Open mike 23/04/2020

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 23rd, 2020 - 77 comments
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77 comments on “Open mike 23/04/2020 ”

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  1. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1
    23 April 2020 at 6:34 am

    Give yourselves a morning pick-up – read what The Canary has to say about Jacinda and New Zealand.

    https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2020/04/21/people-are-talking-about-new-zealands-coronavirus-response-and-they-really-should-be/

    Not all the tweets are favourable, but most will bring a warm feeling of pride. We are so lucky to have Jacinda as our leader in this time of crisis.

  2. Sanctuary 2
    23 April 2020 at 7:58 am

    Fun fact: Mike Hosking refuses to mention Jacinda Ardern in his daily unhinged rants against the government. Go back, if you dare, and check.

    In the words of the guy who employed him, Bill Francis, he clearly has something "wrong" with him.

    I really, really don't get the Herald's marketing strategy. It puts its most worthless shit-reckons-as-opinion as free, then asks people who read that crap to pay for a subscription. And when that doesn't work, the Herald's management decide the answer is to block anyone who criticises on social media, sack all their half-decent journalists to save money and ask for taxpayer handouts.

    Such incompetent fuckers don't deserve government bailouts.

  3. ScottGN 3
    23 April 2020 at 8:29 am

    Soper’s had a similarly incoherent rant in the Herald today too. The simmering anger and frustration at the way the ancien regime has been upturned is quite scary.

    He’s launched into a strident defence of the Leader of the Opposition’s role to ‘oppose’ the government. And completely ignored the fact that, while that may be so, it’s Bridges’ combative and aggressive tone that’s letting him down, a complete inability to read, and adjust to, the mood of the country.

    Mr Soper clearly hasn’t got much of a read on the way the country is thinking either. Apparently we are a “fearful nation, cowed and forced into submission”, our democracy stifled by the evil queen wielding her iron fist from the bully pulpit everyday.

    National MPs, cruelly confined to idleness in their homes are, it seems, so brainless and lacking in discipline and terrified by the tanking polls that they can’t stop themselves from plotting against the leadership. A leadership team, he then goes on to claim, that they weren’t that enamoured of anyway.

    He finishes with what is becoming a hopeful, common trope for the right, when it’s all over and we’re picking our way through the rubble of the economy, we’ll have forgotten the deeds that saved the country and thinking only about our ruined prospects, turn on the evil queen who’s fault this must all be.

    • Sanctuary 3.1
      23 April 2020 at 8:57 am

      Soper rants are the musings of a past it journo, who no longer really quite understands the world beyond the cosy old boys club he complacently moves in. He is too old, too slow and too f*cking blind, to quote Al Pacino.

      More generally, we've had two revealing slips in recent weeks which should terrify anyone who cares about the future of this country. First was Michelle Boag, who apparently is still some sort of grand old dame of the National party, repeating the COVID-19 faux pas of Kelly-Anne Conway – “We’ve got to remember, this is Covid-19! Presumably there’s been 18 other coronaviruses, on the way to get to 19!” and then Simon Bridges garbled attempt to use a line from Trump about cure being worse than disease. Taken alongside national's aggressive social media strategy of relentless culture war mud slinging negativity – clearly inspired by the GOP – and it adds up to a main oppostion party that is increasing being radicialised by watching to much Fox News and reading too much far-right bullshit from the USA.

    • tc 3.2
      23 April 2020 at 9:07 am

      Grannys also pimping for national with a 'JK praises Luxon' piece. No reporter credited so management has spoken.

    • Gabby 3.3
      23 April 2020 at 12:28 pm

      Has Soapy Baz cried 'Liberate Auckland!' yet.

  4. Observer Tokoroa 4
    23 April 2020 at 9:00 am

    Sickening

    It is such a shame that NZs right arm is nothing but a little school girls' endless tweety screech.

    " Daddy I don't want Jacinda – please daddy – I hate Jacinda. Why do I have to have Jacinda – daddy ?"

    "Could you get me a new Car daddy and a trip to nice Mr Trump – Pleeeez Daddy!. You promised me daddy. " – and a Tennis Bat. "

    "And Daddy – could I sit on dear Mr Scotts knee again. He wants to take me on a holiday. "

    "Why is Mr Hosking such a dirty weasel Daddy. " He is slipping back and back and back and back Daddy ".

    Don't you worry Darling… Mr Hosking is not very well.

  5. anker 5
    23 April 2020 at 9:34 am

    I have considered subscribing to the Herald for the likes of Simon Wilson and Steve Braunias, but will never do that while Hosking still gets a column.

    The pandemic we are all facing has highlighted the complete waste of space of a number of opinion writers such as Heather DA, Soper, Hoskings etc.

    I am hoping that NZders are becoming more discerning in what they read after being exposed to scientists such as Susie, Mike and Shaun……..

    I note the plan B crowd (academics commenting outside their sphere of expertise and setting up a website and paying a pr company) were howling into their soup last week cause no one was listening to them…………..oh dear, what a shame. At a time when tertiary institutions will be cutting costs left right and centre, I still want to know where the money came from for the pr company and website

    • ianmac 5.1
      23 April 2020 at 10:02 am

      I seem to remember anker, an alternative group of academics who jointly disagreed totally with the Team B crowd. A valid response to Team B.

    • Incognito 5.2
      23 April 2020 at 10:46 am

      The Plan B team reckon they’re being censored, but they’re still in the MSM and getting airtime.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018743518/covid-19-contrarians-claim-they-re-being-censored

    • RedBaronCV 5.3
      23 April 2020 at 11:22 am

      The trouble with the paid for academics outside their lane promoting dodgy ideas is that it has the potential to increase public distrust of academics and their institutions generally. Which may well be the end goal.

    • Wayne 5.4
      23 April 2020 at 4:45 pm

      anker

      So you want the Herald to only reflect your views. Given that the Herald is the only Auckland daily paper it highly apprpriate that it has columnists from across the spectrum.

      It might be fine for the UK to have many different papers with different perspectives so you can pick the one that is most like your own beliefs. In NZ we don't have that luxury. All the main dailys have to reach the full spread of readers who live in their region. And not all of the readers think like you (or me).

      • Gabby 5.4.1
        23 April 2020 at 5:45 pm

        Be nice if it reflected the facts and left off speculating, bloviating and opinionating.

    • Tricledrown 5.5
      29 April 2020 at 7:38 pm

      Jordan William's dirty politics muddying the waters.

  6. Andre 6
    23 April 2020 at 9:57 am

    Watching extra-stupid TV really does increase the risk of an early demise. The effect is so strong it's even measurable between smallish differences in degrees of stupid. Such as the difference between Hannity and Carlson.

    https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/4/22/21229360/coronavirus-covid-19-fox-news-sean-hannity-misinformation-death

    • Tricledrown 6.1
      23 April 2020 at 10:12 am

      Hosking has so much money why doesn't he prop up his own company.Welfare for the stupendously well off Money hoarders!

      [Fixed user name again. Please be more careful, thanks]
      [lprent: If you don’t watch out, I’ll add you new handles directly to the auto-spam list. Then other moderators wont’d have to deal with them. ]

  7. John G 7
    23 April 2020 at 11:00 am

    I enjoy Hoskings columns. Braunius is a good satirist but Hosking is the best.

    • lprent 7.1
      23 April 2020 at 12:18 pm

      Braunius is a good satirist but Hosking is the best.

      No-no-no. Braunius satirises others. But Hosking is a one trick pony. He only satires himself.

  8. Andre 8
    23 April 2020 at 11:13 am

    The Talibundy have got themselves a new yee-hahd. Fighting for the right to spread disease.

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ammon-bundy-protest-idaho-anti-vaxxer_n_5ea0b7d5c5b69150246cfbfc

  9. Observer Tokoroa 9
    23 April 2020 at 11:22 am

    A Given

    Now that the Right have all declared their wonderful outrage and disgust towards the present Government, there is no point in allowing the Right any further Rights or Services – or Finances from this time Forward.

    The Government will see to this, It will be a bit of a crisis for Armstrong the Noodle; Soper the Slipperite, and Simon the Small Head.

  10. Gosman 10
    23 April 2020 at 12:21 pm

    I've already discussed how you can have growth while at the same time consuming less resources. I don't want to get in to that again here. However what I am interested in is how you think you can fund say increased support for elderly over the next 20 to 30 years in a zero growth economy.

    I'll give you a hypothetical economy to base whatever model you wish to push.

    Current population

    15 people of which 10 are economically active earning on average 100,000 each a year with a tax rate of 30%

    5 people not economically active receiving 60,000 each a year from the tax from the other 10.

    Population in 10 years

    16 people Of which 9 are working and 7 are not.

    If the 9 that are working are earning the same amount are you able to tell me how much the other 7 can get?

    [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.]

    • weka 10.1
      23 April 2020 at 12:33 pm

      I saw your argument a while back that we can have growth while at the same time consuming less resources. It won't stand up to scrutiny and it ignores the systems thinking required to design a sustainable economy.

      The problem with your maths example is that economics isn't abstract like that. Or at least where it is, it doesn't make sense, you can't ignore the natural world, nor the nature of complex interacting systems.

      Someone who knows economic theory can argue with you about that, but you still have to address this in the context of the post, otherwise I'll just consider it a derail. In case you haven't read it, it's more a political post than an economics one. If you want to attempt to refute degrowth theories, then you'll have to reference them in a meaningful way.

      • Gosman 10.1.1
        23 April 2020 at 12:35 pm

        No, you disagree with it. Whether or not it stands up to scrutiny is an entirely different argument which I am unwilling to get in to here.

        I note you are unwilling to even engage in quite a simple thought experiment. This suggests you aren't serious about pushing this "No growth" agenda as better people than I will rip in to it.

        • weka 10.1.1.1
          23 April 2020 at 1:01 pm

          You're out for the day. I have no interest in you derailing the thread. You are welcome to comment under my posts, but there are limits on that that you will need to respect. In this case, I didn't write a post for you to run your neoliberal growth is god lines. If instead you had talked about your perspective in relationship to the post, I would know that you had actually read it and that we could meaningfully debate the issues I raised.

    • RedLogix 10.2
      23 April 2020 at 12:48 pm

      Your thought experiment overlooks the opportunity to improve the productivity of the 9 people still working.

      Japan faced this problem at least two decades before most other nations, and solved it primarily with automation and some smart trade strategies.

      • Gosman 10.2.1
        23 April 2020 at 12:49 pm

        Not at all. That is the point of my thought experiment. Increasing the productivity of the 9 people still working is essentially economic growth.

        • RedLogix 10.2.1.1
          23 April 2020 at 12:58 pm

          Improving productivity often generates growth, assuming nothing else changes. But they are not necessarily the same thing.

          Productivity is best thought of as an 'efficiency kpi', and can be measured in many dimensions at once. For example from real life … automating a paper machine can increase it's output, improve quality, reduce the manpower per tonne, reduce energy and raw material inputs, and clean up it's environmental impact.

          In this example 'increasing output' is only one of many possible optimisations. Growth does not always have to mean 'getting bigger'.

          • Gosman 10.2.1.1.1
            23 April 2020 at 3:55 pm

            Productivity increases nearly always lead to greater growth

            • RedLogix 10.2.1.1.1.1
              23 April 2020 at 4:07 pm

              But it doesn't have to. For most of human history scarcity dominated our lives, which meant that 'more' and 'better' were two birds sitting right next to each other on the same branch. Getting 'more' of something was almost always equaled 'better', more territory, more population, more food, more income, more possessions, more status, etc.

              The past 200 years of industrialisation and human development is breaking this assumption down. Now so many of us have escaped poverty and deprivation we are discovering that we have enough material goods to meet our needs and that simply adding more without limit is neither satisfying nor useful. Our priorities shift toward more abstract desires.

              You can still call this growth if you like, but the nature of it has arguably changed.

              • Gosman …
                23 April 2020 at 4:45 pm

                The only time it doesn't lead to economic growth that I am aware of is if the productivity growth is used to expand leisure activity. Hence most of us having two days off every week rather than half a day or just one as was the case 100 + years ago.

                • RedLogix …
                  23 April 2020 at 5:47 pm

                  It was only 2016 that 50% of humanity attained a modest middle class standard of living by local standards. It is by historic standards a fabulous and stunning achievement, but there are still another 4b or more people who have yet to be pulled out of absolute poverty.

                  That means we need to continue with human development for some decades yet, there remains a lot of unmet demand for improved living standards in a purely material sense.

                  So yes we will still see 'growth' for some time yet. But it won't be a linear projection of what we were doing in the past. Productivity gains mean that we can, if we choose, meet that growth with less impact on the natural world than ever before.

                  For example up until recent decades gold mining was an industry that had a poor legacy of toxic tailings and environmental degradation. Now technology means it's entirely possible to operate a gold processing plant with virtually zero waste stream. The plant operated with about 20% of the usual specific energy consumption. And it cost about half a conventional plant design from some decades ago. (I know this because I've done it.)

                  I've made this argument before; with a total population of 7.5b (peaking at maybe 9 – 11b in this century) sitting still with BAU is not possible. We have two broad choices:

                  One pre-supposes that total resources are fixed and finite, therefore humans can either rapidly revert back to the pre-industrial photosynthesis world (and all poverty that came with that), or wind back our industrialisation to eke out fixed resources over the next few centuries until they run out with much the same result. The implication of this is that around 90% of humans must die off.

                  The other choice is to press on with the technology transformation we have already started. This vision asks us to have faith we can find ways to step past apparent limits as we reach them, something we have already done a number of times in the past. Crucially it says that if we can achieve abundant, low cost, zero impact energy production almost all other gains become possible. We can already conceive the outlines of how we might gradually decouple human development from our footprint on the planet. In 2200 we could be living in a world so advanced we can no more imagine it, than our own ancestors could have foreseen our own in 1800. But it won't happen by accident; will require vision, leadership and sacrifice of many sacred cows.

                  This latter view may be wildly optimistic and the destination far from certain, but at least it doesn't innately embrace the inevitability of mass death.

  11. Gosman 11
    23 April 2020 at 12:23 pm

    You are therefore wanting to increase tax significantly in the economy. That is a valid strategy but it has limits. Look at the problems France is having around this.

    [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.]

    • arkie 11.1
      23 April 2020 at 12:42 pm

      Look at the problems France is having around this.

      Could you perhaps be more specific? A cursory google only brought up the dispute with the US over a proposed digital tax.

  12. AB 12
    23 April 2020 at 12:41 pm

    Interesting story that I missed earlier. It seems that New York City's rats have taken rational self-maximisation to it's natural end – and created previously unparalleled 'freedom' for themselves in doing so. This miracle of liberty has been achieved (not unexpectedly) through cannibalism

  13. Carolyn_Nth 13
    23 April 2020 at 12:49 pm

    I have reflected a bit on the impact of the Alert level 4 lock down at a relatively early stage in NZ.

    There's been a major shift in the expected way to interact (was watching some neighbours outside in the street having a group discussion, with each person standing a couple of meters from each other).

    Ditto the big changes in how people use supermarkets – 2 meter distancing, contactless deliveries and payments, etc.

    And now we will have phased in non-essential businesses and services. So it has enabled the change in outlook, preparation and practice by businesses and services to conform to a new normal.

  14. RedBaronCV 14
    23 April 2020 at 1:11 pm

    stuff producing some in depth journalism- rich people don't really help the economy.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/121202987/rich-migrants-not-solution-to-new-zealands-covid19-problems-economists-say

    • I Feel Love 14.1
      23 April 2020 at 3:28 pm

      I've noticed since Stuff has asked for donations their articles are a little more … left.

  15. The Al1en 15
    23 April 2020 at 3:08 pm

    Michael Moore has released his new global warming documentary for free.

    No doubt all over the net, here's a little write up and the full movie via realclearpolitics.

    “Michael Moore presents Planet of the Humans, a documentary that dares to say what no one else will this Earth Day — that we are losing the battle to stop climate change on planet earth because we are following leaders who have taken us down the wrong road”

    Planet of the Humans

    Or direct link to youtube.

  16. ScottGN 16
    23 April 2020 at 4:33 pm

    ScoMo has said today the the border with NZ will likely be the first one that Australia reopens.

    https://www.smh.com.au

  17. Cinny 17
    23 April 2020 at 4:42 pm

    The Pentagon is planning a multicity tour of the U.S. military’s top flight demonstration teams to “champion national unity” amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to senior U.S. officials and a memo obtained by The Washington Post.

    'murica…..

  18. Bazza64 18
    23 April 2020 at 4:54 pm

    Yesterday's comments about Richard Branson putting his hand out for government bailouts was well timed and good to see.

    Ngai Tahu is a charitable Trust and pays no tax in NZ but they have claimed over $130k for employer subsidies for two of their entities – a Tourism Trust another Rock art charitable Trust. I'm not sure if there are other entities.?

    Seeing as they don't pay tax on their income should the same rules apply to them as to Richard Branson ?

    The counter to this argument is that all their funds go to a charitable purposes which is a fair point, but they aren't contributing to the income tax base.

    • Gabby 18.1
      23 April 2020 at 5:29 pm

      They'd be a NZ organisation I'm guessing.

    • Andre 18.2
      23 April 2020 at 5:54 pm

      Chances are the funds Ngai Tahu generate stay circulating around in New Zealand passing through people and entities that do pay tax, rather than extracted offshore to a tax haven.

    • pat 18.3
      23 April 2020 at 6:56 pm

      The only support they have received to date is the wage subsidy…which goes to taxpayers.

  19. observer 19
    23 April 2020 at 5:20 pm

    This is a remarkably high level of support, in a pluralistic democracy:

    Kiwis support the lockdown, and the extension

    A useful reminder that the loud are not the crowd. And if anyone thinks "well, duh, it's a crisis, of course everyone's on board", then the article includes an interesting comparison with public opinion in other countries.

  21. pat 21
    23 April 2020 at 7:53 pm

    "O’Leary said that Ryanair had already told the Irish government that if it imposes the restriction, then “either the government pays for the middle seat or we won’t fly”.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/22/ryanair-boss-says-airline-wont-fly-with-idiotic-social-distancing-rules

    I think thats meant to be a threat…who the target is is unclear.

    Maybe O'Leary has prosthetic legs

  23. weston 23
    23 April 2020 at 9:47 pm

    Last chance tomoro to submit to prisoners getting their rights to vote back apparently.

  24. Sam green 24
    23 April 2020 at 10:49 pm

    Death threats from a Farrar’s minions.
    https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/04/alert_level_4_extended_for_five_more_days.html

    About third comment in.

  25. newsense 25
    24 April 2020 at 12:59 am

    Is New Zealand First's caucus discipline better than Labour's?

    Jeezy Creezy.

    Is the talent pool really that thin or are delusions of grandeur setting in during a first term government?

    This is an amazing leadership team, but jimminy crickets, 3 of the newer lot have been shooting for their toes in the last year or so, and certainly some others who haven't exactly earned confidence either.

    Sort it out!

  26. Eco Maori 26
    25 April 2020 at 6:30 pm

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    Its good to show respect for your Tipuna.

    We will look back on these times and be thankful.

    That's quite logical a 3rd of ex service people suffering from PDST.

    Ka kite Ano

  27. Eco Maori 27
    25 April 2020 at 6:54 pm

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    Its good that we pay respect for the people who lost their lives fight for our society.

    The Anzac ceremony will be good next year.

    Ka kite Ano

  29. Eco Maori 29
    26 April 2020 at 6:30 pm

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    We can't relax we still have the virus we must keep to our government plan.

    Its good to see neighbours helping out.

    The Aurora look Awsome.

    Ka kite Ano

  30. Eco Maori 30
    26 April 2020 at 6:51 pm

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    Bullying is not on spread aroha not hate.

    Te Tairawhiti business will be feeling the crunch as forestry is a big part of the economy forestry slowed down early than most other industries.

    It would be awesome if people supported small fast Kai operations.

    Ka pai to the Rotorua caver kia kaha.

    Ka kite Ano

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 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
    24 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

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

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

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

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

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

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

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

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