Open mike 22/12/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 22nd, 2022 - 36 comments
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36 comments on “Open mike 22/12/2022 ”

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  1. PsyclingLeft.Always 1
    22 December 2022 at 8:31 am

    An advertisement seeking baristas, kitchen and hospitality staff and cleaners over the two weeks from December 28 has been attracting widespread attention.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/130827499/mcdonalds-in-queenstown-pays-28-an-hour-for-new-staff–no-experience-necessary

    IMO : Personally…not a fan of Mcdonalds (or the other fast foods in general)….however, they are at least stepping up. Qtown ( aka greed capital NZ) is notorious as being one of the most expensive places to live…for those on the bottom rungs….IE hospo, cleaners etc etc; Hey, they need a LIFE too ! And…where the fuck do they live ? Is that Someone Elses Problem ?

    So…I wonder what the other Qtown places will say/do? The old "we need immigrants. Cheap ones too" ? I reckon. that’ll be the whine from now……

    • DB Brown 1.1
      22 December 2022 at 8:54 am

      I have a mate required accommodation around New Years for himself and a few other performers. They got a dogbox for $1500 for the night.

      There's a reason the working class are rare on the ground there.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.1.1
        23 December 2022 at 7:10 am

        Hospo employers, in particular, are wanting to ramp up for summer, McNaughton says, ‘‘but I don’t know how they’re going to do it apart from putting tents on people’s lawns, really’’.

        https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/it%E2%80%99s-just-nuts-workers-leaving-queenstown-droves

        Yep. Been decades in the talk zone…but no real action or AFFORDABLE housing…let alone rentals. As : Greed…. and all its associated shit just black holes any chance for change. IMO for ever. And the whine for cheap immigrant labour will carry on likewise. As if thats any solution. : (

    • Graeme 1.2
      22 December 2022 at 11:40 am

      $28 – 30.00 / hour has been the going rate for hospo for a couple of months, just this one ended up in a job advert.

      A friend's niece came over for the uni holidays and walked into her first choice cafe and asked for a job, once the owner picked herself up off the floor she had the kid on an immediate trial and hired by lunchtime. Yeah, and on $28/hr and loving it.

      Rental accommodation is hard here, it's always been hard and will always be hard. Many, many more people want to live here than there's places to live, so the price goes up. Would you work for $15/hr when you could work for $30 at the place next door, same with rentals, why would a landlord rent for $500/week when there's someone standing there who will pay $800 or $1000.

      Right now things a little bit different to 'normal' (if you can say that Queenstown ever has a normal) in that there's virtually no international backpackers who would had previously filled the hospo jobs. This may, or may not, be a temporary thing as most of the backpacker accomodation has been taken out by covid disruptions and may not be economic in Queenstown any more.

      This summer will be pivotal for a lot of businesses in town, if they don't make it work they will be gone with the consequential personal losses to owners, suppliers and staff. If Josh Emett can't make it work here things are more than a bit tough, and there will be a lot of very precarious situations around the town. Emmett would have been one of the better ones to have been able to voluntarily liquidate. Personally I know of one who is totally fucked, they are putting one foot in front of the other until either a creditor winds them up, or they can sell / find someone to take it over.

      • Cricklewood 1.2.1
        22 December 2022 at 8:11 pm

        That article re Josh Emmett was misleading at best he hadn't been involved in that restaurant group for quite a long time having sold his share.

        The actual restaurants he's involved with now are still very successful. Onslow and Oyster inn.

        • Graeme 1.2.1.1
          23 December 2022 at 2:06 pm

          Still 2/3 owner according to the same article, sure hasn't been a director since 6/20.

          Companies Office records show Go To Collection is 66.67% owned by Emett and Caulton’s company Mayfare. Other shareholders include the Edgar family company SIL Long Term Holdings, and Sir Stephen Tindall’s K One W One, each with 8.33%.

          The company’s directors are Caulton, Andrew Glenn, and Emma Hill. Emett stood down as a director in June 2020.

          They were two very busy restaurants pre covid. Not any more.

  2. arkie 2
    22 December 2022 at 8:50 am

    Not content with reducing obligations to ‘as low as possible’, DairyNZ wants to remove the ‘backstop’ that incentivises action before 2025, to be replaced with nothing::

    DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel said the changes were a step in the right direction, with the new plan much more closely in line with what the sector was wanting.

    But some areas still needed more work, he said.

    He wanted what was called the ‘processor-level backstop’ dropped. In that scenario, if a pricing system is not in place by 2025, emissions will be tallied up by processors such as Fonterra – which then splits the cost among farmers.

    …

    Despite the government changing tack and now pledging to set the levy price as low as possible, Federated Farmers said it was still too focused on using the price of methane as a “stick” to achieve reduction targets.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/481234/emissions-pricing-proposal-splits-farming-industry-opinion

    This is a further example of how deeply unserious these advocacy organisations are about ever doing anything regarding climate change mitigation. If we want change there must be mechanisms to ensure it, relying on industry to self-regulate has been a utter disaster for the planet. Carrot or stick, something must be done; Labour seems to have opted for the wet bus ticket, and we will all suffer for it.

  3. PsyclingLeft.Always 3
    22 December 2022 at 8:54 am

    Green MP and former Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage will not be standing at next year’s election.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/green-mp-eugenie-sage-retire-next-election

    Worn down/out? Other? I wonder who will step up? Hopefully someone Dynamic and Energising. IMO

    • Belladonna 3.1
      22 December 2022 at 10:28 am

      The retirement (at the next election) of Sage and Logie gives the Greens the opportunity to refresh their front bench, and give a very critical look at the potential new candidates likely to get into Parliament.

      I know this is driven by the membership – to a far greater extent than with other parties. It will be interesting to see their list for 2023.

    • Hunter Thompson II 3.2
      24 December 2022 at 10:54 am

      And (hopefully) we get someone who has a sound understanding of, and respect for, New Zealand's constitutional principles.

      Principles such as limiting the use of entrenchment provisions in Acts of Parliament so as to exclude policy matters.

  4. Belladonna 4
    22 December 2022 at 10:26 am

    An early Christmas present for the traumatized family being targeted by OT in their relentless campaign to remove 'Moana' (a healthy, happy little girl in a long-term foster placement) for the 'crime' that the foster parents are not Maori.

    The Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130835160/supreme-court-dismisses-moana-appeal-bid

    Hopefully this is the end of the sorry saga – and the family can retire to decent obscurity and get on with providing a happy home for Moana.

    Sadly – I think that the ideology-driven cohort fostering this challenge won't be deterred – and will take this to the Court of Appeal.

    • Anne 4.1
      22 December 2022 at 10:39 am

      So, the well being and happiness of the little girl is the last thing to be considered? Why am I not surprised.

      She has a brother who lives in Wellington. There is no reason why a line of communication cannot be established so that the children can keep in touch with each other. It could also be arranged they get to see each other. I mean such arrangements exist among children whose parents are separated.

      No, there is the closed mind among the sociopathic at OT who want to retain control over the children at all cost.

    • Anker 4.2
      22 December 2022 at 1:57 pm

      Excellent news Belladonna.

      The "ideology driven cohort". Indeed. I wish they would stop and self reflect and acknowledge that. after a horrific start, Moana is in the best place for her.

    • swordfish 4.3
      22 December 2022 at 7:00 pm

      .

      Ohhh, careful now … you'll raise the ire of the Critical Race Theory brigade … as you may know, these ruthless, self-righteous dogmatists wield "racism" smears like a full set of weaponry to enforce a very dubious suite of policies & close down any resulting critique.

      You'll be cast as Adolf’s reckless younger sibling by the fake “moralists” before you know it. Don’t support their crude deluded dogma ? … they’ll channel all their energy into making you a social pariah.

  5. Sacha 5
    22 December 2022 at 10:34 am

    Long may the scathing takes continue. Where would we be without twitter..

    https://twitter.com/Sputnik_Not/status/1605443738314182656

    • weston 5.1
      22 December 2022 at 1:59 pm

      " Where would we be without twitter " ?etc

      golly youre a brave chap saying stuff like that around here Sacha !! They,re all off to 'masterdon ' are'nt they ?!!

      Pretty dumb tweet tho imo the patriot missile system comes with a lot of inherent problems such as a large team of fairly highly trained operators needed for each emplacement and a world wide shortage of the missiles themselves apparently.

      Its not going to be a quick fix for Ukraines woes but i guess the 'optics 'will look good and will serve American desires to 'escalate 'rather well since presumably the nationalists will think they will then be able to strike deep within Russia or at least continue to hit Donetsk from a safe distance which atm the Himars are doing but probably not for very much longer !

  6. Robert Guyton 6
    22 December 2022 at 10:36 am

    "It’s stating the obvious, but it’s worth restating for the record: a large number of these occupiers were tragically unwell. But a smaller number were exploiting the gullible and the stupid for their own financial gain or personal glorification. The challenge for politics in 2023 is to ensure that these grifters cannot hijack the next election."

    The dark side haunting New Zealand’s politics in 2022 must not hijack the next election

    Morgan Godfery

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/21/the-dark-side-haunting-new-zealands-politics-in-2022-must-not-hijack-the-next-election

  7. Temp ORary 7
    22 December 2022 at 11:52 am

    The Fiji election continues to spiral into pre-civil war territory. I would be happier if the military would repeat their statement of non-interference, they have been a bit quiet of late:

    "Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama is still prime minister, please get that right. All the ministers … continue as ministers until the next government is appointed," Sayed-Khaiyum said at a media conference…

    He referred to comments made by outgoing Sodelpa general secretary Lenaitasi Duru that there were anomalies in the voting process.

    In a letter to the President of Fiji, Duru asked for the deferral of the sitting of parliament…

    Earlier that day, Duru told the media, he facilitated the secret ballot counting process and witnessed irregularities.

    "The quorum is made of 22 members … but present at voting was 30 of which four was non-compliant and some of those they were sitting there wasn't supposed to be voting," he said…

    On Wednesday, Fiji Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho said he had received reports of vandalism, particularly stone throwing following Rabuka's coalition announcement…

    FijiFirst was quick to claim these attacks as signs of instability that the country would continue to experience if the opposition coalition formed a government…

    The first sitting of parliament is yet to be announced and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says according to the constitution the latest the president can call it is January 2, which is 14 days after the return of the writ of election.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/481243/nothing-to-concede-fijifirst-says-election-can-only-be-decided-in-parliament

    Fiji First Party general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is also the Fijian Attorney General, and widely regarded as the brains of the outfit. He doesn't seem keen to go down without a fight. Additionally married to Ela Gavoka, the daughter of the former leader of Sodelpa (until a couple of days ago before the referenced coalition vote). Duru; the former Soldelpa General Secretary, was the one who sent notice to Gavoka that he was no longer leader (having failed to secure a majority in the election, and that a new leader wasn't due to be chosen till 2024), was then ousted from his own position the next day. After the 16 to 14 ("irregular") vote to back a; coalition government led by former coupster Rabuka, rather than a; coalition government led by former coupster Bainimarama.

    Where this is going to end has a lot of people (including Fijian immigrants to Aotearoa) very nervous.

  9. tsmithfield 9
    22 December 2022 at 3:42 pm

    Zelensky has just met Biden at the Whitehouse.

    After the meeting, Kylie Atwood, National Security correspondent at the State Department has tweeted:

    "Ukraine "has defied Russia’s expectations at every single turn" Pres Biden says. He adds that Zelensky is open to pursing a just peace but Putin is not, saying Putin has no intention of ending the war."

    So, it is very clear that Zelensky wants a peaceful solution to the conflict. However, the problem is Putin, not the Ukrainians.

    It is quite obvious that Putin does not want a peaceful solution considering that Putin appears to be preparing for a new offensive from Belarus and has been continuing to mass troops and equipment there over the last month. This is not the behaviour of someone interested in a peaceful solution.

    Since Putin appears to be the problem, I suggest that all of us who want peace and this conflict to end should get on board with sanctions against Russia, and should support as much diplomatic pressure being put on Russia as possible so a peaceful solution to this conflict can be found.

    • mikesh 9.1
      22 December 2022 at 5:14 pm

      So, it is very clear that Zelensky wants a peaceful solution to the conflict. However, the problem is Putin, not the Ukrainians.

      The problem is that what Zelensky considers a "just" peace entails Russia giving back all the territory she has gained so far, including Crimea. Well, the guy used to be a comedian; apparently he still is.

      • tsmithfield 9.1.1
        22 December 2022 at 6:56 pm

        At least he has a negotiable position. Putin not so much.

        There was a possible solution prior to Putin annexing Ukrainian territory. That would have been a land-lease arrangement that would have given both sides a good part of what they wanted.

        But Putin stuffed that possibility.

      • UncookedSelachimorpha 9.1.2
        23 December 2022 at 12:12 am

        "Russia giving back all the territory she has gained so far"

        'gained', that is a very sweet and cheerful way of putting it.

    • mikesh 9.2
      22 December 2022 at 6:37 pm

      Many a true word is spoken in jest.

      Zelensky says (or was reported on tonight’s TV1 News as saying) that it's in America's interests to continue supporting Ukraine!

      True. But probably not in the sense intended.

    • joe90 10.2
      22 December 2022 at 7:14 pm

      Rishi "this is a once in a generation opportunity for our country to take back control of its destiny" Sunak reckons public service pay rises aren't affordable.

      //

      2022 was supposed to be a year of recovery. Instead, we find ourselves in December, staring into the eyes of another recession.

      The war in Ukraine has brought us here, that’s unambiguously clear. The Russian invasion unleashed a surge in the price of energy which has trampled on the spending power of households and the profits of businesses.

      But in the background, the impact of Brexit is also being felt.

      […]

      Since 2018, John Springford at the Centre for European Reform (CER) has been modelling the economic performance of a UK that remained in the EU – using data from countries like the US, Germany, New Zealand, Norway and Australia, whose performance was similar to the UK’s before Brexit.

      The difference in performance between his “doppelgänger UK economy” and the real thing is stark.

      Mr Springford’s latest update estimates that Brexit reduced Britain’s GDP by 5.5% by the second quarter of 2022.

      Put another way, between April and June economic output was £33 billion lower than it would have been had the UK voted to stay in the EU, costing the government around £12 billion in lost tax revenues.

      In the year to the end of June 2022, Mr Springford estimates the tax loss at around £40 billion.

      https://www.itv.com/news/2022-12-20/brexit-costs-government-40-billion-a-year-in-lost-tax-revenue

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    3 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    3 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago

  • The New Government: 2023 Edition
    So New Zealand has a brand-spanking new right-wing government. Not just any new government either. A formal majority coalition, of the sort last seen in 1996-1998 (our governmental arrangements for the past quarter of a century have been varying flavours of minority coalition or single-party minority, with great emphasis ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago

  • The unboxing
    And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the tree with its gold ribbon but can turn out to be nothing more than a big box holding a voucher for socks, so it ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • A cruel, vicious, nasty government
    So, after weeks of negotiations, we finally have a government, with a three-party cabinet and a time-sharing deputy PM arrangement. Newsroom's Marc Daalder has put the various coalition documents online, and I've been reading through them. A few things stand out: Luxon doesn't want to do any work, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Hurrah – we have a new government (National, ACT and New Zealand First commit “to deliver for al...
    Buzz from the Beehive Sorry, there has been  no fresh news on the government’s official website since the caretaker trade minister’s press statement about the European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement. But the capital is abuzz with news – and media comment is quickly flowing – after ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Christopher Luxon – NZ PM #42.
    Nothing says strong and stable like having your government announcement delayed by a day because one of your deputies wants to remind everyone, but mostly you, who wears the trousers. It was all a bit embarrassing yesterday with the parties descending on Wellington before pulling out of proceedings. There are ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Coalition Government details policies & ministers
    Winston Peters will be Deputy PM for the first half of the Coalition Government’s three-year term, with David Seymour being Deputy PM for the second half. Photo montage by Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: PM-Elect Christopher Luxon has announced the formation of a joint National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government with a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • “Old Coat” by Peter, Paul & Mary.
     THERE ARE SOME SONGS that seem to come from a place that is at once in and out of the world. Written by men and women who, for a brief moment, are granted access to that strange, collective compendium of human experience that comes from, and belongs to, all the ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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