Open mike 23/04/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 23rd, 2019 - 77 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

77 comments on “Open mike 23/04/2019 ”

  1. Muttonbird 1

    Instead of obsessing about the already well off, perhaps this government should do what it said it was going to do and put a human face on today’s capitalism.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/community-groups-call-on-government-to-support-kiwibuy-low-income-home-ownership-schemes.html

    Who knows, they might even accidentally build some communities.

    • A 1.1

      Get into maximum debt right at the top or near top of the market? I get people are desperate for stable housing but this is not the answer.

  2. cleangreen 2

    Today’s viewing of RNZ, TV one + ‘Nubs hub’ showed no care for concerns about the looming climate change disaster that awaits us all.

    Pathetic display of our own Dr ‘scrooge” Grant Robinson claiming “we cant do everything at once, – it will take at least three terms”.

    He is an idiot as the sea is coming now to claim the coastal areas and will destroy all lives and properties well before his magic time of 9 years or more to change direction.

    Shallow man that must be sacked for his reckless lack of urgency..

    • Wayne 2.1

      Grant Robertson is right. It will take decades to fully implement a new style economy that doesn’t damage the long term climate.

      it means changing transport, agriculture and industrial production and energy generation. And both Labour and National have to buy into it.

      It is not going to be all done (not even all the policy settings) in the next 18 months, which is all that is left of this term. Actually more like 12 months. There won’t be a huge bunch of new policy after the 2020 budget.

      I note many on the Left are now crying out for radical change on climate policy to make up for the CGT decision. Basically the democratic equivalent of “let’s shoot all the landlords”. It rather ignores the fact that policies that are sustainable over decades need at least some form of consent from political opponents. Otherwise it all gets undone with a change of government.

      • Kat 2.1.1

        Wayne, I agree with you on your comments re the implementation of sound climate change policy. It will take time. The "many" on the left you speak of are only a few, or are you just referring to those who comment on TS.

      • cleangreen 2.1.2

        Wayne some of what you say is right but time is running out now and you can't stop the inevitable by saying "it will take 10 years as we don't have that time.

        I have seen Florida weather change dramatically during the 1992-98 years and in Europe too , and now here on the North Island east coast so we can't let it happen when we have time to slow the change now.

        If its money we can resort the the 'Reserve bank act' as a urgency need to print it now rather than later.

        • Wayne 2.1.2.1

          cleangreen,

          We are staying with friends at Whangapoua. I have just had a swim and gathered mussels off the little island off the beach. As I was doing so I was thinking just what an age old experience this is. Climate change seemed a million miles away.

          The sun and sea seemed to be just as I recalled it in my childhood in the 1960’s. And yes I do recall swimming at this time of the year. In fact for study for School C, I was sunbathing in the garden in October in Reporoa. Perhaps not the most efficient way of studying, but a fond memory nevertheless.

          It certainly does not feel like the “climate emergency” that has seized the protestors in London.

          • Anne 2.1.2.1.1

            Wayne, you know as well as I do that we live in a moderate marine environment that lessons the impact of Climate Change in the near future. In fact because we are surrounded by the moist and cooling influence of vast oceans we are likely to be one of the last countries (if not the last country) to feel the devastating effects of global warming. Indeed the first real signs are here, and I refer to the erosion of our coastline due to rising sea levels.

            Just because we can't feel anything much – yet – does not mean it isn't happening. This is the over-riding problem with society… too many people seem incapable of comprehending anything until it starts to impact on them. And when it does, they yell and scream and blame the government of the day when it was their ignorance which prevented governments from taking action in the first place.

            The signs are everywhere – I don't have to list them – and it can only gain momentum unless we stop bloody well emitting Co2 into the atmosphere at the crazy rate it is currently occurring.

            But you know the above so please stop playing it down and set an example as an elder statesman. It is here and the future of all flora and fauna (which includes mankind) is hanging in the balance!

            • Kat 2.1.2.1.1.1

              Anne, the one thing we could do right away is stop chucking crap into our waterways and the sea. Plastic and polystyrene used solely for throw-away convenience purposes should not be tolerated any longer. I would give Wayne some latitude regarding his comments on realistic time frames to implement serious and workable climate change policies. I would remind him though of the high levels of plastic particles in his mussels and other sea food in our waters that he may be ingesting.

              • Ed1

                Re plastic waste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqrlEsPoyJk

                I don;t know what my local Council does. If I don't know about what is happening now, should I worry about something that might not happen for 10 or 50 years? (I believe we need to take some actions quickly, but I don't know what those first steps should be – and I'm not prepared to say that our government (and yes it is three parties) is a failure because they haven't done it yet!)

            • Wayne 2.1.2.1.1.2

              Anne

              Not really disagreeing with you, though I do question the rate of change. For instance in Wellington there are a whole bunch of markers on the streets saying where sea level would be in 2030. I think they put there in the early 2000’s. There is absolutely zero chance of the sea level reaching the levels. In fact it will be hardly any different from the levels when the markers were first placed.

              One point that is unclear is whether there is a tipping point not far away from the present levels. And if it reached there are runaway effects that could result in huge effects within 50 or so years. The science on this is very unclear. So far only the extreme outlier models produce these effects. I know about the precautionary principle, but in my view the risks have to have a credible basis.

              I personally want Jacinda to be bold (but not extreme) on environmental policy, especially on water quality, species preservation and biodiversity.

              • Anne

                OK Wayne that's fair enough. And yes, I agree with your final paragraph.

                However the situation in continental countries is far worse than in NZ and it is going to take extreme measures to remedy – if indeed they can now be remedied.

          • greywarshark 2.1.2.1.2

            Wayne that is such a facile comment from you at 2121. I am surprised that you could put up such a one; it verges on climate denial attitudes. If we have good weather and can enjoy environmental pleasures of yesteryear that's lucky for us.

            Can you try and keep up with the play, stay in the now at the same time as remembering the past which is so sweet. Keep that memory to fuel your present activities to limit climate change effects now, which may give us more time to make changes to cope with the destructive weather patterns that will change everything for everybody, including NZ. What are you doing towards that yourself?

            There are manifold ways – I was today looking at a protest against our casual way of buying cheap clothes and chucking them. The person was raising money for a union in Bangladesh – they are helpful at agitating for better conditions for workers.

            http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1904/S00110/damning-report-warns-environment-in-serious-trouble.htm

      • Augustus 2.1.3

        So we're actually quite entitled to have asset sales undone, given that they had no form of consent from political opponents.

        • Sacha 2.1.3.1

          May have to de-privatise the power companies and AirNZ to help the nation fix climate damage.

      • Sacha 2.1.4

        “It will take decades to fully implement a new style economy that doesn’t damage the long term climate.”

        We do not have decades. Guess that makes the required changes ‘radical’. As is choosing to do nothing.

        • cleangreen 2.1.4.1

          Sasha Wayne Mapp is obviously thinking climate change is not here.

          Best talk to a post and we may get more sense here.

      • gsays. 2.1.5

        In respect to the main parties coming to a consensus I am curious as to how this happens.

        Is it for the governing crowd to approach the opposition?

        Is this left to minions or are the ministers the driving force?

        Genuinely curious and am keen to know if there has been this sort of thing before.

        I get the changes to gun laws were essentially unanimous but that was an exception.

  3. cleangreen 3

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1904/S00229/call-government-for-oecdwhoeu-standards-for-traffic-noise.htm

    Politics

    • Politics

    Call Government for OECD/WHO/EU standards for traffic noise
    Friday, 19 April 2019, 6:31 pm
    Press Release: Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre

    CEAC/ residents seek health/wellbeing protection by adopting OECD/WHO/EU urban traffic noise standards.
    Confirmation from several reports both from NZTA/Transit-NZ acoustical consultants have since 2001 warned residents that heavy traffic levels coupled with raising busy roads over residential zones will “lift the noise level”. (See Traffic effects) : FHWA Website on Highway Traffic Noise below the end of this report.
    This may affect most regions of NZ today with high truck freight movement through residential zones.
    This issue was raised to Napier residents in a report as long ago as 2001 when a “flyover” ‘overbridge’ on HB Expressway was built over several Napier residential suburbs of Greenmeadows East, Tamatea, and Pirimai.
    In the press release from ‘Transit NZ’ featured in the local paper ‘HB Today’ on Friday June 22nd 2001 an article appeared in the press under “Flyover will lift noise level; report.” The article showed the traffic levels then would increase but noise levels would stay; – quote; ‘within their guidelines’ apart from two small groups of houses in two residential areas of ‘Downing Avenue, and Hamlin Place’.
    • Today in 2019 (18 years later).
    • the rail has almost stopped moving freight
    • so the truck traffic has massively increased and all traffic volumes have trebled
    • This has caused many negative noise and pollution impacts to resident health and wellbeing causing complaints from all residential zones near the HB Expressway.

  4. gsays 4

    Morena all, on my Huawei phone, I am having trouble replying to comments.

    When I click on reply, the cursor starts in the 'Name (Required)' field, and my phone keyboard pops up.

    My name and e-mail are autofilled and when I click on the 'Your comment' field, the keyboard on the phone disappears.

    Any help is greatly appreciated.

    • Craig H 4.1

      Same issue for me – I am posting this on a laptop, but when I originally tried to reply on my Samsung Note 9 using Chrome mobile, the Your Comment field could not be clicked into. Had the same issue on a Samsung Galaxy Tab A also using Chrome mobile.

      • Incognito 4.1.1

        Test reply on ancient cellphone.

      • Incognito 4.1.2

        I had no problems, as you can see @ 4.1.1 with an old Samsung and using Chrome. I even used the old way of commenting/replying without logging in.

  5. Muttonbird 5

    Hamster needs feeding.

  6. Muttonbird 6

    I remember the argument in the court of Jong Kee and friends for the incarceration of Kim Dotcom on piracy charges. He was to be held accountable for failing to take down content from his site when in breach of copyright. He was to be held responsible for what was on his website, full stop.

    Why then is Mark Fuckerberg not held responsible for what is on his website? This evil robotic freak is still peddling the Christchurch murderer's video for new right wing recruits to learn from.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12224469

    • gsays. 6.1

      Isn't blaming Zuckerburg a bit like blaming Kalashnikov for the damage done by AK 47s?

      Really it is the users of FB that deserve yr vitriol.

      The enablers.

    • David Mac 6.2

      Facebook content is willingly provided free by participants.

      Warner Bros did not upload their entire back catalogue onto Mega Upload. It was stolen.

      Kim got rich selling someone else's stuff. Zuckerberg got rich selling his own stuff.

      I agree with gsays, Facebook is just a tool, we’re operating the tools.

      • David Mac 6.2.1

        Dotcom's big prob is not pinched files on his website. Utube is awash with Disney. He has fallen foul of the federal laws introduced to collar organised crime groups, Gotti et al.

        Dotcom romped all over his pirate competition because he offered financial rewards to those studious folk that uploaded lots of quality content and in doing so picked up the racketeering component of the charges he faces.

        For obvious reasons, they are a set of laws that are not easily discounted by big dollar legal representation.

      • Incognito 6.2.2

        KDC pissed off the wrong guys and didn’t donate (enough?) to the right political friends at the time.

        FB is more like a tool shop where the shopkeepers know way too much about the tool-time (online behaviour) of its customers and it is willing to ‘sell’ dangerous tools to deranged customers who don’t give a toss about other customers.

        • David Mac 6.2.2.1

          Bribed politicians couldn't of fixed Kim's woes. The handful of people that control the content he had on his site want his head on a plate. The racketeering component gives their case teeth, 4 dozen people that do bankroll political trajectories.

          Yes, Facebook is not free. We don't get to see the invoice but we pay it anyway.

          I agree with you re: They do have a degree of responsibilty for those using their tool. Just as Black and Decker are obliged to mount a sturdy guard over the blade.

          • Incognito 6.2.2.1.1

            Nobody reads Manuals nowadays but they are full of warnings, cautions, and T & Cs. Legal protection for the manufacturer against the consumer. Caveat Emptor.

            Perhaps in the end the bribes donations would not have saved KDC but they might have avoided the Rambo-style raid on his home & family. Those moguls had even deeper pockets than he did. He was not squeaky clean, allegedly, but the stench coming from other quarters was almost unbearable …

  7. adam 7

    Muslim extremists attack Christians in Sri Lanka. I'm over the media calling them easter worshippers – what a stupid statement from stuff and the herald. Extreme right wing muslim hate groups killed people in pray – just like far right wing white nationalists did here less than a month ago.

    https://theintercept.com/2019/04/22/when-christians-are-under-attack-muslims-and-the-left-need-to-defend-them/

    • RedLogix 7.1

      A very good read adam, thank you. Mehdi Hasan is a brave man for writing that.

    • greywarshark 7.2

      The media have a red button to push giving a list of pre-set headlines – probably about 10 that they can pull out and use for appropriate occasions. They have been tested by sociometric sampling checks so that each word carries a click-bait hook./sarc

    • David Mac 7.3

      Yes, I agree Adam, our media chuck petrol on the 'Us and them' fire.

      "My Easter worshiping wife died whilst waiting for her usual whole grain bread to toast at the hotel's all inclusive full breakfast in the 2nd floor restaurant…To be honest I'm buggered if I know what specific church she might be connected to. She is a much loved Mum, wife, sister, aunty…what matters more than that?"

      …I just made that up but sheeesh, it must be time we got a sense of…our Mums and brothers, each other, are more important than our spiritual pursuits. You and me should be the reason for our spiritual pursuits.

    • joe90 7.4

      . I'm over the media calling them easter worshippers

      Well, the wingnuts are outraged over HRC and Obama referring to the victims as easter worshippers.

      • adam 7.4.1

        Any other has beens who pushed neo-liberalism down our throat you wanna defend joe 90? I'm sure you must have missed some hack…

    • McFlock 7.5

      Fuck, I dunno. Maybe they reckon the US could do with less "Christians under attack" tiki-torchers.

      I genuinely don't know.

      On the one hand you're completely correct – these people weren't murdered because of their love for easter eggs.

      On the other hand, fucko mcbangbang hoped for lots more of this: "Christians" vs Muslims, then "Muslims" vs Christians, back and forth until one group of "nutbars" exterminates everyone else, Christian and Muslim alike.

      Depressing as fuck.

      • adam 7.5.1

        Did you read the link, he struggles with it too.

        My opinion is we call them all ultra conservatives, whoes take on their respective religious text is fundamentally flawed.

  8. Muttonbird 8

    Seriously, who from the socially responsible commenters on this site are going Green next year?

    Phil Twyford, the Housing and Urban Development Minister, said the rent-to-buy concept is part of Labour's confidence and supply agreement with the Greens, and that work is underway to explore options in that area.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/how-a-kiwibuy-scheme-could-work.html

    As I said earlier, it looks like Labour are obsessed with pandering to the wealthy after the Kiwibuild criteria locking out families under $120K and the weak backdown from a CGT.

    I won't be voting Green for their work on CC but I will be for their work in representing working people.

  9. joe90 10

    It's almost like he's got something to hide.

    https://twitter.com/ZoeTillman/status/1120396420496920577

  10. greywarshark 11

    What happened between 10 am and 2pm with The Standard today? I hope GCSB? isn't hacking us or something.

    • Muttonbird 11.1

      I commented freely on an iPhone 5 with iOS 10.3.3.

      Sometimes old tech is good tech.

      • greywarshark 11.1.1

        Great. I'll stick to you to explain things.

        • Dennis Frank 11.1.1.1

          Something weird was going on. I didn't post today but a couple of times took a look to see if anything interesting was happening. Both times the browser (firefox) arrived at the web location, but the Standard presented me with a totally blank page.

          I did wait a wee while to see if there was a text-lag, but nothing showed up. Wondered if maybe the server was having a zen day, or something. I'm not oriental enough to meditate on a blank page for longer than about 15 seconds, too impatient.

        • Incognito 11.1.1.2

          Yes, it was down for me too for a big chunk of the day. Never mind, I got some chores done.

  11. A 12

    More on the realities of recycling – not the guilt free image you were hoping.

    https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/national-sword/

    • David Mac 12.1

      I agree A. Offshore people labouring with our garbage for $1 a day is fast being phased out. January before last China stopped accepting previously empty returning containers chokka with empty Coke bottles. Malaysian officials have declared 'No more'.

      We're learned to be so studious with our recycling and in many locations, it's being bulldozed into landfill with everything else.

      I think our Green Party should be acting now. Before journalists start with their "Hey folk of provincial town X, you know your recycling, here it is at the blade of the bulldozer with your general waste." stories

      Make turning PET bottles into pellets a viable business. Make turning old paper/board into new cardboard worthwhile.

      • David Mac 12.1.1

        A friend of mine in Brisbane worked at a recycling transfer station, she stood beside a conveyor belt and plucked clear PET bottles from the passing array for 40 hours a week. Her crew had injected a degree of intrigue into their mindless task by indulging in the promotions that soft drink companies often run 'Collect all the Broncos and send the labels in', find the Schweppes label with the X etc.

        They found a worthwhile profitable way to have fun with a mindless grind of a job….robots should be doing that, and unscrewing the caps.

        • David Mac 12.1.1.1

          Andrea has a large collection of what was hip in 1999 with beverage branding cast into it. Booze stuff too. Her crew shared the booty. Today it's interesting and worth not much.

          Neat legacy, worth not much today but could feather her Grandaughter's nest.

        • greywarshark 12.1.1.2

          Robots should be doing that – common from disconnected people on a higher plane. And can be countered by paraphrasing that remark from a minister about the unremitting advance of Nazidom on the good people both German and Jewish – first they came for one group, then for another, they werenss't my people so I didn't think about it too much, then they came for me.

  12. Gabby 13

    That darn cat…

  13. Andre 14

    There's quite a difference in opinion between activist Dems and regular Joe Dems on who they want and who they definitely don't want. Polling the regulars consistently has Sanders and Biden at the top, but the list of who the activists would be happy with currently goes Harris, Booker, Warren, Buttigieg, Sanders and Biden don't appear until #7 and 8.

    As for who's not wanted, Gabbard is waaay out in front, followed by Sanders, Biden then Delaney. Going up from the bottom of the noooooo list is Harris, Booker, Castro, Warren.

    https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/we-asked-democratic-activists-who-theyre-backing-and-who-theyd-hate-to-see-win/

  14. Observer Tokoroa 15

    The NZ Labour Party

    Earth Quakes, Climate Change, Obscene Pollution (of all kinds, but especially water), Obsessive Trucking, Forest Fires, Quality Housing, Fair Pay, Reduction of Wealth via the well Funded.

    These are the Major Tasks of Governments here in new Zealand and in other strong Nations, worldwide.

    Unfortunately, the previous Government in NZ built no infrastructure, sold off housing, and allowed monstrously excessive payments to Landlords. The Previous Government Voted for Greed – and for nothing else. It allowed massive immigration. Shoved up every Cost it could!

    It will be the current Government's task to disallow Greed in New Zealand. I believe it will receive a strong mandate to return Money and Property to civilised achievable distributions.

    The skills of New Zealanders, especially the young persons will deplore John Key's casting them off as useless. He had 9 years to get them highly skilled. But he scuttled off to Hawaii. Billy English also called the young Useless. He will pay dearly for that.

    New Zealand under this Government will be a place of Quality! of Hard Work. of Accomplishment. National is not Viable

    I don't know if NZ First is viable. I doubt the Greens know what their is all about, for they are not trained in skills. They are trained in endless words. But who knows.

    Perhaps NZ First and the Greens can turn themselves around and realise that Parliament is about WORK – not about sham nonsense.

    Lets Do it. We must Do it – We are Labour.

    • Muttonbird 15.1

      OT. Labour seem timid to me. They seem to be forever offering a servant's hand to the wealthy lords for fear of annoying them.

      I have to hand it to the Greens. While you are right they untrained, they do have unshakable principles.

      Labour is lacking in unshakable principles right now.

  15. greywarshark 16

    People went to the British Museum 2018 to look at the BP Scythian exhibition of a culture around 900-200 BC with artifacts that have come from Siberia.

    Their was also a clever protest at the way that BP was fouling parts of the far north where they have oil interests. Creative intervention in the British Museum against BP's Russian oil spills

    About the Scythians (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-vrk8R1tuI

    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE9KBPk-jXI

  16. Muttonbird 17

    Peter Jackson goes full Penny Bright, bless her.

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/112200571/peter-jackson-to-council-open-your-books

    Anyone get the feeling Peter Jackson thinks he owns this peninsular?

  17. Muttonbird 18

    A bit late for Plunket to be coming to the aid of the Prime Minister after attacking her in the same manner as Hopkins for months previous.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/sean-plunket-blasts-katie-hopkins-over-jacinda-ardern-tweet.html

    Fuck off, Sean. You are Hopkins.

  18. lprent 19

    New SATA card is in place and (finally!) performing well. I have been stressing it this evening. Had some problems installing the card because I'd been running the system in UEFI compatibility mode and needed to switch that off before the SATA cards HII system could express itself from the bowels of the UEFI system. Please ignore that sentence if it sounded like acronym city. Unfortunately I can't afford the essay time to explain what it means. Opps – yes I can -there is a wikipedia overview

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

    The blank pages that some got today were a separate problem caused by the javascript minify in w3 total cache.

    It is a bit of a pity that I've had a cold over the last few days. Winter caught up with me as soon as I managed a few days at home.

    • Jenny - How to get there? 19.1

      Bummer. Sorry to hear about your cold.

      Ta for the explanation.

      I had been trying to make a few comments and put in a few links regarding leadership, but had been having some trouble. Luckily learning from bad experience, I had pasted and copied them before pushing the 'Submit Comment' icon. And so they weren't lost. Maybe I could stick them down here, and someone might notice them.

  19. Jenny - How to get there? 20

    Nope. No luck.

    Must be a problem at my end.

    This site can’t be reached The connection was reset.
    Try:

    Checking the connection
    Checking the proxy and the firewall
    Running Windows Network Diagnostics
    ERR_CONNECTION_RESET

  20. Jenny - How to get there? 21

    Nope, failed again

    It seems any comment containing a link is rejected, resulting in this error message:

    This site can’t be reached

    The connection was reset.

    Try:

    ERR_CONNECTION_RESET

    Will try again. Maybe just the link alone, without comment.

  21. Eco Maori 23

    Kia ora The AM Show.

    He looks just like his Dad.

    I am backing Cortez to win the American elections.

    As for brexit Eric its a big MUPPETS SHOW a distraction from the reality climate change is the biggest issue for our future tamariki .

    Those survival suites are good the only time I used one was a exercise I did see a Great Shark thrashing around eating a seal tho a couple of times .

    It would be good to have the story of the NZ Wars taught in all NZ schools Phil served the league club for years Ka pai Some people just don't no how to love and care for animals that America lady throwing those poor puppies into a Rubbish dum star Ka kite ano

  22. Eco Maori 24

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.

    https://youtu.be/ktvTqknDobU

  23. Eco Maori 25

    It's a crying shame to see all the plastic waste poisoning our Oceans and wild life its time to value our decendints future and do the correct things to leave them a better future than we HAVE.

    Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans costs society billions of dollars every year in damaged and lost resources, research has found.

    Fisheries, aquaculture, recreational activities and global wellbeing are all negatively affected by plastic pollution, with an estimated 1-5% decline in the benefit humans derive from oceans. The resulting cost in such benefits, known as marine ecosystem value, is up to $2.5tn (£1.9tn) a year, according to a study published this week in Marine Pollution Bulletin.

    Plastic waste is also believed to cost up to $33,000 per ton in reduced environmental value, the study found. An estimated 8m tons of plastic pollution enter the world’s oceans every year. Ka kite ano P.S we need to love a respect our Tangaroa Seas our Tawhirirmate Environment links below

    https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/04/marine-plastic-pollution-costs-the-world-up-to-25bn-a-year-researchers-find

    https://youtu.be/1qT-rOXB6NI

  24. Eco Maori 26

    I see they found some old recordings of the Master Proffet Bob Marley in Britain from the 70s

    https://youtu.be/meKhfr_CjQ0

    His music rings so true to ECO. Maori link below Ka kite ano .

    https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/23/bob-marley-live-recordings-rescued-from-damp-hotel-basement

  25. greywarshark 27

    Boris Johnson's sister is part of a new anti-Brexit party Change UK. But one of the guys who had started it stood down quickly – an unfortunate tweet in 2017 sid he supported leaving EU because 70% of the pickpockets in the tube were Roumanian. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/23/change-uk-independent-group-launches-european-election-campaign-brexit

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/23/labour-says-theresa-may-unwilling-to-offer-key-brexit-concessions

    Labour are caught in Theresa May's knot. Trying to have a meeting with her determined to deliver Brexit somehow, if they raise points of order about anything they will be accused of dragging their heels or delaying tactics. What school did she go to I wonder? They turn out a determined little body with a programmed mind that always thinks along Conservative lines. Could there be a school that teaches just that way for the uppers? Or perhaps they all do at the 'public school' level.

  26. Eco Maori 28

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute

    https://youtu.be/h87cbH7Iogc

    Whanau I went into Vags for 5 minutes and I seen 15 actor trying to play ECO Maori YEA RIGHT

  27. Eco Maori 29

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.

    https://youtu.be/34Na4j8AVgA

  28. Eco Maori 30

    Kia ora Newshub
    I have been trying to get the TV guide TV 3 video going that’s all the sandflys can do .
    Its the correction of the house market in Auckland the house are expensive there.
    There you go Milisa a fuel tax does get people into buses and trains Ka pai to the Auckland Council for voting the tax in.
    Its a waste of time now having all the checks and audits on the Pike River mine scandle but its too late now the main evedince has been lost.
    Its cool that some people are cleaning up cemeteries we must learn to respect our tipuna .
    Climate change is having a bad effect on Alot of the beautiful creatures in the Polar regions this is just the start of animals being displaced by climate change andmmoving into suburba.
    Ka kite ano

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Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    43 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
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  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • 'Pacific Futures'

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