Open Mike 22/03/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 22nd, 2018 - 134 comments
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

134 comments on “Open Mike 22/03/2018 ”

  1. Jenny 2

    And so it begins.

    The business community are getting stuck into Jacinda Ardern.

    Claiming they are suffering from “uncertainty”.

    In their view expressing wanting to do something positive about climate change is creating uncertainty which is bad for the economy. The implication being that the Labour led Government is bad for the economy.

    Dredging up all their old stupid talking points, and attack lines.

    Their viciousness shouldn’t be surprising, it is one of the reasons that we as a society cannot make the necessary changes to save ourselves and protect future generations.

    Jacinda Ardern’s decision to take a walk down the steps of Parliament on Monday was well intentioned, but is symbolic of the Government’s confusion around managing an economy.

    In what may be a first, the prime minister personally went to greet representatives of Greenpeace and receive a petition calling for the end of oil exploration.

    Few seriously doubt that oil and gas is a sunset industry. But there still is genuine debate about whether New Zealand has the gas reserves in operational fields to manage the transition away from fossil fuels.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/102475250/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-promised-intervention-but-is-delivering-uncertainty

    Personally speaking, I am one of the “few” that think that the oil and gas industry is a “sunset industry”.

    And am doing my damnedest to make sure it becomes so.

    We need to confront these tired old attack lines.

    The smoking industry did it. To continue with their deadly but profitable busisness Instead of confronting the science head on, they deliberately set out to create uncertainty.

    They want certainty, let’s give them certainty.

    Let’s make it our job as activists to remove all uncertainty. And without compromise,make these greedy, self centred wreckers know, in no uncertain terms, that the age of fossil fuels will, and must end, and as soon as possible. No more delaying tactics, no more fudging and avoiding the issue. The time has come to take a stand.

    • Jenny, while I agree completely with your sentiments, I despair for the future of the human race!

      JohnSelway’s posting above yours is suggesting that the EPA shouldn’t rely on verifiable science for decisions on protecting the environment, which effectively means doing nothing.

      Ask the people of New Zealand to give up their cars for the sake of the world and you’ll get a look of blank amazement, followed probably by abuse.

      We shall remain re-active when we should be being pro-active! We won’t seriously begin to do anything about mitigating climate change until it’s far too late to do anything effective.

      But hey, we have to try. If it takes getting in the face of oil exploration companies to make people realise how damned serious the problem is, count me in!

      • mikes 2.1.1

        “Ask the people of New Zealand to give up their cars for the sake of the world and you’ll get a look of blank amazement, followed probably by abuse.”

        Of course you will unless you provide clear evidence that giving up their cars will save the world. First of course you would have to provide clear evidence that the world is somehow in imminent danger from something.

        • Pat 2.1.1.1

          so youre saying there is no need to reduce green house gas emissions?

          • mikes 2.1.1.1.1

            “so youre saying there is no need to reduce green house gas emissions?”

            No.

            This is what I said…

            “Of course you will unless you provide clear evidence that giving up their cars will save the world. First of course you would have to provide clear evidence that the world is somehow in imminent danger from something.”

            • Pat 2.1.1.1.1.1

              “First of course you would have to provide clear evidence that the world is somehow in imminent danger from something.”

              Repeating it dosn’t clarify it….that reads that you dont think there is evidence the world is in imminent danger but perhaps thats not what you mean to say…it would be surprising if it was.

              • mikes

                In your first reply you stated “so you’re saying there is no need to reduce green house gas emissions?”

                That’s not what I said at all, I didn’t even mention greenhouse gas emissions. So I repeated what I stated so that you could read it again.

        • Tony Veitch (not etc) 2.1.1.2

          OMG a climate change denier! I didn’t think the species still existed!

          • soddenleaf 2.1.1.2.1

            When we do see indisputable evidence for climate change….

            …northern rich countries will look to feed then house their populations at lower latitudes. As that’s were former deserts are getting increased rain, and former first world cities are under snow… …glaciers…

            So you’d expect say Russia invading any port to its south, Crimea say, and be heavily invested in airports and regimes to the south, aka Turkey, Syria.

            Oh, done, and done. Russia believes in climate change.

            Eu, France heavily engaged in western Africa…

            Only the US thinks climate change is joke, but hey aside from Mexico, where have they got to go…. …Australia.

            • soddenleaf 2.1.1.2.1.1

              Oh, and getting a idiot elected in the US.. Russia keeps its goals off the world agenda.

          • mikes 2.1.1.2.2

            Not sure how you get from my comment to yours but I’m certainly not a climate change denier at all, sorry to disappoint.

            There’s plenty of evidence for climate change everywhere. The climate has always changed and always will. The climate has never been stable for any real amount of time.

            I was simply stating that if you are going to ask everyone to give up their cars to save the world then unless you provide clear evidence that giving up their cars will save the world then of course they aren’t going to do it. Obviously if everyone in NZ gave up their cars tomorrow, it wouldn’t affect the world’s climate at all and it certainly wouldn’t stop the climate from changing. (Unless you’ve got evidence that it would, in which case I’ll be happy to change my viewpoint)

            If you’re wanting to make peoples lives more difficult and cost them money then you need to be pretty specific else why would they do what you want them too?

    • Tuppence Shrewsbury 2.2

      good. Do it. Give us some certainty. At least then we know whats going and can plan and implement for it.

      The problem isn’t expressing something positive about the reaction to climate change, it’s that Jacinda has done that and then gone and given a speech about Business as usual. Which Jacinda is the right Jacinda?

      • McFlock 2.2.1

        what are you uncertain about? That you should be getting out of the fossil fuel market?

      • AB 2.2.2

        Nah – in business speak, ‘certainty’ doesn’t just mean the absence of uncertainty. It means a guarantee that policy options they are particularly opposed to are ruled out. It is a deeply coded word and contains an implicit threat – “rule out the options we don’t like, or else!”

    • Pat 2.3

      There should be no uncertainty…..it has been clearly signalled…carbon neutral by 2050….all journeys begin with a first step and this is it.

      If we dont take it then obviously the journey has been cancelled.

    • Tuppence Shrewsbury 2.4

      It’s pretty funny how you think that someones behaviour, actions and stated intenions creating uncertainty is an “attack” line.

      It’s also funny how you think that you are one of the ” “few” that think that the oil and gas industry is a “sunset industry”. when the states that “Few seriously doubt that oil and gas is sunset industry”

      Did you just read the headline and go into full white knight outrage mode that someone had been mildly critical of the prime minister?

    • Ad 2.5

      All of this post-oil Zero Carbon Economy stuff should be falling on James Shaw.

      He is working assiduously behind the scenes, but he needs to come out of the shadows. Particularly about the oil and gas industry.

      It’s the first time in a while that we have seen a peak of what economic transition from oil might feel like for our regions.

      It looked yesterday like the PM was covering for a Green issue. Which is fine, it’s her job as head of the government.

      But its well time for the Greens to step into the mainstream media on the effects of their signature piece of legislation and its intended effects.

      • veutoviper 2.5.1

        Oh but Shaw did step up yesterday, Ad.

        Two (pre-prepared?*) questions to Ardern right at the end of Question 5, Bridges to Ardern on “Does she stand by her reported statement when personally receiving a petition from Greenpeace on Monday to end oil and gas exploration that the Government was “actively considering” the issue?”

        https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=198878

        Shaw comes in at about 4.18 min – less than a minute from the end of 5.12 mins.

        Here is the Hansard – https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20180321_051750000/5-question-no-5-prime-minister

        And an extract with Shaw’s two questions. * I have left in the preceding question from Bridges and Ardern’s answer as Shaw’s first question seems to partly ignore the first sentence of Ardern’s answer re Fonterra. This pretty much indicates that Shaw’s questions were pre-prepared and not reactive to the realtime flow of the discussion – and he reads both questions from a paper in the video.

        Hon Simon Bridges: Speaking of the environment, what would be the cost to the climate if Fonterra were no longer able to use natural gas for most of their processing plants and had to revert back to coal in order to continue production and safeguard international food security?

        Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Even Fonterra has acknowledged that they need to tackle this issue head on, even if the Opposition hasn’t. I’m sure I don’t need to educate that member that there are already gas reserves that can run as far as 2046 and that the decisions around exploration permits this year would run for 14 years plus an extra 20 on top of that. This is about decisions that will affect the next 30 years. This is a Government willing to have that debate even if that last one wasn’t.

        Hon James Shaw: Is the Prime Minister aware of Fonterra’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to phase out coal use entirely?

        Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. They share our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050—again, something that the Opposition clearly does not.

        Hon James Shaw: Is looking for new fossil fuels the same thing as shutting down existing operations, and what year are the existing operations currently scheduled to wind down?

        Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I acknowledged, we’ve not said that we would be altering current operations, and a number of those fields actually have a shelf life that goes out as far as, potentially, 2046.

        • Ad 2.5.1.1

          Questions in the House are lovely but don’t confuse them for the media.

          Shaw needs to break cover, even moreso than Jones.

          • veutoviper 2.5.1.1.1

            I agree Ad – and I don’t confuse Qs with the media. Just been rather in the news since Shaw’s announcement last Sunday.

            In fact one of the few subjects of the five Press Releases issued by the Greens in the last week, and 23 PRs in the last month since 23 Feb that have got any traction in the media. Figures from Greens website.

    • AB 2.6

      Interesting how business can demand ‘certainty’ but the rest of us are completely exposed to market discipline. No certainty that our jobs won’t be downsized or outsourced to India or China. No certainty that the tax base will support a public healthcare system that can treat us in a timely, clinically up-to-date manner if we get osteoarthritis or cancer (better cripple yourself financially with that private health insurance), if you are young no certainty of ever owning a house….
      An interesting vignette of privilege in action.

    • patricia bremner 2.7

      I agree. They are worried, that is why they say they are “uncertain”.
      Jacinda has sent a message. Like all big issues, this won’t be settled easily, or without a fight. The big money is talking scheming and targeting any apparent weakness.

  2. AsleepWhileWalking 3

    There is a FB “destructometer” and as of last night our time it stood at $50 billion USD and counting….

    https://qz.com/1233816/facebook-has-lost-50-billion-in-market-value-over-the-past-two-days/

    • savenz 4.1

      Time to get your submission in – even David Parker – says the current agreement ‘is not perfect’ and is a ‘7 out of 10’.

      New Zealand deserves their politicians to get 10 out of 10 so make a submission! (link below)

      US will almost certainly join, as was always predicted and that is why there is only suspension of some of the most toxic rules not deletion.

      The agreement is already toxic, and delivering nothing but worsening conditions to most Kiwis!

      Those with vineyards will benefit however so apparently all worth it!

      https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=f04082dc6b

    • adam 4.2

      As I said, by the end of March the USA will be back in.

  3. savenz 5

    In spite of losing in Supreme Court, NZ bureaucrats are up to it again, denying Greenpeace charitable status.

    We all thought things would get better under a Labour/Green/NZ First government…

    “Greenpeace Executive Director, Dr Russel Norman, says the Charities Board decision not to grant the environmental organisation charity status is unsurprising given that the Board has resolutely opposed Greenpeace’s application all along, in spite of previously losing the battle in the Supreme Court.”

    http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/press/Greenpeace-isnt-a-charity-its-a-necessity/

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1

      All the current board members are National Party appointments. Peeni Henare is the responsible minister.

      • savenz 5.1.1

        Good to know, but unfortunately our entire country is now plagued with half witted bureaucrats who spend their budgets on lawyers to defend their poor decisions and try to take others down.

        Get rid of the rot in the public service!

        TPPA is another example, what normal person thinks that lawyers can solve all their problems???

        A, too many lawyers in parliament making bad decisions and thinking other lawyers will save them at great costs to the country which the country can’t afford to constantly defend a poor agreement from lazy bureaucrats who wouldn’t have an original or practical thought if their life depended on it.

  4. Pete 6

    The world is going to end. I’m blaming Shane Jones. You see I’ve been on MikeWatch – in the ward seeing whether Hosking will survive.

    “The government doesn’t have the bank balance to bluster their way into financial catastrophe in a company they own 51 per cent of.”

    If Air New Zealand “goes pear-shaped, airlines don’t lose a few million, they lose a few hundred million. The margins are tiny, the risk is huge.” We only have money for SCF, eh Mike?

    Anyone’d think Jones had started World War 3 or the outspew was about his beloved Warriors – ‘Jones is a dangerous man, attack dog, Machiavellian, threatening people, thuggish, wage war, loutish assault …’

    • ianmac 6.1

      For those of us who live in the provinces, we applaud Jones’ words. We pay far more to fly Air NZ Blenheim to Wellington that it costs to fly Christchurch to Auckland. We subsidise the bigger urban flights.

    • savenz 6.2

      Have to agree with Shane Jones on this (a first!), the NZ taxpayers owns 1/2 the airline and they should not be price gouging and cutting off domestic travel so they can spend money on sponsoring dinners for Obama for example.

      Too much of corporations time is being spent brown nosing and networking for themselves to get better job offers and photo opportunities, rather than actually looking after their long term company prospects.

      Air NZ should not be an airline that rips people off. Too many companies in this country are a NZ company when it suits them for marketing, but they do little to support everyone in NZ and have become used to ripping Kiwi’s off.

      Fonterra is another one, I think overseas people are paying less for NZ milk and cheese than locals! It’s disgraceful! Then they wonder why Kiwis are going off milk, butter and cheese! I wonder??????? and a lot of Kiwi’s think dairy is an evil polluter – well if the company has little social conscience and is polluting while pretending they are not, of course people are not going to support the corporation!

      (If the dimwits in corporate marketing have not worked this out, people are onto fake news. So maybe have substance behind any claims and actually become a good corporate citizen instead of fat cats say on 8 million posting loses, pretending they care about NZ and Kiwis.)

  5. Cinny 7

    Yesterday some religious group was hanging around the tuck shop at Miss 13s High School handing out bibles.

    Question please….. is this common in other NZ High Schools?

    I’m really not down with religious propaganda being preached at school unless it’s Social Studies and they are covering and discussing all denominations.

    Thanks in advance.

    • Barfly 7.1

      🙂 not particularly relevant but your comment took me back 45 years to my Fourth form English teacher he told a fellow pupil to categorise the Bible – when the student defined it as a “Historical Novel” I learned firsthand what apoplexy looks like.

      • Cinny 7.1.1

        LMAO !!! Thanks Barfly, that was funny. It’s the little things I love about TS, like the beautiful vocab commentators use, well said 🙂

      • veutoviper 7.1.2

        Wonderful anecdote, Barfly!

        And isn’t apoplexy a wonderful word. I think I first found it in one of Jane Austin’s books – “Mansfield Park” ?

        Anyway, I wondered what it was like and found out with a vengeance when I told my father at age 12 or 13 that I was not going to go through with “confirmation” at Bible class at our Presbyterian Church as I did not believe in Christ as my saviour and it would be hypocritical to do so.

        Father was an elder in the Church and Head of Sunday School, Bible Class etc at the time – embarassing much! I thought he was going to explode. He was bright red and puffed up – and I immediately thought so this is apoplexy! LOL.

        He asked me to leave him for 10 minutes to think about it. We remet at the appointed time when he had calmed down and said that it was obviously my decision to make but he wanted me to write up the reasons for my decision.

        I presented him with an essay with my reasons etc, and having read it, he asked me if he could give it to the meeting of Elders of the Church (Session?). I agreed and offered to present it to them in person, which duly happened.

        On the Sunday that all the rest of my age group took confirmation, I was there in the back by myself – at my own volition as parents had given me the option. At the end of the ceremony the Minister referred to the fact that I was the only one who had declined to take confirmation and summarised my essay to the whole meeting. He said that he and the other Elders were extremely impressed with the thought I had put into my decision and essay; and that they accepted my decision with respect.

        My parents later told me that while they had hoped I would go through with confirmation, they were so proud of me that I was prepared to stand up and go against the flow for my own well thought out decision.

      • patricia bremner 7.1.3

        Great!! LOL

      • UncookedSelachimorpha 7.1.4

        What was the expected answer?

        It isn’t much of a novel – plot, structure and story is hard to follow.

    • veutoviper 7.2

      Don’t know, Cinny, re whether it is common at other schools, but giving away bibles is usually a tactic of the Gideons or Bible Society here in NZ.

      Here is a Google search re their activities in NZ

      https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=Gideons+nz&rlz=1C1LDJZ_enNZ499&oq=Gideons+nz&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9765j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

      I also tried “handing out bibles schools nz” and there are a few interesting links in that search
      https://www.google.co.nz/search?rlz=1C1LDJZ_enNZ499&ei=xs2yWrfkA4ya8wWZxqWIBw&q=handing+out+bibles+schools+nz&oq=handing+out+bibles+schools+nz&gs_l=psy-ab.12…47629.50922.0.53820.4.4.0.0.0.0.308.1098.2-3j1.4.0….0…1.1.64.psy-ab..0.3.838…0i7i30k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i160k1.0.bKuczrhGtc8

      But have you asked the school itself?

      I will be interested what you find out.

    • patricia bremner 7.3

      Cinny you are correct. The insidious ways they get religion into secular areas is an ongoing battle. My personal experience was a “homework group” Which turned out to be evangelical bible studies. When they changed the name to Bible Studies, their number went from 18 down to 3.

      This has to be watched, as I found some Board members thought through personal bias that this was fine, and I was doing the devil’s work!! When confronted with the Education Act 1964 many were amazed. I would get told we are a Christian country.

      The decision to be secular was to avoid religious confrontations. Schools are supposed to be closed for religious instruction, and parents can opt their children into or out of the programme offered, but they need to know!!

      So ask your Principal who in the school makes decisions regarding religious instruction? When? Where? How often? Format and content of lessons? Who will lead these sessions? What happens to the children opted out by parents? What about religious texts bibles etc.?

      • Draco T Bastard 7.3.1

        The insidious ways they get religion into secular areas is an ongoing battle. My personal experience was a “homework group” Which turned out to be evangelical bible studies. When they changed the name to Bible Studies, their number went from 18 down to 3.

        I’ve heard of other cases like this. It seems that these religious people are more than prepared to lie to get their indoctrination into schools (and in pretty much everything else for that matter).

      • JohnSelway 7.3.2

        My young daughter has yet to ask me about God and Jesus etc but one day I’m going to have to explain to her why some people believe such silly things

        • gsays 7.3.2.1

          Hi John, maybeI replace God with words like love, consciousness, unity .

          Not using the ‘G’ word (and all the personal baggage that inevitably comes with it), can free up a dialogue.

          • JohnSelway 7.3.2.1.1

            I’ll start her with comparative religion i.e. many people believe in different things and different gods but your dad doesn’t believe in any of those.

            We do good and treat people well not because we have to but because we want to. We don’t lie, cheat or steal because it makes others feel bad.

            Something like that anyway – she’s only fucking 4 and she is still having trouble with the whole “Where do babies come from” so I might sort that out before introducing her to abstruse concepts like religion and god

      • Enough is Enough 7.3.3

        “When confronted with the Education Act 1964 many were amazed.”

        So would I be considering it was repealed in 1989.

        • veutoviper 7.3.3.1

          LOL. But I believe that PB was a teacher quite a long time ago from comments she has made here on TS re her age and former profession.

        • patricia bremner 7.3.3.2

          Enough is enough,
          I was teaching then!! From 1961 through to 2001 with time off for my family 35 years The law was altered but basically the same in the remaining Intermediates through till 2001.Cheers.

    • Bill 7.4

      heh.

      Not in NZ, but that reminded me of some bible or other getting passed out at my High School. I think they might have been those ones that hang around (or used to hang around) hotel rooms or whatever.

      Anyway. One kid ripped his up. And got suspended if my memory serves me right. And this was in a non-denominational school of some 2000 pupils

      That said, for a whole host of reasons, I can’t quite see that bibles would be successfully passed out in schools these days.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.5

      Your best bet would probably to speak to these people.

      As far as I’m concerned handing out bibles like that at school should be illegal with a very, very large fine for the church thrown in when they do it.

  6. Anne 8

    An on-line news site yesterday (can’t find it now) was reporting a broad break-down of the guest list to tonight’s Obama dinner. Of particular interest to me was the fact 27 National Party MPs have been invited and only 13 Labour MPs.

    Jacinda Ardern (of course) was one of the invitees but isn’t attending due to a prior engagement. David Parker – the government’s power house – is not invited yet Alfred Ngaro – the dim bulb from National – is invited. Strange.

    The dinner has been arranged by the NZ/US Society who I imagine are made up of predominantly Republican orientated individuals, especially now we have a Republican backed US Ambassador. Perhaps that accounts for the disparity.

    • Ad 8.1

      The US Democratic Party would comfortably span all New Zealand parties – except maybe Act.

      Their churches are necessarily far broader than ours.

      • savenz 8.1.1

        Maybe that is why the democrats are not trusted anymore, too many right wing decisions not in the interests of most American’s. (Food for thought for NZ Labour).

        Remember post US financial Crisis Obama bailed out the banks, but failed to stipulate any part of the company or the money being paid back, or the executive fees being lowered.

        So the banks who caused it, got bailed out, became richer and many American’s lost their job, house, savings.

        Doesn’t sound like a trustworthy decision. But Obama and Key hit it off, and enjoy their golf games with so much in common.

      • mac1 8.1.2

        Yes, Ad, and that is why I see the media which is commenting on the Key/Obama relationship to the detriment of PM Ardern is mischief-making.

        I’d also ask who is former President Obama now when people say he is still one of the most powerful men in the world? Surely he is an elder statesman now and wise, but in terms of power beyond that accorded by respect, persuasion and reason, what has he?

        Certainly the current President is disdainful, the Democrats do not have an ascendancy and corporate America is still that.

      • Anne 8.1.3

        Am well aware of that Ad @ 8.1, but at a NZ level the participants in the US/NZ society probably regard themselves as having more in common with National. In other words, if they were able to vote in NZ elections they would vote National – hence the reason double the no. of Nats over Lab. invited to their little party.

        • Tracey 8.1.3.1

          His trip is funded by Banks which will explain the guest list

        • Ankerrawshark 8.1.3.2

          Also noted Anne the cheesy little pic of bridges talking to Obama on his JOHN the pony tail pullers cellphone. What really is the purpose of Obama’s visit.? How much is it costing us? Bet it was arranged before the change of govt.

          I wish JOHN key would piss off

          • Anne 8.1.3.2.1

            Key has been posting photos of himself and the son (forgotten his name) on Facebook knowing they will be picked up and plastered all over the media. No coincidence imo.

            Another example of the attempts to belittle Jacinda (aided and abetted by the Nat media) and cut her out of the general picture… make her look like she doesn’t count… she’s not up to the job so best ignored kind of thing.

  7. adam 9

    Reality for activists on the ground in Russia. This is quite depressing reading so I’m going to call for some caution for readers. The FSB is in my eyes a criminal organization hell bent on crushing any dissent, and bolstering Putan at any cost. The reality is that is at the cost of ordinary women and men right across Russia. Here are but two examples.

    https://libcom.org/news/support-political-prisoner-anarchist-evgeny-karakashev-21032018

    https://therussianreader.com/2018/03/20/emand-extension-hearing-penza-terrorists/

    If you think starting a trade war with Russia will help these people. Then your deeply deluded. Governments like this, love external threats, it helps them crush the people at home.

    • Bill 9.1

      We’re not meant to think of anything in terms of those people (ie – people just like us).

      The only time we get any media exposure is when a dairy is robbed, some-one is shot or something stupid or banal can be ridden off our backs for some “human interest” story/headline.

      In other words, we are meant to actively discount ourselves and are encouraged to do that at every turn.

      “Big Boys”* count. Only “Big Boys” count. And we’re given endless helpful tips on discerning who the “Big Boys” are – through headlines and lead stories endlessly informing us of just how important, smart and influential those “Big Boys” are.

      And so while we are discounted, marginalised and disappeared, we can nevertheless get to share in a sense of power and importance by lending our voice or support to some agenda of some “Big Boy” or other.

      It’s been working a treat for quite a while now…we keep on disappearing ourselves while simultaneously lifting up those who can only survive by way of our invisibility.

      The fact those stories are from sites on the margins of the internet, and the fact they represent the merest tip of what is heaped on our heads and shoveled into our lives every day by these “Big Boys” and their configurations of power – surely that shows us all we need to see, no?

      *inclusive of women, but seeing as how we’re talking about systems of patriarchal power, I thought the term “Big Boy” was appropriate enough.

  8. mac1 10

    Waikato Hospital Board processes.

    They spend $150,000 on a CEO selection process then get slammed for not asking an opinion of the eventual appointee’s former employee.

    The former Chairman, who resigned over the matter, should also bear some of he responsibility for misappropriation of funds by that CEO in that he gave authorisation for expenditure held in large part to be unable to be authorised as legitimate business.

    I hope the Serious Fraud Office will truly perform its duties here.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/health/2018/03/more-than-half-of-former-waikato-dhb-ceo-nigel-murray-s-spending-unjustified-report.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Simcock

    • savenz 10.1

      One of the things that is why NZ (and a lot of western countries) going down the toilet. They can not even do the most practical thing in relation to their job and nobody in the executive team does any due diligence anymore as they employ a range of ‘consultants’ to do their thinking or lack of it, for them.

      As for spending $150k on one person’s recruitment – it’s not just the applicant they chose that are the crooks!!!

      No wonder the health system is in trouble with these lazy dimwits at the helm paying gold for other incompetents.

      C level execs employing D level execs… the rout continues

    • Tracey 10.2

      Johnathan Coleman has resigned. More sacarine BS about his great service blah blah blah but our health and hospital systems degraded under his watch

      • Bill 10.2.1

        Yeah. Something about this churn/renewal in the National caucus. It stands in stark contrast to what the NZ Labour caucus did.

        Sure, a few moved on, but far too many hung on in there. And in spite of leadership contests not going their way, they achieved, through a fair amount of monkey wrenching to secure a bit of fiefdom for themselves.

        And I think it’s worth remembering back a few years when the suggestion that too many in the NZ Labour caucus would rather be big fish in a pond or puddle of opposition than give way to change, wasn’t by any means a marginal opinion.

        All those years spent securing power instead of allowing NZ Labour to prepare for it…

        And well, are we now looking at a one term government that merely hankers for the days and policies and strategies of a pre-2008 NZ Labour Party that we, the voting public, have already rejected once?

        As a side bar.

        What’s happened to that process of internal democratisation that was begun a few years back, but never seen through to a conclusion? Can we take it that since Ardern’s leadership hasn’t been endorsed (rubber stamped) by any membership vote yet, that it’s being viewed as “best forgotten”?

        • tracey 10.2.1.1

          He has only been in parliament since 2005.

          Where have resigned Labour MPs gone I wonder versus post parliament for Nats? How many keep pursuing forms of public service versus going to work in the private sector? Might be an interrsting analysis?

          • Bill 10.2.1.1.1

            I think traditionally, the “revolving door” serves ex-National mps better than it does ex-NZ Labour mps.

            Cullen went to Kiwi Bank, yes? (But now he’s back….along with Simpson). Clark went to the UN and is now…who knows? Goff stayed…and stayed…and stayed. (and is still in politics).

            King wouldn’t let go. (What’s she up to now?)

            The big names of NZ Labour are (and after an entire decade!) still very much associated with NZ Labour. All but dead ducks and their carefully managed proteges flapping…slowly and slower.

        • patricia bremner 10.2.1.2

          I don’t agree about a “one term government” Bill.
          Jacinda and her coalition partner and supply and support group will have worked out how to appeal to the electorate in 20 20. National not so much.

    • David Mac 10.3

      Prior to his appointment as head of the Waikato DHB Dr Murray was dismissed from Fraser Health in Canada. A British Colombia government ordered review established that Fraser Health was the worst performing medical entity in all of Canada. It took 12 months to clean the outfit up after Dr Murray was shown the door.

      Naturally it was going to be a disaster. I feel Dr Murray’s best defense is to point out that of course we were robbed blind, we got what we asked for. We paid $150,000 to establish that of all the available medical executives in the world, Dr Murray was the best choice. We got what we deserved.

      Even with the justified expenses: The executive medical fraternity travel first class around the world on luxury holidays masquerading as conferences while the dedicated and honest nurses doing the hard yards struggle to make ends meet.

      Ground these high flying chooks. Their job is running hospitals not testing the world’s Hilton suites and jet-ski facilities.

      • mac1 10.3.1

        Ah, so it was in Canada. Well, you can’t go wasting money on ringing all the way to Canada, can you. After all, it was only $150,000 wasted.

        I believe the protocol is to put /sarc after such a comment………..

        Some years ago, I outed a con man from a position where he could have done a lot of damage. In his case, the phone number to a referee was to his own phone, which eventually got him caught, when he used the same number for his work.

        It seems that he had been a con artist in business firms but instead of prosecuting
        him for fraud, these firms just let him go for some other entity to pick up. We prosecuted him, and the firm that he went to work for was advised of his criminal record.

        Fear of being seen to employ conmen, fear of looking stupid because firms were conned by these men, overcame their sense of responsibility to the community.

  9. patricia bremner 11

    I am pleased to see the Minister of Education has the make up of the “Teacher’s Council” Bill to have 7 teachers nominated by teachers and 6 by the department.
    This recognises teachers, and values their opinions.

    Further steps to limit who gets the title “Teacher” according to educational qualifications. Yes Yes!! Others are coaches, instructors, teacher aides, etc.
    Well done Chris.

    • savenz 11.1

      One thing Labour and NZ First is doing well in, is primary and secondary education decisions. If only they could be more consistent with forward thinking, in other areas of policy.

  10. dv 12

    See Colemans resigned, which will spark a by election.

    • tracey 12.1

      Very safe Nat seat

      • savenz 12.1.1

        Weren’t the Greens keen for Northcote? What about a “northland’ effort by NZ First, Labour and Greens to defeat the Natz in another ‘safe’ seat?

  11. joe90 13

    But he was a nice white boy….

    BREAKING: Austin terrorist identified as Mark Conditt.Conditt was home schooled, a devout Christian, & contemplated a Mission trip.My questions:•Is this suicide bomber a “Radical Christian terrorist?”•Why is WH silent?•#WhereWasHeRadicalized?https://t.co/ZRahK01WVE pic.twitter.com/h7EVfPJSBl— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) March 21, 2018

    The quiet, home-schooled son

    […]

    Neighbors said the Conditt family, who live in a neat white house with a blue picket fence around the front porch,

    [..]

    “They are a really nice, calm family,” said retiree Jeff Reeb, who lives next door. “They have always been extremely nice.”

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-texas-blast-conditt/deadly-texas-blast-suspect-was-quiet-home-schooled-idUSKBN1GX2J0

    • Heather Grimwood 13.1

      to Joe90 at 13 ; Yes, knocks the particular threads of prejudice somewhat!
      Let’s hope it causes their widespread questioning.

  12. Bearded Git 14

    Jonathan Coleman has resigned from parliament. In 2017 his so-called safe National seat had the following party votes:

    Nat 18005
    Act 261
    Total 18266

    Lab 12639
    Gr 2496
    Nzf 2221
    Total 17356

    TOP 845

    Only 910 between the 2 blocs. Have excluded TOP. Will be interesting to see what happens in the by-election.

  13. Whispering Kate 15

    Well what do you know, another rat leaving the opposition. Jonathan Colman has resigned and first thing that came to mind was “what a coincidence”.

    This morning on Morning Report there was a damning report on the rotting wall linings of a Middlemore Hospital, it is contained in the wall linings as we speak but it will be dangerous to health if it works its way through to the wall surfaces. It is a bad situation for the hospital and has been left unattended for years. It has been known since 2012 or thereabouts and I thought to myself, what the hell was the last Minister of Health doing about it sitting on his behind doing sweet all.

    Then, lo and behold he has quit, do these people have inside knowledge of the shit going to hit the fan or is it just their skilled way of escaping responsibility that allows this to happen. Shame on all ministers of the crown who do absolutely jack shit about their portfolios when in office.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018637191/rot-mould-plagues-middlemore-hospital-buildings

    • savenz 15.1

      Apparently even the hospital boilers are blowing up nearly killing people. The CFO’s just go to another DHB, and advance their careers leaving a dangerous trail of unmaintained destruction in their wake.

      • Whispering Kate 15.1.1

        Apparently he is going into a role with the private sector – why would anybody want to employ such an incompetent minister, he had a high opinion of himself and was arrogant and that sums it up for him – plus his love of cigars – go figure.

        • Chris T 15.1.1.1

          I don’t know……Cunliffe got another job

        • Venezia 15.1.1.2

          Coleman is going to a job running a private sector health company. Acurity health group. There should be a period of time where his right to use the intellectual property, resources & networks built up as Ministered the Crown is restricted. Mind you’ve was no shining light as Minister so good luck to them.

  14. ianmac 17

    “Former US President Barack Obama is questioning Sir John Key’s counting skills in the golfing match that Team NZ won yesterday.”

    Remember Key said the other day that “Obama was a stickler for the golf rules.”
    This implies that Key is not such a man and Obama knows it.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12017861

  15. Ad 18

    Auckland Regional Fuel Tax by 1 July.

    Bill introduced this afternoon.

    Auckland LTP counts as consultation I presume.

    Fast work Minister Twyford.

  16. joe90 19

    This is getting interesting.

    Nearly a year before Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired senior FBI official Andrew McCabe for what Sessions called a “lack of candor,” McCabe oversaw a federal criminal investigation into whether Sessions lacked candor when testifying before Congress about contacts with Russian operatives, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

    http://abcnews.go.com/US/exclusive-fired-fbi-official-authorized-criminal-probe-sessions/story?id=53914006

  17. mac1 20

    More good moves from a caring government.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/03/government-moves-to-scrap-letting-fees-for-tenants.html

    The government has introduced legislation to ban letting fees for tenants. Also it is said that greater security of tenure and a 12 month period before rents can be raised will also be introduced before the end of the year.

    Stumping up with a four week bond, a two week rental deposit and another week’s rent as a ‘letting fee’ must be very difficult for some, with moving costs on top.

  18. mac1 21

    And more happy news.

    ” In just 10 days, the minimum wage will be increased to $16.50 per hour. This raise was one of the Government’s top priorities. It will benefit approximately 164,000 workers and their families, and will increase wages throughout the economy by $129 million per year.

    We are further committed to raising the minimum wage for working New Zealanders to $20 by 2021.”

    And us pensioners will have warmer homes courtesy of the winter warmth grant Starting in 2018, the Winter Energy Payment will begin from 1 July to 30 September and from 2019 for five months from 1 May to 30 September.

    Who need worry so much about the coal-man, or the Coleman for that matter………..

    • savenz 21.1

      Of Course they could have installed solar panels on the oldies houses to help them all year around, but of course that would be cutting down corporate profits and that is why in the age of carbon neutrality power companies have inexplicably been allowed to charge more for people who use solar panels. Go figure. Of course that was under a Natz government, but haven’t seen the Labour government trying to kill two birds with one stone, aka save money and save environment.

      • Firepig 21.1.1

        Please note – not every house, situation or season is suitable for solar panels. The energy payment will be gratefully received in this household (although we do have solar panels) as the house has to be kept extra warm for my husband who has Alzheimers and feels the cold.

        • patricia bremner 21.1.1.1

          Pleased you are going to get the winter payment Firepig. Keep well.

      • Gabby 21.1.2

        That would’ve been lovely for the solar panel manufacturing corporates savey.

        • savenz 21.1.2.1

          Yep don’t want to reward a company manufacturing something that is sustainable and will reduce carbon footprint when the oil and gas industry need the corporate welfare so much. Coal is also popular and not too much fuss after Pike River, I see.

          • Gabby 21.1.2.1.1

            Yup how far into a solar panel’s lifespan does it exceed in output the energy expended in its manufacture savey?

      • mac1 21.1.3

        If I want to, I could use the payments for the next two years and pay for a sixth PV panel.

        That would provide enough PV generation to run a 1 kw heater during the middle of the day for 18 minutes every hour the sun shone.

        A solar panel is not the best way to provide heat in the middle of a winter’s night.

        Of course they help with the overall power bill, but you still have to have enough money to heat the house. That is what the money is for.

        The individual owner decides how to use it. Rather clever idea, that- let the citizen consumer decide.

        Do I install another panel? Or use the $30 to buy power to heat the house, all day and night? Or wood? Or gas? Or whisky?

        Hmmmmmm…………

  19. eco maori 22

    Newshub jonathan coleman Good ridence OUR health system are in a shambles it all about te tangata te tangata not one’s own agenda.
    Wow Facebook is getting served for letting Cambridge analytics abuse the data of 50 million Americans.
    The problem is its not just Facebook that has breach te tangata the people trust there are other companies that have done that as well one has to hold all the offenders to account to stop this cheating the people the 99.9 % of Common people of there democract voice Ka pai Ka kite ano

    • eco maori 22.1

      There you go Newhub works are losing there share of the money pie many thanks for reporting this I say it would be at least 10% from jobs I have worked the wages haven’t changed in 20 years rents are just about one person wage to pay per week I know things were much easier 20 years ago Ka pai Ka kite ano P.S. Anthony Joshua is sceared

      • eco maori 22.1.1

        The project you gave it your best Paddy good on you I heard that Obama called shonky a bad golf cheat lol The sandflys have been going hard for the last few days idiots you won’t even be able to fathom what they get up to. Your a Naki man Paddy that explains it Ka pai Ka kite ano

        • eco maori 22.1.1.1

          The project I never ever have a face book page I new it’s to open to minupulation.
          Profits Of Rage one of my favourite bands they are onto it Jesse and Kanoe Ka pai Ka kite ano there song UN___THE WORLD is excerlint the video is tops to ka kite ano

  20. Jenny 23

    For those with a serious or even passing interest in what is happening in Syria and Eastern Ghouta in particular.

    It would be hard to go past this essay.

    “Ghouta: Issues Behind the Apocalypse: Armed and civil rebellion, Class and Islam”

    By Michael Karadjis

    There is a a hell of lot to unpack here.

    Maybe it would be best if you just scrolled down to the headline article that you are most interested in. And take the time to read the attached links, and footnotes.

    https://mkaradjis.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/ghouta-issues-behind-the-apocalypse-armed-and-civil-rebellion-class-and-islam/

    “The Assad-Putin Armageddon”

    “Attacks out of Ghouta”

    ““Terrorists” in Ghouta?”

    “Who are the rebels?”

    “The question of arms and alleged foreign support”

    “Class and the uprising in the Damascus ‘suburbs’”

    “Islam, Class and Revolution”

    “The question of Jaysh al-Islam’s sectarianism”

    “Jaysh al-Islam, repression and civil resistance”

    “Elected Local Councils and Civil Opposition in Ghouta”

    “A momentary aside in Idlib …”

    “The loss of Ghouta: A huge loss to democratic prospects”

    ”What can we do?”

  21. eco maori 24

    Newshub I could not have our morning talk the Tokoroa red neck sandflys allways block my phone and another phone on the cell tower from getting the standard website disprit exclusive brethren lol we got a good sports weekend coming up Kia kaha people Duncan hope you had a good time at the Obama dinner I wish I was there he is brilliant. The health system are stressed because of shonky and his m8.
    Some people should realise that they are ways we can both be winners. When Eco Maori is determined he gets his way fulls top. Stop listening to the sandflys and think of a way we both WIN I’M not the bad guy your adviser are leading you in the wrong direction there only objective is to try and damage my Mana not your wellbeing. Ka kite ano

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    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    7 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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