Open mike 22/11/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 22nd, 2023 - 62 comments
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62 comments on “Open mike 22/11/2023 ”

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  1. Wei 1
    22 November 2023 at 4:01 am

    Advantage is a consistent apologist for US empire.

    That a so called 'left' website should publish his misinformation is frankly disgraceful.

    [This is rich coming from a PRC shill. Everybody is free to comment here and contribute to robust debate. You obviously can’t handle this freedom and resort to wild accusations and broad-based attacks, incl. on a TS Author. This is the exact reason why you’ve been in Pre-Mod and unless you lift your game to the standard of TS, which most commenters achieve without too many issues, you’ll be repatriated – Incognito]

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

  2. Bearded Git 2
    22 November 2023 at 6:57 am

    It's a bit weird how much of the media has portrayed Milei's win in Argentina as a "landslide" when he won 55.8 to 44.2.

    The crap state of Argentina's economy, with inflation at 140% and 40% of people below the poverty line , stuffed Massa.



  3. Ad 3
    22 November 2023 at 9:16 am

    Just want to give a big shoutout to Kim Hill leaving RNZ.

    I know she's going to a few more bits for them, but at her best she was fearless and always researched her brief really well.

    I also particularly respected her for relentlessly championing New Zealand science and scientists, who are a desperately small and not well supported group but in the Calaghan Institute and in others we have New Zealand's best chances of generating innovations that can help both public good science and spinoff commercialised innovations that can find their niches in the world.

    Also she was a resolute champion of women and took a lot of stick for it from the show feedback, which she was happy to read out to her audience.

    I sure want someone just as good to replace her, but in the meantime, Kim you were and are awesome.

    • ianmac 3.1
      22 November 2023 at 9:54 am

      Yes Ad. Kim's going is a bit like a bereavement. Who will be an adequate replacement?

    • joe90 3.2
      22 November 2023 at 10:02 am

      Can't find an archived recording but Kim Hill v Mary Agnes Brooke is my all-time fav.

      https://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/all-decisions/brooke-and-radio-new-zealand-ltd-2000-001/#searched-for-

      • observer 3.2.1
        22 November 2023 at 10:33 am

        Kim Hill and John Howard is another.

        Anyway, what Ad said basically. Outstanding on radio, but also in 2005 Kim interviewed the party leaders on TVNZ, back when the network gave half an hour in peak time (gasp!) to one interview, which would never happen now. I wish all her successors would watch, learn, improve.

        • lprent 3.2.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 1:05 pm

          You should have a look at the Jack Tame interviews. I found those to be up to standard when I finally located them where I could stream them from.

    • Belladonna 3.3
      22 November 2023 at 2:08 pm

      Kim Hill leaves giant shoes to fill.

      A totally fearless interviewer, unwilling to put up with PR bullshit crap from any source. Fiercely intelligent, and fearsomely well-briefed in any situation. She left you feeling better informed on any subject she chose to broadcast on.

      I didn't always listen (some topics are not ones I care about), and didn't always agree – but always appreciated her work.

  4. SPC 4
    22 November 2023 at 9:51 am

    An order of fair competition is being formalised across international sport.

    This will leave some US college sport polity as outlier – monetising (sports scholarships for grifters) gender identity.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/11/cricket-transgender-women-barred-from-internationals-as-part-of-new-regulations-set-by-icc.html

  5. Rolling-on-Gravel 5
    22 November 2023 at 10:16 am

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/301012892/live-government-coalition-deal-all-but-done-may-be-signed-thursday

    This is getting pretty scary. They will finalise the coalition tomorrow barring any shenanigans.

    • Kay 5.1
      22 November 2023 at 10:32 am

      I hear you RoG. No-one should ever be genuinely afraid of living under a government of any stripe.

    • alwyn 5.2
      22 November 2023 at 10:32 am

      "This is getting pretty scary."

      Why? What are you scared of?

      • observer 5.2.1
        22 November 2023 at 10:36 am

        Early death. Popcorn is loaded with salt and calories.

        • Rolling-on-Gravel 5.2.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 10:40 am

          FUCK YOU OBSERVER.

          • observer 5.2.1.1.1
            22 November 2023 at 10:43 am

            You might want to pause and edit that.

            Point missed, obviously.

            • Rolling-on-Gravel 5.2.1.1.1.1
              22 November 2023 at 10:45 am

              What else I can infer from what you just said, Observer?

              It seems as if you don’t take stuff like this seriously.

              • observer …
                22 November 2023 at 11:04 am

                "Popcorn"

                2023 Final results « The Standard

                "Circus"

                The baubles of office « The Standard

                And so on.

                It's not "getting scary", it was already scary on election night over a month ago. What did you think was going to happen in the negotiations? A sudden change of heart by the 3 parties? Seriously?

                If anything, after Luxon's incompetence, the threesome falling apart is more likely now than on election night. Hence, popcorn.

                • Rolling-on-Gravel …
                  22 November 2023 at 11:20 am

                  Why then did you combine such phrases with "early death", likely knowing that there is a connotation of schadenfreude or indifference when it comes to popcorn and celebration, with the added inference of salt and calories being a contributor to hypertension?

                  For your information, I was already there on the standard around that time, full of worry and fear about what they will do to us.

                  And I knew then and now that there won't be a change of heart.

                  Today is the most real it ever has been and it already was real to me a while ago.

                  I was hoping against hope that all the negotiations chaos was going to mean a return to the polls but no.

                  So that's now gone for now.

                  • observer …
                    22 November 2023 at 11:26 am

                    OK, you're angry and I get that.

                    So there is no misunderstanding, I think this will be the worst government since the early 1990s.

                    I also think that it is more likely to be a shorter government than looked probable when National plus ACT had a possible majority (in the polls, and then on election night).

                    I look forward to its demise.

              • AB …
                22 November 2023 at 11:20 am

                ROG – I think observer was referring to himself, not you. That is, the thing he has to fear is eating too much popcorn while watching the new government make fools of themselves and fall apart. I hope he's right, but so much time, effort and money has been invested in getting Labour out of government and this lot installed, that I don't think National's backers will tolerate such a thing and will get the message through to Luxon loud and clear. We all know from what you have said previously that lowering or freezing benefits is going to harm you – perhaps seriously.

                • Rolling-on-Gravel …
                  22 November 2023 at 11:27 am

                  OK, AB, I'll give Observer the charity for what he has posted. I'm sorry that I blew up at you, Observer. This is extremely stressful for me.

                  I hope you and Observer are right that they utterly fall apart and the damage is limited.

                  Otherwise it would be some of the darkest eras in Kiwi history and I pray that it won't come to that.

      • Kay 5.2.2
        22 November 2023 at 10:36 am

        Alwyn- the very real knowledge- based on history- that low income/beneficiaries (including disabled) are the first group they will come after. If you've been fortunate enough not to have to live with that threat, you cannot appreciate the fear is very real.

      • Rolling-on-Gravel 5.2.3
        22 November 2023 at 10:42 am

        Alywn. Them following the UK model when it comes to benefits.

        That's what I'm afraid of.

    • weka 6.1
      22 November 2023 at 11:15 am

      please write some explanation, context and your views when commenting. Rather than just a bunch of links.

      • Rolling-on-Gravel 6.1.1
        22 November 2023 at 11:21 am

        Weka: please delete my comment so I can redo this. I couldn't edit it even after refreshing.

    • Rolling-on-Gravel 6.2
      22 November 2023 at 11:45 am

      "Recent evidence has shown people across the UK are dying younger as a result of austerity, with people living in the poorest areas hardest hit. A new study published today now quantifies the scale of these deaths. The study, led by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) and the University of Glasgow, and published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, reports that compared to what previous trends predicted, an additional 335,000 deaths were observed across Scotland, England & Wales between 2012 and 2019." is a study made by Uni of Glasgow in the first link. It basically says that austerity is a political choice.

      https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_885099_en.html

      This following 2nd link delineates a freedom of information request of DWP about its review of disabled people's benefits and the rates of death. This is Disability Rights from UK, reporting that.

      "New figures show how the number of secret reviews into deaths of benefit claimants that have been linked to the failings of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has more than doubled over the last three years, the Disability News Service (DNS) reports. They show how the DWP started 43 internal process reviews (IPRs) into deaths between July 2019 and June 2020, 59 from July 2020 to June 2021, and 38 in the last year, a total of 140 in three years."

      https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2022/july/secret-reviews-dwp-deaths-have-more-doubled-three-years

      The quote from Disability News Service 3rd link says that:

      "The draft version of the Deaths by Welfare timeline* exposes how DWP was alerted more than 40 times over the past 30 years to life-threatening systemic flaws in its disability benefits systems, by academics, coroners and its own researchers. IPRs are not released publicly, and grieving families are not even told that they are taking place."

      https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/secret-reviews-into-dwp-deaths-more-than-double-in-three-years/

      This means that there's a culture of cruelty and secrecy in DWP, enough that families of the affected weren't informed that there were investigations beforehand.

      The fourth link is from the Guardian.

      "Five thousand people died before they could be reimbursed for a government error that left chronically ill and disabled benefit claimants thousands of pounds out of pocket, it has emerged. Approximately 70,000 claimants were originally estimated to have been underpaid about £340m between 2011 and 2014, after being transferred from older benefits on to the employment and support allowance (ESA) during a government overhaul of incapacity benefits."

      https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/16/people-died-benefits-error

      Incompetence or malice or both, doesn't matter. People has the potential to be harmed if the NZ government decides to go down this path.

      Fifth link also from Guardian, about people dying after being found fit for work when they weren't fit and were forced to work:

      "Nearly 90 people a month are dying after being declared fit for work, according to new data that has prompted campaigners and Labour leadership contenders to call for an overhaul of the government’s welfare regime. Statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that during the period December 2011 and February 2014 2,380 people died after their claim for employment and support allowance (ESA) ended because a work capability assessment (WCA) found they were found fit for work."

      https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/27/thousands-died-after-fit-for-work-assessment-dwp-figures

      This is why I fear what Luxon and Seymour will do. They will force people who aren't suitable to work and they may be harmed.

      Part One of Two

      • Rolling-on-Gravel 6.2.1
        22 November 2023 at 11:58 am

        Part 2 of 2

        The sixth link from Big Issue, a magazine, shows the challenge of keeping that much-needed money and how tough people has it in UK welfare system nowadays and how traumatising it is.

        "Previous reporting from The Big Issue found the DWP rejects almost 90% of initial challenges over benefit decisions, but official statistics show 68% of claimants win their case when appealing the decision at tribunal, during which officials have more time to consider an individual’s case. This process causes avoidable damage for claimants like Aidan, who spent months appealing a PIP decision which lost him critical financial support and his car. “I’ve been living in quite squalid conditions because I haven’t had the mental capacity to keep the place tidy, clean and sanitary,” Aidan, who has multiple conditions including autism and an amputated leg, told The Big Issue. “The whole process was causing severe psychological stress and trauma to the point of being suicidal.”"

        https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/dwp-disability-benefits-claimants-fail-whistleblowers/

        This is from Big Issue again. This is about how such a welfare system is affecting people for the worse.

        "Josh Smith was so anxious about his disability benefits assessment that he told his mother Tracy he planned to take a hammer and chisel to his leg. “That’s a disability they can see,” she breaks into tears as she remembers her son’s desperate words. “They can’t see my mental health. If they can see my disability they’re more likely to give me the clear.” Josh was just 25 when he took his own life. His final months were consumed with anxiety that his benefits would be snatched away. Tracy, who is speaking out for the first time three years after her son’s death, blames the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and public services for failing Josh when he was at his most desperate. “Life was already a massive struggle for him,” Tracy says. “The benefits system added so much pressure. I know there’s people who work the system, but you know when someone’s really depressed and mentally ill. It doesn’t take rocket science. This is the consequence of adding pressure to people who are genuinely ill. They are pushed over the edge.”"

        https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/man-died-suicide-dwp-disability-benefits/

        All of this paints a picture of what NZ may face in the future with its disability community by this government.

        This was why I was so angry and anxious earlier in this Open Mike.

        This is why the coalition agreeing so much on things is so dangerous.

        • Ad 6.2.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 10:00 pm

          Poverty and states running down welfare is worth getting angry about.

          Keep up the good energy.

          We're going to need it.

  7. Scott 7
    22 November 2023 at 1:09 pm

    The new coalition government won't cut benefits.

    They will just make those who can work take the jobs that are on offer

    • Barfly 7.1
      22 November 2023 at 1:24 pm

      "The new coalition government won't cut benefits"

      They will cut benefits by changing the rate of increase in benefits so that is lower than it would have been . CPI is not an accurate measure for the inflation faced by beneficiaries as CPI measurements are based on a basket of goods including the likes of vehicles and major consumer electronic apliances which generally skew the the CPI downwards.

      "They will just make those who can work take the jobs that are on offer"

      They will demonise. harass, pressure and sanction the mentally unwell creating unnessessary suffering, more negative health outcomes and increasing the suicide rate and this is all for political advantage by satisfying the 'urge to punish'. common among sociopathic idiots such as you. devil

      • Scott 7.1.1
        22 November 2023 at 1:56 pm

        It makes no sense to call someone you don't sociopathic on the basis of their opinion on a blog site

        In your first paragraph you seem to agree with me that the new govt won't cut benefits but believe that they will increase them in line with the CPI.

        In your second paragraph you maintain that the govt will harass the mentally unwell to take jobs in order to punish them and that this will increase the suicide rate.

        I never suggested that people who are sick should work. That's why we have a sickness benefit.

        To be clear I think that those who are fit for work should work and that this govt will make the case for work more strongly than the previous govt.

        • Visubversa 7.1.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 4:00 pm

          We don't have a "sickness benefit" as such in New Zealand. This benefit also covers people who are looking for work.

          https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/jobseeker-support.html

          "Jobseeker Support, which used to be called sickness benefit in New Zealand, is a weekly payment that helps employees who have temporarily taken time off work or are working at a lesser load due to a sickness, injury, pregnancy or a disability".

          You might want to do some basic research (30 seconds on Google perhaps) before you demonstrate ignorance and prejudice in a forum such as this.

          • Rolling-on-Gravel 7.1.1.1.1
            22 November 2023 at 4:15 pm

            Damn Key for that particular bit of change.

            • Sabine 7.1.1.1.1.1
              22 November 2023 at 7:47 pm

              Damn,

              Labour for never undoing it despite having a majority for three years,

              and never implementing a proper unemploymnet benefit for those that lost their jobs

              and not removing the partnership clause/misery leaving many who should have and would have otherwise a benefit with nothing but the grace of their partners.

              Damn, 3 years of a full majority and Winz is very much as Paula Bennet handed it over to Sepuloni.

        • Anne 7.1.1.2
          22 November 2023 at 5:45 pm

          Either you are ignorant Scott or you are one of those "sociopathic idiots". The last I heard the unemployment rate is currently @3.6%. That suggests pretty much all the people who can work are working.

          A zero unemployment rate is non-achievable, but with the thousands who are likely to be tossed on the scrap-heap in the near future and the lack of jobs available due to an inevitable shrinking economy, are we going to see the unfortunates being harassed and demonised again as they were in the 1990s by a previous National government?

          • Sabine 7.1.1.2.1
            22 November 2023 at 8:14 pm

            You ignore the under-employment rate which as been sitting very stubbornly at around 10 – 11%.

            See here https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/underutilisation-rate/

            Under employment 10.4 % – up slightly

            this is the criteria.

            • do not have a job, but are available to work and are actively seeking employment – unemployed
            • are employed part time (fewer than 30 hours a week) and who both want and are available to increase the number of hours they work – underemployed
            • want a job and are available to work, but are not currently looking for a job – available potential jobseeker (unemployed)
            • are unavailable to start work but are looking for a job as they will be able to start work within the next month – unavailable jobseeker. (unemployed)

            -cursive mine.

            All but one of the categories listed is actually 'under-employed' in the sense that they are partimers/casual/seasonal and would like to get to full time.

            All the othrs are non employed people full time, either regular unemployed and looking , discouraged by a bad job market so no longer looking, or looking for a job in the future.

            We rejoice in a low official unemployment number while ignoring the underemployment which hides a whole bag of people who do not work at all, and who may or may not be looking for a job but are on assistance.

            A further interesting breakdown that we don't really want to mention either is the Gap between the sexes, women are harder hit them men

            (I assume that the government counts 'sex' as per gender self id rather then sex recorded at birth)

            Women – 12. 2 %

            Men – 8.6%

            The unemployment rate for women is also higher then for men.

            3.4 men vs 3.9 women

            Our current Employment rate 69.1 Percent – trending down slightly.

        • Barfly 7.1.1.3
          22 November 2023 at 5:52 pm

          It's simply an exercise in fucking sadism – I know a bloke who is autistic while also suffering chronic depression, panic attacks and PTSD and brainless arseholes would like him to go through a steady diet of rejection and failure to satisfy their need for people like him to look for work this will inevitably lead to clinical depression and very high suicidal ideation. Some arseholes don't understand or care that there are people whose mental health conditions are such that harassing them to look for work that they can't do anyway will fuck them up worse than what they are.

    • observer 7.2
      22 November 2023 at 1:41 pm

      It is National's explicit policy to cut benefits, including for disabled people, as demonstrated here:

      Election 2023: Christopher Luxon grilled by AM's Ryan Bridge on whether beneficiaries will be better off under National or Labour | Newshub

      (of course we don't know what the agreed coalition policy will be, but given the 3 parties involved it is unlikely that National will be prevented from doing this)

    • bwaghorn 7.3
      22 November 2023 at 3:51 pm

      They will just make those who can work take the jobs that are on offer

      If your on a benefit and able shouldn't you any way?

      • Visubversa 7.3.1
        22 November 2023 at 4:14 pm

        And how do you know that they are not? Do you have any evidence that there are no sanctions for people who turn down employment opportunities without reasonable excuse, or who do not make enough effort to get work?

        One of my relatives was briefly on the Jobseekers benefit after a family disruption but was very well case managed by the relevant WINZ Officer and had 2 part time jobs within a month or so. One of the part time jobs became full time and he was able to stop getting the benefit.

        Another friend had 2 jobs in Rest Homes, one in the morning shift and one in the evening shift. She got a top up benefit because they were both part time and minimum wage. She got the top up as she was looking for full time work. She eventually found a full time job.

        The one benefit covers quite a wide range of needs and eligibilities and if it is just compared to the old Unemployment or Sickness benefits the numbers can look quite out of proportion which gives the ignorant opportunities to moan and complain.

        • bwaghorn 7.3.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 5:06 pm

          I think I got the wrong end of scotts stuck , I thought he was proposing that those that can work shouldn't be encouraged to take any available job .

          It seems he's possibly our the other end ,that short of being nearly dead you should be sanctioned into work ,

          I'm of the belief that some will need alot of help to get functioning, and sanctions won't do it except for a small minority. Also there's probably a %that will never work and their benefits are just a cost of a decent society.

    • Patricia Bremner 7.4
      22 November 2023 at 5:20 pm

      Scott, that is so shallow.

      Step 1They have already changed the benefit amount budgeted, lowering the 4 year amount by 2 billion dollars. Luxon said "As it has always been done by the CPI, not wages." So already from April benefits will be lower.

      Unfortunately that is poverty, as the advice from the inquiry group WEAG said benefit payments needed to be raised as pensions are as a proportion of the average wage to keep pace with true costs.

      Those of us who have observed right wing governments know austerity is their mantra. Austerity for the less fortunate, and tax breaks for the already fortunate.

      Rolling-on-gravel, we hear you. Most who come here want this Government gone as their aims are selfish and uncaring.

  8. Sandra Le Cron 8
    22 November 2023 at 1:39 pm

    Dodgy Dave and Nasty Nicola will make sure that those who can work and want to work will be well rewarded for their efforts. There are too many loafers dipping their fingers into the state coffers at the moment and that is the first thing that needs sorting.Let's get our society aspirational again!

    • Patricia Bremner 8.1
      22 November 2023 at 5:23 pm

      Aspiring to what? Being a nasty Landlord?
      Who are the Loafers dipping their fingers?
      So Landlords getting tax breaks are not loafers? Those who work for any Ministry are?
      What a strange view..Don’t forget 90 day trials lots of poorly paid migrants and backpackers to push wages back down again. less than 4% unemployed. Wow!! So where are all the lazy people?
      Perhaps you mean the sick the dying the retired the disabled???

  9. Ad 9
    22 November 2023 at 2:42 pm

    Well we now get the explicit calculation that Hamas and Israel make between the life of Israeli women, distinct from Israeli children (since it’s only 80 women and children being released from their kidnappers), distinct from Israeli men (who apparently aren’t being released), when weighed precisely against 150 mostly women and children released back into Israel.

    That is one cold calculus, on both sides.

    Israel will also allow 300 aid trucks to enter Gaza per day for four days.

    "Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement enabling the release of some hostages captured by the Palestinian militant group during its Oct. 7 attack on the country, Axios and Haaretz reported Tuesday, citing those familiar with the deal."

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-hamas-hostages-deal_n_655cbecfe4b0662eb43ba01e

    If this holds and is implemented it will be a real win for those rescued and gives hope that there will be more.

    Also if it holds it will be a massive diplomatic success for Qatar.

    Here's hoping for more of this.

    • SPC 9.1
      22 November 2023 at 4:57 pm

      The deal will see Hamas release 30 children, eight mothers and 12 other women …. . There will be a temporary cease-fire that will begin with four days and be extended by an another day for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas

      Israel is expected to release about 150 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Israel will also allow 300 aid trucks to enter Gaza per day during the pause in fighting in the Palestinian enclave.

      https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-hamas-hostages-deal_n_655cbecfe4b0662eb43ba01e

      It might be for two weeks – the 10 per day, then it is 150 for 150.

      There are c240 hostages.

      At 300 trucks per day – 1200 trucks. 10 more days, 3000 trucks.

      They need shelter, food, water, medical supplies and fuel/power in the south.

      And a hospital ship off coast.

      Deal is designed to encourage more hostage releases

      Yolande Knell

      Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

      This long-expected deal has just been signed off.

      While it initially allows for 50 women and child hostages to be freed in batches by Hamas in exchange for a four-day pause in fighting, the deal has evidently been structured to encourage further releases.

      The incentive is a longer pause in fighting: The release of every additional 10 hostages will result in one additional day in the pause, the Israeli government statement says.

      That clause is an important one for the hostages families, some of whom had told me they didn't want to see a partial deal.

      https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67481139

      • ianmac 9.1.1
        22 November 2023 at 5:29 pm

        Israel is expected to release about 150 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

        And I believe that Israel is holding many many hundreds more in prison. How come that is not in the general public?

        • SPC 9.1.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 5:36 pm

          Many – so it's thousands. There are those who committed crimes of violence and got prosecuted (unlike some of the settlers) and there are those interned without trial (political activists). The PA also arrests political activists/dissidents.

          After the 150 – 150 stage – Hamas should seek the release of all those interned without trial for the 100 hostages they still have … and maybe those in that category held by the PA (and any in that category they have in Gaza) …

  10. Joe90 10
    22 November 2023 at 4:17 pm

    Afghanistan with oil.

    Samantha Berkhead

    @samberkhead

    Russian Senator Margarita Pavlova says the country should stop encouraging girls to get higher education in order to solve its demographic crisis: “This search for oneself drags on for many years, and as a result, reproductive function is losts.”

    https://twitter.com/samberkhead/status/1724182098460713076

    Despite its last-minute scheduling, the meeting at a bookstore in Russia’s westernmost city of Kaliningrad still drew about 60 people, with many outraged by a lawmaker’s efforts to ban abortions in local private clinics.

    The weeknight turnout surprised and heartened Dasha Yakovleva, one of the organizers, amid recent crackdowns on political activism under President Vladimir Putin.

    “Right now, there is no room for political action in Russia. The only place left is our kitchens,” Yakovleva, co-founder of the Feminitive Community women’s group, told The Associated Press. “And here, it was a public place, well-known in Kaliningrad, and everyone spoke out openly about how they see this measure, why they think it’s unjustified, inappropriate.”

    https://apnews.com/article/abortion-russia-women-rights-feminism-fc5eab75b5e3d028aeb1f70ec8a9a2b1

  11. Francesca 11
    22 November 2023 at 8:24 pm

    This kind of shit doesn't help

    Ex Obama official harassing a food vendor

    • joe90 11.1
      23 November 2023 at 8:04 pm

      Seldowitz was a 30 year career public servant, a Deputy Director in the US State Department's Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs from 1999 to 2003, and worked for three presidents but sure, the black guy.

      /

      • Francesca 11.1.1
        24 November 2023 at 7:18 am

        What on earth is your point Joe.?

        What black guy?

        Anyway he’s been arrested for hate crime , but sure, the black guy?????
        Aah , I see , You’re talking about Obama, the most recent president he worked for .Somehow you’re attempting to insert a sly little suggestion of racism?
        The racism is all yours mate , Obama’s policies were more meaningful than his skin colour

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    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 hour ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    19 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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. ...
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    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. 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 kōrero 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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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    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
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    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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