’re now in Pre-Mod until you comply – Incognito]

      • Incognito 4.4.1
        19 December 2022 at 4:08 pm

        Mod note

        • mauī 4.4.1.2
          19 December 2022 at 4:32 pm

          https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/safety-report-46.asp

          You want the "Summary of Reported Deaths" section

          [Thank you, but you still have some explaining to do, as it states this:

          2 deaths were determined by the Coroner to be due to myocarditis following first dose Covid-19 (Pfizer) vaccination

          You said it was “4 recognized links”.

          Only 6 days ago, you received your final warning about spreading mis- and dis-information about Covid-19 (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11-12-2022/#comment-1925743) and yet here we are … – Incognito]

          [link edited]

          • Incognito 4.4.1.2.1
            19 December 2022 at 5:44 pm

            Mod note

            • mauī 4.4.1.2.1.1
              19 December 2022 at 7:14 pm

              FFS on that page it mentions a total of 4 deaths, and as another commenter has shown finding another reference linking 4 deaths is about 2 seconds of work away. Yet here we are…

              [It was not without reason for giving you your final warning 6 days ago, as you have repeatedly shown to provide unreliable inaccurate commentary about anything related to Covid-19. I’ve given you another chance today, going against my gut feeling, and you blew it.

              Your link to the Medsafe report does not state a total of 4 deaths recognized [by the Coroner] as caused by myocarditis caused by Covid-19.

              The link by ‘another commenter’ is entitled “Fourth death possibly linked to COVID-19 vaccine” [emphasis added]. It is even in the URL. Again, it doesn’t state that there have been 4 recognized deaths. It may well turn out to be the case but that link clearly states this:

              It’s important to note this case is with the Coroner who is still investigating the cause of death.

              I don’t want to waste any of my spare time on you during the summer break. Take 4 recognized weeks off and don’t get Covid if you go anywhere – Incognito]

      • UncookedSelachimorpha 4.4.2
        19 December 2022 at 5:22 pm

        Given in NZ we're up to 4 recognized deaths linked to myocarditis from the vaccine. Then what would the "much worse" myocarditis from infection look like??

        Risk of Myocarditis After Sequential Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine and SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Age and Sex

        This is a fairly technical paper published in August, looking at 43 million people. Overall they found incidence of myocarditis was about 3.5x higher for vaccinated people following infection with covid, and 7x higher for unvaccinated people following infection with covid, compared to the incidence of mycarditis following vaccination with the Pfizer mRNA vaccine.

        Interestingly, the incidence after vaccination was relatively higher in men (especially young men) while the incidence after covid was a bit higher in women. The second dose (and only the second dose) of the moderna vaccine seemed higher risk – comparable to getting covid.

        Of course, myocarditis is probably the worst risk from the vaccines, but is just one of many risks from getting the actual disease.

      • gsays 4.4.3
        19 December 2022 at 6:57 pm

        Yep, that is why pFizer recommended their drug was to be aspirated before administering. A step, by the way, when I asked for was acknowledged but then they 'forgot to do'.

        To the best of my knowledge, the PTB ignored this stipulation and aspiration was not done unless requested by the individual.

  5. ianmac 5
    19 December 2022 at 10:00 am

    Dr Peter Davis looks at whether the TVNZ/RNZ merger will rebalance our media eco-system – or whether it's just an ideological project.

    There is an air of unreality about the debate. While some may decry the proposal as an ideological project or a “marriage made in hell”, there are some very real issues in the media that we need to address, and the current proposal could be seen as a first step in the right direction.

    Thankyou Dr Davis providing an explanation on why a merger is desirable. Like 3 Waters there is so much bluster about dealing with a national need that a peasant like me needs a clear understanding of the issues.

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/merged-tvnzrnz-a-marriage-made-in-heaven-not-hell?utm_source=Friends+of+the+Newsroom&utm_campaign=c4800a289d-Daily_Briefing+19.12.2022&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_71de5c4b35-c4800a289d-95522477#comment-container

    • millsy 5.1
      19 December 2022 at 12:44 pm

      You only need to turn on TVNZ to get an argument in favour of a merger. Endless reality dreck, punctured by a similar amount of advertising. MKR, Celeb Treasure Island, etc. I really don't know how those who oppose the merger can have such little ambition for broadcasting in this country.

      • tinderdry6 5.1.1
        19 December 2022 at 1:19 pm

        How will the merger take any of that drivel off our TV screens? And what will replace it that brings in the same level of advertising revenue? Or has the government indicated its intention to deliberately reduce TVNZ's revenue and pump in more taxpayers money to fund the shortfall?

        • millsy 5.1.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 2:04 pm

          The government plans to give ANZPM a mandate and funding to commission content directly, rather than have to go through NZ on air, which is a flawed model. If I had my way, NZOA would be folded into the merged entity, which would deliver wall to wall docos.

          • tinderdry6 5.1.1.1.1
            19 December 2022 at 4:07 pm

            You've missed my point. The government does not intend stopping TVNZ selling advertising, so there is no guarantee at all that the crap that is on TV won't remain on TV.

            • millsy 5.1.1.1.1.1
              19 December 2022 at 5:32 pm

              When TVNZ's charter was implemented, there was an improvement in quality, as they were required to carry out public service objectives. The merged entity would be about the same. Also, there would be no expectation of the dividend by the government, which would free up cash for investment in programming.

              • tinderdry6 …
                19 December 2022 at 9:05 pm

                The last dividend TVNZ paid was only $15m, in August 2021. Prior to that, TVNZ hadn't paid a dividend since 2018.

                According to the government, RNZ is not viable in its current form.

                So the government would be receiving little or no dividend anyway.

                I cannot see anything in the merger proposal that would drive the programs you and I both detest off the air, unless the government was prepared to foot the bill for the revenue shortfall.

                • millsy …
                  19 December 2022 at 10:22 pm

                  The government plans to take money off NZ on Air, and give it to to the merged media company to commission content. Well that is what I understand anyway.

                  • tinderdry6 …
                    20 December 2022 at 11:53 am

                    But even that is just shuffling money. It isn't additional investment in programming. I'm still getting my head around the merger proposal, but I will say Peter Davis' article referenced above was a useful addition to the discussion.

    • Patricia Bremner 5.2
      19 December 2022 at 8:00 pm

      yesThanks for putting that up ianmac.

  6. Stephen D 6
    19 December 2022 at 10:21 am

    Just playing with some numbers, and wild assumptions.

    Labour get 38% = 46 seats.

    Greens get 10% = 12 seats

    TPM win 5 Māori seats = 5

    Added up is 63 and a majority.

    The problem being TPM are saying (at the moment) they won’t coalesce with anybody.

    Fun times!

    • weka 6.1
      19 December 2022 at 10:46 am

      The problem being TPM are saying (at the moment) they won’t coalesce with anybody.

      link please

        • observer 6.1.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 11:01 am

          All this "will/won't deal" talk is meaningless. The escape clauses are left wide open.

          Not being in government is a very different position from refusing even to consider support on conf/supp, or an abstention which allows a gov't to be formed.

          The only question that matters is "Would you prefer an immediate second election to a negotiation?". Nobody has ever said yes to that.

          • Incognito 6.1.1.1.1
            19 December 2022 at 11:11 am

            Indeed, politics is the art of compromise, which is something that many binary (and purist) thinkers can’t seem to get their heads around. One could ask them if they’re willing to get a divorce or leave their (meaningful?) relationship each time they don’t get their way.

            • observer 6.1.1.1.1.1
              19 December 2022 at 11:27 am

              The other point often missed is that it's not "go with National or Labour". Labour won’t get a majority without the Greens.

              The question for TPM should be "Would you vote against the Greens if they – for the first time ever – could be in Cabinet with Labour, no other parties involved?".

              Or more bluntly "Would you shaft your best friends in Parliament?".

              The chances of TPM doing that and making Luxon/Seymour very happy, are near zero.

              • Incognito …
                19 December 2022 at 11:39 am

                I’d go as far as to suggest that TPM and GP are ahead of the other Parties in the art of compromise (and the art of seeking consensus). This has got nothing to do with their relative size (MP seats) but everything with their culture and philosophy that underpins and guides their policies. Again, this is not binary but a spectrum and political pragmatism and opportunism play important roles too, of course.

                I’d also suggest that TPM and GP are less influenced and driven by personality politics, particularly of their leaders/leadership. Perhaps this is one reason why they might attract less media attention than, say, the Twerker from Epsom.

    • Craig H 6.2
      19 December 2022 at 10:58 am

      Confidence and supply is fine, they don't have to go into a full coalition. On those numbers, would be hard to abstain on confidence and supply (the lowest possible level) as the Nats + ACT would presumably have the balance of 57 seats between them, so after the Speaker was appointed from Labour (most likely), would be 57 "normal" MPs each.

    • lprent 6.3
      19 December 2022 at 12:00 pm

      The problem being TPM are saying (at the moment) they won’t coalesce with anybody.

      The loose definition of a government in our system is a MP appointed as prime minister being able to win confidence and supply votes in parliament. That is the only criteria that the crown recognises.

      No-one or no party actually has to go into a coalition with anyone. Coalitions are just an special case of support on confidence and supply, and in fact is revocable at any point in time.

      That is National’s problem, there is a reluctance for other parties to support them on confidence and supply even when they are the party with the largest number of MPs in parliament. Like 2017 when they couldn’t gain the confidence of enough MPs to allow their putative government to form.

      That is most likely because of the poor behaviour of previous governments led by National. That pattern of behaviour goes at least back to 1997 where they actively tried to disintegrate the internal coherence of NZ First while in a coalition agreement with them.

      There really is no option for TPM to sit on the fence in a hung parliament. Either they give confidence and supply votes to a PM (usually for specific policies or concessions) or they wind up forcing a new election. All of the blame for putting voters through, paying for a new election, and the economic consequences of the interim uncertainty will at TMP’s feet. It’d be unlikely that TMP would survive as a parliamentary party if that happened.

    • millsy 6.4
      19 December 2022 at 1:12 pm

      Labour don't like TPM. Even though it would be in it's best interests to keep them onside. Especially since if and when they lose the maori seats to TPM, they will not get them back.

      • Incognito 6.4.1
        19 December 2022 at 1:38 pm

        Labour don’t like TPM.

        Baseless assumption without any evidence to back it up and posted as an assertion. Labour may not have ‘liked’ NZF either in 2017 but they did form a Government together and held it together for a full term. Do you have any better political debating points or are you scraping the bottom of your barrel?

        • millsy 6.4.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 2:26 pm

          I dont see any instances where Labour has worked with TPM, or had any cordial discussion.

          Happy to be proven wrong though.

          • Incognito 6.4.1.1.1
            19 December 2022 at 2:36 pm

            Go for it then and give us some evidence for your baseless claim. The onus is on you.

        • weka 6.4.1.2
          19 December 2022 at 2:34 pm

          Seems a reasonable statement, that Labour don’t like TPM (based on history). They used to not like the GP until the point in history when they needed them.

          • Incognito 6.4.1.2.1
            19 December 2022 at 2:35 pm

            It is a simplistic and unsupported assertion.

            • weka 6.4.1.2.1.1
              19 December 2022 at 2:46 pm

              On my phone and can’t be arsed looking or links to support my opinion, which is that Labour for a long time had a FPP mentality and took the position that things would be better if small parties were out of parliament (or out of Labour’s way). That changed at the point Labour realised they need led the GP to form govt and shifted their position of disdain to one of positive working together to change the govt.

              in contrast to the GP who had wanted that for a number of years prior.

              Then there is the Labour’s F/Seabed act, Turia leaving Labour, the formation of TPM, and TPM later going with Nat.

              • Incognito …
                19 December 2022 at 2:49 pm

                No, not your opinion, but millsy’s.

              • Incognito …
                19 December 2022 at 3:00 pm

                TPM was founded 18 years ago (has it been really that long ago?). They have undergone quite a few changes since then, I’d imagine, with a new leadership and 2 first-term MPs in 2020.

              • Robert Guyton …
                19 December 2022 at 3:01 pm

                "On my phone and can’t be arsed looking or links to support my opinion,.."

                One for the archives 🙂

                • weka …
                  19 December 2022 at 3:29 pm

                  not the first person to say that ;-p

                  people need to provide links for quotes, statements of fact, and for controversial opinions relying on an assertion. I don't think comment fits that criteria, others may disagree.

      • Craig H 6.4.2
        19 December 2022 at 3:13 pm

        If nothing else, TPM's voting record is quite pro-Labour so far this term. I don't know the exact stats, but when I look in Hansard at 3rd readings, TPM seem to be in favour a lot more often than not. That's not to say they support everything uncritically, but from what I've seen of their voting record, it suggests more alignment with Labour and the Greens than National and ACT.

        • Incognito 6.4.2.1
          19 December 2022 at 3:19 pm

          Opinions also have a foundation in reality and millsy is going to wow us with supporting material to back-up his claim of fact. Any moment now …

          • millsy 6.4.2.1.1
            19 December 2022 at 5:33 pm

            Jacinda didnt bring TPM into the fold after 2020. She could have easily offered them some sort of arrangement

            • Incognito 6.4.2.1.1.1
              19 December 2022 at 5:52 pm

              Labour got 65 seats plus the 10 of the Green Party. TPM was new in 2020, as they didn’t win any seats in 2017, IIRC. Besides the fact that it is irrelevant you only have your reckons as to who ‘likes’ whom, which is no basis for robust debate. Lift your game.

  7. DB Brown 7
    19 December 2022 at 10:25 am

    Farmers think they can dictate their own terms, but discerning market's are not interested in their bullshit. And it's not just their non-compliance with climate regulations that will see them shut out of markets, the ever present, every growing cadmium levels are not invisible to their customers either.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/130784599/tescos-warning-to-new-zealand-farmers

    “A significant (P < 0.001) relationship between total soil Cd and total P indicated the overriding influence of P fertiliser application history on soil Cd accumulation.”

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167880917305303

    • Robert Guyton 7.1
      19 December 2022 at 10:54 am

      On the button, DB Brown.

      Foreign markets, through industry here, will re-shape agriculture into what they want it to be.

      Protestations from the pasture-roots are just warm air.

    • bwaghorn 7.2
      19 December 2022 at 11:58 am

      Did you miss the bit where it says nz farmers are ahead of the rest, and that British farmers can offset there emmisions with things like hedges ,which we are not allowed to do!?

      • Robert Guyton 7.2.1
        19 December 2022 at 12:24 pm

        NZ farmers are "allowed" to offset their emissions by planting hedge-rows. They just won't be paid by the taxpayer to do it. What possible reason would the conscious farmer have for not planting hedge-rows? Given the size of the farms here in NZ compared with those in the UK, the potential for NZ farmers to become the Climate Heroes is enormous – why aren't they leaping at the opportunity? They'd be beloved by the NZ townies, especially when they took the initiative without expectation of financial recompense!! This would be heroic stuff!

      • Sacha 7.2.2
        19 December 2022 at 2:06 pm

        the bit where it says nz farmers are ahead of the rest

        That includes our non-dairy farmers. Also some greenwashing which will be found out when the data is demanded.

      • DB Brown 7.2.3
        19 December 2022 at 2:09 pm

        The more the weather turns to extremes, the more our livestock need hedges, and trees, and better management.

        How some people can consider themselves world leaders while leaving their stock in the weather 24/7 365 days is beyond me. Just go stand outside for a week with, and then without, tree cover. World leaders – Bloody pulling our legs.

        • Robert Guyton 7.2.3.1
          19 December 2022 at 3:03 pm

          Metrics, DB Brown; it all hinges on how you measure success. Chose your metric, you can be a winner too! Could be that our meth dealers are the best in the world as well – depends on which ruler they apply.

      • Patricia Bremner 7.2.4
        19 December 2022 at 8:10 pm

        That was to encourage keeping hedge rows… as wildlife were impacted where they were removed… saw that on a British farming show.

  8. Cricklewood 8
    19 December 2022 at 11:04 am

    Was supposed to be a reply to Weka…Couple of examples below, there's not really much available on terms of cause but you'd have to think that Covid is playing a role.

    Have a neat graph from the health insurance scheme in Germany that shows an increase of about 80 per day from q1 2021 that's stayed fairly steady. Just can't figure out how to post it.

    https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2022-002019_EN.html

    https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/10/21/hbam-o21.html

    • lprent 8.1
      19 December 2022 at 11:35 am

      Have a neat graph from the health insurance scheme in Germany that shows an increase of about 80 per day from q1 2021 that’s stayed fairly steady. Just can’t figure out how to post it.

      If it is visible somewhere on the net, then comment and press the image button (looks like some small hills) in the editor and give the the URL of the image. Set the width at about 550 and leave the height blank.

    • weka 9.1
      19 December 2022 at 2:36 pm

      Better option is to live within our means rather that spending up large and expecting reality to suck that up.

      • bwaghorn 9.1.1
        19 December 2022 at 5:13 pm

        Yeah but given you plan ain't gonna happen ,wouldn't it be far better if the Europeans who want freedom from the shit bags running fussing went nuclear? (In the interim while fusion gets finished)

        • weka 9.1.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 5:26 pm

          I can see this is attractive if you think high tech civilisation is going to continue in perpetuity. But if climate collapses the global economy, we will have to live within our limits but the transition will be brutal (as opposed to the choices we have now).

          And then who will look after and maintain the nuclear power plants?

          Lynn has made some compelling arguments recently from a mainstream perspective about why nuclear is not a suitable option. The waste issue hasn't been solved for a start.

          But mostly it will just perpetuate all the other problems we are creating by living beyond our means, especially the ecology crises of biodiversity loss, overdevelopment, and water.

          Yeah but given you plan ain't gonna happen

          It's likely to happen if we don't transition to something sustainable (nuclear isn't). That's not fringe thought, climate scientists have been pointing this out and mainstream orgs.

          Besides, we don't have time any more, that ship has sailed. Future generations might be able to scale back up to other high tech forms of energy generation, but it's not in our immediate future, the tech just isn't close to being available at scale).

  10. millsy 10
    19 December 2022 at 12:37 pm

    By all rights, my ban should be over now.

  11. gsays 11
    19 December 2022 at 1:04 pm

    I was chatting to a buddy in the weekend and he was part way through a submission concerning changes with the Firearms Act changes. Full cost recovery is part of the vibe.

    On a set, if there are weapons, an armourer needs to be present. An armourer that is vetted and approved by the police. What is proposed is police to inspect all firearms at a fee of $300. He mentioned some other changes…

    What I was left with was yet another example of meddling/changes that aren’t needed and another voting block disinclined to tick for Labour come election time.

    Kinda helps explain ACT’s strong polling of late.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 11.1
      19 December 2022 at 5:27 pm

      The core of the issue is whether you believe in "User Pays", aka "Poor People Can't Use", that slogan that the wealthy classes love to get everyone to buy into.

      • gsays 11.1.1
        19 December 2022 at 6:10 pm

        While there is some truth to that, I think this change is way more dangerous than that. Folk will have to pay $300 to receive training from Police as a first barrier. The neo-liberal way doesn't stop with the gross ticket clipping.

        I have recently gone through the vetting process as my SO has applied for a license. This interview was sub-contracted out to a third party. Now we have to trust those that the police trust…

        To think for decades, this was administered by the Mountain Safety Council, including training.

        Just another example of the f***ed mindset that the powers that be posses.

        In case anyone wants to get involved:
        https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/programmes-and-initiatives/consultation-arms-regulations-review-fees-2022

  13. Craig H 13
    19 December 2022 at 3:14 pm

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/130782654/modernday-slavery-liquor-boss-gets-record-155m-in-fines-for-migrant-worker-exploitation

    A good effort by the Labour Inspectorate, will be interesting to see the other cases in the pipeline as they reach court.

    • arkie 13.1
      19 December 2022 at 3:26 pm

      Evidence of the imbalance of the justice system. Steal from 5 of your employees in over 70 breaches of the law; get fined and forbidden from running a business for three years. No jail time, not even home detention. I imagine the outcome would have been very different had it been the employees that were stealing.

      • Craig H 13.1.1
        19 December 2022 at 3:55 pm

        I'd like to see wage theft criminalised to some extent, but this particular case involved civil breaches of employment law rather than criminal charges for migrant exploitation (which do exist, MBIE has prosecuted successfully before), which suggests to me that MBIE didn't see that bar as being reached in this case.

        • Sacha 13.1.1.1
          19 December 2022 at 5:13 pm

          MBIE need a rocket. The shitheel's photo is not even included in the story, and he has managed to negotiate his wife out of any accountability for her part in this calculated abuse.

          • Craig H 13.1.1.1.1
            19 December 2022 at 7:47 pm

            Not sure how it's MBIE's fault the story didn't have a photo, nor is it clear what she actually had to do with the exploitation that merited personal liability (which the shitheel would have paid anyway) or banning when, if she does run something, he can't be anywhere near it. If the Labour Inspectorate's case was, essentially, that he was the mastermind who later operated the business using her as the front person (which the judge found), then spending time and effort including her wasn't worth the delays it would have caused.

            • Sacha 13.1.1.1.1.1
              19 December 2022 at 10:39 pm

              Of course media coverage is nothing to do with MBIE. Duh. Noting how few of the usual consequences he has faced.

              The story talks about negotiating her out of charges. They were both involved.

              • Craig H …
                20 December 2022 at 1:45 pm

                I read the article and the news release on Employment.govt.nz, but potential liability for breaches being available doesn't automatically mean that it is worth pursuing them. It's not a criminal case so only fines and bans are on the table – what value is there in going to a fully defended trial instead of taking the quicker win and getting what was likely to be the same amount of money into the victims' pockets faster?

        • Cricklewood 13.1.1.2
          19 December 2022 at 8:24 pm

          Completely agree, employee steals something it's a criminal charge, when an employer steals from an employee via wage or holiday theft it's a civil matter. Criminal charges and subsequent record if found guilty would be a massive deterrent against such awful behavior.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    17 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 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
    19 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
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-26T23:48:07+00:00