Open mike 19/01/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 19th, 2016 - 79 comments
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79 comments on “Open mike 19/01/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    19 January 2016 at 7:04 am

    It’s the economy, stupid……

    ‘Dairy futures point to weak demand’
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11575842

    NZ sharemarket falls again
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/294349/nz-sharemarket-falls-again

    Weak growth and dairy prices weigh on kiwi
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11575715

    With wave of Iranian oil imminent, a shudder in Saudi Arabia
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11575666

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1
      19 January 2016 at 2:40 pm

      Quoting first article:

      ASB Bank said there was a chance of a small tick up in dairy prices at this week’s auction , “but the overall trend remains still weak and highlights one of the key areas of downside risk to the NZ economy,” the bank said.

      Highlights the problem of putting all our eggs in one basket. Thanks banks, farmers and government for all being so bloody stupid.

      With wave of Iranian oil imminent, a shudder in Saudi Arabia

      If the governments of the world were doing what they should be doing then demand for oil and other fossil fuels should be declining steadily.

  2. Tautoko Mangō Mata 2
    19 January 2016 at 7:11 am

    Interactive map on ISDS
    http://teamdata.oneworld.nl/projects/isds/movementmap-claimants/

    Also good long read on ISDS
    “Why companies sue countries (and how they do it) ” http://longreads.oneworld.nl/en/about-isds/

  3. Tautoko Mangō Mata 3
    19 January 2016 at 7:57 am

    Think tanks: how independent are they?

    “Big business orders its pro-TTIP arguments from these think tanks”

    http://www.bilaterals.org/?big-business-orders-its-pro-ttip

    The information came from this study
    https://decorrespondent.nl/3874/How-we-looked-into-think-tanks-and-TTIP-and-feel-free-to-use-our-data/853522027644-4f371269

  4. Penny Bright 4
    19 January 2016 at 8:13 am

    This growing global inequality, in my view, is becoming simply obscene.

    http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/18/richest-62-billionaires-wealthy-half-world-population-combined

    “Oxfam said a three-pronged approach was needed: a crackdown on tax dodging; higher investment in public services; and higher wages for the low paid.

    It said a priority should be to close down tax havens, increasingly used by rich individuals and companies to avoid paying tax and which had deprived governments of the resources needed to tackle poverty and inequality.

    Three years ago, David Cameron told the WEF that the UK would spearhead a global effort to end aggressive tax avoidance in the UK and in poor countries, but Oxfam said promised measures to increase transparency in British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, such as the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, had not been implemented.

    Goldring said: “We need to end the era of tax havens which has allowed rich individuals and multinational companies to avoid their responsibilities to society by hiding ever increasing amounts of money offshore.

    … ”

    I agree.

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

  5. Whispering Kate 5
    19 January 2016 at 8:27 am

    Once again RNZ has this morning has some economist (if he could call himself one) being interviewed this morning on the Business Report (or whatever it is called) and part of the discussion was about there probably would be, once again, no pay rises forthwith this year for workers. It came to pass that the “economist” said that there were other ways to recompense workers, the interviewer had the sense to ask him “what other ways were there?” and – I just couldn’t believe my ears, he pontificated on that “praise” and “pats on the back” and “a job well done” went a long way to make it worthwhile for workers.

    Where do these people come from for God’s sake. How patronising can you get. Did anybody else hear this and what do they think of it. Is it just me or what? My partner said “calm down its just spin” – how are they allowed to get away with this absolute bullshit – this is the second day in a row I have heard about a “glowing economy” ad nauseum from RNZ. Tell that to people who haven’t had a pay rise for God knows when and costs going up all the time. Pat on the back – its sick making and going back to early Victorian days when one fobbed their hat and grovelled just to survive. How about recompensing for the hard work in pay increases – isn’t that what its all about – slavery is supposed to have been abolished years ago – I think not.

    • Paul 5.1
      19 January 2016 at 8:44 am

      5 minutes of propaganda by RNZ business section on behalf of big corporates.

      First up
      ‘Employee confidence back in positive territory – survey’
      Westpac Senior economist Anne Boniface.
      Another spokesperson for the banksters is allowed to go unchallenged.
      Westpac’s profits for 2015 was $916 million; clearly no free money to pay its workers.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/businessnews/audio/201785906/employee-confidence-back-in-positive-territory-survey
      http://www.westpac.co.nz/business/economic-updates/our-economics-team/
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/73612560/asb-anz-bnz-and-westpac-rake-in-459-billion-of-profits

      Then the report you referred to.
      ‘HR report reveals NZers least confident of wage rise’
      Blair Cashin from Randstad was saying the same type of stuff last year as well.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/businessnews/audio/201785907/hr-report-reveals-nzers-least-confident-of-wage-rise
      http://www.randstad.co.nz/about-randstad/our-company/the-team/meet-the-team-in-wellington
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/65466063/Unhappy-workers-eye-the-exit

      • Whispering Kate 5.1.1
        19 January 2016 at 9:04 am

        Thank you Paul for linking all the conversations. I am a bit of a technophobe and am learning to link information I hear – but for me, all takes time!! I just cannot fathom why there isn’t a sort of code of compliance these radio stations and TV channels have to apply. They have a Broadcasting Standards one I know but to just be allowed to put such utter crap out there without certain standards applying seems odd to me. RNZ is meant to be pretty up front with what it broadcasts – I think its going to be yet another source of information I am going to turn off.

        Personally what that man said this morning has to be the worst sort of rubbish I have heard for a long time.

        • Paul 5.1.1.1
          19 January 2016 at 9:08 am

          It’s not what he said. You would expect the Head of a company like Randstad to say something like this.
          It’s the fact that our only state broadcaster provides a megaphone for these views – unchallenged.

          • Tc 5.1.1.1.1
            19 January 2016 at 11:14 am

            As designed with griffin at the helm and a nat stacked board.

            • Paul 5.1.1.1.1.1
              19 January 2016 at 11:17 am

              Details of the Board here.

              http://www.radionz.co.nz/about/board-profile

              RICHARD GRIFFIN

              Chair of the Radio New Zealand Board of Governors
              Richard Griffin was appointed to the board as a governor in May 2010. He has an extensive career in print media, radio, television and public relations. A past Radio New Zealand Political Editor and a life member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, he served as Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to Prime Minister, Jim Bolger from 1993 until 1998. He was Manager of Policy Development, Government Relations and Communications for TVNZ from 2000 to 2007. Mr Griffin is a Director of the public relations consultancy, Fraser, Griffin, Wood.

              JOSH EASBY
              Deputy Chair – Radio New Zealand Board of Governors
              Josh Easby has over 35 years of experience in business development. He has held senior positions within the New Zealand and UK commercial radio industry, and more recently with Australasian Media group APN News and Media Ltd. He played a vital role in the consolidation of the New Zealand radio industry in the 1990s and has held senior operational roles in the New Zealand commercial radio and publishing markets.
              He is a past executive member of the commercial Radio Broadcasters Association and was General Manager for Radio Hauraki. He has published several books, is a keen soccer fan and has had administrative involvement with clubs in England and New Zealand.

              TIWANA TIBBLE
              Radio New Zealand Board of Governors
              Tiwana Tibble has been the chief executive of the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board since 1998. Prior to that he was the Company Secretary and Financial Controller at the Maori Development Corporation Ltd.

              GARY MONK
              Radio New Zealand Board of Governors
              Gary has had a long involvement in New Zealand primary industry. Having completed a law degree he embarked on a career in the seafood industry in 1976 and established Intersea Limited in 1983. He is a shareholder and non-executive Chairman of Mathias International Limited, a privately owned New Zealand company trading in agricultural primary products, and is a Director and non-executive Chairman of New Zealand Light Leathers Limited, a tannery based in Timaru exporting deer leather to Europe, China and the USA.

              SHEENA HENDERSON
              Radio New Zealand Board of Governors
              Sheena Henderson, previously Global Brand director for Fonterra, is a Christchurch-based consultant specialising in branding, marketing and corporate advisory work.

              DEBORAH TAYLOR
              Radio New Zealand Board of Governors
              Deborah Taylor is a self-employed business consultant from Queenstown. She has an extensive financial and legal background and is a former director and principal of a chartered accountants firm.

              MELISSA CLARK-REYNOLDS
              Radio New Zealand Board of Governors
              Wellingtonian Melissa Clark-Reynolds is a technology entrepreneur who has taken several companies from start up through to high growth.
              Her last business was MiniMonos – a children’s games site which aims to provide a community for children based in good values: providing environmental education while playing great games. She is now CEO of Looxie, an online media startup.
              She is featured in Her Business’s Hall of Fame, was named by Forbes Magazine as one of 10 Female Entrepreneurs to watch, and is also an Independent Director of the NZ Centre for Gifted Education.

              • Tc …
                19 January 2016 at 2:39 pm

                Business, finance, sales and marketing, fisheries and iwi led by bolgers old press secretary.

                Spot any broadcasting experience ?

                • Once was Tim …
                  19 January 2016 at 7:13 pm

                  I spy with my little eye COMMERCIAL broadcasting experience; treating audiences as consumers not citizens; branding; demographic targeting; bean cunting (oops missed the ‘o’); cumfy little board room chairs; cronyism; etc.

                  One of the main things any (next) government should address as a priority IF THEY ARE CONCERNED about NZ remaining a 1st world democracy (actually we’re already a bit passed that) is appointments to public service positions ……
                  that’s alongside usurping judicial power and vesting it in the executive; legislation passed under urgency; etc. (Generally recognising that democracy isn’t elected dictatorships.)
                  I’m not sure however, that either National, Labour, (and now Greens) are up for all that but I’ll be watching policy promises

    • DH 5.2
      19 January 2016 at 11:57 am

      I don’t know what it is about economics. There’s something in it that makes many people who take up economics lose their humanity. Or maybe it just attracts the wrong type of people.

      Economists remind me of the old alchemists constantly trying to turn lead into gold. They’re formulaic, to the economist everything in life has a magic formula. There’s a perfect level of tax, a perfect level of economic growth, a perfect level of unemployment, a perfect level of inflation… etc etc. They try to be logical while at the same time acting irrationally.

      They’re an odd bunch, would be amusing if they didn’t do so much harm.

      • Pat 5.2.1
        19 January 2016 at 12:05 pm

        economists …the high priests of the new religion….have faith my son

        • Rodel 5.2.1.1
          19 January 2016 at 8:32 pm

          Read a few books on economics in my time. Generally aimed at about year 8-9 intellectual school level. Full of old world metaphors and few real definitions.
          i.e. ‘steam’.. dampening down’…’putting a lid on’… etc

          Q -Why did god invent economists?
          A -To make meteorologists look good. …(old joke and my apologies to current day meteorologists who are actually very skilled.)

          • Pat 5.2.1.1.1
            19 January 2016 at 10:00 pm

            something to ponder..

            macro economics is the study of entire economies comprising aggregated production, labour, social policy, resources etc…in other words large grouped factors that are predictable in average……and

            ‘Oxfam said that the 62 richest people having as much wealth as the poorest 50% of the population is a remarkable concentration of wealth, given that it would have taken 388 individuals to have the same wealth as the bottom 50% in 2010. ”

            a very small group with (likely) diametrically opposed goals

      • Wairua 5.2.2
        19 January 2016 at 2:34 pm

        .. and not a broadcaster in sight !

        Put Kim Hill on the board to safeguard broadcast standards.

        There should not be any partisan objections.

  7. just saying 7
    19 January 2016 at 8:57 am

    https://bootstheory.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/building-a-mass-movement/

    Message to Lynn and other writers.
    I’d like it if the above was posted as a guest post, in the next couple of days (with Stephanie’s permission of course). I’d like to discuss it here, and I think others might too.

    For some reason, I’m not able to copy and paste a snippet from the blog

    • BM 7.1
      19 January 2016 at 9:15 am

      That’s been discussed so many times on here.

      Just to save time, a quick summary.

      It’s all the fault of white heterosexual males and if you disagree you’re a supporter of rape culture, homophobia, misogyny and you’re a racist.

      Endless back and forth bickering and finger pointing.

      • just saying 7.1.1
        19 January 2016 at 9:32 am

        I’m sure you don’t want the left to be united, BM.

        Your summary is bullshit.

        • BM 7.1.1.1
          19 January 2016 at 10:16 am

          United doesn’t equal a tiny group of extremists berating and abusing the larger group of moderates until that group is forced to capitulate and agree absolutely with the extremists world view.

          If you think that’s the path to success, you’re going to be seriously disappointed.

      • Puckish Rogue 7.1.2
        19 January 2016 at 9:42 am

        Very succinct BM

      • marty mars 7.1.3
        19 January 2016 at 9:55 am

        It is too hard for a ‘basic’ person like you to get bm and I’m pleased about that because having a (insults deleted) like you pushing opinions gives us an idea of what we are up against and why ‘left unity’ is necessary.

        arsehole righties giving advice to the left? yeah nah – same for you pucker.

  8. Sabine 8
    19 January 2016 at 9:15 am

    in other news, all is well.

    http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/18/gdp-growth-estimates-fall-below-1-percent.html

    and then there is this, guys, it’s gonna get better then it was in 2008! Yuppie! rejoice, our overlords know what they do, really they do.

    http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/15/a-recession-worse-than-2008-is-coming-commentary.html

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    19 January 2016 at 11:30 am

    Piketty, Rousseau and the desire for inequality

    Notice how this picture inverts one of the standard tropes of the right-wing commentariat. According to endless pundits, it is the egalitarian left, obsessed with a “politics of envy”, who irrationally focus on the distribution of wealth and income at the expense of what really matters, making people’s lives better. But here we see that a focus on inequality, indeed a lust for inequality, is characteristic of the wealthy who value inequality for its own sake and who rejoice in the subordination of their fellows.

    The RWNJs actually want others to be envious of them and probably get really upset when told that we’re actually disgusted by them.

  10. Draco T Bastard 10
    19 January 2016 at 11:36 am

    Can you guess which country just set a new world record for wind power?

    According to Energinet, Denmark’s electric utility, the country’s turbines accounted for the equivalent of 42 percent of all electricity produced for the year. It’s the highest proportion for any country — breaking a record the country set just last year — ​and represents more than a doubling compared to just 10 years ago.

    Proves that full renewable energy is possible. But, then, we already knew that here in NZ with ~70% of electricity produced by renewables. We just don’t have a government willing to go all out and produce the rest that we need via renewables including that needed for transport.

  12. greywarshark 12
    19 January 2016 at 12:22 pm

    This is something that should be thought about and acted to advance now. It’s time has come, again. But for politicians it’s real work, not leading to a plum job out of the pollie heaven. So they will take it up reluctantly only if pushed. It’s euthanasia, assisted dying etc

    Pollies can be quick enough to send citizens to war and aggression in this or another country (I regard the raid on Tuhoe as a practice police-military action). But it is too uppity of citizens to want to have charge of themselves and their time of death, that is legal and accessible. Ask politicians to act dutifully to the citizens and responsibly in supporting and finalising a well-written, fair, adequate and suitable Bill and act before the end of this month, January, less than a fortnight away. Don’t leave it in the hands of authoritarian detractors who want to make decisions for others who should be able to decide themselves on this most important right.

    RADIONZ broadcast Matt Vickers a few days ago asking people to come forward and take up Lecretia’s plea.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/294319/have-your-say-on-euthanasia,-urges-lecretia%27s-husband

    Ms Seales took legal action for the right to die with dignity in a case that played out as the curtain fell on her life. She died hours after the High Court ruled it was a debate that needed to be had by Parliament and not the courts.
    Lecretia Seales’ husband Matt Vickers after her death and the judge’s decision

    Parliament picked up on that challenge, with its health select committee launching an inquiry in response to a petition calling for a law change to permit medically assisted dying in the event of terminal illness or other specific circumstances.
    Her husband Matt Vickers said it would be a tragedy if the chance to have a debate on the topic was wasted.

    This link put up by a commenter on RADIONZ comment channel RNZ Talk –
    Frithogar
    Make submissions here – note there is a verification process at the bottom of the page
    The closing date is February 1
    http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission/0SCHE_SCF_51DBHOH_PET63268_1/petition-of-hon-maryan-street-and-8974-others
    and
    chienfou
    There’s a prospect of appearing before the committee to speak to your submission. I’d encourage anyone who possibly can to volunteer. It adds a lot of weight to the democratic process, especially if it’s not just the same old Wellington hacks turning up.

    Lecretia and Matt’s blog – http://lecretia.org/
    Lecretia’s Choice
    Lecretia Seales believed ill people enduring intolerable suffering with no hope of recovery should have the choice to request assistance to end their lives.

    Scoop reporting the Lecretia Seales tragedy and the initiative taken by her and her husband.
    http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=76594
    edited

    • Rosemary McDonald 12.1
      19 January 2016 at 12:52 pm

      Have no fear greywarshark, this Bill will be passed.

      It is popular on the left, on the right and in the centre.

      Anyone who expresses concern that such legislation should be approached with extreme caution is written off as a sadistic godbotherer.

      My concern, for what it is worth, is that until there is legislation that entitles all New Zealanders to publicly funded health and disability care then legislation facilitating ‘voluntary euthanasia’ should be put on hold.

      It will be hard to incorporate protections against people being coerced into taking this option when the State is doing the coercing.

      • greywarshark 12.1.1
        19 January 2016 at 1:28 pm

        Rosemay Mc
        Well I hope that you are right, it will be passed. It is rational from most points of view, and it is ethical also from most.

        But I understand that you may be concerned about coercion. Also there are lacks in the ‘publicly funded health and disability care’, and it would be good if someone could decide to go from a situation of excellent care, and not miserable conditions, not supported properly and fairly.. No legislation can be perfect, but we can try and also be watchdogs against misuse. I want people to have the right to decide after going through prescribed but not draconian, procedures.

        • weka 12.1.1.1
          19 January 2016 at 1:51 pm

          tbh, I wouldn’t want the current government writing and passing euthanasia legislation. I just don’t trust them.

          Ideally a government would take a year to educate the citizens about what euthanasia is, what the issues are on various sides, and what the likely parameters are within NZ when it comes to enacting legislation. That time could be used to run workshops in communities and facilitate debate and discussion across a wide section of society as possible. Leaving this up to petitions and select committee hearings is not ok for such an important issue. It’s also not black and white about what should be legislated and that needs debate.

          I’m generally in favour of euthanasia but like Rosemary I have concerns from a health and disability perspective, as well as issues for the elderly. I also think we should be looking at this debate within the context of a resource depletion future but I don’t expect many to agree with me on that.

        • Rosemary McDonald 12.1.1.2
          19 January 2016 at 2:02 pm

          Talking about deciding to go….

          like Charles Mitchell,

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/75922680/raglan-whitebait-pioneer-charles-mitchell-dies-age-64

          “….was the kind of environmentalist who loved progress, hated red tape and shared his knowledge with anyone who’d listen.

          In the face of advancing glaucoma and what seemed like an unending mountain of red tape, Charles took his life on September 13, Megan said.

          “The difficulty with having science on your side is that it is of no assistance if the denizens of officialdom do not understand that science.” ”

          Its truly awful that he could not face the prospect of impending blindness, but I can understand how someone who spent his entire working life battling government bureaucracy could be tipped over the edge.
          Accessing disability supports in New Zealand for those not under ACC’s Serious Injury service is a nightmare of hoop jumping and red tape untangling. For some, the prospect has been too much.
          For others, they have spent many years battling, and it has been a seemingly trivial speed bump that has been the tipping point.
          Two cases come to mind…the real issue was not entirely ‘unbearable pain and suffering’ but the loss of dignity at having to beg for basic supports in one case and the knowledge that the disability was going to have as much of an effect on loved ones in the other….in both of these cases the Voluntary Euthanasia lobby swooped down and commandeered the narrative and the underlying cause of the suicide was lost.

          I have no faith that this government is capable of constructing legislation that will provide the safeguards needed.
          Not when this government has made it quite clear that the rights of people with disabilities can be arbitrarily cast aside.

  13. adam 13
    19 January 2016 at 12:31 pm

    Wow, almost a radical social democrat.

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/winstons-choice.html

    Only printed in the press, I wonder why?

  14. Paul 14
    19 January 2016 at 3:00 pm

    Professor Kevin Anderson of the Tyndall Centre Manchester, interviewed on Friday 8th January. This first of three videos covers the outcomes and significance of the recent UN climate conference in Paris.

  15. Manuka AOR 15
    19 January 2016 at 4:24 pm

    David Cunliffe has a guest post today at TDB: “In a Land of Plenty”
    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/01/19/guest-blog-david-cunliffe-in-a-land-of-plenty/

  16. ianmac 16
    19 January 2016 at 5:00 pm

    Gee that Josie Pagani works hard at undermining Labour and its membership. This time by supporting TPPA and by belittling Andrew Little. Andrew Geddis is there to correct Josie’s silly unfounded assertions.
    http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/opponents-of-the-tpp-have-been-vague-about-their-alternative#comment-42531

    • McFlock 17.1
      19 January 2016 at 5:49 pm

      Lol

      pickups dropped off…

      • Sacha 17.1.1
        19 January 2016 at 9:06 pm

        or as someone pointed out, they might be negging us.

        • weka 17.1.1.1
          19 January 2016 at 9:13 pm

          How so?

          • Sacha 17.1.1.1.1
            19 January 2016 at 9:33 pm

            Knew I should have added a smiley. I gather spurning is one of their strategies.

            • weka 17.1.1.1.1.1
              19 January 2016 at 9:40 pm

              I hate it when I’m caught being a literalist 😉

              I had to google negging and then wished I hadn’t.

            • McFlock 17.1.1.1.1.2
              19 January 2016 at 9:49 pm

              It was probably accurate with or without smileys.

              From what I’ve gathered, their ‘technique’ is all about damaging a woman’s judgement and self esteem so that she deigns to let the “artist” do what he wants to her. The only reason that would be necessary is if he were a pointless waste of space whom nobody would ever want to know, biblically or otherwise.

              Negging is probably just their automatic reflex to the rejection they know they deserve, A bit sad, really.

  18. Paul 18
    19 January 2016 at 5:43 pm

    Really enjoying the new Checkpoint.

    • ianmac 18.1
      19 January 2016 at 6:39 pm

      Watched the first half online. Intriguing. Really good. Some say that it could usurp the emptiness of TV news.
      Supposed to be available on Freeview 50 but not here anyway. Must find out if re-programming could find it here in Marlborough.

      • In Vino 18.1.1
        19 January 2016 at 8:54 pm

        You probably need to update the tuning on your TV. Not many will automatically pick up a new channel that has become available – you need to make it scan what is now available…

      • Sacha 18.1.2
        19 January 2016 at 9:35 pm

        “Some say that it could usurp the emptiness of TV news.”

        Sure felt more honest to me. Less invested in pointless smoothness and more into the reporting, interviewing and showing us real New Zealanders. Worked well without the pictures on my drive home today too.

  19. joe90 19
    19 January 2016 at 10:14 pm

    Oh dear…

    So then this fucking nightmare played over the Trump-o-Tron, as four very old veterans saluted the screen from the stage. It is hands down the most pandering feat of jingoism/Creed-worship one could imagine. You can watch the full video below. Caution, contains a clip of Michael Jordan dunking a basketball.

    […]

    FUBU, aka “For Us By Us” is a line of hiphop branded clothing, i believe now partially owned by Samsung and manufactured in Korea & Cambodia. Here being worn in its 2 piece “FUBUSport” track suit form by an overweight white man actively booing Black Lives Matter mentions and foreign outsourced production. It’s so perfect I could cry.

    […]

    bold claim coming from a guy who’s military experience is solely limited to being enrolled in a private military academy in the 8th grade, which he claimed gave him “more training militarily than a lot of the guys that go into the military”

    …

    https://storify.com/tinymediaempire/i-went-to-a-donald-trump-rally-and-saw-a-mean-wear

  20. joe90 20
    19 January 2016 at 10:41 pm

    ‘Tis the time….

    All the young dudes
    (Hey dudes)
    Carry the news
    (Where are ya)
    Boogaloo dudes
    (Stand up Come on)
    Carry the news
    All the young dudes
    (I want to hear you)
    Carry the news
    (I want to see you)
    Boogaloo dudes
    (And I want to talk to you all of you)
    Carry the news

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

    http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/18/mott-the-hoople-drummer-dale-griffin-dies-aged-67

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    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
    18 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
    23 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
    1 day 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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 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
    21 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
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

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

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

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