Open Mike 22/02/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 22nd, 2017 - 63 comments
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63 comments on “Open Mike 22/02/2017 ”

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  1. dv 1
    22 February 2017 at 7:30 am

    Starter for 10
    Who said this-

    denounced recent threats against Jewish community centers as “horrible” and “painful” and said more must be done “to root out hate and prejudice and evil.”

    • Bearded Git 1.1
      22 February 2017 at 8:43 am

      Its from Planet Trump.

    • joe90 1.2
      22 February 2017 at 9:35 am

      Trump, a day late and after he decided mollifying his alt-right extremist supporters wasn’t a good look, politically.

      • marty mars 1.2.1
        22 February 2017 at 9:39 am

        And trump has caused riots in Sweden – anti C ?

        • joe90 1.2.1.1
          22 February 2017 at 10:03 am

          I’m not quite with you there, Marty, but to clarify – Trump shows a real reluctance to even mention minority concerns.

          The White House celebrated Holocaust remembrance day without mentioning the Jewish victims, (the alt-right trope is other people died too so the Jewish experience isn’t particularly notable) and Trump neglected to even mention the Muslim victims of the recent Canadian Mosque attack, (damned Muslims are the real enemy) and he left it to his daughter to comment on the bomb threats against multiple Jewish community centres across the US.

          His silence emboldened those who took him at his word when he campaigned on the evils of political correctness and validates the notion, again, that it’s acceptable to openly despise people who aren’t like you.

          • Brutus Iscariot 1.2.1.1.1
            22 February 2017 at 10:20 am

            FYI here’s the text of his statement:

            “It is with a heavy heart and somber mind that we remember and honor the victims, survivors, heroes of the Holocaust. It is impossible to fully fathom the depravity and horror inflicted on innocent people by Nazi terror.

            Yet, we know that in the darkest hours of humanity, light shines the brightest.‎ As we remember those who died, we are deeply grateful to those who risked their lives to save the innocent.

            In the name of the perished, I pledge to do everything in my power throughout my Presidency, and my life, to ensure that the forces of evil never again defeat the powers of good. Together, we will make love and tolerance prevalent throughout the world.”

            Criticism of Trump misses the mark on this occasion – as far as i can see, this acknowledges the suffering of EVERYONE which includes the homosexuals, gypsies, disabled and yes, Jews that were killed.

            Basically the Jewish/Zionist lobby depends so heavily on holocaust guilt to promote their cause that they get upset when insufficient obeisance is paid to their historical suffering. Even though from an objectively humanist point of view, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Trump’s statement.

            • JanM 1.2.1.1.1.1
              22 February 2017 at 10:31 am

              I agree with you here – there were a number of groups who were the focus of the Holocaust and we are often in danger of forgetting that.
              It is actually an excellent speech, no matter who said (or wrote) it

            • joe90 1.2.1.1.1.2
              22 February 2017 at 10:54 am

              So the two thirds of European Jewry who were systematically exterminated didn’t rate a mention by the least anti-Semitic person that you’ve seen in your entire life because other people died, too.

              Righto…..

              • Brutus Iscariot …
                22 February 2017 at 12:36 pm

                No-one else got a specific mention either. He made a broad, overarching statement about the horrors of the Nazi regime.

                You WOULD have a point if he had mentioned all the other groups by name, and left Jews out.

          • marty mars 1.2.1.1.2
            22 February 2017 at 10:30 am

            Yep agree with you.

            I was just mentioning that trump says riots in Sweden and the next thing we have riots in sweden. Not really related to your point sorry.

            • joe90 1.2.1.1.2.1
              22 February 2017 at 11:54 am

              says riots in Sweden and the next thing we have riots in sweden

              Ah yes, I see.

              Rioting in Rinkeby does appear to be a local pastime, 2010, 2013 and 2017, but who’s to rule out some mighty fine ratfucking…..

      • Morrissey 1.2.2
        22 February 2017 at 9:41 am

        Trump’s “alt-right” (i.e., extreme right) supporters support Israel, but they are rabidly anti-Semitic, in the same way they are anti-Arab, anti-Iranian, anti-Mexican and anti-African-American.

        • Sabine 1.2.2.1
          22 February 2017 at 10:30 am

          its ok, he will make america great again. for all those that are not arab, not iranian, not mexican, not african american, not women – or at least women who are only a 1 – 9 on the trump scale of beauty, not christian – again only evangelics are good christians, not rich, not connected, not golf players. But hey, don’t call them out on that, that would not be polite.

          • Morrissey 1.2.2.1.1
            22 February 2017 at 11:46 am

            You live in the real world, Sabine, and you actually think about things. Trump’s supporters, on the other hand, do not….

            http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-supporters-see-a-successful-president-and-are-frustrated-with-critics-who-dont-20170220-guhd8y.html

            • Sabine 1.2.2.1.1.1
              22 February 2017 at 12:01 pm

              i don’t have an issue with his cult followers, that shit sandwich they are so eager to serve to those that they consider expendable will eventually served to them. Such is karma, and history books are full of it if someone cares to read.

              i have an issue with supposed sane people on the left supporting this fuckwit casue reasons, like he is not gonna start nuclear war with russia, and he is not corrupt like the others, and he is paying for his own ‘campaign’ and and and.

              i fucking pity everyone who will be in the cross hairs of the tea party and their pen. Cause that is all trump is, a pen. When he has served and has no more uses it will be either impeachment or resign for family reasons.

              Luckily for myself, i am a women who does not live in the US of this Arsehole.

              • Morrissey …
                22 February 2017 at 12:03 pm

                Who on the left supports him?

                • McFlock …
                  22 February 2017 at 4:38 pm

                  Anyone who wanted Sanders so voted for Trump out of spite.
                  Anyone who diligently spread lies about Clinton in response to truths about Trump was a trump supporter.

                  Whether they otherwise identified as “left wing” or not has more individual variability.

                  • adam …
                    22 February 2017 at 6:07 pm

                    Who are these mythical people McFlock?

                    • McFlock …
                      22 February 2017 at 10:40 pm

                      mythical.

                      Yeah, right.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 February 2017 at 11:01 pm

                      I’ll add the 50-odd thousand people who voted “green” in Pennsylvania, handing the state’s 20 electoral votes to Trump. Plus the 6,000 write-ins for Sanders in that state.

                      No, I’m not blaming them for handing trump the election. But they didn’t know beforehand whether those 20 EC votes would come in handy and still voted for Stein or Sanders.

                    • adam …
                      23 February 2017 at 12:17 am

                      I was a bit glib, sorry. My question is who at this point is doing that on the left? I’m not seeing anyone supporting him, except some wishy-washy types saying we should give him a chance – which I say he had his chance, and he chose a bloody awful cabinet.

                      You are speaking about a lost election, and blaming voters has never been a winner. Not for anyone.

                      I think you should blame the two party system, which puts up such revolting people. As you can’t expect people to eat a shit samwidge (sandwich) every election.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 February 2017 at 12:44 am

                      I don’t doubt that there’s a huge amount of buyers’ remorse going on, trouble is that the election was the last quantifiable snapshot of people aiding a right wing option while simultaneously aligning themselves with a fundamentally left wing position.

                      Like I said, I wasn’t blaming, just looking for clear examples.

                      It’s unlikely that all of them regret their decision, surely?

                    • Morrissey …
                      23 February 2017 at 6:23 pm

                      Should we be blaming the voters who were faced with the unpalatable choice of Clinton or Trump? Or should we blame those outstanding strategists in the Democratic National Committee?

      • rhinocrates 1.2.3
        22 February 2017 at 4:25 pm

        Meanwhile, Sean Spicer once again loses his temper and says that Trump is the real victim here:

        http://dcpols.com/sean-spicer-nothing-is-ever-good-enough-for-these-anne-frank-people/

        “Nothing Is Ever Good Enough For These Anne Frank People”

        Jesus fucking Christ.

  2. mauī 2
    22 February 2017 at 9:59 am

    Oh what a socially concious conservative government we have, keeping us safe and leading by their strong religious values… yeah right.

    New Zealand’s attempted suicide rate jumps 30% in a couple of years.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/89633923/police-default-mental-health-service-as-attempted-suicide-call-outs-jump-30-per-cent

    I will just say that if you are struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts do whatever you can to keep yourself safe and well. Stay connected, talk to a friend, talk to a stranger, going out and getting some fresh air, getting some exercise. Little things like that can break a negative thought pattern. There’s helplines to ring too of course.

    • Sabine 2.1
      22 February 2017 at 10:34 am

      and the help lines to ring have had their resources cut and so on.

      Depression is a nasty thing, first you don’t know you have it, then everyone tells you to harden up and get over it, and once you realise that you are affected you need to find a doctor that you can afford, who actually listens and does not tell you to ‘sleep well, eat well, and get out more! (which was said to me after massive surgery several years ago that affected and re-directed my life), but is actually happy to listen and then is happy to spend the time with you to help and figure out how to manage it.

      I follow Rats – riders against suicide, a group that works with youth predominantly and gosh everytime its another kid, and there are so many it just breaks the heart. The future of this country is committing suicide and very little is being done about it.

  3. joe90 3
    22 February 2017 at 11:01 am

    When eye of newt, and toe of frog ain’t going to cut it, you make shit up.

    .

    As the Wall Street Journal first reported (and as I’ve independently confirmed through my own sources), the Trump transition team instead ordered CEA staffers to predict sustained economic growth of 3 to 3.5 percent. The staffers were then directed to backfill all the other numbers in their models to produce these growth rates.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-team-is-already-cooking-the-books/2017/02/20/a793961e-f7b2-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html?utm_term=.a92138ddf129

  4. Ad 4
    22 February 2017 at 11:16 am

    If you would like commentary that puts together the economic policy appeal of a Trump presidency, in a manner that links together:

    – the 2008 recession and medium-length changes to GDP;
    – how fast and how far the dreadful collapse of work has been;
    – the accelerated divergence of an economy that produces massive wealth for its wealth-holders, while paying markedly less for its workers; and
    – an interesting section connecting health, wellness, the ability to work, the growth in recreational drugs, jails, and the economic legacy of incarceration, SEE:

    https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/our-miserable-21st-century/

    It’s not making that 20-20 hindsight case of Trump’s inevitability. But what it does do is flesh out the landscape beyond quick anecdotes about the rustbelt factories of the central-northern states, into something that shows an accelerated economic hollowing-out of America on a broad set of fronts.

  5. Morrissey 5
    22 February 2017 at 11:55 am

    So people fighting back against illegal occupation forces are “attackers” now

    How much more biased and misleading can the ABC get than this?….

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-22/israeli-soldier-jailed-for-killing-injured-palestinian-attacker/8291826

  6. Anne 6
    22 February 2017 at 12:04 pm

    Okay, so Trotter has a propensity for exaggeration but his latest epistle is worth a read:

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2017/02/littles-broad-church-widens-labours.html

    … there are many in Labour’s ranks who do not like the idea of the party once again becoming a “broad church”. How better to prove the unwisdom of Little’s policy than to orchestrate a week-long outpouring of protest against the Jackson recruitment, culminating in a falling-off in support for Labour – and Little – as measured in the oh-so-conveniently scheduled Colmar Brunton survey?…

    … the campaign failed to achieve its objective. Far from registering a falling-off of support for Labour, the poll revealed a small, but very welcome, rise in support. At last, Labour was back in the 30s – an important morale-boost for both the caucus and the wider party. The recruitment of Jackson and the selection of the former Police Association President, Greg O’Connor, had produced precisely the effect which Little and his team had be working for…

    … How many more percentage points might Labour have advanced in the Colmar Brunton poll had “discontented party activists” not spent the week prior to its execution demonstrating rank disunity and ideological extremism?

    Some words for some to ponder on including those mentioned in the article. Unfortunately they won’t…

    • Morrissey 6.1
      22 February 2017 at 12:21 pm

      Exaggeration is the least of Trotter’s failings. His condescending and inaccurate remarks about “Waitakere Man”—apparently working men, and in particular Maori working men, are too dim to think, unlike intellectual luminaries such as Chris Trotter and Jim Mora and Jeremy Elwood—make him signally inappropriate to quote for anything.

      And then there’s his carefully thought out support for Deep South lynch law….

    • weka 6.2
      22 February 2017 at 12:26 pm

      Yeah, but he’s telling lies about The Standard, so why should the rest of the conspiracy theory be believed? It might be true, but the lie still stands out.

      • Anne 6.2.1
        22 February 2017 at 1:15 pm

        @ weka
        If you don’t think there was an orchestrated campaign going on behind the scenes during the week in question then your knowledge of the Labour Party is scant. They (or at least some of them) invented such campaigns. The political countryside is littered with them over a long period of time!

        I have acknowledged Trotter is prone to exaggeration and certainly doesn’t always get it right. But this time he has got it right. Labour will never survive without being a broad church but there are some who are so blinded by their respective ‘bonnet bees’ they just can’t see – or don’t want to see – the damage they inflict on the party every time they go off half cock in public. They remind me of kamikaze pilots during WW2.

        • weka 6.2.1.1
          22 February 2017 at 1:21 pm

          Anne, I’ve already said that it might be true. I’m not part of Labour, so how would I know? But at least 3 people who probably do know are telling lies about TS’s role in that (Trotter, Harmen and I think Bradbury), and I think that’s not insignificant in evaluating what is going on.

          You yourself, who do have insider knowledge, have just sidestepped my point completely. Again, this doesn’t build trust.

          I personally don’t have a problem with Labour being a broad church, which is why (look it up), I’m on record as saying that my issue isn’t with WJ being part of Labour but how Labour handle it. I actually said that before any of this shit went down.

          • Antoine 6.2.1.1.1
            22 February 2017 at 1:34 pm

            Hey Weka

            People like Trotter and Bradbury do talk a lot of cr*p, I wouldn’t sweat it, life’s too short

            Also if you make a habit of doing what could be interpreted as criticising Labour on here, you are going to get some aggro from Labour people, again I wouldn’t sweat it

            A.

            • weka 6.2.1.1.1.1
              22 February 2017 at 1:44 pm

              Yeah, but as I’ve noted down thread, that’s not actually what’s been happening. There’s not a lot to be done about Trotter etc (and my time is way better spent on writing posts), but when regular Standardistas bring it up, I think it’s worth addressing 🙂

        • Jenny Kirk 6.2.1.2
          22 February 2017 at 4:37 pm

          and what’s more Anne, Little managed to “deal” to those involved with that orchestrated campaign – quietly, quickly, behind the scenes. The mark of a true Leader. Thank goodness. And about time !

          • Anne 6.2.1.2.1
            22 February 2017 at 5:30 pm

            Thanks Jenny. I’m getting heartily sick of the criticisms levelled at Labour and Andrew Little. It’s like there’s a game in progress on this site to see who can be the nastiest about Labour instead of concentrating on the real nasties, the Nats.

            The way Little handled the ‘campaign culprits’ was worthy of accolades – not criticism.

            • adam 6.2.1.2.1.1
              22 February 2017 at 5:51 pm

              Come on Anne, please.

              If labour actually had a economic policy that was different from nationals, I would never criticism them again. But in the real world and in political terms, political economy terms, the differences between labour and national are hard to find. And before you do the whole smug link thing, please note I read both parties policy on economics, and quite frankly liberal economics, is liberal economics, when it is liberal economics.

              The Tory scum are a terrible government, that is not up for discussion. What should be up for discussion rather than people getting abused or sneered at, is political economy. If labour party and there activists can’t handle that discussion, then maybe they should get out of the way.

      • Red 6.2.2
        22 February 2017 at 5:38 pm

        To be fair he only quoted Harmen re the standard, so can’t be lying

  7. Morrissey 7
    22 February 2017 at 12:17 pm

    The Arch-Terrorist Himself Comes Down Under

    Australia, which makes apartheid South Africa look humane, is laying out the red carpet for one of the worst human beings on the planet….

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-22/benjamin-netanyahu-arrives-in-sydney/8291846

    • tc 7.1
      22 February 2017 at 1:40 pm

      He’ll be right at home alongside malcom, tony, the one nation senators and hard right breakaways like bernadi.

      Strip away the veneer and you will find Oz is not bothered about human rights.

  8. adam 8
    22 February 2017 at 12:59 pm

    Class should be in the debate, because it is necessary. You don’t throw out other issues to talk about class. But you need to talk about class. We need to talk about class.

    • Siobhan 8.1
      22 February 2017 at 1:52 pm

      For a while there the average NZer (and American, and Brit…) thought that ‘working class’ meant you worked as a ditch digger or a washer woman, and that the fact you owned a big screen TV and could afford a car (albeit by incurring massive debt) meant you were ‘middle class’.
      The penny has finally dropped.
      I think, I hope, that ‘class’ will once again be an issue that people understand and discus. Without acknowledging ‘Class’ we are wasting our time trying to improve our lot in life.

      • adam 8.1.1
        22 February 2017 at 2:40 pm

        I agree, we need to talk about class, but not at the exclusion of everything else. It as a essential issue, we can’t pass it up.

        The worst part here in NZ is we have a very deep myth about it being a egalitarian society, like most myths, very hard to break down.

      • North 8.1.2
        22 February 2017 at 9:33 pm

        Spot on Siobhan. Your last sentence says it.

  10. weka 10
    22 February 2017 at 1:42 pm

    Violet, from here https://thestandard.org.nz/kaupapa-pakeha/#comment-1302361

    We all know, that in little NZ, blogs like TS are often referred to. We also know that one of the biggest arguments against the left in NZ is that they fight amongst themselves constantly, and therefore are not capable of governing the country. The constant criticism of Labour here over the last few months, feeds directly into that view. And yes, I know this not a Labour blog, that is really not the point.

    And as a reader for many years, I am sure this has been a relatively recent change. In the past, I have come to this blog to read a practical opposition to the government from a practical left wing perspective. Of late, it seems to be more often a fanciful view of what politics could be if everyone behaved in a way that is so far from practical reality.

    A couple of points. One is that the Labour-bashing was going on for most of last year. I spoke against it quite a few times. I’ve even written a post about that that I haven’t published yet. It’s been delayed because of the US election mess here last year, and then more recently because of all the hooha over WJ (I had it loaded and just about ready to go). So whatever changes have happened in the past few months that you are seeing, Labour-bashing is not new here.

    A large part of that was the fact that an author and prolific commenter had a lot of leeway here last year to Labour-bash. He’s not here now as an author and hasn’t been here as a commenter for much of the past few months either.

    I”ve just had a look through the posts tagged Labour, and apart from the Kaupapa Pākehā one and the Poto Williams one, there aren’t really any ones that are that critical of Labour. Back in early Dec there were some but they weren’t critical of Labour so much as responding to criticism.

    I”m not saying your perceptions are wrong, but that unless you can be specific they’re not that helpful in understanding what you mean or looking at what needs to change. I really like it when people talk about what works here and what doesn’t, so have it. I’d just ask that you give examples so we can know what you are referring to.

    • Antoine 10.1
      22 February 2017 at 2:23 pm

      I hear what you’re saying, and I don’t necessarily disagree with it, but I still bet there are a bunch of Standard readers who’re annoyed with you for being a Labour-basher

      A.

      • weka 10.1.1
        22 February 2017 at 2:28 pm

        Why?

        • adam 10.1.1.1
          22 February 2017 at 5:32 pm

          So what if people are offended or annoyed weka. Who cares if they have little hissy fits. There will always be a pernicious few, so ideology rigid to call anyone who can’t handle a open, free, and frank discussion, a splitter.

          A good example was the Poto/Willie argument. So quick were they to condemn her for critique, they missed that it ended up being a victory for her and Willie. That happens a lot here, people quick to judge, coupled with people not understanding some basics of politics.

          Me, I dislike parliamentary politics, it is a distraction. Plus it burns up the good people. I’d rather people got on with organising, and doing things outside the system to change society for the better.

          And as you know, this fetish of left right means nothing when people don’t understand economics.

          Personally weka, you have been doing a great job. Especially in difficult times.

          • Karen 10.1.1.1.1
            22 February 2017 at 5:54 pm

            “Personally weka, you have been doing a great job. Especially in difficult times.”

            I endorse this – I don’t always agree with Weka but I do think she is patient and fair under sometimes trying conditions.

  11. Anne 11
    22 February 2017 at 2:46 pm

    I am so disappointed that this blog has turned this way over the last few months. What we need now, is strong support for a change in government at the next elections. And no, that doesn’t mean no criticism of Labour. But the reality is, like it or not, Labour doing well in the upcoming election is crucial for a change in government.

    My sentiments too Violet. Thank-you for expressing them so well. I have yet to figure out what exactly has happened to TS over the past few months, but there is a sense of intolerance and a lack of respect towards points of view that don’t always fit nicely with what the majority are saying on this site. I say that with some reservation because it only applies to a relatively few number of commenters who happen to be more prolific contributors, and by no means are all of them are at fault. However if it continues, it will start to turn people off coming here.

    [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.]

    • Antoine 11.1
      22 February 2017 at 2:55 pm

      > a relatively few number of commenters who happen to be more prolific contributors

      Who are we talking about here?

      (Without wanting to get anyone moderated)

      A.

      • weka 11.1.1
        22 February 2017 at 3:06 pm

        That won’t get you moderated. I’d like to know too, because without people being explicit we’re just talking in riddles.

    • Anne 11.2
      22 February 2017 at 5:20 pm

      I replied to Violet who was just above me. Now she’s gone!! What the hell.

      A little of something I was talking about………

  12. adam 12
    22 February 2017 at 2:52 pm

    Oh look one more point where trump and co. believe their own lies.

    https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/02/17/20725/lobbyists-helped-bankroll-donald-trump-s-transition?

    Oh look the guy who was calling transgender perverts falls from grace because he is a major sicko himself. Arguing in favour of young boy and older men having sexual relationships. Mind you lets you how much the right wing are willing to accept; Racism, transphobia, and sexism – and of course just plain bigotry.

    That said could not have happened to a better Muppet. Calling Larry Wigmore dumb, what a smug little tosser, no wait – what a smug little pedophile.

    http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/2/20/14673036/milo-yiannopoulos-cpac-pedophilia-tape

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    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
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    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
    16 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
    19 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
    20 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
    22 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
    24 hours 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

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