Open mike 21/08/2024
Written By:
- Date published:
6:00 am, August 21st, 2024 - 90 comments
Categories: open mike -
Tags:
Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
90 comments on “Open mike 21/08/2024 ”
- Comments are now closed
- Comments are now closed
CommentsOpinions
Recent Comments
FeedsPartyGovtMedia
- Unfortunately, Being a Hero is Mostly Illegal
14 mins ago - My Substack erm… Summer
Hi all,Apparently it’s the end of Summer, hope you enjoyed it. 🙂The rather Northern Hemisphere centric folks over at Substack have sent this out, I’m not sure what time period it covers, I guess the last three months. In any case you might like to give it a go yourself ...12 hours ago - Pricing Road Usage
Congestion pricing is easier said than done.The first seminar I attended in Britain – around sixty years ago – explained a scheme for road usage pricing which would eliminate traffic congestion and direct roading investment. It was impressive and elegant (as many such seminar propositions are) but proved impractical and ...12 hours ago - Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
Tory Whanau has revealed that she’s struggling so much financially that she may have to part with her beloved mayoralty, that of New Zealand’s capital city, if she’s to fund her ever-diminishing lifestyle. Whanau was elected to lead Wellington in 2022, winning an overwhelming victory against the incumbent mayor: the ...13 hours ago - And round we go again…
One of Labour's few achievements last term was to finally move on RMA reform. Following an independent review and a select committee review of an exposure draft, both aimed at ironing out bugs and producing a compromise most people could live with, Labour passed the Natural and Built Environments Act ...14 hours ago - The Supreme Court stands up for fairness
National is planning to breach te Tiriti o Waitangi by amending the Marine and Coastal Area Act to effectively make it impossible for the courts to recognise Māori rights over the foreshore and seabed. But its also been playing dirty in other ways. Earlier in the year it announced changes ...15 hours ago
- Today’s 10 Politics Headlines: Luxon flails and Simeon Drives
1/ Jobseeker numbers are going the opposite way of Luxon’s KPIs. Against a target of minus 50,000 by 2030, the new forecast shows the Government is looking at an increase of 24,000 jobseekers in its first term.In Thomas Coughlin’s report, Upton responds by blaming Labour: “We inherited an economy in ...20 hours ago - Kaka project: What could a revamped Entrust do with/for/to Vector?
Long story short, I interviewed transport and energy activist Patrick Reynolds this week about the bid to run Entrust by a new campaign group he’s part of called More for you; better for Auckland. There’s a lot more detail in this GreaterAuckland post and on ‘Better’s’ website.They’re campaigning to win ...20 hours ago - Missing the Feckin’ Targets
And although my eyes were openThey might just as well have been closedAnd so it was laterWhen the miller told this taleHe said that her face at first just ghostlyAnd then turned a whiter shade of paleSongwriters: Keith Reid / Gary BrookerI want to talk about two things today, subjects ...21 hours ago - Deadly floods and streams of non-solutions
Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:Central Europe is reeling from the devastating effects of Storm Boris, which has so far caused 21 deaths and ...22 hours ago
- Weekly Roundup 20-September-2024
Welcome to the end of the week, as we head towards the spring equinox. Let us brighten your week with links to stories about how to make our city a little greater. This roundup is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew. If you’d like to support our work ...22 hours ago - Three years of recession deeper than GFC
Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September 20:New Zealand’s total GDP contracted less than expected in the June quarter, but per-capita GDP extended its three-year-long slump at a rate that is faster than ...22 hours ago - That’s Gangsta!
The gang patch legislation finally passed in the House after a long period of fanfare from National. Gangs won’t be allowed to publicly display gang insignia on the body or in vehicles, and if they’re very naughty i.e. caught thrice, police will be able to enter private homes to search.How ...23 hours ago - The Hoon around the week to Sept 20
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-host talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including media coverage of extreme events and how big tech is gobbling up so much renewable power growth; ...1 day ago
- A very healthy distrust of how this Government is handling health across the board is needed…
And alongside that, is the ultimate question for the public, and indeed Opposition Parties trying to appeal for enough of the public to support a change from this heinous direction of travel being imposed on us: how much of the damage here can even be stopped in time? Let us ...1 day ago - Hang up on him David, just stop
There is a story I want to tell, but I'm not going to begin with it because it would be too abrupt. I'll start by telling you that I'm a big fan of the way Nicola Toki conveys her message. And Nicola Toki is a big fan of the way Jane ...2 days ago - Tax the rich!
We already know that the rich people aren't paying their fair share. But it turns out its worse than that: we're a tax-haven! Our rich people pay lower taxes here than in any comparable country: Well-off New Zealanders are paying less tax than their peers in nine similar OECD ...2 days ago
- Worse and worse
Cancer Minister Casey Costello is in trouble again over her secret, magically appearing tobacco policy document. The Ombudsman has already found that she acted contrary to law in refusing requests for it; now she has been referred to the Chief Archivist over a possible breach of the Public Records Act ...2 days ago
- NZ’s lack of a capital gains tax means the richest here pay vastly less than elsewhere
The lack of a capital gains tax means the richest Kiwis are sitting pretty compared to taxpayers overseas. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 19:New Zealand’s richest ...2 days ago - Verrall to Levy: “Health NZ NDAs are North Korean – Get rid of it.”
Open article. Note the video of the Health Select Committee excerpts starts at 1:22 In watching the Health Select Committee yesterday, it became clear to me why Margie Apa remains Health NZ CEO.During Levy’s testimony, Apa sat like a rock next to her boss. She nodded supportively, scribbled notes to ...2 days ago
- The Show Must Go On
Empty spaces, what are we living for?Abandoned places, I guess we know the score, on and onDoes anybody know what we are looking for?Another hero, another mindless crimeBehind the curtain, in the pantomimeHold the lineDoes anybody want to take it anymore?The show must go onSongwriters: Brian May / Freddie Mercury ...2 days ago - Managing on-street parking for local benefit
This guest post by Malcolm McCracken originally appeared on his blog Better Things Are Possible, and is republished here by kind permission. The case for Parking Benefit Districts: managing on-street parking for local benefit Parking is often the centre of debate in our cities; particularly on-street car parks, who gets ...2 days ago
- Doubling down?
This is a re-post from And Then There's Physics I wrote a post a little while ago commenting on a Sabine Hossenfelder video suggesting that she was now worried about climate change because the Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity (ECS) could be much higher than most estimates have suggested. I wasn’t too taken with Sabine’s arguments, and there were others ...2 days ago - Too much haste & waste in Simeon Brown’s need for speed
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong story short, the Government’s myopia of only choosing transport policies that reduce travel times means we’re missing out on the health benefits of more cycling and walking, along with the health cost savings from fewer accidents, less pollution and mentally healthier ways of getting ...2 days ago
- What seemed so simple is now so complex
The Health NZ rescue that seemed so simple back in July was presented to a Select Committee yesterday as a complex challenge that could take some years to sort out. In July, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Health NZ was on track to record a deficit of $1.4 billion for ...2 days ago
- The utterances of Shane Jones
Let us consider the utterances of Shane Jones.Let us consider the derogatory terms of abuseNow is not the time for Green Wombles, it's black and white decision making.We will stand with the energy industry and ensure they are not monstered by Green Termites nibbling away at our economic capital.The Green ...3 days ago - Ukrainian militia receives defective shipment of pagers that just send and receive messages
There’s been a major setback for one Ukrainian-backed militia on the Russian border, after the group ordered a large shipment of pagers to use as improvised explosive devices. The plan was to litter the pagers throughout abandoned homes and buildings in hopes of wounding Russian soldiers. But upon arrival of ...3 days ago - A constitutional shitshow
Last month, we learned that the government was half-arsing its anti-gang legislation, adding a significant, pre-planned, BORA-abusing amendment at the committee stage, avoiding all the usual scrutiny processes. But it gets worse. Because having done it once, they're now planning to recall the bill in order to add another such ...3 days ago
- Political Round Up
Note: An earlier version of this article noted Levy was a “party time Health NZ commissioner” - this has been updated - forgive my Freudian slip.Dr Lester Levy is charging $320,000 a year to be a part time Health NZ commissioner. Rachel Thomas reports that Levy is still teaching 2 ...3 days ago - Postcard from Sydney: Southwest and City Metro extension
This is a guest post from Sydney reader Nik Clement After 2 years in Auckland I moved back to Sydney just over a year ago. While in Auckland, I went to the opening of Puhinui station and used it a fair bit, living in Manukau Central and being able ...3 days ago
- Tolling revolt brewing in National heartland
Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 18:Locals gathered in Woodville last night to protest at the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s decision to toll the new road linking the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, saying ...3 days ago - The doom spiral
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In his last post, Zeke discussed incredible warmth of 2023 and 2024 and its implications for future warming. A few readers looked at it and freaked out: This is terrifying and This update really put me in a ...3 days ago
- Government directs Te Puni Kōkiri to conduct Māori Language Week in English
The coalition government has issued a directive to Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development, instructing them that – in the interests of clear communication – they are to conduct this year’s Māori Language Week primarily or exclusively in English. The directive is in line with the Government’s policy ...4 days ago - Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it a...
At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, ...4 days ago - Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done
It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your ...4 days ago - NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play
Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was ...4 days ago - Climbing out of the hamster wheel
I arrived home with a head full of fresh ideas about mindfulness and curbing impulsive aspects in my character.On the second night home I grabbed a piece of ginger and began swiftly slicing it on our industrial strength mandolin, the one I have learned through painful experience to treat with ...4 days ago - More Notes From Stinky Town
Good morning, folks. Another wee note from a chilly Rotorua morning that looks much clearer than yesterday. As I write, the pink glow in the east is slowly growing, and soon, the palest of blue skies should become a bit more royal.A couple of people mentioned yesterday that I should ...4 days ago - Make it make sense: why axe valuable local projects?
Last week, Matt looked at how the government wants to pour a huge chunk of civic infrastructure funding for a generation into one mega-road up North, at huge cost and huge opportunity cost. A smaller but no less important feature of the National Land Transport Plan devised by Minister of Transport ...4 days ago
- Driving blind at higher speeds
An open letter by experts about plans to raise speed limits warns the “tragic consequence will be more New Zealanders losing their lives or suffering severe injury, along with a substantial burden on the nation's healthcare and rehabilitation services”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s ...4 days ago - 2024’s unusually persistent warmth
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink My inaugural post on The Climate Brink 18 months ago looked at the year 2024, and found that it was likely to be the warmest year on record on the back of a (than forecast) El Nino event. I suggested “there is a real chance ...4 days ago
- National plan for 2000 more Kiwis a year in prison
Open for allYesterday, Luxon congratulated his government on a job well done with emergency housing numbers, but advocates have been saying it‘s likely many are on the streets and sleeping in cars.Q&A featured some of the folks this weekend - homeless and in cars. Yes.The government’s also confirmed they stopped ...4 days ago
- I Found a Note in a Tree
Hi,On most days I try to go on a walk through nature to clear my head from the horrors of life. Because as much as I like people, I also think it’s incredibly important to get very far away from them. To be reminded that there are also birds, lizards, ...4 days ago - Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Politicians need to lift their game
Declining trust in New Zealand politicians should be a warning to them to lift their game. Results from the New Zealand Election Study for the 2023 election show that the level of trust in politicians has once again declined. Perhaps it is not surprising that the results, shared as part ...4 days ago - Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are ...5 days ago - A dysfunctional watchdog
The reality of any right depends on how well it is enforced. But as The Post points out this morning, our right to official information isn't being enforced very well at all: More than a quarter of complaints about access to official information languish for more than a year, ...5 days ago
- Climate Change: The threat of a good example
Since taking office, the climate-denier National government has gutted agricultural emissions pricing, ended the clean car discount, repealed water quality standards which would have reduced agricultural emissions, gutted the clean car standard, killed the GIDI scheme, and reversed efforts to reduce pollution subsidies in the ETS - basically every significant ...5 days ago
- Vegas Baby
Good morning, lovely people. Don’t worry. This isn’t really a newsletter, just a quick note. I’m sitting in our lounge, looking out over a gloomy sky. Although being Rotorua, the view is periodically interrupted by steam bursting from pipes and dispersing—like an Eastern European industrial hellscape during the Cold War.Drinking ...5 days ago - Why Entrust Needs New Leadership
I am part of a new team running in the Entrust election in October. Entrust is a community electricity trust representing a significant part of Auckland, set up to serve the community. It is governed by five trustees are elected every three years in an election the trust itself oversees. ...5 days ago
- London Bridge is falling down
In the UK, London is the latest of council groups to signal potential bankruptcy.That’s after Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, went bankrupt in June, resulting in reduced sanitation services, libraries cut, and dimmed streetlights.Some in the city described things as “Dickens” like.Please, Sir, Can I have some more?For families with ...5 days ago - Govt may kick elderly out of hospitals
The Government is considering how to shunt elderly people out of hospitals, and also how to cut their access to other support. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, ...5 days ago - Getting the nephs off the couch
The so-called “Prince of the Provinces”, Shane Jones, went home last Friday. Perhaps not quite literally home, more like 20 kilometres down the road from his house on the outskirts of Kerikeri. With its airport, its rapidly growing (mostly retired) population, and a commercial centre with all the big retail ...5 days ago
- De moralibus orcorum: Sargon of Akkad, Rings of Power, Evil, and George R.R. Martin
I have noted before that The Rings of Power has attracted its unfortunate share of culture war obsessives. Essentially, for a certain type of individual, railing on about the Wokery of Modern Media is a means of making themselves a online livelihood. Clicks and views and advertising revenue, and all ...5 days ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 8, 2024 thru Sat, September 14, 2024. Story of the week From time to time we like to make our Story of the Week all about us— and ...5 days ago
- Salvation For Us All
Yesterday, I ruminated about the effects of being a political follower.And, within politics, David Seymour was smart enough on Friday to divert attention from “race blind” policies [what about gender blind I thought - thinking of maternity wards] and cutting school lunches by throwing meat to the media. Teachers were ...6 days ago - A warm embrace
Far, far away from here lives our King. Some of his subjects can be quite the forelock tuggers, but plenty of us are not like that, and why don't I wheel out my favourite old story once more about Kiwi soldiers in the North African desert?Field Marshal Montgomery takes offence ...6 days ago - Literal clowns are running the place, we must put a timeout on this stupidity… right Aotearoa?
These people are inept on every level. They’re inept to the detriment of our internal politics, cohesion and increasingly our international reputation. And they are reveling in the fact they are getting away with it. We cannot even have “respectful debate” with a government that clearly rejects the very ...6 days ago - Fact brief – Does manmade CO2 have any detectable fingerprint?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does manmade CO2 have any ...7 days ago
- Judge Not.
7 days ago - Managed Democracy: Letting The People Decide, But Only When They Can Be Relied Upon To Give the Righ...
Uh-uh! Not So Fast, Citizens! The power to initiate systemic change remains where it has always been in New Zealand’s representative democracy – in Parliament. To order a binding referendum, the House of Representatives must first to be persuaded that, on the question proposed, sharing its decision-making power with the people ...7 days ago
- Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.
Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...7 days ago
- Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.
The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...7 days ago
- Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.
Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...7 days ago - Winning ways
7 days ago - 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years
Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...1 week ago
- Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm
The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...1 week ago - Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...
Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...1 week ago - In Open Seas; A Book
The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...1 week ago - The Hoon around the week to Sept 13
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...1 week ago
- Do or do not. There is no try
1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...1 week ago - Dangerous ground
The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...1 week ago
- Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris
In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...1 week ago
- Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’
1 week ago - Is the Media Complicit?
This is a long read. Open to all.SYNOPSIS: Traditional media is at a cross roads. There is a need for those in the media landscape, as it stands, to earn enough to stay afloat, but also come across as balanced and neutral to keep its audiences.In America, NYT’s liberal leaning ...1 week ago - Black Friday
It's Black Friday, the end of the weekYou take my hand and hold it gently up against your cheekIt's all in my head, it's all in my mindI see the darkness where you see the lightSong by Tom OdellFriday the 13th, don’t be afraid.No, really, don’t. Everything has felt a ...1 week ago
- Release: Coalition cooking up costly RMA replacement
National continues to dismantle environmental protections in the interests of rushing through unsustainable development that will ultimately cost communities. ...16 hours ago - Release: National red-faced as benefit numbers skyrocket
The economy has stagnated and the National Government is having to face the consequences of its atrocious lawmaking, as beneficiary numbers skyrocket past even Treasury’s predictions. ...21 hours ago
- Release: National allocating police officers not hired yet
There are 104 fewer police officers now than there were when National came into Government. ...21 hours ago
- Economic decline further cause for tax transformation
Today’s GDP figures combined with the injustice of our tax system will mean more pain for our lowest-income households while those at the top remain relatively unscathed. ...2 days ago - Release: No growth under National, just cuts
The National Government’s decisions have hindered, not helped the economy. ...2 days ago
- Govt must act to avoid the worst of NIWA’s climate projections
New climate projections from NIWA underscore how urgently climate action is needed. ...3 days ago
- Release: More job losses as Government fails on manufacturing
The Government is failing the manufacturing sector with no plan for its future. ...3 days ago
- Tāmaki-Makaurau MP Urges Immediate Support for Families Impacted by Mill Closure
Te Pāti Māori Member of Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau is urging a full wraparound of services to intervene quickly with families affected by today's announced closure of the Penrose Mill. Seventy-five people are set to lose their jobs right on the eve of Christmas. "I want to extend my thoughts ...3 days ago
- Release: Sentencing package misses the mark by a mile
Sentencing policy announced by Minister Paul Goldsmith today is anything but new, merely window dressing to make up for backwards violent crime statistics under the National Government. ...4 days ago
- Release: Seymour’s Ministry of Double Standards
David Seymour doesn’t stick to his own standards of good regulation despite having a multimillion-dollar vanity ministry set up to do so. ...4 days ago
- Release: Labour Leader to travel to UK
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins will travel to the United Kingdom this week to attend the annual UK Labour Party conference in Liverpool and meet with members of the new Labour Government. ...4 days ago
- Govt Warned – Increasing Snapper Quota Breaches Fisheries Settlement
An imminent decision to increase the total allowable commercial catch (TACC) for snapper would be a direct violation of the first-ever Treaty Settlement and inevitably breach Te Tiriti o Waitangi, says Te Pāti Māori. Te Ohu Kaimoana has sought a High Court declaration to prevent the Minister of Oceans and ...5 days ago
- Govt attacks workers’ rights once again
Today’s announcement from the Minister of Workplace Relations emphasises how deep in the pocket of big business this Government really is. ...5 days ago
- Release: Māori business not a priority for this Govt
Scrapping the Progressive Procurement programme designed to support and grow Māori businesses is a missed opportunity. ...6 days ago
- Release: March 15 inquiry grants cut by Government
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has cut grants helping overseas family of victims to attend the next phase of the Coronial Inquiry into the 15 March 2019 Christchurch Masjidain Attack. ...6 days ago
- Minister of Injustice seeks to Entrench largest land confiscation in History
The Waitangi Tribunal has released an Urgent Report on the Government’s proposed amendments to the Takutai Moana Act 2011. The report calls out Paul Goldsmith’s proposal for what it is: a “gross breach of the Treaty” and an “illegitimate exercise of kāwanatanga”. The Tribunal is recommending the Crown step down ...1 week ago
- Takutai Moana changes another assault on Te Tiriti
The Government must abandon its Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act interventions after the Waitangi Tribunal found it was committing gross breaches of the Treaty. ...1 week ago
- Greens call on Govt to leave Te Reo in schools alone
As Te Wiki o te Reo Māori approaches, the Government is considering deprioritising teaching Te Reo Māori in our schools. ...1 week ago
- Govt cannot ignore racism
The Government’s directive to the public service to ignore race is nothing more than a dog whistle and distraction from the structural racism we need to address. ...1 week ago
- Release: Lemauga Lydia Sosene to take medical leave
Labour’s Mangere MP Lemauga Lydia Sosene has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will shortly take medical leave. ...1 week ago
- Potential intelligence sharing with Israel must be investigated
Concerns have been raised that our spy arrangements may mean that intelligence is being shared between Aotearoa and Israel. An urgent inquiry must be launched in response to this. ...1 week ago
- Release: Charter schools undermine our education system
The Government is taking a wrecking ball to our public education system by reinstating charter schools. ...1 week ago
- Youngest MP to travel to Canada to accept Politician of the Year Award
Aotearoa’s Youngest Member of Parliament, and Te Pāti Māori MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, will travel to Montreal to accept the One Young World Politician of the Year Award next week. The One Young World Politician of the Year Award was created in 2018 to recognise the most promising young politicians between ...1 week ago
- Greens celebrate huge step forward for ADHD community
The Greens welcome today’s long-coming announcement by Pharmac of consultation to remove the special authority renewal criteria for methylphenidate, dexamfetamine and modafinil and to fund lisdexamfetamine. ...1 week ago
- Release: Millions to be spent dividing NZ for no reason
The National Party is wasting millions of dollars allowing David Seymour’s Treaty Principals Bill to be drafted and go to Select Committee. ...1 week ago
- Release: New Zealanders departing our shores at a record rate
The Migration figures released by Stats NZ today show National is continuing to drive Kiwis away from New Zealand in record numbers. ...1 week ago
- Te Tai Tokerau MP Slams Govt Overreach in Scrapping Māori Wards
Mema Paremata for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, has reflected on the decisions made by the councils of the North amidst the government’s push to remove Māori Wards and weaken mana whenua representation. “Actions taken by the Kaipara District Council to remove Māori Wards are the embodiment of the eradication ...1 week ago
- Govt already seeking advice on Treaty referendum
On one hand, the Prime Minister has assured Aotearoa that his party will not support the Treaty Principles Bill beyond first reading, but on the other, his Government has already sought advice on holding a referendum on our founding document. ...1 week ago
- Release: Aged care will be worse off if redesign rushed
New Zealanders needing aged care support and the people who care for them will be worse off if the Government pushes through a flawed and rushed redesign of dementia and aged care. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt fails hundreds of workers as mills close
Labour is devastated at news hundreds of workers are set to lose their jobs following the closure of Winstone Pulp mills. ...1 week ago
- Job losses from mill closures consequence of Govt inaction
Hundreds of jobs lost as a result of pulp mill closures in the Ruapehu District are a consequence of government inaction in addressing the shortfalls of our electricity network. ...2 weeks ago
- Ngarewa-Packer devastated for Ruapehu following WPI closure
Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader and MP for Te Tai Hauāuru is devastated for the Ruapehu community following today’s decision to close two Winstone Pulp mills. “My heart goes out to all the workers, their whānau, and the wider Ruapehu community affected by the closure of Winstone Pulp International,” said Ngarewa-Packer. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Cabinet should stop the Treaty Principles Bill
National Party Ministers have a majority in Cabinet and can stop David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill, which even the Prime Minister has described as “divisive and unhelpful.” ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Staff gagged to keep fast track list secret
The National Government is so determined to hide the list of potential projects that will avoid environmental scrutiny it has gagged Ministry for the Environment staff from talking about it. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour challenges Te Whatu Ora gag orders
Labour has complained to the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission about the high number of non-disclosure agreements that have effectively gagged staff at Te Whatu Ora Health NZ from talking about anything relating to their work. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call on Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned after letter from Christian leaders
The Green Party is once again urging the Prime Minister to abandon the Treaty Principles Bill as a letter from more than 400 Christian leaders calls for the proposed legislation to be dropped. ...2 weeks ago
- Sign the petition: Keep military-style firearms off our streets
Help us tell the Government that reintroducing military-style firearms should not be up for debate. ...2 weeks ago
- Vast majority of councils support Māori wards
Councils across the country have now decided where they stand regarding Māori wards, with a resounding majority in favour of keeping them in what is a significant setback for the Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government on the wrong side of Māori wards
The National-led government has been given a clear message from the local government sector, as almost all councils reject the Government’s bid to treat Māori wards different to other wards. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour congratulates Kuīni Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki
The Labour Party congratulates Kuīni Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki on being crowned as the eighth Te Ariki Nui – head of Te Kiingitanga. ...2 weeks ago
- Tourism on the table for Pacific Ministers’ meet-up
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey will meet with Trade and Tourism Minister of Australia Don Farrell and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica in Rotorua this weekend for a trilateral tourism discussion. “Like in New Zealand, tourism plays a significant role in Australia and Fiji’s economy, contributing massively to ...14 hours ago - Young people report on family and sexual violence
The Te Puna Aonui Expert Advisory Group for Children and Young People has presented its report today on improving family and sexual violence outcomes for young people, to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour. The presentation at the Auckland event was an opportunity for ...14 hours ago
- $18 million being invested in the victims of crime
The Government is putting more than $18 million towards improving the experience of the criminal justice system for victims, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say. “No one should experience crime, but for those who through no fault of their own become victims, they need to ...15 hours ago
- Landmark phonics check in te reo Māori
For the first time, schools can use a purpose-built tool to check how a child is progressing in reading through te reo Māori. “Around 45 schools are trialling a New Zealand first te reo Māori phonics check, known as Hihira Weteoro. It will help kaiako (teachers) focus on what ākonga ...16 hours ago
- New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation
Two new breakwater walls at Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour will provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in Bay of Plenty, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say. The Ministers and leaders from Tē Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea and other ...18 hours ago
- Kitmap to improve access to science infrastructure
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced an online platform to optimise the use of New Zealand’s science and technology research infrastructure and to link the public and private sector. “This country is home to world-class science, technology, and engineering expertise. Kitmap is set to empower Kiwi innovators, ...18 hours ago
- Driving the uptake of low emission heavy vehicles
The Government has launched the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) to promote innovation and offset the cost of hundreds of heavy vehicles powered by clean technologies, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts say. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan ...18 hours ago
- Speech on replacing the Resource Management Act
Replacing the RMA Hon Chris Bishop: Good morning, it is great to be with you. Can I first acknowledge the Resource Management Law Association for hosting us here today. Can I also acknowledge my Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Simon Court, who is on stage with me. He has assisted me in establishing the ...19 hours ago
- Replacement for the Resource Management Act takes shape
Two new laws will be developed to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), with the enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. “The RMA was passed with good intentions in 1991 but has proved a failure in practice. ...20 hours ago
- Tough laws pass to make gang life uncomfortable
Legislation passed through Parliament today will provide police and the courts with additional tools to crack down on gangs that peddle misery and intimidation throughout New Zealand, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “From November 21, gang insignia will be banned in all public places, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and ...2 days ago
- New levy rates set to ensure continued funding of FENZ
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the rates for the redesigned levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) from July 2026. “Earlier this year FENZ consulted publicly on a 5.2 percent increase to the levy. I was not convinced that ...2 days ago
- Police allocate Officers to Beat and Gang Units
The Coalition Government welcomes Police’s announcement today to deploy more police on the beat and staff to Gang Disruption Units. An additional 70 officers will be allocated to Community Beat Teams across towns and regional centres. This builds on the deployment of beat officers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs ...2 days ago
- Consultation begins on significant updates to the biosecurity system
Proposals to strengthen the country’s vital biosecurity system, including higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, greater flexibility around importing requirements, and fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses have been released today for public consultation. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says “The future is about resilience and the 30-year-old ...2 days ago
- Wānaka community to benefit from new overnight health service
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says an Overnight Acute Care Service opening in October will provide people in Wānaka and the surrounding area with the assurance of quality overnight care closer to home. “When I was in Wānaka earlier this year, I announced funding for an overnight health service – ...2 days ago
- Preventing potholes with data-driven technology
The Government is rolling out data collection vans across the country to better understand the condition of our road network to prevent potholes from forming in the first place, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key priority for the Government and increasing ...2 days ago
- GDP data shows effect of high interest rates
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the quarter to June 2024 reinforces how an extended period of high interest rates has meant tough times for families, businesses, and communities, but recent indications show the economy is starting to bounce back, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ data released today ...2 days ago
- NZ to host first Fiji, Australia trilateral trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua
Trade Minister Todd McClay will host Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for trilateral trade talks in Rotorua this weekend. “Fiji is one of the largest economies in the Pacific and is a respected partner for Australia and New Zealand,” Mr McClay says. Australia and New Zealand ...2 days ago
- NZ hosts Annual CER Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua
Trade Minister Todd McClay will meet with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua this weekend. “CER is our most comprehensive agreement covering trade, labour mobility, harmonisation of standards and political cooperation. It underpins an important trading relationship worth $32 ...2 days ago
- Government proposing changes to jury trials
The Government is seeking the public’s feedback on two major changes to jury trials in order to improve court timeliness, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “The first proposal would increase the offence threshold at which a defendant can decide to have their case heard by a jury. “The second is ...2 days ago
- Business key to regional economic dialogue
Local businesses and industries need to be front and centre in conversations about how regions plan to grow their economies, Regional Development Shane Jones says. The nationwide series of summits aims to facilitate conversations about regional economic growth and opportunities to drive productivity, prosperity and resilience through the Coalition Government’s Regional ...2 days ago
- More funding for Growing Up in New Zealand study
The Government is investing $16.8 million over the next four years to extend the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) Longitudinal Study. GUiNZ is New Zealand’s largest longitudinal study of child health and wellbeing and has followed the lives of more than 6000 children born in 2009 and 2010, and ...2 days ago
- Tough targets for charter schools will raise achievement
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that Charter Schools will face a combination of minimum performance thresholds and stretch targets for achievement, attendance and financial sustainability. “Charter schools will be given greater freedom to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways, but they will be held to a much ...2 days ago
- NZ votes for Middle East resolution at UN
New Zealand has voted for a United Nations resolution on Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian Territory with some caveats, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand’s yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution,” Mr Peters says. “The Israel-Palestine ...2 days ago
- Honouring the legacy of New Zealand’s suffragists
Suffrage Day is an opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s commitment to ensuring we continue to be a world leader in gender equality, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says. “On 19 September, 131 years ago, New Zealand became the first nation in the world where women gained the right to vote. ...2 days ago
- Foreign Minister to travel to New York, French Polynesia
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to New York next week to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed by a visit to French Polynesia. “In the context of the myriad regional and global crises, our engagements in New York will demonstrate New Zealand’s strong support for ...3 days ago
- Thanking social workers on their national day
“Today, on Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers’ Day, I would like to recognise the tremendous effort social workers make not just today, but every day,” Children’s Minister and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says. “I thank all those working on the front line for ...3 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Laos for ASEAN meetings
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg will travel to Laos this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meetings in Vientiane. “The Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with ASEAN,” Ms Grigg says. “With next year marking 50 years since New Zealand became ...3 days ago
- Members appointed to retail crime MAG
The Government has appointed four members to the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “I am delighted to appoint Michael Hill’s national retail manager Michael Bell to the group, as well as Waikato community advocate and business ...3 days ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation AGM and Conference 2024
It’s my pleasure to be here to join the opening of the NZNO AGM and Conference for 2024. First, I’d like to thank NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku, NZNO President, Anne Daniels, and Chief Execuitve Paul Gaulter for inviting me to speak today. Thank you also to all the NZNO members ...3 days ago
- Improvements for New Zealand authors
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says changes to the Public Lending Right [PLR] scheme will help benefit both the National Library and authors who have books available in New Zealand libraries. “I am amending the regulations so that eligible authors will no longer have to reapply every year ...4 days ago
- Minister commends Police for gang operation
Police Minister Mark Mitchell congratulates Police for the outstanding result of their most recent operation, targeting the Comancheros. “That Police have been able to round up the majority of the Comancheros leadership, and many of their patched members and prospects, shows not only the capability of Police, but also shows ...4 days ago
- New appointments to the EPA board
Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced a major refresh of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board with four new appointments and one reappointment. The new board members are Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart and Nancy Tuaine, who have been appointed for a three-year term ending in August 2027. “I would ...4 days ago
- Enabling rural recovery works in Hawke’s Bay
Cabinet has approved an Order in Council to enable severe weather recovery works to continue in the Hawke’s Bay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell say. “Cyclone Gabrielle and the other severe weather events in early 2023 caused significant loss and damage to ...4 days ago
- FamilyBoost childcare payment registrations open
From today, low-to-middle-income families with young children can register for the new FamilyBoost payment, to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. The scheme was introduced as part of the Government’s tax relief plan to help Kiwis who are doing it tough. “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we ...4 days ago
- Prioritising victims with tougher sentences
The Government has today agreed to introduce sentencing reforms to Parliament this week that will ensure criminals face real consequences for crime and victims are prioritised, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. "In recent years, there has been a concerning trend where the courts have imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences ...5 days ago
- Targets data confirms rise in violent crime
The first quarterly report on progress against the nine public service targets show promising results in some areas and the scale of the challenge in others, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Our Government reinstated targets to focus our public sector on driving better results for New Zealanders in health, education, ...5 days ago
- Asia Foundation Board appointments announced
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the appointments of Hone McGregor, Professor David Capie, and John Boswell to the Board of the Asia New Zealand Foundation. Bede Corry, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has also been appointed as an ex-officio member. The new trustees join Dame Fran Wilde (Chair), ...5 days ago
- Endeavour Fund projects for economic growth
New Zealand’s largest contestable science fund is investing in 72 new projects to address challenges, develop new technology and support communities, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. “This Endeavour Fund round being funded is focused on economic growth and commercial outputs,” Ms Collins says. “It involves funding of more ...5 days ago
- Social Services Providers Whakamanawa National Conference 16 September 2024
Thank you for the introduction and the invitation to speak to you here today. I am honoured to be here in my capacity as Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, and Minister for Children. Thank you for creating a space where we can all listen and learn, ...5 days ago
- Parihaka infrastructure upgrades funded
The Government will provide a $5.8 million grant to improve water infrastructure at Parihaka in Taranaki, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say. “This grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will have a multitude of benefits for this hugely significant cultural site, including keeping local ...5 days ago
- Short story: Abicene, by Michael Hodder
When Brian alerted Andy that an owl was caught in the netting, he had been puzzled, wondering how such a large bird could have got inside. Its talons had got caught on the outside. Andy guessed it was the morepork which he had heard most nights over the past year – ...14 mins ago - The Secret Diary of .. The Comancheros
MONDAYMemo to all staff: Hope you all had wonderful weekends! Please send your encrypted messages with a detailed list of what you’re working on today and I’ll see you on an all-hands Zoom call at 0930.And just a reminder to please file your cash earnings in microwave ovens. There are ...14 mins ago
- A new exhibition breathes life into Te Reo Māori documents
The first official copy books in te reo Māori; a map of Aotearoa labelled ‘New Munster’ and ‘New Ulster’; the original manuscripts capturing karakia and waiata for the first time; and a copy of The Cat in the Hat in te reo.All taonga that are part of a new exhibition, ...14 mins ago
- Unbought gems: Who will buy New Zealand’s largest gemstone collection?
Alex Casey visits the largest gemstone collection in the country, and meets the 85-year-old owner trying to Marie Kondo the lot. Despite its charming name, someone once warned me that Birdlings Flat was like a place from the Twilight Zone. Hang a right off the winding roads to Akaroa and ...43 mins ago - Beware the online menus with AI food photos
Local eateries using AI images may be at risk of duping their customers, but a lack of legislation means they’re not breaking the law. You notice something’s a bit off straight away. The macaroni looks too smooth, the miscellaneous herb is too miscellaneous and the sauce kinda looks like it’s ...43 mins ago
- The Weekend: Big frick energy
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. There’s something very funny about the word frick. Perhaps it’s the Christian undertones, popularised by kids who were too god-fearing to say the bad f-word (but probably just god-fearing enough to say the other bad f-word). It might sound like a milder version ...54 mins ago
- ‘A crisis situation’: Guy Montgomery’s live TV toilet nightmare
Comedian Guy Montgomery takes us through his life in television, including a What Now nightmare and the comedic genius of Goldstein from the ASB ads. To the untrained eye, Guy Montgomery appears to be one of the busiest people in comedy right now. With both the local and Australian versions ...59 mins ago
- Podcast: Will Kiwibank step into the ring with the big four?
In a candid chat on When the Facts Change, Kiwibank chief executive Steve Jurkovich lays out his vision for the bank’s future – one where it can step up and truly challenge the big four Aussie-owned banks. But while he has high hopes, Jurkovich is quick to warn it won’t ...1 hour ago
- Almost all of the Hobbits in the Tolkienverse, ranked from worst to best
To celebrate International Hobbit Day on September 22 (Bilbo and Frodo Baggins’ birthdays), we’ve decided who of all the furry-footed creatures is best. Concerning Hobbits and Spinoff rankings, it really feels like there is not a lot left to be said or ranked. Well, on International Hobbit Day, boy do ...1 hour ago
- The first Wellingtonian
Hundreds of years ago, a man named Tara founded the first permanent human settlement in Wellington. The city still bears his name: Te Whanganui a Tara. But what do we actually know about him? If you look out at the right angle from Ray Ahipene-Mercer’s house in Breaker Bay, you ...1 hour ago
- Gentrification isn’t inevitable − it can hinge on how residents view their neighborhood
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Korver-Glenn, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Families on bikes at a July Fourth parade in Houston’s Northside neighborhood. Jimmy Castillo, CC BY-ND Gentrification has become a familiar story in cities across the United States. The ...5 hours ago - Discrimination faced by indigenous Papuans ‘isn’t something new’, says disturbing new rights r...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Racism, torture and arbitrary arrests are some examples of discrimination indigenous Papuans have dealt with over the last 60 years from Indonesia, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch. The report, If It’s Not Racism, What Is It? Discrimination and other abuses ...8 hours ago
- Wā Pātai: Māori language week at Parliament
The House - Parliament was buzzing with te reo this week - but how common is this, really? ...8 hours ago - Otago land and water plan to continue, despite government’s ‘strong preference’ it...
Regional councillors have voted to continue work on the plan, despite ministers suggesting they hold off until the government confirms its policy direction. ...10 hours ago
- Many people in the Pacific lack access to adequate toilets – and climate change makes things worse
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benny Zuse Rousso, Research Fellow, International Water Centre, Griffith University Pvince73/Shutterstock The Pacific Islands may evoke images of sprawling coastlines and picturesque scenery. But while this part of the world might look like paradise, many local residents are grappling with a ...11 hours ago
- New Law To Ban Gang Patches A Dangerous Move For New Zealand
Censorship can be a natural impulse to things we don’t like, but it’s better to know when hateful or offensive ideas exist. Otherwise, they’re buried underground to fester and can crop up unexpectedly. We see this legislation no differently. ...11 hours ago - Government urged to intervene in Cook Strait ferry woes
There are fears lives could be lost if the government doesn't step in to bring the country's ailing Cook Strait ferry services up to scratch. ...11 hours ago
- Is life getting better for China’s tech billionaires?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wenting He, PhD candidate of International Relations, Australian National University The skyline in Shenzhen, the city that is home to many of China’s largest tech companies. asharkyu/Shutterstock According to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Pony Ma, co-founder of Tencent Holdings, is once ...12 hours ago
- Fiji 2000 coup leader George Speight granted presidential pardon
RNZ Pacific The man behind the 2000 coup in Fiji, George Speight, and the head of the mutineers, former soldier Shane Stevens, have been granted presidential pardons. In a statement yesterday, the Fiji Correction Service said the pair were among seven prisoners who has been granted pardons by the President, ...13 hours ago
- Supreme Court orders government to pay in advance for Māori coastline appeal
In a rare decision, the country's top court has told the Crown it must give advance financial support to a group of hapū challenging it. ...13 hours ago
- Darleen Tana fails High Court bid against Green Party investigation
Green co-leader Chloe Swarbrick says the party welcomes the ruling and will now consider its next steps. ...14 hours ago
- Resource Management Act to be replaced by two new laws
They'll ditch rules that "invite every Tom, Dick, and Harry to vexatiously object to peaceful use and development", the government says. ...14 hours ago
- Are sports stars who are caught using illegal drugs unfairly vilified?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Wilson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney JFontan/Shutterstock With the Paris Olympics and Paralympics wrapped up, and leading Australian sports codes coming to an end of their 2024 ...14 hours ago
- Flood gates could reopen for Māori claimants after landmark ruling
The Courts have ruled the Crown must cover the costs of customary marine title claims, but where will the money come from? A landmark Supreme Court ruling could once again ensure Māori have adequate resourcing to pursue customary marine title claims, despite the government’s recent drastic raising of the threshold ...14 hours ago
- RNZ’s online surge could start to worry private media
Public broadcaster RNZ might be struggling to stem its falls in radio listenership, but the audience for its website rnz.co.nz is soaring.In the latest Nielsen online audience figures for August, RNZ hit 1.56 million unique readers for the month, up from under a million a year ago and less than ...14 hours ago
- Referendum on four-year political terms may come by next election – Luxon
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he may bring four-year political terms to a national vote at the next election. ...15 hours ago
- Afghan women have been robbed of health care, education and now their voices. But they won’t remai...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Hutchinson, PhD Candidate, International Relations, Australian National University Last month, the Taliban passed a new “vice and virtue” law, making it illegal for women to speak in public. Under the law, women can also be punished if they are heard singing ...15 hours ago
- What is ‘dynamic pricing’ for concert tickets? It can cost you hundreds of dollars while you que...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Green, Research Fellow, Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Griffith University When tickets for Green Day’s 2025 Australian tour went on sale, fans joined a queue – a ritual that has been practised for decades on footpaths, on phones, and now ...15 hours ago
- Week in Politics: ‘Crime wave’ puts government’s target in doubt
Analysis - Crime throws the government's reduction target into doubt and Labour's Chris Hipkins has to deal with a bad poll. ...16 hours ago
- India is in the midst of an electric vehicle revolution – and Australia should tap in
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David T. Hill, Emeritus Professor of Southeast Asian Studies, Indo-Pacific Research Centre, Murdoch University David T. Hill You don’t have to be in India long to appreciate just how dramatic its electric vehicle revolution is. Whether it’s electric two-wheelers or trucks, ...16 hours ago
- Supreme Court orders Govt to pay in advance for Māori coastline appeal
In a rare decision, heavy with judicial and political implications, the country’s top court has told the Crown it must give advance financial support to a group of hapū challenging it over the Marine and Coastal Areas Act.The Supreme Court’s intervention, ahead of seven appeals scheduled before it in November ...16 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘???’ by Freya Daly Sadgrove
A new poem by Freya Daly Sadgrove. ??? where you wake is black and very far back behind your eyes back past your whipping branches and backer far backer than bone and blood ...16 hours ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending September 20
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Greene Lyon by Alan Goodwin (Quentin Wilson Publishing, $38) An intriguing new local release. Here’s ...16 hours ago
- Why is pain so exhausting?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Henry, Physiotherapist and PhD candidate, Body in Mind Research Group, University of South Australia simona pilolla 2/Shutterstock One of the most common feelings associated with persisting pain is fatigue and this fatigue can become overwhelming. People with chronic pain can ...17 hours ago
- OpenAI’s data hunger raises privacy concerns
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Uri Gal, Professor in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney Last month, OpenAI came out against a yet-to-be enacted Californian law that aims to set basic safety standards for developers of large artificial intelligence (AI) models. This was a change of posture ...17 hours ago
- Ads from Hell: how a pizza brand’s marketing reveals NZ’s shifting religious attitudes
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Fastnedge, Lecturer in Advertising and Brand Creativity, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Controversial advertising holds a mirror up to society. It can unite us in laughter or outrage, spark debates that shape our beliefs – and sometimes expose our ...18 hours ago
- Breaking update: More NZX CEOs are called Mark than are bogans
There are more Marks than women leading NZX companies, RNZ reported this morning. The Spinoff can now reveal that there are way more Marks than bogans. It’s not exactly breaking news that women are underrepresented in business leadership, but RNZ found a funny and inventive way of demonstrating that this ...18 hours ago
- From cauldrons to cardigans – the lurking prejudices behind the name ‘Granny’
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Shutterstock “Honestly, I can’t wait to have grandkids and spoil them — but I don’t want to be called ‘Granny’” (overheard on the No. 96 tram in Melbourne) “I love it. It’s not ...18 hours ago
- Where do Wellington’s top chefs eat on their day off?
The capital’s best chefs and restaurateurs share their favourite local eateries and hidden gems. I have always been fascinated by chefs and restaurateurs. Perhaps it is because of how altruistic they are, existing in a space that seeks to provide pleasure to others regardless of how it impacts on their ...18 hours ago
- Council ‘got it wrong’ with Links Ave closure, meeting told
It's the most controversial road in Mt Maunganui and a newly elected councillor is asking why it was allowed to happen. ...18 hours ago
The C of C response to KO buying land at the market peak in 2021 is to stall housing development because of the economics.
Holding land unused is making things worse, and development costs go up with the delay.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350379972/kainga-ora-owned-land-near-wellingtons-basin-reserve-still-empty-despite
One presumes they intend KO to sell at a loss and not build.
In that regard one should note their not so secret plan to change the rules the OIO operates by – to allow foreign property companies to provide residential housing.
KO will just invite development proposals.
Market will take time to respond because Wellington real estate market has collapsed for 2024.
With the standard ending as a site at the end of the month what happens to the millions of comments stored in the clouds some where?
I'd like b Waghorn to be erased please sir ,thankyou.
hey b 🙂 It's not ending. It's going to be hosted on a new server, and the history will be preserved. Things still being worked out.
That is good news Weka.
Oh OK, algood,
Great news, thanks Weka!
Good news Weka. A bit sad that Mr Prentice is to be leading the way no longer though.
Yes. I shall miss his tirades. I was on the receiving end once but forgotten what for – no big deal. I love the way he always manages to get his well thought through opinions across. 😉
Hope he will continue to contribute as a commenter from time to time.
Ditto. I am new here, and value lprent and others, but would be sad to see him go in any capacity.
Excellent news….even a stripped-down version would be good provided the interchange of views and (especially) information is retained.
That's great news Weka – I thought I may have to go back to The Daily Blog and have had a look at it for the past couple of days. My reaction was simply 'yeah, nah'.
That is good news, weka. The Standard has been part of my daily life for fifteen years and I would miss it as I miss some of the contributors over the years (felix, pascal's bookie amongst many others). I suspect lprent is not one for fulsome praise but I would miss his incisive and always intelligent contributions so I hope like ianmac and Anne that he continues to contribute even more in these columns. My thanks to all who awhi this blog.
Banking …
https://www.stuff.co.nz/home-property/350384266/could-commerce-commissions-banking-sector-recommendations-lower-your
We need loan insurance to reduce the cost of business finance. We need equity for Kiwi Bank and money for infrastructure.
1. Windfall profits taxation (28-33cents) – about $300M
2. A 1% decline in the OCR and a 1% surcharge on mortgage loans.
The result would be a lower value to the dollar (higher exports – tradeable inflation is low atm) and revenue of $3.4B pa.
The big 4 banks make $6B a year. Ideally 5 banks make about a $B average profit.
Any tax on mortgage loans imposed on banks, would be immediately passed on to customers (with a firm explanation that the rise is entirely due to the government tax)
Adding an tax on mortgage loans in the current environment, is going to make any party unelectable.
Not sure what you count as a 'windfall profit' but if it's only going to get 300M in taxation it's almost certainly not worth collecting.
There is no increase in the amount paid by homeowners because a surcharge allows a lower OCR rate.
Apart from the increased revenue collected by government (see the budget forecasts for the coming decades) it also increases returns to exporters (and thus tax paid by them).
The Americans once had progressive tax on companies, so larger ones paid a higher rate. It's very easy to collect.
If the surcharge reduces bank profits, you can absolutely guarantee this will result in increased charges to borrowers.
Deliberately missing the point.
If the OCR goes down by 1%, banks reduce their mortgage rate accordingly.
So there is no change in the amount paid by the homeowner with a 1% surcharge if the two were applied at the same time.
But the government gets the revenue it needs.
Also deliberately missing the point. If the OCR goes down and the surcharge goes up, there is no change to mortgage rate – and borrowers both notice and complain (OCR has gone down, why is my mortgage still high?)
Banks will absolutely inform them this is because of a government tax.
If you think that people with mortgages aren't obsessively watching the Reserve Bank rate – you don't know many people with mortgages.
They watch the rate, because it impacts on their mortgage cost.
If a 1% mortgage surcharge allows a 1% OCR cut they pay no more but government gets the funds required to afford health funding and infrastructure. Its over $3B a year.
They watch the rate to make sure that their own mortgage rate goes down when the OCR goes down. If that's not happening, you bet your bottom dollar that they'll be asking questions of their bank.
It's just another tax.
As I said, an unelectable policy.
You are a piece of work. Are you really incapable of comprehending that a mortgage surcharge would enable a lower OCR?
Are you really incapable of comprehending that people with mortgages care about what they have to pay – not what % goes to the government in tax.
In your example, despite the OCR going down, the government takes all of that as tax, so their mortgage repayment remains the same.
Or do you have some other handwavium solution to propose?
So you think homeowners do not care about a well-funded government?
You conflate (lie) a win win scenario – where at no extra mortgage cost to homeowners there was $3Bpa more in government funding – with handwavium.
Tell it to those whose children are in rundown school buildings, those who need access to primary health care and those facing rate increases because of lack of government support for infrastructure.
Businesses facing a problem with high temporary prices and or a rising cost to renewing their longer term supply contracts.
One way to lower the cost of supply is investment in battery storage. Possibly taking spare solar power off business and homes for this purpose.
As a dry year reserve to supplement the arrangements with Comalco and Methanex.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/350385023/power-price-pinch-sees-indefinite-closure-two-mills-hundreds-jobs-could-go
I doubt that any industrial complex can operate off battery storage.
California runs fine on huge amounts of battery storage
That is just nonsense. They cannot operate if they have no power, or cannot make a profit because of the cost of it in a dry year.
The easiest way to reduce power cost is to reduce take off the grid by homes and business (their use of solar) and otherwise to take their solar power surplus onto the grid and store this such energy in a battery (for use in a dry year).
There is no difficulty placing power onto the grid from a battery.
I think you're misunderstanding the usage of battery farms – this is short term storage (e.g. from the heat of the day when solar is widely available, to the evening, when peak demand arises)
They are not intended to be substitutes for hydro-electricity generation in a dry year.
Why not? The role of battery storage is a developing one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_storage_power_station
Because battery duration is measured in hours – not months.
There are two aspects to this.
A business operating off hydro from the grid, then not able to afford the spot price in a dry year.
In the dry year we have Comalco using less power, and Methanex supplying gas to the Huntly power station (if the price is right for both parties or otherwise coal) – which has a higher and higher cost as per 2050.
There is the Onslow dam and battery storage to cope with the dry year otherwise. A battery can hold power for years. How many and how large to provide a useful level of storage for dry years is that issue.
More businesses should look at being less dependent on the hydro supply, perhaps taking power from local solar and wind into a local battery system for their daily use.
We know that in a continuity use system battery storage makes renewable power reliable and this lowers power cost.
This is one way for a community to protect a local businesses (solar panels on homes and business roofs and wind farms).
But the C of C has no plan to realise even this. It's lack of focus on solar generation and battery use is, given the South Australia success in this area is inexplicable.
All the current government has as an answer – import gas, and blame the power companies for using a market system (price to manage demand), one that has been used for years. These companies were set up to act for shareholders, not the national interest, by the government of John Key.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/525747/ridiculously-high-power-prices-threatening-manufacturers-shane-jones
“I am happy to say categorically that I have found no other country that aligns more with my view of the future than New Zealand,” Thiel wrote.
Not that we needed reminding who this coalition serves Peter.
What he likes a country with no GPs and Businesses shutting up shop because we can't keep the lights on!!!
He likes to whinge about paying too much tax as the article in granny had a dig at California's tax regime.
The sense of entitlement knows no boundaries.
Bolthole abandoned…(well, for the moment )
Also he is NOT, repeat NOT a vampire…(as far as we know..)
And Matt Nippert ( IMO a good Reporter) reveals some of Citizen Peter Thiel….
Also Toby and Toby…Insight and Cartoons : )
And..a Citizen Thiel quote ..(well, he'd fit right in with NACT1)
Don’t forget Mr freedom, individual responsibility and small Govt made a tidy sum via the NZ taxpayer from the NZVIF–Venture Investment Fund–launched by Steven Joyce in 2012. He exercised a buy back option to cream millions of dollars after the Govt. matched his initial investment and more. Even Joyce admitted the buy back plus deal did not look good “on the face of it”.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/billionaire-peter-thiel-makes-fortune-after-sweetheart-deal-with-government/B22JSOU3762DJCI53XCR4MLRHU/
Aye TM. Had forgotten that one. (and there are probably many more : (
Socialism for those creeps ..is also taking a good bite of the peoples taxpayer …profits.
We need Thiel ?….yet another self interested mega rich leech on our Society
(oh yea, and was another good Matt Nippert story)
The invidiousness of corporate welfare (a symptom of fully-matured capitalism) is very well explained in Vulture Capitalism by economist and political journalist Grace Blakeley. The link is Blakely's RNZ interview. The book is an excellent mash-up of socialsit and economic theory.
Yep..Corporate Welfare..just another tentacle of the Corporates in the Warfare they continuously wage..including, on us.
He's been talking to Rimmer?
https://www.news24.com/fin24/international/apartheid-works-billionaire-paypal-founder-and-trump-backer-peter-thiel-said-book-claims-20211115
Yep, Minds alike an all. Some Great, some..not so much.
Middle class folk meet W and I, wonder at the human cost to those less able to cope with the new C of C regime.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/525742/benefit-cut-after-one-missed-appointment-former-public-servant-says
Oh yea..just earlier read that . Its maybe a sad fact…that (many?) people have…either no, or little, idea of what goes on in the sad lives of the unlucky.
And as the ex Accountant alludes, there are other costs. The myopic/purblind shits of NACT1….never factor those in. Unfortunately some..will pay. Pain and suffering. It will cost..us dearly.
I'm (almost) enjoying that all these people are suddenly experiencing the joys of W & I. Especially if they voted for one of the CoC, then zero sympathy.
I saw it during covid, the poor things suddenly having to deal with the welfare system, whining to the media that they had 'no idea' benefits paid so little (even though they were getting a special increased rate and no relationship rules). I guess there was never any concern for the perilous conditions many of their fellow citizens have to endure beforehand. It's not as if a quick google would give them that info.
I naively thought now that the middle class have been affected, they might develop some empathy. Yeah, right.
This story is so full of holes I'm surprised they published it. It took two weeks to get appointment, but 8 weeks to reduce benefit to nil. If he had actually attended the appointment after first deduction to 80%, there would be no further deductions to nil. He will probably struggle to get another job with the attitude of ignoring two reminder texts to attend a meeting. Would he be able to turn up to a job interview? Now he's gone to the media he looks like an even bigger fool.
FFS Jimmy what jobs? This lot have tanked the economy.
In which case, he'll have no problem turning up the the WINZ appointments – since he'll have nothing else to do.
I also think that it's a poor example.
The original one (where someone claims that he never received the message about the appointment, and subsequently was notified his payments would be cut), is a much better one.
WINZ systems aren't perfect (no organization's ones are) and to have a benefit cut with no cross-checks seems to be a highly-risky strategy.
You are such a right wing troll.
Ah, yes, your usual standard of insightful commentary.
If you can't attack the comment – let's abuse the person.
And what great intellectual discussion is to be had when you troll people who are not working?
So if the ad hominem fits…
Doubling down on the dumb as a rock response.
If you're so busy 'working' that you can't engage your intellect, perhaps you should stop engaging your typing fingers.
…
Just sounds to me like you know fuck-all about the way that WINZ and the MSD operate. It rings true to me. WINZ is more chaotic as anything I have ever seen. I include a pile of poorly run entrepreneurial businesses, charities, NGOs and the military experience in there.
Anyone who has and is used to normal business operations would be unused to dealing with WINZ operations and the stupid limitations that various fuckwit Ministers, mostly National ones, have imposed on them over decades.
I have only dealt with WINZ twice.
Once back in the GFC in 2009 when I got dumped out of a contract job a month after starting because their pitch to the customer failed. I contacted them and applied for the dole after a couple of months of job hunting when the cash and food started to run low. They organised me to have to attend a session about how to write a CV two weeks later, and told me that I would be required to attend it before they'd look signing me up. FFS I have an MBA, my CV was spotless and I used to run courses on how to write CVs….
My most recent brief experience of WINZ was this year after my redundancy/holiday pay ran out and before I hit 65 after a unexpected redundancy when the company shuttered itself after poor US sales. WINZ has updated itself a little. Now they will 'organise' everything without telling you. Or telling you poorly. Or telling you late. Not telling you at all seems all too likely too – especially if it is posted.
I have had a phone call from WINZ, that I could see was from WINZ because I'd tagged it as WINZ from a previous call on my phone. Couldn't see anything on MyMSD, so went to the local WINZ/MSD office to get them to look it up. They didn't know anything about it. Whoever had called me hadn't logged it.
By then I'd developed a habit of watching MyMSD, just in case. That was after receiving a letter that turned up the day before the appointment dated 2 weeks earlier, and that had arrived on last possible delivery out of the 2 postal deliveries a week.
In my month of getting job seeker, before getting on to super, they'd also informed me by letter on MyMSD, that I would be getting nett $178 per fortnight out of a nett ~$300 entitlement. That was because I would be paying off of a debt to MSD.
First that I'd heard of any debt. MyMSD didn't show any debts. My guess it was the first payment that they'd made before I received that letter.
I (mostly) trust them on the delivery of superannuation because it is hard to screwup a computer program without human access requirements. Plus I now have my Kiwisaver accessible.
Because I don't trust the MSD or WINZ to do their processes properly or to communicate clearly, I have a large dollop of cash in the bank on a lower interest rate than I'd like. That is solely so that it can be accessed immediately. I also have a rather large untouched overdraft facility available that is backed by term deposits.
Almost certainly. Potential employers who are worth working for are always clear. They typically communicate digitally with ICS attachments to go into your calendar. Usually after talking to you on cellphones. They also text and email. I haven't had one for decades that used paper or the snail mail system.
Perhaps you shouldn't write about things you clearly don't know about. You sound like a National party minister attempting to sound competent. You come across as a ignorant pretentious twat.
I forgot the real job interview that I had to move because WINZ wanted me at an appointment on short notice. Turns out that you can't contact them to move it. I had to contact the company I was going to do a google meet with.
In the month that I dealt with WINZ on jobseeker, they were bloody irritation. I was doing 2-3 job interviews a week and pushing out about 8-10 application a week. Yet WINZ appeared to think that they had first call on my time for $178 per fortnight.
The irritating thing about it is that WINZ is as clearly understaffed and over micro-managed at the Ministry of Labour was back in 1992 when my then partner worked for them.
Actually I have had dealings with Winz a couple of times this year in helping someone get an accommodation allowance. They asked for information that we duly provided, and I thought they were pretty good in phoning when they said they would. I guess if we had ignored their phone calls and not provided the information (or ignored texts like the bloke in the above example even when his benefit had reduced to 80%!), the accommodation allowance would not have been received. We wouldn't have run to the media complaining though as then you look like a fool.
Regarding your situation:
"I have a large dollop of cash in the bank on a lower interest rate than I'd like. That is solely so that it can be accessed immediately. I also have a rather large untouched overdraft facility available that is backed by term deposits."
You may want to speak to someone regarding budgeting advice and the best way to structure your funds for your situation.
Idiot. Lets assume that you are aware of the current inflation rate is.
It is structured exactly for my short-term requirements. Those are to make sure that there is money readily available around when it is required. Not only for MSD (or employers) not paying on time. But also for emergencies or things that need immediate resources. I had a heart attack 13 years ago and have a stent. My father is 85. Acts of god like having my car being drowned last year in the floods.
Having a small % of my investment money sitting on 4.55% interest with immediate access rather than the 6.x% on term loans is just prudent. It can take a few days to untangle term loans and longer to pull money from investment accounts.
Having a rolling credit facility that I don't need to use allows me or my partner to draw down copious money immediately if something serious happens. There is a price associated with it, but only if I exercise it.
Having money that is on call means that we can cover the rolling credit within a short period.
I guess that you just like sounding like you know what you're doing. But as I said – you invariably sound like a ignorant pretentious twat.
Well that is very good to hear that you are not "a ignorant pretentious twat" as you put it, or an idiot, and you are good with financial planning and have obviously planned well for your future and retirement.
However having said that, why would you even need to contact WINZ for job seeker benefit earlier this year if your financial planning is so successful? Surely you had planned for a rainy day or unexpected expense (or redundancy), and hopefully now that you are 65 and receiving super, that is not your only income.
Umm worth replying to that, if only to point out what to watch for when heading to super.
It was very unexpected to wind up being made redundant at the end of Jan. Bit annoying as well as we'd just finished paying almost every single debt off, including the tail of the mortgage in 2023. Just had a small overdraft and a credit line for emergencies. Also had a large inaccessible kiwisaver. If I needed it I could tap into
Basically getting ready for super + kiwisaver and a probable change of pace in early June. Didn't want to mortgage the apartment again.
With what was on-hand, 2 months notice paid out, and 6 weeks of holiday pay I had roughly 4 months of cash available. Had already booked a holiday in Feb. Pre-paid the 6 months of body corporate and rates, my partners outstanding tax, and the remaining debt, and then started cutting costs
Which left about 3 months cash available which could be stretched. Some went on hotel bills and the holiday in Feb. Couldn't can that as it was organised with some US guests.
I figured that I could either get a job within 5 months or I'd get early kiwisaver which was where all of the investment money was or I would last until super + kiwisaver got accessed at the start of June.
I'm pretty picky about work usually. Especially now that I don't have a mortgage and an upcoming source of income from super and kiwisaver. I don't require much income, and super covers most of my running expenses.
WFH was something that employers were wanting to not have past the pandemic. But I'm uninterested in long daily commuting unless employers were willing pay for it. I'm uninterested in doing managerial or team lead work. So I am only willing to do straight programming in engineering applications preferably for export.
Turns out jobs I was interested in were mostly not available within my limits. I wasn't interested in working in Albany/Rosedale or East Tamaki because most of the interesting engineering work is there. But neither have effective public transport from where I live.
Got turned down for the local jobs that I was interested in, and that .
I usually get about 1 in 20 of the jobs I apply for simply because I have been old as a programmer for decades, and I make sure that HR and employers have many good reasons to reject me. It saves me from having to put up with jobs with lousy employers whilst getting a project finished. I wind up on projects that either have good employers or that they actually want completion on projects (typically after someone else has hit their limits).
Could have easily gotten a off-target job to pay bills and probably would have if I'd actually needed to. But doing a pointless short-term job that cost me time and money to get to wasn't worth doing. I didn't need to once I got super and the large pile of kiwisaver.
Plus I have a lot of re-education to do. It'd been nearly 15 years since I'd last had time to sit down and do some serious playing with code outside of work. That is a lot of time to coast on previous skill updating or what you pick up on in the projects you're working on.
Pretty well did stretch it out. But had a few extra bills on the way as usually happens. Mostly physio for fixing and bike finger and knee injuries that I'd had in November. ACC paid most of it. But the weekly bills for the rest mounted up. Had a nasty large bill from cloudflare for some attacks on this site in March. Went from $25 per month to a month with over $600. Which is why this site now uses bunny.net for the CDN.
Realised at the end of April that I could run short of money between my birthday on June 4th and the first full super payment on June 19th. It pays to look at when that fortnightly payment falls when looking forward to super. Also that it was really hard to extract kiwisaver early (don't count on that ever!), and it'd probably take a couple of weeks to get kiwisaver after my birthday.
So I had roughly two-three weeks to cover. So at the start of May, I prepaid some bills and did a few other things to get enough resources to cover eating and freezing.
Then applied for jobseeker as I was entitled to do, as much to see what would happen as anything else. While also organising a covering loan of a few thousand from family if I needed it.
Jobseeker and WINZ was just as bad as I expected. But it did garner about a thousand. Used about a thousand from family loan. Then first super payment and kiwisaver dropped into my account so I paid the latter.
So notice.. no additional debt after 5 months off work apart from about $1k. I didn't need any other money apart from the money paid out by my previous employer and didn't have to tap into any assets or resources apart from trying jobseeker. Had a holiday. Paid for additional medical treatment. Paid for an large unexpected bill.
The big advantage about doing the stretch is that we're now set up with expenditures slightly above revenue from super + my partners business after a lot of cost-trimming – which we would have wanted to do anyway.
The annual difference is roughly about $5000 per year – the body corporate + some rates. A large stash of ex-kiwisaver accessible and earning income so the excess is easily paid by revenues from investments if nothing else.
We have everything we need after I brought a 2 bike rack and towbar for the car after I got kiwisaver, and paid for a few computer updates for both out systems. Just need to keep an eye out from a (??!!) updated second hand macbook for my apple obsessed partner.
I now have complete freedom to idle if I feel like it, take a job if one shows up meeting my criteria, just start writing and selling things on net, just play with writing code that interests me fro open source, get involved in politics with time to do it, or (do something stupid) like try to boost my partners business. I can help out of other peoples projects if I choose to.
Since I hate having holidays or idling, working on what interests me is the most likely.
It is really kind of nice to have the choices. Which is what was intended fro this stage in my life.
Apart from the unexpected redundancy, everything was pre-planned. Even that was a contingency. I just like doing things with the minimal use of resources. Like this site does.
I'm one of those people who always has a lot of contingency planning going on in my head and always has pathways to what I want to do via multiple routes or multiple potential objectives that can be reached from my current path.
Well done for having the cash available for the 3/4 months cover (contingency fund for the unexpected). It always good to plan for if you can.
As I've said on here before, Kiwi Saver is one of the best things IMO, any government has done.
Agreed. It was essentially what Rowling and Douglas were after in 1973
Muldoon destroyed it for both political and fiscal reasons. It helped him win the 1975 election and in effect it allowed him to raid the funds of the existing pensions schemes when he introduced National Superannuation.
I don't know how you do it, LP.
As the mainstay, curator, funder, and lead on this valuable site for so many years, spending that much time on an arrogant, blow-in troll without binning them.
I'm semi-retired these days. I have more of my own time because I'm not getting my contractor level hourly rates on a salary and the obligations of progress that go with it.
Besides I'm stuck on a problem in a new language working on a new editor right now and having to think up a whole new way to approach fixing the problem. Doing something mindless like replying to Jimmy about something I already thought about and solved helps.
It frees up the intuitive part of my brain to nibble at the edges of the problem looking for a innovative solution while my fingers are occupied with typing.
I usually only bin trolls if they can’t write coherently or get repetitive and I don’t have time to educate them. Jimmy does pretty well on the first two counts
Copy that. I'm still working and distracted. I would like to make more detailed and reasoned comments and even write some pieces but am unable because of work and family duties.
I've mentioned to moderators here this disadvantage ordinary, socially conscious, working people have when commenting on forums. Lefties should be better understood here but are sometimes moderatered against because of the brevity of their comments.
Did the appointment notification go to his spam folder? Happens all the time.
My spam folder received a few of them there. I had to firmly tell gmail and thunderbird that WINZ, MSD, and the IRD were not spam.
Gee wouldn't it be great if New Zealand had an energy strategy, and the sovereignty to make it happen?
From the : Of course they would say that file…..
As Its obvious, stupid…
It all sounds so reasonable. Hmm, right.
Have to say I am also not falling for Nicola icecream and movies Willis, and her blather about Kiwibank and Mum and Dad Investors
FFS, I do NOT believe you Nicola Willis ! And didnt we have that BS with the Electricity
giveawayselldown? And what happened to those Mum and Dad shares?What she means is listing a minority share of Kiwibank on the sharemarket.
Does anyone remember what happened to our power companies?
What she means..and what she means are very possibly..different things. And shown many times. And didnt I say Electricity Mum and Dad shares ?
From the past.
And from The Standard….History aye ?
Yes that was my point
Ah yes, allgood : )
Once Kiwibank is infected by the pernicious* doctrine of maximising private** shareholder value, it will behave odiously, just like the other banks that we loathe so much. Presumably Willis (or her ventriloquist) knows this.
*pernicious when applied to natural monopolies or to the essentials of daily life. Possibly pernicious under all circumstances, though this latter is contentious.
** note however that even with the government as the 100% shareholder, Kiwibank can be forced into similarly bad behaviour under the governance of odious regimes like the CoC
What happened to our power companies.
.
Craig Renney
@CLRenney
MBIE electricity generation shows this best. In 2023 NZ generated 43,000 GWH of electricity – the same as in 2010. Our population increased by 888,000 during this time and Nominal GDP doubled. Yet no new electricity. The market has failed year after year.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVYF7wZaMAQLQVx?format=png&name=large
https://x.com/CLRenney/status/1825659043064717473
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/what-new-zealand-can-tell-america-about-their-election-richard-prebble/HNNABLIFGRGHHIDDVJGTN66KZU/
Even Republicans are standing up against Trump and his lunacy yet NZ's so-called respectable right are quite openly wanting a Trump presidency. Shows just how close we are to normalising Trumpesque ideas, the Treaty principles debacle and the associated attacks on all things Maori being the most obvious example.
Some thoughts for Nicola Willis to ignore
And that's the attitude that fuels inflation.
I doubt your economist can give a single real-life example of a country who printed excess money without triggering inflation.
For NZ this was debunked in 1986 when the RBNZ stopped targeting the quantity of money. It was thoroughly discredited in the UK at the time when the Thatcher administration found their whole scale destruction of their economy attempting to quantity target the pound was wildly unpopular. The Fed in the US denied ever practicing quantity targeting.
So your example of a nation that routinely prints excess money without triggering inflation is?
The short answer is all of them. This is because your model for how money works doesnt apply to any real world economy.
First up money as measured comes in several forms. These include reserve money (what the government and banks transact) and bank deposits (what the public transacts). Which of these are you proposing to be in excess?
We can assume that is the reserve money your discussing here maybe, at least thats the quantity governments influence directly. Problem with that however is there is no fixed relationship between reserve money quantities and broad money quantities. In fact the RBNZ is ready to lend (create) as much reserve money as demanded for commercial banks to clear payments (those loans being made at the OCR of the day). This was the RBNZ 1986 change to give up targeting quantities (because targeting those quantities didn't constrain the quantity of money the public transacts in anyway).
So its going to be difficult to find the example you seek as A) the quantity which is excessive is not determined anywhere.
B) this quantity your asking about doesn't even constrain the broad money supply anyway (let alone inflation).
USA
USA quantitative easing in 2020 (and early 21)- followed by inflation rates of 7% in 2021 and 6.5% in 2022.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/q/quantitative-easing.asp
https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/
QE *can* be a tool for reinvigorating an economy, but it's one with inherent risks.
Countries which routinely print money to get themselves out of a fiscal hole – end up like Venezuela.
USA (and many other countries + the Eurozone) began QE closer to 2010. What you have identified there is a coincidence, not a cause.
and if the USA lifted sanctions of Venezuela a large part of its inflation issues would abate. Most times really serious inflation spells occur they were proceeded by USA enforced economic sanctions.
Nothing to do with the USA deliberately "squeezing Venezuala's economy until it bleeds" of course!
All of them. "Routinely prints excess money". That is how a National currency comes into being.
Well knock me over with a feather! Entitlement much..
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/525769/new-ministry-paying-staff-average-salary-of-150k-despite-public-sector-job-cuts
Just wondering – how many of the 90 high paying jobs are members of the Act party?
It would be interesting to find out!
Jailed for 9 years and 9 months. This almost needs a disclaimer before reading it's so bad.
(actually Stuff did put one)
Child abuser who left toddler victim with ‘injuries worse than some fatalities we see’ jailed | Waikato Times (stuff.co.nz)