Open mike 21/12/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 21st, 2011 - 70 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step right up to the mike…

70 comments on “Open mike 21/12/2011 ”

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  1. travellerev 1
    21 December 2011 at 6:42 am

    I thought of Gosman this morning as I was watching the latest Keiser report. Here you go cowboy hat boy. Some education: http://rt.com/programs/keiser-report/episode-225-max-keiser/

    • Colonial Viper 1.1
      21 December 2011 at 7:59 am

      I always enjoy it on youtube 🙂

    • AAMC 1.2
      21 December 2011 at 9:57 am

      This made me think of Gosman too

      “But capitalism without the prospect of failure is not any kind of market economy. We are running a large-scale, nontransparent, and dangerous government subsidy scheme for the benefit primarily of a very few, extremely wealthy people….

      We should learn from both the WaMu and the Occupy movement. In both cases, the lesson is the same: concentrated financial power is a gift that keeps on giving – but not to you.”

      Simon Johnson, a former chief economist of the IMF – thinks we should learn from #occupy, hmmm stalled huh.

      http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/johnson27/English

      • Gosman 1.2.1
        21 December 2011 at 11:34 am

        Where have I ever argued that the responses to the financial crisis is the correct one. In fact I believe I have stated numerous times that Governments should NOT bail out corporations and/or banks. They should be left to fail. Of course that would mean more short term pain for people especially those on the bottom of the heap but it would be for the benefit of the economy as a whole in the long term. Capitalism requires business failures. It is politics that stops this from taking it’s natural course.

        • fmacskasy 1.2.1.1
          21 December 2011 at 1:53 pm

          “Of course that would mean more short term pain for people especially those on the bottom of the heap but it would be for the benefit of the economy as a whole in the long term. “

          Your lack of concern and empathy for other people is beyond my comprehension…

          Can you explain to us why it should be the people “on the bottom of the heap” who should suffer the consequences of extreme capitalism?

          That’s like saying that it was ok for Stalin to murder 30 million of his fellow contrymen/women, “for the benefit of the [socialist] economy as a whole in the long term.”

          In other words, the end justifies the means?

          • Gosman 1.2.1.1.1
            21 December 2011 at 11:13 pm

            Ah Frank, I’m not sure I should bother answering your questions because if you were interested in getting to read different opinions from your own narrow view you would allow them on your own blog.

            I will humour you a little by asking you a couple of questions though. What was the purpose of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and who did these organisations ultimately benefit?

            • fmacskasy 1.2.1.1.1.1
              21 December 2011 at 11:49 pm

              Interesting how you deflect other peoples’ questions – and then have the cheek to demand answers to yours.

              “Ah Frank, I’m not sure I should bother answering your questions because if you were interested in getting to read different opinions from your own narrow view you would allow them on your own blog.”

              You mean, apart from the 193 posts you’ve made on my Blog, Gosman?

              Or the article I reposted from Brian Edward’s blog (by permission), written by Kimbo – a staunch critic of Labour? http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/lessons-from-the-past-a-critique-of-labour/

              Yeah… not many, if any, eh?

              Now, getting back to what I wrote above, and which you might care to address,

              . “

              “Of course that would mean more short term pain for people especially those on the bottom of the heap but it would be for the benefit of the economy as a whole in the long term

              Your lack of concern and empathy for other people is beyond my comprehension


              Can you explain to us why it should be the people “on the bottom of the heap” who should suffer the consequences of extreme capitalism?

              That’s like saying that it was ok for Stalin to murder 30 million of his fellow contrymen/women, “for the benefit of the [socialist] economy as a whole in the long term.”

              In other words, the end justifies the means?

        • Bored 1.2.1.2
          21 December 2011 at 3:37 pm

          Top marks Gos, I agree, let the bastards go to the wall. Lets face it if it were the rest of us we would be dropped from a great height.

          Now, starter for 10…putting one and one together “It is politics that stops this” so the politicians are in the pay of the:
          a. Banksters
          b. Banksters mates
          c. They are the banksters.

          • Gosman 1.2.1.2.1
            21 December 2011 at 11:20 pm

            No the problem is that the Bankers have convinced the politicians that if they go to the wall the economy will be irretrievably harmed. While not true it is true that there is a risk of a serious economic downturn such as the great depression if the banking system freezes up, This tends to harm both rich and poor but as the poor have less cushion protecting them they obviously suffer more. This is the reason that bankers can hold a political gun against the heads of Government to protect them from going bust. Now I agree if they use that argument then they don’t have a stong argument for less Government interference in their business. That is why I think they should be left to fail.

            • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.2.1.1
              22 December 2011 at 12:03 am

              Too big too fail = too big to exist.

              Break the big banks up, nationalise the core infrastructure parts, segregate the casino investment banking divisions, return the power of printing money to the Crown; these steps will ensure that the financial terrorists cannot hold our country to ransom.

        • mik e 1.2.1.3
          21 December 2011 at 6:38 pm

          Gooseman your blind faith to your ideology shows how little you know about economics the great depression that went on for twenty years in the USA was caused by letting banks fail the best solution research has shown is to nationalize banks and let them return to profit using printed money to free up capital flow.
          Nowhere in the world has your theory worked.
          Air New Zealand is a perfect example of how it is done.
          New Zealand nationalized banks in the 1930s under labour brought them back to profitability and our economy only suffered a 5 year depression.
          Lucky we didn’t have your lot in power then.

          • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.3.1
            22 December 2011 at 12:07 am

            You’ve made the mistake of thinking that the current banking crisis is a crisis of liquidity (hence your solution of freeing up cash flows in the banking sector).

            Its not. Its a crisis of solvency. Almost every major investment bank out there, from JP Morgan to BNP Paribas to Deutschebank would be bankrupt tonight if they were to forced to mark their assets to market prices, and to bring their hidden off balance sheet liabilities on to the balance sheet.

            In a situation like this, printing money cannot help.

    • Gosman 1.3
      21 December 2011 at 11:31 am

      You do realise that RT is the equivalent of Fox news for leftist conspiacy theorists don’t you? Oh wait… that is why you watch it.

  2. Jenny 2
    21 December 2011 at 7:12 am

    ‘
    “Surreal”

    The word that John Banks used yesterday to describe his return to the House of Representatives.

    Indeed.

    The leader of a party who a few months ago he wasn’t even a member of.

    Appointed to his position by another person who also at the time of his selection was also not a member.

    What other one word descriptions could describe this farcical anointment?

    (Representative wouldn’t be one of them).

  3. tc 3
    21 December 2011 at 7:21 am

    Some more balanced reporting on RNZ this morning over the akl wharf strike, interviewing Barnett of akl chamber of commerce ……..no other side, just Barnett who’s quite frankly a whining born to rule tosser offering no insight into the actual issues the strike is about.

    Why not get the unions and members view they are after all the ones losing the most here.

    • mickysavage 3.1
      21 December 2011 at 7:58 am

      Yep one of the Standard authors should do a post to dispel Cactus Kate’s spin on the issue.

      • KJT 3.1.1
        21 December 2011 at 10:43 am

        Yep. I don’t think many right wingers would be happy if their job required them to be on call for 365 days of the year at 8 hours notice, the employer telling you at random, if you could have a weekend with your family, or not . With only 40 hours of each week paid for!

        Basically POAL want the whole workforce to be always on call without paying for them to be standing by ready to work. Like Mcd’s with their expecting you to be available at 12 hours or less notice, but they only guarantee 12 hours per week to their “full time” staff.

        • Fotran 3.1.1.1
          21 December 2011 at 2:23 pm

          Show me where to sign. I’ll take it at that pay, or even less to have such a job.

        • Bored 3.1.1.2
          21 December 2011 at 3:46 pm

          Never ceases to amaze me that here in the private sector we club together for discounts as buying groups, we use restrictive practices (legal and “dubious”) to ensure that we have advantageous terms of trade, and we negotiate from a position of strength. Sounds like what Unions do, they are merely following good commercial practices to get the best price and to restrict competition.

          Its also what those other great Unions do, the Chartered Accountant, the Law Society, Colleges of Surgeons etc etc

    • Gosman 3.2
      21 December 2011 at 11:37 am

      They had the Union on yesterday along with the Employer.

  4. dv 4
    21 December 2011 at 7:25 am

    Govt’s consultants’ bill $375m and rising

    Consultants were paid as much as $275 an hour or $2500 a day, according to figures released by 31 government departments and agencies under the Official Information Act.

    Some departments are increasing spending on consultants while getting rid of workers who, across all the departments involved, make an average of $33 an hour based on a 40-hour week.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10774433

  5. vto 5
    21 December 2011 at 7:54 am

    So every person to a tee in Christchurch is appalled at the back-dated 14% pay rise given to the Council’s CEO (making 45% rise in 4 years) and all bloody Brownlee can do is say “button up Councillors and get in behind your mayor or some of you will get the sack”.

    What planet is this ape on?

    It is identical to his uniteral increase of the pay rates to the CERA overlords like Jenny Shipley some months ago.

    Brownlee also claims that “people don’t know everything that’s going on” and should just shut up.

    These events show that Brownlee has lost touch. Or perhaps that the power of his office is going to his head. Just remember that Brownlee – it is the office and not you which has the power.

  6. logie97 6
    21 December 2011 at 8:38 am

    Just what are the police (or journalists) implying?

    First, cell phones, now the bible – careful people what you have on the front seat
    of your car.

    “Devoted Christian had Bible with him in fatal crash…”
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10774493

  7. AAMC 7
    21 December 2011 at 10:10 am

    More on those lazy stalled occupiers, Occupy LSX takes it’s 4th space, an old court, where they’ll put the 1% on trial, here are pictures..

    http://www.demotix.com/news/975833/occupy-london-squat-old-street-magistrates-court

  8. KJT 8
    21 December 2011 at 10:15 am

    Even the apologist for National, Herald, now, admits they stuffed around with the Rena salvage for at least 4 days.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10772196

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      21 December 2011 at 10:25 am

      Yep just as you said at the time. I guess just before Christmas is the right time to release this kind of news.

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        21 December 2011 at 11:19 am

        Just before christmas and just after the election.

        • Ianupnorth 8.1.1.1
          21 December 2011 at 1:17 pm

          Funny that, we have just had a major change in how we are expected to operate, all done without proper consultation, all released in the holiday season – over half of those affected won’t have a clue till mid-January.

    • Jackal 8.2
      21 December 2011 at 10:37 am

      Yesterday, Maritime NZ reported another oil spill from Rena.

      Rena update (update 136)

      This morning’s flight noted patches of oil, and a 3 km long metallic sheen about 20 metres wide heading northwest. Patches of rainbow sheen were visible for up to 7-8km off the western side of MƍtÄ«tÄ« Island about half a kilometre from the coast. A SCAT team is checking MaketĆ« spit and Pāpāmoa beach today.

      Just a couple of days after the ban on collecting Shellfish was lifted. There will be no MSM reporting on this because the all important tourist dollar has to be protected.

    • logie97 8.3
      21 December 2011 at 11:50 am

      … too concerned about their tickets for the the Rugby World Cup I suspect. Weather was fine, see was calm, “not a problem, we’ll discuss it next week during the celebrations.”

  9. Jackal 9
    21 December 2011 at 10:55 am

    Speaking of MSM not reporting on things… even after it was known 500 people had died in the Philippines flooding, none of the main television news services reported on this event. It wasn’t until yesterday when 652 people were confirmed to have died that Prime News finally reported on the flooding. In my opinion that’s three days after they should have. What are they afraid of I wonder… that people might start waking up to the effects of climate change?

  10. Draco T Bastard 10
    21 December 2011 at 11:17 am

    More incompetence from this government and Auckland ratepayers get to pick up the bill.

    Auckland has picked up the Government’s slack and given it a multimillion-dollar bailout because of a massive transport funding shortfall.

    It obviously wasn’t enough that they massively increased the costs of Auckland Council through the super-city implementation incompetence.

    • Marjorie Dawe 10.1
      21 December 2011 at 11:51 am

      This is an interesting way to balance the books. Lets just make someone else pay for it because we are incapable of handling the budget.

  12. dv 12
    21 December 2011 at 11:50 am

    Late breaking shock
    Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae has just delivered the Speech
    which was the 2008 speech

    The National-lead Government is promising to spend its second term building a more competitive economy, reducing debt, creating jobs and lifting incomes

    I dont know how that happened says Key.

    Tolley has been asked to check why.

    Inside comment is that there are so few Public Servant, nobody checked.

  13. William Joyce 13
    21 December 2011 at 12:10 pm

    No mention in the Speech from the Throne about policy for seniors.
     
    I guess they’re ignoring them because they are all “dying out” 😉

    • logie97 13.1
      21 December 2011 at 1:04 pm

      We are a nation of sheep.
      After the Governor General’s delivery, he departed with ceremony and the elected members slowly filed back into the chamber. As they made their way back, they were greeted by a kapa haka group. Most continued on their way to take up their seats and then the cameras went back outside to the procession. One member must have decided to move over to meet and hongi with the group. And so the procession began – every subsequent elected member went over to meet-and-greet. (Nice touch?)

      • Bored 13.1.1
        21 December 2011 at 3:29 pm

        No, could’nt be…Shonkers was off in a hurry to delivery Christmas presents (little blond barbie dolls dressed in blue rosettes) to disadvantaged children in some Close in South Auckland. There was a bevvy of photographers in to, and a TV film crew.

  14. randal 14
    21 December 2011 at 1:44 pm

    hah this is fun.
    hooton and his crew of sausage roll molesters instituted the permanent campaign.
    so now I’m glad there is something to do all summer.
    better than the cricket.
    tee he.

  15. Pete 15
    21 December 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Bryce Edwards gives an area-by-area analysis of how Labour lost the party vote in Dunedin South.

  16. drongo 16
    21 December 2011 at 3:00 pm

    Graeme Edgeler says the possibility of Bennett losing her seat and getting kicked out of Parliament is pretty slim, but surely given the stakes Labour needs to take the punt:

    http://publicaddress.net/legalbeagle/paulas-peril-or-the-uncertain-scenario/

    • Roy 16.1
      21 December 2011 at 3:52 pm

      It’s a fair bit of money though. I’d love to see Bennett turfed out as much as anyone, but it is a lot to punt.

      • drongo 16.1.1
        21 December 2011 at 4:09 pm

        Yes, but it’s a matter of priorities: what’s more important? Stopping asset sales, or $30k? I think raising that amount wouldn’t be difficult in the circumstances. A decision just needs to be made now to go for it, then everyone gets cracking. Even if the odds, according some commentators, are low, we have to do it: the basis is to stop asset sales. This is what makes the situation different, exceptional.

        • Lanthanide 16.1.1.1
          21 December 2011 at 4:48 pm

          And makes Labour look like sore losers trying any trick in the book to overthrow the will of the people.

          Good move.

          • drongo 16.1.1.1.1
            21 December 2011 at 5:04 pm

            You call an electoral petition a “trick in the book”? It’s a legitimate means available under the law. So someone legitimately exercising rights of appeal under the law somehow means they’re “sore losers” or up to “tricks”? Legal avenues like an electoral petition are there for a reason. The logical extension of what you’re saying is that the electoral petition provision, while we have there, it should never be used because parties shouldn’t look like “sore losers” or get up to “tricks”. Get real.

  17. drongo 17
    21 December 2011 at 4:12 pm

    This is interesting. Slater’s hoping Winston Peters dies. Why is he so nasty? He’s getting to be as nasty as Odgers.

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2011/12/face-of-the-day-41/

    • McFlock 17.1
      21 December 2011 at 4:59 pm

      why would you read either of their blogs?

      • drongo 17.1.1
        21 December 2011 at 5:15 pm

        Ask an anarchist why they read white supremacist literature. Ask Odgers why she reads The Standard. (I have to say though that lately it’s been just brief glances and it’s getting harder and harder even doing that.)

        • McFlock 17.1.1.1
          21 December 2011 at 5:21 pm

          Well, kudos to you for resisting the urge to soak your eyeballs in acid after reading such things.

    • mik e 17.2
      21 December 2011 at 6:42 pm

      drongo Could be dierbeaties

    • Steve 17.3
      21 December 2011 at 8:20 pm

      Sad.
      I could put up a picture of a drongo with anything I like in the background, but not here of course.
      That would get me banned, yet others can do lies with pictures drongo

      [lprent: Noone apart from authors can add pictures (or video now I fixed the bug) into the site. So you are suggesting something that you cannot do will get you banned? I realize you might be a bit challenged… But that?

      Links to other sites don’t worry the mods – but we don’t like pure link-whoring. Our view is that you can pay for advertisements. So you have to write some origional content to accompany the link. Writing an articulate sentence explaining why people would want to clip the link!. Ummm ok now I can understand your problem… ]

  18. AAMC 18
    21 December 2011 at 4:47 pm

    Yep, definitely stalled. #D17

  19. Vicky32 19
    21 December 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Just before christmas and just after the election.

    What happened to my reply? I can’t be arsed typing it all again..

  20. millsy 20
    21 December 2011 at 8:07 pm

    Anyone notice that Pete George didnt post on this thread?

    [lprent: You cannot draw conclusions from such occurrances and even pointing it out will sometimes earn moderator warnings. Quite simply most people do not spend their lives online. Expecting people to be present all of the time is unreasonable (even moderators). It is often a start of the pwned (and variants) idiocy which leads to flamewars that are irritating to most readers – especially to moderators. ]

  21. prism 21
    21 December 2011 at 9:31 pm

    On the thread Farewell NZ Institute we got a bit sidetracked by the reference to USA President Barack Obama. While trawling for some of my family information I came upon his family background. And for those interested in all the furore of whether he is a USA citizen etc here it is as detailed by William Addams Reitwiesner. link http://www.wargs.com/political/obama.html

    Ancestry of Barack Obama
    1 Barack Hussein Obama II, U.S. Senator from Illinois, U.S. President from 2009, b. Kapiolani Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, 4 Aug. 1961,
    m. at Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, 3 Oct. 1992
    Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, b. Chicago 17 Jan. 1964, dau. of Frasier Robinson and of Marian Shields. Further details of her ancestry can be found here.

    PARENTS
    2 Barack Hussein Obama, Ph. D., b. Alego, Kenya [on the shores of Lake Victoria], … 1936, senior economist in the Kenyan Ministry of Finance, d. Nairobi, Kenya, … 1982, bur. Alego m. Maui, Hawaii, 2 Feb. 1961, div. filed Honolulu, Hawaii Jan. 1964
    3 S[tanley] Ann Dunham, b. Wichita, Kansas, 29 Nov. 1942, d. Straub Clinic, Honolulu, Hawaii, 7 Nov. 1995 [SSDI 535-40-8522]

  22. Penny Bright 22
    22 December 2011 at 2:11 am

    OPEN LETTER: [deleted]

    [lprent: all very interesting. However it was a full cut and paste. And it wasn’t even up on Penny’s own site. Perhaps she should put it there and link to it from here with a teaser – like everyone else does. ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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