Open mike 22/12/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, December 22nd, 2019 - 91 comments
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91 comments on “Open mike 22/12/2019 ”

  1. dv 1

    GEEZ Some aussies!!!

    They need to look out their window!!!

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12295998

    "Tens of thousands of Aussies are lapping up a "ridiculous" conspiracy theory — that climate change is a United Nations-led hoax to aggressively depopulate the world.

    Social media platforms are being used to push the theory, known as Agenda 21, and, in the past four weeks alone, hundreds of Australians have engaged in posts about it.

    The bulk of Agenda 21 conversations are on mainstream platforms Twitter and Facebook — where tens of thousands of Aussies have liked and followed Australian-based pages dedicated to the conspiracy.

    • Andre 1.1

      Sadly, several commenters have seen fit to post Agenda 21 fruitloopery on this site. Fortunately the pushback is usually swift and firm.

      • Sacha 1.1.1

        Also popular amongst some of the anti-cycling nutters of Westmere. Foil-lined cowboy hats.

      • Bazza64 1.1.2

        When @One Two’s 3 month ban is lifted he will be back to enlighten us about Agenda 21. I have to say I miss his unintended funny posts (if you can call them that)

        • Andre 1.1.2.1

          I don't think One Two has identified their gender here. If I had to guess from the content of their comments, I'd be more likely to guess she than he.

          I did a quick search for "Agenda 21" on this site and One Two didn't appear in the results. But maybe they just haven't got around to it yet.

          And yeah, their posts are funny. Until they get to the point of where they might contribute to causing actual harm to vulnerable people.

        • Incognito 1.1.2.2

          FYI, bans are not lifted as such because they tend to be for fixed period only with the obvious exception of permanent bans (although a general amnesty has been done here before; the usual suspects usually cop a fresh ban very quickly as the suckers can’t help themselves). Under exceptional circumstances, a ban is lifted or shortened; all this generates more work for Moderators. The commenter in question is currently not banned.

    • Grafton Gully 1.2

      Cool stuff !!! Goes with Area 51 and Room 401 probably heaps more too – reveals something about the standard caucasian brain programme ?

  2. pat 2

    Wolf begins his remedy article:

    “ ‘It is clear then that . . . those states in which the middle element is large, and stronger if possible than the other two [wealthy and poor] together, or at any rate stronger than either of them alone, have every chance of having a well-run constitution.’ Thus did Aristotle summarise his analysis of the Greek city states. The stability of what we would now call constitutional democracy depended on the size of its middle class. It is no accident that the US and UK, long-stable democracies today succumbing to demagogy, are the most unequal of the western high-income countries. Aristotle, we are learning, was right.”

    A chart accompanying the article shows the five most unequal economies in the world (in terms of disposable income after taxes and cash transfers). They are, in order, the US, South Korea, the UK, New Zealand and Spain. Ours is the best functioning of those five democracies. But rising tensions will sorely test us in our general election next year."

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/12/22/957029/2020-around-the-corner

    The chart's (behind paywall) origin would be interesting as the GINI would indicate otherwise but the general thrust of the argument would be logical

    • pat 2.1

      No paywall

      https://www.ft.com/content/4cf2d6ee-14f5-11ea-8d73-6303645ac406

      g

      "Fourth, inequality. As Aristotle warned, beyond a certain point, in­equality is corrosive. It makes politics far more fractious, undermines social mobility; weakens aggregate demand and slows economic growth. Heather Boushey’s Unbound spells all this out in convincing detail. To tackle it will require a combination of policies: proactive competition policy; attacks on tax avoidance and evasion; a fairer sharing of the tax burden than in many democracies today; more spending on education, especially for the very young; and active labour market policies, combined with decent minimum wages and tax credits. The US has poor labour force participation of prime-aged adults, despite unregulated labour markets and a minimal welfare state. It is possible to have far better outcomes."

      and the chart

      Chart showing that The US and UK are league leaders in inequality.  Inequality of household disposable incomes after taxes and cash transfers (2016)

      • Sacha 2.1.1

        Interesting how even the Scandi nations are nowhere near zero.

        • pat 2.1.1.1

          we will never have zero inequality and the Scandanavian countries are far from perfect but its a question of aiming for the best possible outcomes

        • McFlock 2.1.1.2

          Math tends to hurt my brain, but I suspect it's one of those things where approaching the extremes has an exponential effect on the ground.

    • Ad 2.2

      Oram is lovely, but simply two lines on two good companies and then throwing in a GINI coefficient is no way to propose meeting a new decade differently to the previous one.

      It's also fine to point to our shrinking middle class. But Oram doesn't propose how to expand it here.

      As for starting by complaining about the Nats and praising our high-functioning democracy, it is entirely possible that our electorate will conclude that this lot are great at the media but have simply failed to deliver – and so they get chucked out.

      There is little cause yet for optimism that this government will be re-elected to help us face a new decade differently. They have 9 months left to convince.

      • pat 2.2.1

        there is a lot in what you say to agree with,,,and I like Oram (which may colour my view) but believe him a little utopian (or naive if you prefer)….but in terms of the political you may well be right , hence my later post…there is I think a relatively simple solution but it requires distillation (and salesmenship)

        and the 9 months may be a little too fast but certainly over the next electoral cycle

  3. Chris 4

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118395969/turnardern-man-behind-hiding-campaign-says-pm-is-wasting-time-on-fluff-articles

    This guy Colin Wilson obviously thinks that PMs have to look a certain way and if they don't they're clearly something else. Not surprising that for him Ardern must therefore be a model and can't be a successful PM. It would be good if such as approach didn't matter but it does because after what happened to Corbyn this sort of thing can so easily get out of control. Bridges not being capable of an original thought will be thinking what happened to Corbyn is a gift from God. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come over the coming months and the media see it this sort of behaviour for what it is. It's a major worry.

    • Wensleydale 4.1

      So… a band of grown men are wandering through shopping precincts turning over books and magazines featuring the likeness of Jacinda Ardern? And they presumably believe they're making some sort of point (other than "Look at us behaving like infants!")?

      Christ on a bike. I loathed John Key with a passion bordering on the religious, but I never took it upon myself to scuttle about in shops deliberately hiding his smirking visage from the general public. Kids, whenever someone tells you to 'respect your elders', don't. Your elders are likely partisan muppets who soil themselves in abject terror whenever confronted by women in positions of authority.

      Colin Wilson, you're a profoundly sad man.

      • Peter 4.1.1

        The man's just another genius. He and the rest of them apparently have copies of Ardern's daily schedule. That means they keep telling us she spends all her time flitting from one photo op to the next and doesn't actually 'do anything.'

        At least while he and they are pointing that out they're not telling us that teachers work from 9.00 'til 3.00, and then only for half the year, with just 20 kids, are all on $100,000+ and have no accountability.

        • A 4.1.1.1

          Or harassing some other female in their lives – wild guess, I'm thinking these guys are lifetime batchelor types or divorced.

          • Incognito 4.1.1.1.1

            He’s probably the salt of the Earth but misguided (or misled?). If he’s married, his wife is probably happy that het gets out of the house and does his thing. Other guys go fishing or golfing. This way, he gets a full-body workout plus social contacts for free and the satisfaction that he’s doing something right.

            • Sacha 4.1.1.1.1.1

              He will tell you all about it over a warm beer. His shout. Wait, where are you going? Your hair looks clean enough already mate.

            • Chris 4.1.1.1.1.2

              The first thing that came to mind after seeing this was the way the media dealt to Corbyn. Bridges and the nats will be preparing to do the same thing to Ardern and attacks like Wilson's are squarely in that vein. I hope Labour and the rest of the government are able to successfully counter this, and that the media is able to spot such a disingenuous strategy.

      • Roflcopter 4.1.2

        Back up a bit there…

        a) not just men doing it.

        b) you might not have scuttled about hiding John Key books, but plenty of others did.

        Those 2 points render the rest of your analysis as, basically, a bunch of emotive crap…. as per usual.

        • McFlock 4.1.2.1

          these folk hiding JK books, did they "report back to Team Leader"? lol

          • Sacha 4.1.2.1.1

            All those news stories about emerald stormtroopers defiling dear leader's appearance on rugby magazines etc ..

        • Wensleydale 4.1.2.2

          A. Acting like a petulant toddler isn't gender specific. If women are doing it too… good for them, I guess? Next time I'll write 'men/women' although I suspect it'll disappoint the pedants because they'll have nothing to whinge about.

          B. If people really did wander the malls hiding books about John Key, they're equally sad. Life is short and you're wasting it hiding the faces of people you don't like. That's an impressive legacy to be leaving.

          And that's about all the emotive crap I have for you this afternoon. There's at least a 50% chance I'll have more tomorrow.

    • ScottGN 4.2

      It’s amazing how much media space this story has garnered. Some old loser men threatened by a woman spending their dotage traipsing into dairies to turn the mags around and it’s on all the NZ news sites.

    • Incognito 4.3

      'Die, boomer': Man behind bizarre 'Turn Ardern' campaign threatened online

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12296065

    • Stuart Munro 4.4

      I'm more concerned that this article, which was specious enough on RNZ, got recycled by Stuff. So some attention-seeking fwit wants to promote a hate message based on nothing he can articulate – where's the editorial taste and decency?

      • I feel love 4.4.1

        & also meh, book sellers are aware this crap goes on, minutes after these genius brainiacs turn a boom over they get turned back around. I imagine their antics have brought attention to the books and magazines.

    • NZJester 4.5

      They are regurgitating the right-wing lie that the Labour government has done nothing till now. The current Labour led government has done way more to date for the majority of New Zealanders in its short time in office than National ever did in its entire previous terms as the government. Only a small percentage of people had it better under the previous National govenment.

      • Sacha 4.5.1

        Yet the relative comms efforts this year would have the story round the other way..

      • Chris 4.5.2

        That's the scary thing here. Corban hates Jews and Ardern gets her photo taken. Watch Bridges' campaign strategy hit a new kind of low. The question will be whether the media plays ball.

  4. Fireblade 5

    It's a bit quiet, so here's a happy song.

    Beautiful Sunday
    By Daniel Boone (1972)

  5. A 6

    Ok…so the employer at Reporoa Holiday Park has been found guilty and part of the ruling is that they are banned from employing people for 18 months. This doesn't seem like much given the scope of abuse upon workers, including charging workers a $45,000 bond.

    We can expect more of this type of abuse if the consequence is a wet bus ticket. Those employees won't get any money they are owed.

    Guan was supposed to assist her application for her work visa after she started employment which did not occur.

    Instead her hotel manager job involved her working seven days a week undertaking gruelling tasks. She would be instructed to dig out thermal streams, clear bushes, clear blockages of toilets all without any money to show for it.

    "I was supposed to be staying in the hotel for free and getting two meals a day," she said. "I was given an English contract for $22 an hour. She says to me she does not even want to pay me $2 an hour for my work."

    Wang says she was barely able to get by with what little money she received. She had no car and had to ask guests for help taking her daughter to preschool.

    Guan also told Wang she had to repay her accommodation and the two meals a day which Wang says were supposed to be provided to her when she took on the job.

    "I had no money to pay and she had my $45,000 so I say she just has to take it out of that bond," Wang said. "I had no choice."

    • You import third worlders, they bring the third world with them – that's a given. We should stop being surprised about it.

    • Stuart Munro 6.2

      The comparison with Joanne Harris is apt: steal that kind of money as an employee & you'll get three years & change in jail. Do it as an employer and no actual punishment will occur.

  6. Exkiwiforces 7

    I think the folks from DoC’s High Country Fire Teams might’ve had struggle with this wee fire climbing a cliff face. They are pretty good at pumping water up hills and cliff faces, but this….

    https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/live-bushfire-updates-enormous-amount-of-fire-still-burning/live-coverage/937ff67aafd3105d3da9ab6a75233f43#

  7. joe90 8

    The party of ignorant, racist, conservative, anti-science, anti-women, rapture-ready talibangelicals.

    But HRC!

    /

    Six-term Washington state Rep. Matt Shea is accused of participating "in an act of domestic terrorism against the United States," according to a report released Thursday.

    Independent investigators commissioned by the Washington State House of Representatives found that Shea, as a leader of the Patriot Movement, "planned, engaged in, and promoted a total of three armed conflicts of political violence against the United States government" between 2014 and 2016.

    The report also concluded that Shea was involved in training young people to fight a "holy war." He created a pamphlet called Biblical Basis for War and advocated replacing the government with a theocracy and "the killing of all males who do not agree."

    Chat messages showed Shea, a lawyer who was first elected in 2008, condoned intimidation of opponents, political activists, government officials and Muslims. He also offered to conduct background checks on political opponents.

    https://www.npr.org/2019/12/20/790192972/washington-legislator-matt-shear-accused-of-domestic-terrorism-report-finds

    Just minutes after the release of an investigative report that accuses Washington state Rep. Matt Shea of engaging in domestic terrorism, his Republican House colleagues Thursday stripped his name and face from their website, moved his office and suspended him from their caucus.

    But they’re not ready to expel him from the Legislature. And Ammon Bundy, who the report accuses Shea of collaborating with, disputed its findings.

    https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/as-washington-rep-matt-shea-refuses-to-resign-ammon-bundy-challenges-house-report/

      • McFlock 8.1.1

        Sort of proves the point that three little letters will completely distract you from an elected official apparently engaged in domestic terrorism against his own government.

        • Incognito 8.1.1.1

          sex??

          • Sacha 8.1.1.1.1

            omg

          • adam 8.1.1.1.2

            What the crap – really – how stupid can you be Incognito?

            • Incognito 8.1.1.1.2.1

              You don’t want to know how stupid I can be as it is well beyond your imagination.

              If you cannot address the content, why don’t you stay silent? Your reflexive comments are of no help to anyone.

              • adam

                Your said somthing about me which was truly dishonest, and your resonspe is to tell me to shut up.

                Maybe you might want to have a look at yourself.

                • Incognito

                  I now see that I thought you were replying to another comment of mine. Never mind, it doesn’t alter my general comment to you.

                  As it happens, “sex” is one of the most distracting words in the English language and not just in the English language. As it so happens, “sex” is a three-letter word (cf. McFlock’s comment @ 8.1.1). How this says something about you that is truly dishonest, only you can explain because I don’t know you from a bar of soap.

                  If you get too easily distracted by three-letter words and flip your lid maybe you should count to 10 before you fire another salvo of misguided anger or just stay silent. Just saying.

          • McFlock 8.1.1.2.1

            But it did completely distract you from the bulk of the original comment.

            • adam 8.1.1.2.1.1

              Nope.

              Just tired of the tired meme – needs to stop.

              Begs the question – do you know how many members of the 4th reich are in the south island? Do you even know who they are? And are you aware who funds them?

              If that is indeed the topic. Is it?

              • McFlock

                lol It was pointed out to you that literally your entire comment 8.1 was in response to three little letters in a much longer comment about a republican legislator apparently being a far-right terrorist, so now you're Simon Wiesenthal. Defensive, much?

              • McFlock

                I'll also point out that my responses were in reply to the contents of your comments, if you're in any confusion about how to identify a topic. I don't know what SI nazi-adjacents have to do with any of the comments in the thread, but I hope the cops have a decent list of names by now.

                • adam

                  So your not interested in the content of joe90's post, but trying to slag me off is much more your point – is that it?

                  • McFlock

                    If responding to the actual contents of your comment is slagging you off, try to make better comments. If relevant replies to your comments bear no relevance to the comment you were replying too, take a punt at the cause.

                    I am saddened but not surprised that the repugs will not kick out a domestic terrorist (as long as he's alt-right, they think he's alright, I guess). But look at who they refused to impeach. The state representative is just another force vector in the ongoing high-speed car crash that is the USA at the moment. He's like the bit in the slow-motion footage where you can see a passenger's head bounce off a steel pillar.

                    What are your thoughts on Shea? You still haven't actually said anything about him, either.

                    • adam

                      My point was, why are you talking about the US when we have a very similar problem here. See first link. I also remember many skinheads joining the police in the 90's, so I'm not sure the police are the answer to this problem of far right violent politics.

                      To respond Shea, he has the support of the paleoconservatives within the gop, and as such he's been in office for a long time. But the fact you can't work out I think he is scum – Is really your problem. As I've been pretty consistent anti-war and violence.

                      Mind you all statist seem to be infected with jinogist crap these days. Maybe you all think everyone else thinks like you?

                      That said, I do think we will be in some sort of ecofascism soon – as there is no organised left. Only pale imitations infected with liberalism.

                    • McFlock

                      If you know of any NZ elected officials with links to domestic terrorism, please report them to the police. There might well be some, but as yet I don't think light has been shed on any of them.

                      As for opinions that you believe are so self-evident they need not be expressed, why did you believe nobody knew you felt so gosh-darn strongly about hrc that you commented all about her rather than shea? One is an opinion you feel we should have inferred, the other is an opinion you express at the slightest excuse. As comment 8.1 deomstrates. As I pointed out in comment 8.1.1

                      You're obsessed with her. Merry Christmas.

  8. Billy 10

    You are all motherf******

    Smurfs.

    And that's why the Weatherman is bringing what he is bringing in 2020.

  9. Eco maori 11

    These companies owners are so short sighted the world is being poisoned buy there worship of $$$$.

    There are many examples of humans not caring about their environment or their mokopuna future's Collapseing into oblivion. Wake up you fools.

    The Plastics Pipeline: A Surge of New Production Is on the Way

    As public concern about plastic pollution rises, consumers are reaching for canvas bags, metal straws, and reusable water bottles.

    As public concern about plastic pollution rises, consumers are reaching for canvas bags, metal straws, and reusable water bottles. But while individuals fret over images of oceanic garbage gyres, the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries are pouring billions of dollars into new plants intended to make millions more tons of plastic than they now pump out.

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/61431-the-plastics-pipeline-a-surge-of-new-production-is-on-the-way

  10. Eco maori 12

    Some Eco Maori Music For The Minute.

    https://youtu.be/DgGr_n4fgyI

  11. Eco maori 13

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    That big car crash pile up looks bad in America.

    Go figure boris new girl friend is a computer analyst.????.
    I seen my nemesis score a own goal the other night they quickly stopped televising that story.

    Ka kite Ano.

  12. Eco maori 14

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    Its good to see the Whakatohea Iwi mussel farming is running great.

    We need go back to how we lived 50 years ago save reuse and have home gardens. I userly growing excellent vegetable but for some reason my vegetable have been failing so I don't waste my time. I know what the cause is.

    Ka kite Ano

  13. Eco maori 16

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    Hope they can get the rope off the Tohoroa paraao tail.

    The erosion in Port Waikato is part of Global warming sea level rising.

    I have seen trucks driving over the speed limit. All the more reasons to return our Railway back to its former glory it was a major employer back in the day.

    Ka kite Ano.

  14. Eco maori 17

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    Auckland City mission feeding 2000 people that's Ka pai.

    That's great pop up health clinics some people are doing it hard.

    The Australian Tangata Whenua need to get some compensation for the great losses they have had dished up. It good to see the koreo is starting to look promising on that subject.

    Cool to see Maori going to Tahiti to learn Waka building craft that's were the knowledge is.

    Racism rings in my taringa every day especially the sis bullshit lies show on there pakiha kehua FACES.

    Ka kite Ano

  15. Eco maori 19

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    That happened to my uncle in the states care.

    A bus driver who can't drive A manual vehicle.

    The government must ban the chemicals that are harmful to Bees.

    That's a great way to recycle abandoned tents from concerts send them to refugees in Greece.

    Ka kite Ano.

  16. Eco maori 20

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    The tourist should respect the Iwi of Rotokakahi Lake and stop swimming in the lake.

    Its good to see some brown Judges.

    I know what you say about Tamariki with no taringa Ka pai on you translateing a 100 puka puka.

    Ka kite Ano.

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    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te 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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

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

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

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

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

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

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

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

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

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

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

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