Open mike 20/07/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 20th, 2023 - 77 comments
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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 …

77 comments on “Open mike 20/07/2023 ”

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  1. tWiggle 1
    20 July 2023 at 6:34 am

    ABC asks about the opaqueness and unaccountablity of the Big Four consultantcy firms which have 'infiltrated' Australian governments (15 min).

    Their consultancy contracts have 'hollowed out the Public Service, which is one of the pillars of the Westminster system'.

    The questions that Australian legislators raise are ones NZ government should be asking here and now. Part of their slipperiness is that tey are not corporations, but set up as massive partnerships.

    • SPC 1.1
      20 July 2023 at 4:41 pm

      Presumably to obstruct democratic representation of the people by those in parliament, by providing advice contrary to the manifesto.

      • tWiggle 1.1.1
        20 July 2023 at 5:36 pm

        More mundane than that: making moolah for themselves coming and going. There seems to be breakdown where they contribute to legislation, while on-selling insider info to big corps (also their customers) affected by the laws/policy under development.

        Much of their government income is inaccessible, hidden inside things like the Defense budget spend on AUKUS. The openly-accessible contracts suggest $10bi of government income in the past 10 years.

        And they've become the ticket clipper for Aussie organisations needing to interface with government (entry to money talks requires a big4 financial case).

        Plus they write their own contracts and deliverables, and you can guess what that means.

  2. Dennis Frank 2
    20 July 2023 at 6:36 am

    Much more muddling thro the middle: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/the-front-page-why-have-our-major-parties-become-so-risk-averse/C7FGUURER5BUZCXWFL4NUNSGTQ/

    Victoria University of Wellington politics professor Dr Lara Greaves tells The Front Page podcast as parties grapple for swing voters, they’re unlikely to do anything that might spook those in the centre.

    Sheeple milling around in the middle of the paddock do get spooked by those seeking to deviate them. Consequently, doesn't matter how many global crises start to happen, they just keep on circling. To impress these centrists, the Nat/Lab duopoly must pretend no crises are actually happening, and issue policies accordingly. Bland + bland = ok.

    “Studies like the New Zealand election study have shown that the group that tends to be less committed partisan and more likely swing voters are women. There’s some motivation kicking around there and around trying to appeal to those.”

    She doesn't even mention the Women's Party. Perhaps she's not a woman? Just pretending? Being an academic locked into a silo could explain it – no idea what's happening in the big wide world outside your comfortable niche in there.

    What this means is that voters looking for bold or radical changes to the current status quo are unlikely to find what they’re looking for in anything that’s being offered by the main parties right now.

    Gosh, you mean things will stay the same as usual? Folks will be surprised. Changes come & go constantly, but democracy keeps sheeple stuck in the same rut forever. All good, because their mental health depends on it. More smoke from the Nats, more mirrors from the Labs, more sameness will persist. Avoid all progress!

    • Dennis Frank 2.1
      20 July 2023 at 6:50 am

      Labour's mirroring of National's ram-raid policy initiative has gotten interesting: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/132572766/new-ram-raid-law-to-charge-12-year-olds-new-offence-with-up-to-10-years-jail

      Putting 12-year-old ram raiders in jail is obviously exciting stuff for Labour folk. One can imagine them jumping up & down with glee in anticipation. Tough on crime!

      • SPC 2.1.1
        20 July 2023 at 4:48 pm

        I suspect the purpose of the policy is otherwise.

        It's to be able to bracelet home the 11-12 year olds if they ram raid

        Basic psychology.

        Hone notes Johnny next door is housebound for ramraiding, so he refuses an offer to ramraid for a gang the next week.

        • Dennis Frank 2.1.1.1
          20 July 2023 at 5:33 pm

          You mean Labour are being disingenuous? Pretending to imprison them while knowing judges will never act in accord with an act of parliament and make it happen? I suppose one would call that the judicial subversive theory of democracy. Could spice up the campaign if journos tell it like it is!

    • Dennis Frank 2.2
      20 July 2023 at 6:58 am

      And this from a progressive kind of person who'd likely vote Labour:

      Chief Children’s Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers says she is “frustrated” to see the Government’s plans to build more “prison-like facilities” for young offenders – the exact opposite of what she and successive commissioners before her have called for

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/youth-crime-crackdown-childrens-commissioner-frustrated-at-government-plans-for-more-youth-prison-like-facilities/THLTRX6JJFCI5E2YSOCT2HGTIU/

      She may feel frustration, but it won't stop Labour copying National! No way. Centrist sheeple will nervously eye the two packs closing in on them from either side. Just the slightest gap between them, and the sheeple will instantly transform into bolters and shoot thro the gap to freedom…

      • Sabine 2.2.1
        20 July 2023 at 7:52 am

        Did the Childrens Commissionaire not got axed?

        Ah, i see it is a new and improved childrens Commisioner.

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/childrens-commissioner-no-more-as-new-oversight-children-and-young-peoples-commission-launches/FZRQYYLOEJAJFO4SAWMW6UOCEE/

        The new Children and Young People’s Commission comes into being today, replacing the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and taking on the role of standing up for and advocating for the rights of children and young people.

        The move follows a controversial law change last year on oversight of Oranga Tamariki facilities, including taking sole responsibility away from the independent Children’s Commissioner, which critics said meant young people will feel less comfortable coming forward with complaints.

        The move was opposed by all parties aside from Labour,

        well, so as long as these new facilities don't promote under age fight clubs.

        • SPC 2.2.1.1
          20 July 2023 at 4:45 pm

          Judge Eivers has been appointed chairwoman and Chief Commissioner until October 31 this year.

          She will help provide a smooth transition to the new commission before her planned return to the judiciary, Sepuloni said.

          Dr Claire Achmad will become chairwoman and Chief Commissioner from October 31 and will hold the role of deputy chairwoman until then.

          Achmad has a PhD in international children’s law and was recently chief executive of Te Pai Ora o Aotearoa – Social Service Providers Aotearoa.

    • gsays 2.3
      20 July 2023 at 7:15 am

      "What this means is that voters looking for bold or radical changes to the current status quo are unlikely to find what they’re looking for in anything that’s being offered by the main parties right now."

      You can't vote for a revolution. Witness Douglas's reforms of the '80'’s.

      Foolishly, it has taken a while for me to come to this conclusion too. Neo-liberalism and it's handmaid, incrementalism is far too familiar and comfortable for these pollies and our Public Servants.

      We need a significant change where resilience and self reliance, as a nation, are encouraged, where there is no need for welfare for working people, housing is decent and rents are linked to wages, not seen as an investment vehicle and foodbanks are a thing of the past.

      How far further do we have to fall?

      • Sabine 2.3.1
        20 July 2023 at 7:55 am

        Until we again feel hunger, cold, and fear.

        So far the corporate owned identitarians (of all faith and leanings) and other Aunt Lydia's have succeeded in making enough people believe that they are safe from such unpleasantness so as long as they believe and invest heavily in hopium and copeium. Both readily available online, and please tick all the appropriate boxes for the suits and their enforces to be re-selected as deliverer of hopium and copeium.

        Vote 2023.

      • Dennis Frank 2.3.2
        20 July 2023 at 8:00 am

        How far further do we have to fall?

        We don't have to. There's absolute necessity to provide a positive alternative. That's why I put up my website (alternative Aotearoa) after the gfc when it became obvious that neither the left nor the right were willing to learn the resilience lesson.

        A global financial crisis is insufficient to shake mainstreamers out of their mental lethargy. Likewise the global climate crisis. Sheeple aren't problem-solvers. They always need someone competent at solving problems to engage on their behalf.

        Political parties all agree that problem-solvers are troublemakers, therefore the system must be made to discriminate against them. It's the only sure way to protect the system and ensure that its dysfunction continues.

        So you can see why the native rebel thing is escalating both here & in the USA. Just heard ex-presenter (Morning Report) being interviewed by Corin Dann about the Disinformation Project. It has been exploring the sub-culture & seems to have produced some kind of report. I'll see if I can find it.

        Ah, that wasn’t hard: https://thedisinfoproject.org/

      • Dennis Frank 2.3.3
        20 July 2023 at 8:07 am

        Founded in February 2020, the Disinformation Project helps organisations, journalists, academics, policy makers, and civil society to identify, understand and meaningfully respond to information disorders. Read more about defining disinformation.

        Bomber yesterday anticipated a Ministry of Truth. Any minister could easily find that job to be quite a hot seat, eh? I advise postmodernism as the default position for any such Labour minister aspiring to be a role model of truth: "We in Labour believe in make it up as you go along. Consequently the truth is whatever seems to be in the common interests of our members at the time. It's called democracy."

        • SPC 2.3.3.1
          20 July 2023 at 5:20 pm

          Alternative (on-line) media want the status of MSM without the responsibility – their freedom of speech.

          They couch it as our "freedom of speech", because we can comment on their sites – and there is a new regime proposed whereby they have to moderate hate speech and have annual reviews as to their more effective management of this.

        • tWiggle 2.3.3.2
          20 July 2023 at 5:47 pm

          More importantly, listen to Suzie Ferguson's new RNZ podcast series Undercurrent to understand why we as a society need to monitor online 'free speech' forums around NZ political life.

    • lprent 2.4
      20 July 2023 at 8:34 am

      She doesn't even mention the Women's Party.

      I can't recall that showing up in recent polls. Oh right, "Women's Rights Party"?

      I can't see that it is registered for this election. It must be heading up towards the deadline to get on the ballot. Ummm timetable. They probably have until

      Noon, Friday 15 September Nominations close for candidates

      At that point they print the ballot. However a party needs to do everything before that because they have to have things like a logo gazetted, minimum number of members, officers elected etc.

      That seems a more likely reason about why she didn't mention it.

      Incidently we have a few new party changes.

      Applications to register a political party and logo

      DATE OF APPLICATION PROPOSED
      PARTY NAME &
      ABBREVIATION      		 PROPOSED LOGO STAGE OF APPLICATION PUBLIC CONSULTATION
      21/06/23 Democratic Alliance Processing Not open
      06/07/2023 Animal Justice Party Aotearoa New Zealand;
      Animal Justice Party      		 Processing Not open

      Applications to change a party name or logo

      DATE OF APPLICATION CURRENT PARTY NAME PROPOSED
      PARTY NAME,
      ABBREVIATION
      OR LOGO      		 STAGE OF APPLICATION PUBLIC CONSULTATION
      12/07/23 ONE Party NewZeal
      		 Processing Not Open
      • Sanctuary 2.4.1
        20 July 2023 at 8:36 am

        Animal justice has an extremely paw logo. And “NewZeal”, for those with long memories, was the name adopted once upon a time for the political project of now US domiciled ex=ACT vice president, aging crackpot and conspiracy theorist Trevor Loudon – the ZAP inspired ground zero of NZ cookers.

      • Dawn Trenberth 2.4.2
        20 July 2023 at 6:09 pm

        The party applied on the 11th July and the application is underway.

  3. Sanctuary 3
    20 July 2023 at 7:23 am

    Poorly promoted, an uncompetitive national team, a general lack of interest, and the opening match to be likely played in pouring rain in a half empty, gloomy and out of date Eden park because Auckland inexplicably still lacks a modern 25,000-30,000 seat indoor stadium – FIFA must be regretting giving NZ co-host rights for the woman's soccer world cup. Let's look into the looming debacle.

    Poorly promoted because the whole tone of the promotion of this tournament is NZ fans should be grateful and turn up, and if they don't it is the fans fault and because of some sort of misogynistic reason. But as women's rugby showed, a team that engages with its fans, is humble and – above all – is competitive then the fans will come out. The lack of a decent indoor stadium to replace Eden park for league, union and soccer in Auckland – where it has just rained more or less continuously for nine months – is a disgrace. New Zealanders don't go to stadium events much anymore because the stadium experience is stuck in the late 1990s (that includes the terrible music, presumably signed off by a boomer executive). Going out to sport is a habit. Like many things to do with rugby union (the main users of stadiums) arrogance, greed and complacency has killed their audience.

    Don't be surprised if all matches are switched to Australia at short notice.

    • Sabine 3.1
      20 July 2023 at 8:04 am

      Some expensive suit in Australia just cancelled the Common Wealth game cause it costs to much. Maybe in reality people just don't have money to go to Auckland and watch soccer. Maybe soccer really is not on the top list of peoples mind atm.

      Any other town has that fabulous stadium that you talk of? If so, the question is not why did Auckland rate payer not pay for another stadium, but the question is why is the Opening Game held in a bad venue when NZ has better, and above all why should the Auckland Rate Payer fund private venture when the town is broke.

      • Sanctuary 3.1.1
        20 July 2023 at 8:21 am

        The bickering over a long, long overdue stadium to replace Eden Park & Mt. Smart is beyond belief. Major projects of any sort in Auckland appear to always get bogged down in ridiculous resets. But that isn't the fault of NZ Soccer.

        the “expensive suit” BTW was the premier of Victoria.

        • Visubversa 3.1.1.1
          20 July 2023 at 8:43 am

          Part of the problem is that while Mt Smart is owned by the Ratepayers of Auckland, Eden Park is not.

          Eden Park is owned by a private Trust and is supported by very rich and powerful sporting type people with excellent political connections. The Trust has a voracious appetite for ratepayer and taxpayer funds and the political clout to extract them.

          Over the last 30 odd years Eden Park has grown from a daytime sporting venue to a massive entertainment complex. It sits in the middle of a largely heritage zoned residential area. It has good public transport links which is its main redeeming feature, but it still requires massive road closures to manage crowds for a big event.

          Eden Park will want to hang on to this investment and privilege so any attempt to replace it will be extensively (and expensively) contested.

          • Belladonna 3.1.1.1.1
            20 July 2023 at 9:42 am

            Eden Park is also set in the middle of a host of powerfully politically connected NIMBYs – who hobble any significant development.

          • Peter 3.1.1.1.2
            20 July 2023 at 10:36 am

            It's easy to simply say Auckland should have a modern 30,000 seat stadium. And imagine it. Only 30,000 when the (few) big matches at Eden Park attract 50,000?

            There seem to be simply too many competing interests for such a new stadium. Getting everyone on the same page seems impossible. Of course there is the accommodation of a desired rectangular area for football sports and a circle/oval for cricket.

            We want the stadiums and consequent environments, experiences and events we see overseas.

            Arsenal Football Club, London; 19 home games a year, average attendance 60,000.

            Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin USA, a state of nearly 6 million, with Milwaukee the biggest city with 600,000. 10 home games average attendance 76,000.

            A sports stadium as a social facility, a generator of commercial and economic activity, a viable financial investment, a 'nice to have'? We want a Ritz de la Ritz stadium experience? Eden Park is a dump?

            Auckland could have a modern international quality stadium. All it needs is the chief proponents to come up with a couple of billion. Ratepayers obviously need to be out of that demand loop.

        • bwaghorn 3.1.1.2
          20 July 2023 at 12:06 pm

          Auckland is a joke , shit stadiums that are hard to get to, no rail to the airport, a bridge that gets shut due to wind , sewage filling its harbours.

    • Bearded Git 3.2
      20 July 2023 at 8:32 am

      You must be a rugby fan Sanc-a bit too negative mate, you will be rivalling Ad soon.

      I'm going to a couple of WC games in Dunners (at the excellent roofed newish stadium) and looking forward to the soccer very much. I think there are many people in the same boat. More kids play soccer than rugby at school now.

      I don't think you can blame NZ for the weather. They play Premier League soccer in driving snow sometimes in England.

      But you are right about Auckland and its stadiums. A mate of mine texted me yesterday saying how pissed off he was that the two cricket tests against Australia will be played outside Auckland. (I invited him to come and watch with me at Hagley Park). But this is because there are wonderful cricket grounds in Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Napier, Alexandra, Tauronga and so on while Eden Park is a terrible cricket venue, and, as you say, is not that impressive as a rugby/football venue.

      (BTW I don't like Queenstown as a cricket venue due to the perpetual noise from aircraft. That will change when they build Tarras International Airport)

    • Phillip ure 3.3
      20 July 2023 at 11:06 am

      Fact check:

      Most boomers aren't into late 90 music..

      They stopped listening to new stuff 10-15 years before that..

      It's the mob that came after them you should be directing your ire at..

      And rnz reported the opening kick is before a full house..

    • SPC 3.5
      20 July 2023 at 6:09 pm

      Sure it could have been better promoted, as a rare chance to see top level football locally. And it will be, once it gets going.

      And it is a pity the FF are not as good a team as they have been (competitive as 2011, 2015 and 2019), and we have a poor record with coverage of the sport here (only recently a Phoenix women's team and is there any media coverage of the provincial football league as they do with women's rugby…I got to watch WH and SG play at local club level – Central League).

      AE would be back for another go (rather than at Louisville) if they were on the ascent rather than decline.

      FIFA would see this as promoting the game down under.

      But the idea of having and using a smaller indoor stadium because it might rain … what if a larger stadium was sold out …

  4. Dennis Frank 4
    20 July 2023 at 8:18 am

    AM Show just now, looks like a cop's been shot in downtown Ak:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/police-responding-to-unfolding-incident-in-britomart-auckland/VU72UD5WX5GZJB4T6VX4AOKHEY/

    Up a high-rise there was a report of someone with a gun, 13th floor (unlucky) construction zone mentioned by a reporter.

  5. Sanctuary 5
    20 July 2023 at 8:30 am

    The constant refusal of the MSM to note the partisan political links of Sunny Kaushal when seeking commenting on crime has gone from wilful ignorance to downright conspiratorial.

  6. Nic the NZer 6
    20 July 2023 at 9:18 am

    Analysis of how (in Australia) cash rate increases promote energy price increases and further inflation. The idea that cash rate increases have promoted rental price hikes has taken hold in Australian political commentary as well.

    https://billmitchell.org/blog/?p=60991

  7. Sanctuary 7
    20 July 2023 at 9:39 am

    Golly, just got a first hand account of the downtown incident this morning from my God daughter and niece – she was walking to work and was right outside when it happened. Had to take cover and hide until armed police escorted them away. Astonishing stuff.

    • Anne 7.1
      20 July 2023 at 11:34 am

      David Seymour can't resist trying to 'foreshadow' blame on the government for the tragedy while at the same time pretending to be responsible about… not jumping to conclusions.

      https://www.facebook.com/davidseymourACT/posts/811644743666139?ref=embed_post

      There will be a time to ask how such a thing could happen, how it could have been stopped, and what should happen to stop it happening again. That time is when all the facts are known, and carefully analysed. Rushing to conclusions often makes things worse.

      What a creep!

      • AB 7.1.1
        20 July 2023 at 11:55 am

        (Sotto voce) "soft on crime, soft on crime"

      • tWiggle 7.1.2
        20 July 2023 at 12:03 pm

        A gun register's a good start. And a watchdog for online threats.

      • bwaghorn 7.1.3
        20 July 2023 at 12:09 pm

        You can bet more gun control won't be on acts agenda

      • Peter 7.1.4
        20 July 2023 at 12:30 pm

        The questions posed by Seymour are perfect for a rabid crowd he wants to appeal to and the incident, tragedy, is an ideal vehicle to stir them up. It would be terrible for everything in the country to be calm, peaceful and settled.

        On one festering cesspool online blog site they're into it. Naturally Arden is dragged in with scorn and blame. And crime and punishment, and all sorts of opportunistic racist stuff is being chucked round.

        Mark Mitchell will be planning his attack for today and while making out it's about 'informing the public' he'll be trying to maximise his chance to grandstand and rouse more neanderthals.

        • Anne 7.1.4.1
          20 July 2023 at 1:28 pm

          Yes. Its sickening. I have the same level of disdain for Mark Mitchell as I do Seymour.

        • observer 7.1.4.2
          20 July 2023 at 1:34 pm

          Seymour wants offenders to be able to have legal access to weapons which kill many more people, like semi-automatics, instead of shotguns. That is literally ACT's policy, and demonstrated by Seymour's votes in Parliament, opposing gun reform.

          That works just fine in the USA, right?

      • Patricia Bremner 7.1.5
        20 July 2023 at 1:41 pm

        How Seymore behaves is called "Passive aggression". Nasty as if he is called on it he will feign innocence.angry

  8. adam 8
    20 July 2023 at 9:50 am

    So the far right are having fun in Ukraine.

    And before you say they are only a small part. 2 battalions of neo-nazi's in the Ukraine army is 2 to many. That's not even pointing out the Wagner group or other Russian far right groups.

    Let's not forget when this is over – weapons in the hands of these people is going to be a problem for years to come.

    But sure lets pretend that far right are not a problem.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B41Ux-2xP8

  9. dv 9
    20 July 2023 at 12:18 pm

    He had a monitor bracelet.

    Are they not suppose to report if he went away from his home detention location?

    • Muttonbird 9.1
      20 July 2023 at 1:28 pm

      Saw one media outlet say monitored home detention can include a designated place of work. Edit: Coster has apparently just confirmed this?

      Also saw a comment on another forum (not verifiable) that he'd been fired from the job at the construction site.

  10. tWiggle 10
    20 July 2023 at 1:25 pm

    Police Commissioner Costner says he was a 24 yo with a home detention sentence, for primarily domestic violence, but with an exemption to work at the construction site. He did not hold a gun licence.

  11. ianmac 11
    20 July 2023 at 2:37 pm

    Alex Spence's column on Luxon is out on the Herald

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/christopher-luxons-self-help-path-to-power-next-stop-prime-minister/UFZA3TIWSNDMPC5KFCGHG6YB2U/

    The column does not paint a very glowing picture of a would-be PM.

    He points out that Air NZ had recovered from a bad period when Luxon took over. In Claire Trevetts book a colleague of Luxon is quoted:

    To be slightly unkind, maybe part of that

    was he didn't want a story of decline so he kept the music running

    A bit too long. And then got out,” the colleague says.

    The getting out before a slump is par for Luxon.

    In my opinion a person who is searching in Self-help books is searching for identity and this is to fill a vacuum which is his lack of authenticity.

    I hope Belladonna can find this in the Archives?

    • tWiggle 11.1
      20 July 2023 at 4:37 pm

      Have a go yourself at finding the archived copy.

      https://archive.is/cevKP

      I went to https://archive.is/, pasted in your nzherald address into the search function, and it pulled up the above cevKP link. Hopefully that works as a link in TS, as it's the first time I've had a go.

      Yup, appears to have worked just fine. Now to read on.

      • tWiggle 11.1.1
        20 July 2023 at 4:49 pm

        Well, I've got a bit more respect for Luxon and a lot more understanding of what makes him tick. He was a cypher before, possibly still is. Thanks for the link, ianmac.

      • SPC 11.1.2
        20 July 2023 at 5:38 pm

        A lot of effort to reassure us Luxon is not in politics as a social conservative, but as someone who merely wants more effective management of the economy.

        • Rosielee 11.1.2.1
          20 July 2023 at 5:45 pm

          Management of the economy — who for?

          • tWiggle 11.1.2.1.1
            20 July 2023 at 5:59 pm

            I read that Luxon's an OK, results-driven executive, trained at Unilever, renowned for their all-rounder exec training. He is warm with his work team, but worships at Mammon's altar (shareholder returns), and will sacrifice all to reach his target.

            He has an element of social consciousness developed by his upbringing, and by Unilever's holistic management approach.

            The thinness in Luxon's world view seems to be in his capitalist, growth-mentality position. He drank the 90's market cool-aid, and never grew out of that way of thinking.

            • tWiggle 11.1.2.1.1.1
              20 July 2023 at 6:06 pm

              When I inputted your herald address into the archive.is website SEARCH function (further down the page, not the archive dialogue box), it popped up with the cerKV link I put at the top of my comment. That should take anyone clicking on it to the archived article (if someone has bothered to archive it) – as it took me when I clicked on it on editing my comment after posting, as a check.

              I just meant, you can give this a go yourself when next bringing TS readers your tasty pay-walled treats.

  12. Drowsy M. Kram 12
    20 July 2023 at 4:10 pm

    Quite balmy in Palmy North today, for this time of year.

    ‘We are damned fools’: scientist who sounded climate alarm in 80s warns of worse to come [19 July 2023]
    “There’s a lot more in the pipeline, unless we reduce the greenhouse gas amounts,” Hansen, who is 82, told the Guardian. “These superstorms are a taste of the storms of my grandchildren. We are headed wittingly into the new reality – we knew it was coming.”

    He said the record heatwaves that have roiled the US, Europe, China and elsewhere in recent weeks have heightened “a sense of disappointment that we scientists did not communicate more clearly and that we did not elect leaders capable of a more intelligent response”.

    “It means we are damned fools,” Hansen said of humanity’s ponderous response to the climate crisis. “We have to taste it to believe it.”

    And speaking of damned fools:

    National vows to go back to drawing board on policy [3 May 2023]
    “I am here to get things done, I am sick of inactions, and I make no apology for that,” Luxon said.

    “It’s a case of slower to go faster. We have more coming out [on the ETS]. It’s a watch this space.”

    Real Solutions for the Environment and the Climate
    ACT will introduce a no-nonsense climate change plan which ties our carbon price to that of our trading partners.

    ACT was the only party to oppose the Zero Carbon Act.

    ACT getting real about climate change – yeah, right.

    Future Act MP held ‘climate hysteria skeptics’ meetings at high school
    [13 October 2020]
    David Seymour is quoted as saying Baillie would bring common sense to parliament.

    Baillie is currently ACT’s education spokesperson.

    Brownlee is currently the National party's Emergency Management spokesperson.

    • tWiggle 13.1
      20 July 2023 at 6:35 pm

      Sorry ianmac, posted my reply to you here at 11.2.1.1.1.1 by mistake. Hope all is revealed…

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    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.MondayYou cannot be seriousOne might think, god, people who are seeing all this must be regretting their vote.But one might be mistaken.There are people whose chief priority is not wanting to be ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    12 hours ago

  • How Should We Organise a Modern Economy?
    Alan Bollard, formerly Treasury Secretary, Reserve Bank Governor and Chairman of APEC, has written an insightful book exploring command vs demand approaches to the economy. The Cold War included a conflict about ideas; many were economic. Alan Bollard’s latest book Economists in the Cold War focuses on the contribution of ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 day ago

  • Willis fails a taxing app-titude test but govt supporters will cheer moves on Te Pukenga and the Hum...
    Buzz from the Beehive The Minister of Defence has returned from Noumea to announce New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting and (wearing another ministerial hat) to condemn malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government. A bigger cheer from people who voted for the Luxon ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • ELIZABETH RATA: In defence of the liberal university and against indigenisation
    The suppression of individual thought in our universities spills over into society, threatening free speech everywhere. Elizabeth Rata writes –  Indigenising New Zealand’s universities is well underway, presumably with the agreement of University Councils and despite the absence of public discussion. Indigenising, under the broader umbrella of decolonisation, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the skewed media coverage of Gaza
    Now that he’s back as Foreign Minister, maybe Winston Peters should start reading the MFAT website. If he did, Peters would find MFAT celebrating the 25th anniversary of how New Zealand alerted the rest of the world to the genocide developing in Rwanda. Quote: New Zealand played an important role ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • “Your Circus, Your Clowns.”
    It must have been a hard first couple of weeks for National voters, since the coalition was announced. Seeing their party make so many concessions to New Zealand First and ACT that there seems little remains of their own policies, other than the dwindling dream of tax cuts and the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Weekly Roundup 8-December-2023
    It’s Friday again and Christmas is fast approaching. Here’s some of the stories that caught our attention. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered some of the recent talk around the costs, benefits and challenges with the City Rail Link. On Thursday Matt looked at how ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago

  • End-of-week escapism
    Amsterdam to Hong Kong William McCartney16,000 kilometres41 days18 trains13 countries11 currencies6 long-distance taxis4 taxi apps4 buses3 sim cards2 ferries1 tram0 medical events (surprisingly)Episode 4Whether the Sofia-Istanbul Express really qualifies to be called an express is debatable, but it’s another one of those likeably old and slow trains tha… ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 8
    Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro arrives for the State Opening of Parliament (Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:New Finance Minister Nicola Willis set herself a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand’s Witchcraft Laws: 1840/1858-1961/1962
    Sometimes one gets morbidly curious about the oddities of one’s own legal system. Sometimes one writes entire essays on New Zealand’s experience with Blasphemous Libel: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/blasphemous-libel-new-zealand-politics/ And sometimes one follows up the exact historical status of witchcraft law in New Zealand. As one does, of course. ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago

  • No surprises
    Don’t expect any fiscal shocks or surprises when the books are opened on December 20 with the unveiling of the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU). That was the message yesterday from Westpac in an economic commentary. But the bank’s analysis did not include any changes to capital ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #49 2023
    113 articles in 48 journals by 674 contributing authors Physical science of climate change, effects Diversity of Lagged Relationships in Global Means of Surface Temperatures and Radiative Budgets for CMIP6 piControl Simulations, Tsuchida et al., Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-23-0045.1 Do abrupt cryosphere events in High Mountain Asia indicate earlier tipping ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Phone calls at Kia Kaha primary
    It is quiet reading time in Room 13! It is so quiet you can hear the Tui outside. It is so quiet you can hear the Fulton Hogan crew.It is so quiet you can hear old Mr Grant and old Mr Bradbury standing by the roadworks and counting the conesand going on ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • A question of confidence is raised by the Minister of Police, but he had to be questioned by RNZ to ...
    It looks like the new ministerial press secretaries have quickly learned the art of camouflaging exactly what their ministers are saying – or, at least, of keeping the hard news  out of the headlines and/or the opening sentences of the statements they post on the home page of the governments ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Xmas  good  cheer  for the dairy industry  as Fonterra lifts its forecast
    The big dairy co-op Fonterra  had  some Christmas  cheer to offer  its farmers this week, increasing its forecast farmgate milk price and earnings guidance for  the year after what it calls a strong start to the year. The forecast  midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25cs to $7.50 per ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Modern Maori myths
    Michael Bassett writes – Many of the comments about the Coalition’s determination to wind back the dramatic Maorification of New Zealand of the last three years would have you believe the new government is engaged in a full-scale attack on Maori. In reality, all that is happening ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Dreams of eternal sunshine at a spotless COP28
    Mary Robinson asked Al Jaber a series of very simple, direct and highly pertinent questions and he responded with a high-octane public meltdown. Photos: Getty Images / montage: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR The hygiene effects of direct sunshine are making some inroads, perhaps for the very first time, on the normalised ‘deficit ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Oh, the irony
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Appointed by new Labour PM Jacinda Ardern in 2018, Cindy Kiro headed the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms to the welfare system. Kiro had been Children’s Commissioner during Helen Clark’s Labour government but returned to academia subsequently. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Transport Agencies don’t want Harbour Tunnels
    It seems even our transport agencies don’t want Labour’s harbour crossing plans. In August the previous government and Waka Kotahi announced their absurd preferred option the new harbour crossing that at the time was estimated to cost $35-45 billion. It included both road tunnels and a wiggly light rail tunnel ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago

  • Webworm Presents: Jurassic Park on 35mm
    Hi,Paying Webworm members such as yourself keep this thing running, so as 2023 draws to close, I wanted to do two things to say a giant, loud “THANKS”. Firstly — I’m giving away 10 Mister Organ blu-rays in New Zealand, and another 10 in America. More details down below.Secondly — ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • The Prime Minister's Dream.
    Yesterday saw the State Opening of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne, and then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s dream for Aotearoa in his first address. But first the pomp and ceremony, the arrival of the Governor General.Dame Cindy Kiro arrived on the forecourt outside of parliament to a Māori welcome. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • National’s new MP; the proud part-Maori boy raised in a state house
    Probably not since 1975 have we seen a government take office up against such a wall of protest and complaint. That was highlighted yesterday, the day that the new Parliament was sworn in, with news that King Tuheitia has called a national hui for late January to develop a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Climate Adam: Battlefield Earth – How War Fuels Climate Catastrophe
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). War, conflict and climate change are tearing apart lives across the world. But these aren't separate harms - they're intricately connected. ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • They do not speak for us, and they do not speak for the future
    These dire woeful and intolerant people have been so determinedly going about their small and petulant business, it’s hard to keep up. At the end of the new government’s first woeful week, Audrey Young took the time to count off its various acts of denigration of Te Ao Māori:Review the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Another attack on te reo
    The new white supremacist government made attacking te reo a key part of its platform, promising to rename government agencies and force them to "communicate primarily in English" (which they already do). But today they've gone further, by trying to cut the pay of public servants who speak te reo: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • For the record, the Beehive buzz can now be regarded as “official”
    Buzz from the Beehive The biggest buzz we bring you from the Beehive today is that the government’s official website is up and going after being out of action for more than a week. The latest press statement came  from  Education Minister  Eric Stanford, who seized on the 2022 PISA ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Failed again
    There was another ETS auction this morning. and like all the other ones this year, it failed to clear - meaning that 23 million tons of carbon (15 million ordinary units plus 8 million in the cost containment reserve) went up in smoke. Or rather, they didn't. Being unsold at ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Assault On Maori
    This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Rising costs hit farmers hard, but  there’s more  positive news  for  them this  week 
    New Zealand’s dairy industry, the mainstay of the country’s export trade, has  been under  pressure  from rising  costs. Down on the  farm, this  has  been  hitting  hard. But there  was more positive news this week,  first   from the latest Fonterra GDT auction where  prices  rose,  and  then from  a  report ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • ROB MacCULLOCH:  Newshub and NZ Herald report misleading garbage about ACT’s van Veldon not follo...
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  In their rush to discredit the new government (which our MainStream Media regard as illegitimate and having no right to enact the democratic will of voters) the NZ Herald and Newshub are arguing ACT’s Deputy Leader Brooke van Veldon is not following Treasury advice ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Top 10 for Wednesday, December 6
    Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Eleven years of work.
    Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago

  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes – The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago

  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    6 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

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