Open mike 23/09/2022
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6:00 am, September 23rd, 2022 - 116 comments
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- Should We Be Relying On Storing Waste Carbon in Trees?
The carbon, energy and dollar cycles do not integrate well. The strategy of mitigating global warming by sequesting carbon in trees involves three separate cycles: a carbon cycle, an energy cycle and a dollar cycle. I am not sure they are well integrated. Our oil-based carbon cycle involves extracting underground ...19 hours ago - Who to vote for in Palmerston North (2022)
My local body voting papers arrived earlier in the week, so its time for the usual post in which I try and work out who I'm voting for. Essential tools for this have been Vote Climate, which looks at climate and public transport policy; Policy.nz, which gives a more general ...1 day ago - Still striking for a futureIn 2017, Labour leader Jacinda Ardern said that climate change was "my generation's nuclear-free moment" and promised action. In 2019 and 2021 school students walked out of classrooms to demand she deliver. And today, they walked out again, because she still hasn't. The strikes are smaller today, because the movement ...1 day ago
- Fuck the economyStuff reports that bank economists are saying that 50,000 people need to be thrown out of work to control inflation: The current labour market was “very, very tight”, [ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner] said, and bringing down inflation required “some spare capacity” in the labour market. It was a ...1 day ago
- Bryce Edwards: The Political mood of the business elite
The New Zealand Herald has released the results of its annual “Mood of the Boardroom” survey today. Should we care what businesses think of politics, the economy and society? There’s a good argument that we should be more concerned with the “Mood of the Foodbank” or “Mood of the workers”. ...1 day ago - Labour: From disappointment to deceitIn the 1980's and 1990's, Aotearoa faced a succession of governments who brazenly lied to the public, promising one thing to get elected, then doing something completely different in office. As revenge, we inflicted MMP on politicians, to saddle them with coalition partners and deprive them of the absolute majorities ...1 day ago
- The Magic Of Monarchy
1 day ago - An American Colony?
The end of the Queen’s reign has provided us here in New Zealand with a powerful and prolonged reminder of the extent to which our heritage is bound up with that of the United Kingdom. It may, therefore, be an odd moment to register what is becoming a significant change ...1 day ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #38 2022
"Was it something I did?" Not so long ago Skeptical Science received email from a reader, subject: "Myth: increased deaths, harm to health and and destruction of property cannot be attributed to global warming." As a matter of intuition and the evidence in front of us, this certainly seems ...2 days ago - Owlbears in Valinor: D&D Silliness with The Silmarillion
Some weeks ago, I finished DMing a three-session D&D outing with my usual circle of acquaintances. I had never actually DMed before, so it was a fun learning experience. Overall, I think I’m pretty decent at serving up a vaguely engaging story… my biggest weakness being combats. I am ...2 days ago - Gordon Campbell on ram-raids as a policy outcome, not a cause
New British PM Liz Truss is giving us a useful foretaste of what a change of government here next year would deliver: tax cuts, welfare reductions, law and order crackdowns, and further handouts to banks. On Friday, the new British Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is expected to unveil a major “’fiscal ...2 days ago - Hoist by his own petardIn 2017, in response to being criticised by anonymous bloggers, then-Samoan Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi restored the archaic colonial offence of criminal libel to Samoa's statute book, ramming it through parliament in under an hour. Now, he's being prosecuted under his own law [paywalled]: Police have perused a ...2 days ago
- DrawnA ballot for three member's bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill (Karen Chhour) Employment Relations (Restraint of Trade) Amendment Bill (Helen White) Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Cellar Door Tasting) Amendment Bill (Stuart Smith) ...2 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: Labour has given up on the poorWhat will it take for this Labour Government to start paying attention to the worsening state of economic inequality in New Zealand? The evidence is mounting that, under Labour’s watch, the problem of wealth and income inequality is spiralling. But the signs are that Labour ministers have put this crisis ...2 days ago
- Patterns in the Sand: Guessing References in The Rings of Power Opening Sequence
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- One country at a timeEquatorial Guinea has abolished the death penalty: Equatorial Guinea has abolished the death penalty, according to a new criminal code signed by veteran President Teodoro Obiang, adding to a growing list of African countries seeking to extinguish a vestige of colonial rule. The West African oil-producing country of 1.4 ...3 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: Time for the Auditor General to investigate Mahuta contractsPressure is increasing on the Auditor General to undertake an inquiry into numerous contracts, appointments and grants awarded to members of Cabinet Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s family by various government departments she has had official responsibility for. Allegations and revelations are mounting up, meaning this issue can no longer be ignored. ...3 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on Air New Zealand’s bumpy path to Covid recoveryAir New Zealand’s new non-stop service to JFK international airport in New York recently received a ton of free publicity, even though the airline’s mishandling of passenger baggage on the first New York to Auckland run was also an epic embarrassment. Since it was ordinary taxpayers who bailed out the ...3 days ago
- Member’s DayToday is a Member's Day. First up are two committee stages: Rachel Boyack's Plain Language Bill and Steph Lewis' Biosecurity (Information for Incoming Passengers) Amendment Bill. Once they're out of the way, the House will move on to the first readings of Damien Smith's Overseas Investment (Exempt Investment from OECD ...3 days ago
- This seems like a process we can have confidence inYesterday, National leader Christopher Luxon announced that the National caucus had voted to readmit MP Sam Uffindell - who had got together with his mates to beat a fellow student with bed-legs in the middle of the night in a cruel and pre-meditated attack while at school - after an ...4 days ago
- Climate Change: James Shaw pretends to be helplessRNZ this morning reports that Climate Change Minister James Shaw is open to another look at climate change rules to ensure that the Zero Carbon Act and its statutory target can actually be legally enforced: "If the temperature threshold is the point of the entire legislation, then surely it ...4 days ago
- Bryce Edwards: National’s unsatisfactory exoneration of Sam UffindellIt’s hard to have confidence in the National Party’s supposed exoneration of MP Sam Uffindell over allegations of ethical violations as an adult. The party’s processes have been far too opaque, which means there will always be a cloud over the integrity and character of their new MP for Tauranga. ...4 days ago
- A Song Of Iron And Blood.4 days ago
- 2022’s supercharged summer of climate extremes: How global warming and La Niña fueled disasters o...This article by Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished Scholar, NCAR; Affiliated Faculty, University of Auckland, is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. There’s an old joke about the fellow who has his left foot in a bucket of ice water and the right in a bucket ...5 days ago
- Who decides what we are allowed to say?
In this thoughtful piece Mark White from the left free speech site Plebity examines how we can reclaim the public square as a real Commons. Before we can have an honest debate over what speech should be allowed and what speech should be forbidden, we need to confront a more ...5 days ago - Elegy For A Queen.Elegy For A QueenThe media beast that must be fedOn human fodder hour-by-hour,Just for one second, checks its power.Elizabeth, the Queen, is dead.That this is news no one can doubt.The airwaves hum, the presses roll.And cellphones buzz from pole to poleTo get the information out.We see, we hear, the words ...5 days ago
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- Democratic compromise as the mutual second-best.
For the first ten years of my former academic career I wrote a considerable amount about post-authoritarian democratisation thanks to the mentors that introduced me to the subject and my personal interest in Argentina and the Southern Cone. I alternated this interest with writing about various security related topics like ...1 week ago - Bryce Edwards: Fighting for cleaner and fairer electionsFrom this week the public can provide input into the Government’s review of electoral laws – a process which is supposed to make elections cleaner and fairer. Hopefully, public submissions and pressure applied to both the electoral review experts and the Government will force the consideration and implementation of progressive ...1 week ago
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- Food supply and security concerns mount as impacts stress agricultureThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters Crops don’t like drought, extreme heat, extreme cold, flooding, and air pollution. While reducing the ill effects of extreme cold on agriculture in recent decades, the warming climate is increasing impacts of drought, extreme heat, and air pollution. These increased ...2 weeks ago
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- Political Roundup: 13 September 2022Items of interest and importance today COVID Luke Malpass (Stuff): PM Ardern’s last Covid live update draws a curtain down on a miserable couple of years Claire Trevett (Herald): PM bids a relieved farewell to Covid-19 rules (paywalled) Mark Quinlivan (Newshub): Government seeking advice on ‘what form’ any Covid-19 inquiry ...2 weeks ago
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- No freedom of speech in the UKIn the eighteenth century, the British government waged a campaign of repression against those calling for democracy and an end to the monarchy. Over two hundred years later, nothing has really changed: A woman was arrested holding an anti-monarchy sign in Edinburgh today, before the Queen’s cortege arrived in ...2 weeks ago
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- Following the war in Ukraine – an update
2 weeks ago- The Weight Of History.
Receiving The Burden Of Sovereignty: The weight of royal ritual and tradition, and all the gilt machinery of monarchical government, is crushing. THE SHEER WEIGHT of it takes your breath away. On display in St James’s Palace on Saturday night (10/9/22) were rituals and traditions dating back centuries. To say the weight ...2 weeks ago- Political Roundup: 12 September 2022
MONARCHY Kevin Norquay (Stuff): Parting ways with the monarchy ‘an eventuality that will happen’ now Queen has gone Richard Harman: This could be the last time (paywalled) Liz Gordon (Insight Aotearoa): A proud and independent nation, Aotearoa Calida Stuart-Menteath and Hamish McNicol (NBR): Does King Charles represent New Zealand? (paywalled) ...2 weeks ago- 2022 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36
Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, September 4, 2022 through Sat, September 10, 2022. The following articles sparked above average interest during the week (bolded articles are from SkS authors): CNN Exclusive: Scientists make major breakthrough in race to save ...2 weeks ago- Local Election Candidates: “the same old crazies as before”… or something entirely new this ti...
It’s the old joke isn’t it when Local Elections come round, who is coming out of the woodwork next, will there be someone promising to convert the entire CBD into an adventure park? Other questions that often plague local elections are who’s hiding under the “Independent” banner… whilst ...2 weeks ago- King Charles
With the accession of King Charles III to the throne, my mind goes back to a brief period when the then Prince Charles and I might have been described as friends. I was at the time a British MP. I received out of the blue a call from Prince Charles’ ...2 weeks ago- Númenor Rule the Waves: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power, Episode 3
I have discussed the first two episodes of The Rings of Power. Time to take a look at the third episode – one I felt avoided the lowest lows of its predecessors while also not quite managing to match the highest highs. On average I think it is the ...2 weeks ago- Imagining Away The Opposition.
The High Tide Of Popular Protest: In 2019 Chile was racked by massive protest demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of mostly young, mostly poor, Chileans served notice on their government that the moment had arrived for their country to cast off “Pinochet’s Straightjacket” – the 1980 constitution imposed upon Chile by its ...2 weeks ago- Queen Elizabeth's death a true end of an era, but her legacy of service can live on
‘End of an era’ is a threadbare phrase worn thin by sports stars, passing fads and biscuits. But the death of Queen Elizabeth II after 70 years and 215 days on the throne is an event worthy to be called the end of an era.The length of Elizabeth’s reign alone ...2 weeks ago- The Queen
I had the good fortune to meet the Queen on a number of occasions when I was a British MP. The occasion that made the greatest impression on me, however, was one in which I was merely an observer. The hospital in my Southampton constituency had acquired an important new ...2 weeks ago- Reasons to avoid false balance and fake debates
The following text is an adapted version of pages 8 and 9 of The Consensus Handbook published in 2018 by John Cook, Sander van der Linden, Ed Maibach and Stephan Lewandowsky. The excerpt is published to make it easy to share this important information about false balance and fake debates and ...2 weeks ago- Is Social Investment Analysis a Good Idea?
We should try to to evaluate our social policies systematically. But big data has limitations.The National Party has promised to reintroduce the idea of ‘social investment’ analysis when it returns to government. The basic idea goes back long before Bill English as Minister of Finance popularised it, and it did ...2 weeks ago- Bring on the republic
When I was a child, the foreign monarch visited New Zealand. They marched us all out from school and had us stand by the side of a road to watch a car go past, and it was absurd and boring and meaningless, pretty much like the monarchy itself. For most ...2 weeks ago- Political Roundup: 9 September 2022
QUEEN ELIZABETH HAS DIED Isaac Davison (Herald): Queen Elizabeth is dead – what does it mean for New Zealand? Charlotte Graham-McLay (Guardian): New Zealand in period of mourning as Jacinda Ardern pays tribute to ‘extraordinary’ Queen Stuff: Queen Elizabeth II dies: Commonwealth leaders debated abolishing role of head Katie Pickles ...2 weeks ago- Losing the Wallpaper: Musings on the Death of Queen Elizabeth II
Quite the late night development – a development that will no doubt dominate all parts of the media for weeks to come. The death of Queen Elizabeth II. Head of State of not ... 2 weeks ago - The Weight Of History.
- Green Party backs School Strike demands
The Green Party backs the demands of the School Strike for Climate. ...1 day ago - Report shows urgent need to fix wealth inequalityA new report out today provides all evidence the Government needs to start addressing runaway inequality and rebalance Aotearoa to work for everyone. ...2 days ago
- No excuses, Minister: we need mandatory pay gap reporting right nowThe message is loud and clear: the Government must introduce mandatory pay gap reporting ...2 days ago
- Greens will keep fighting to strengthen democracyThe Green Party once again put electoral reform on the political agenda with the first reading of Golriz Ghahraman’s Strengthening Democracy member’s bill - only for it to be voted down by Labour. ...3 days ago
- Moratorium on deep sea mining a step closerFollowing months of pressure from the Green Party and environmental NGO and the public, the Minister for Foreign Affairs today confirmed that she is taking advice on whether the Government should support a moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters. ...3 days ago
- Green Party welcomes landmark commitments from health sector for ADHD progressGreen Party spokesperson for Mental Health, Chlöe Swarbrick, welcomes commitments from the Minister of Health to six key areas of progress for the ADHD community, which would together represent one of the largest changes for the ADHD community in a generation. ...6 days ago
- Govt must reunite Afghan refugees with their familiesThe Green Party is once again calling on the Government to support victims of war, oppression, and violence to reunite with their families and put down roots in Aotearoa New Zealand. ...1 week ago
- New Zealand’s economy and the case for optimism
If you missed Grant Robertson’s recent speech on New Zealand’s economy, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Here’s a super quick overview of what the Minister of Finance said about the Government’s economic plan, as well as the latest figures that show how New Zealand’s economy is tracking. ...1 week ago - Government handing Fonterra a free passMinister O’Connor should immediately pause the Government’s proposed Fonterra Bill and review its potential impact on the climate, the Green Party says. ...1 week ago
- Time to support te reo Māori as a core subject and as a medium of instructionOn the 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition, the Green Party is calling on the Government to make te reo Māori a core curriculum subject in mainstream schools and to support Kaupapa Māori education groups. ...1 week ago
- Celebrating Te Wiki o Te Reo MāoriKia ora e te whānau! It’s Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori once again – an opportunity for all of us, no matter where we are on our te reo journey, to give te reo Māori a go. This year, as we celebrate Māori Language Week, we are also marking ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent need for more food supportThe Green Party is calling on the Government to urgently increase the support available for people who are struggling to afford to put food on the table. ...2 weeks ago
- Serious questions for Govt to answer following decision to allow deep-sea miningThe Government has questions to answer following a recent decision by international regulators to give the green-light to a potentially destructive deep-sea mining project in the Pacific. ...2 weeks ago
- Vital public health measures still missing from COVID responseStrong public health measures are more vital than ever, the Green Party says as the Government removes many longstanding COVID-19 restrictions. ...2 weeks ago
- James Shaw re-elected as Co-leader of the Green PartyMembers of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have re-elected James Shaw as Co-leader, alongside Marama Davidson. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party statement on the death of Queen Elizabeth IIOn behalf of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, I would like to send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II,” says co-leader of the Green Party, Marama Davidson. ...2 weeks ago
- If the Government is going to close one donations loophole, let’s close them allClosing the New Zealand First Foundation loophole is a good step towards a more transparent political donations regime, but it’s not the only loophole that needs closing, the Green Party says. ...2 weeks ago
- Helping young people into better and brighter futuresOur Government wants every New Zealander to have the chance to succeed – and that includes young people who need a little bit of extra support to get back on the right track. That’s why we’re stepping up pathways to better opportunities, by supporting more young people into jobs and ...2 weeks ago
- Supporting more Kiwis into jobsWe’re helping more Kiwis into work, to help support whānau, grow our skilled workforce and secure our economy for future generations. During our time in Government, we’ve delivered record low unemployment rates, as well as a steady fall in the number of New Zealanders receiving a main benefit, and we’re ...2 weeks ago
- United Nations General Assembly National Statement
E ngā Mana, e ngā Reo, Rau Rangatira mā kua huihui mai nei i tēnei Whare Nui o te Ao Ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa, mai i tōku Whenua o Aotearoa Tuia ki runga, Tuia ki raro, ka Rongo to pō ka rongo te ao Nō reira, tēnā ...12 hours ago - New strategy unifies all-of-Government approach to help Pacific languages thriveA united approach across all-of-Government underpins the new Pacific Language Strategy, announced by the Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio at Parliament today. “The cornerstone of our Pacific cultures, identities and place in Aotearoa, New Zealand are our Pacific languages. They are at the heart of our wellbeing,” Aupito ...1 day ago
- Upgrades for sporting facilities ahead of FIFA Women’s World CupCommunities across the country will benefit from newly upgraded sporting facilities as a result of New Zealand co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. The Government is investing around $19 million to support upgrades at 30 of the 32 potential sporting facilities earmarked for the tournament, including pitch, lighting and ...1 day ago
- Partnership supports climate action in Latin America and CaribbeanAotearoa New Zealand is extending the reach of its support for climate action to a new agriculture initiative with partners in Latin America and the Caribbean. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced a NZ$10 million contribution to build resilience, enhance food security and address the ...1 day ago
- Landmark agreement for Māori fisheries celebrates 30th yearThe 30th anniversary of the Fisheries Deed of Settlement is a time to celebrate a truly historic partnership that has helped transform communities, says Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Rino Tirikatene. “The agreement between the Crown and Māori righted past wrongs, delivered on the Crown’s treaty ...1 day ago
- Government backs initiatives to cut environmental impact of plastic wasteThe Government has today announced funding for projects that will cut plastic waste and reduce its impact on the environment. “Today I am announcing the first four investments to be made from the $50 million Plastics Innovation Fund, which was set last year and implemented a 2020 election promise,” Environment ...1 day ago
- Call for expressions of interest in appointment to the High Court BenchAttorney-General David Parker today called for nominations and expressions of interest in appointment to the High Court Bench. This is a process conducted at least every three years and ensures the Attorney-General has up to date information from which to make High Court appointments. “It is important that when appointments ...2 days ago
- Depositor compensation scheme protects Kiwis’ moneyNew Zealanders will have up to $100,000 of their deposits in any eligible institution guaranteed in the event that institution fails, under legislation introduced in Parliament today. The Deposit Takers Bill is the third piece of legislation in a comprehensive review of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act and ...2 days ago
- New fund to help more Pacific aiga into their own homesThe Government has launched a new housing fund that will help more Pacific aiga achieve the dream of home ownership. “The Pacific Building Affordable Homes Fund will help organisations, private developers, Māori/iwi, and NGOs build affordable housing for Pacific families and establish better pathways to home ownership within Pacific communities. ...2 days ago
- More than 100,000 new Kiwis as halfway point reachedOver 100,000 new Kiwis can now call New Zealand ‘home’ after the 2021 Resident Visa reached the halfway point of approvals, Minister of Immigration Michael Wood announced today. “This is another important milestone, highlighting the positive impact our responsive and streamlined immigration system is having by providing comfort to migrant ...2 days ago
- Maniapoto Claims Settlement Bill passes third reading – He mea pāhi te Maniapoto Claims Settl...Nā te Minita mō ngā Take Tiriti o Waitangi, nā Andrew Little, te iwi o Maniapoto i rāhiri i tēnei rā ki te mātakitaki i te pānuitanga tuatoru o te Maniapoto Claims Settlement Bill - te pikinga whakamutunga o tā rātou whakataunga Tiriti o Waitangi o mua. "Me mihi ka ...2 days ago
- 50,000 more kids to benefit from equity-based programmes next yearAnother 47,000 students will be able to access additional support through the school donations scheme, and a further 3,000 kids will be able to get free and healthy school lunches as a result of the Equity Index. That’s on top of nearly 90% of schools that will also see a ...2 days ago
- Healthy Active Learning now in 40 percent of schools across New ZealandA total of 800 schools and kura nationwide are now benefitting from a physical activity and nutrition initiative aimed at improving the wellbeing of children and young people. Healthy Active Learning was funded for the first time in the inaugural Wellbeing Budget and was launched in 2020. It gets regional ...2 days ago
- Speech at 10th meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban TreatyKia Ora. It is a pleasure to join you here today at this 10th meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty. This gathering provides an important opportunity to reiterate our unwavering commitment to achieving a world without nuclear weapons, for which the entry into force of this ...2 days ago
- Speech for Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit 2022Kia ora koutou katoa Thank you for the invitation to join you. It’s a real pleasure to be here, and to be in such fine company. I want to begin today by acknowledging His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Sir David Attenborough in creating what is becoming akin ...2 days ago
- New accreditation builds capacity for Emergency Management VolunteersEmergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty has recognised the first team to complete a newly launched National Accreditation Process for New Zealand Response Team (NZ-RT) volunteers. “NZ-RT volunteers play a crucial role in our emergency response system, supporting response and recovery efforts on the ground. This new accreditation makes sure our ...3 days ago
- Govt strengthens trans-Tasman emergency management cooperationAotearoa New Zealand continues to strengthen global emergency management capability with a new agreement between New Zealand and Australia, says Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty. “The Government is committed to improving our global and national emergency management system, and the Memorandum of Cooperation signed is another positive step towards ...3 days ago
- Christchurch Call Initiative on Algorithmic OutcomesToday New Zealand, the USA, Twitter, and Microsoft, announced investment in a technology innovation initiative under the banner of the Christchurch Call. This initiative will support the creation of new technology to understand the impacts of algorithms on people’s online experiences. Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms play a growing role in ...3 days ago
- JOINT PR: Trans-Tasman Cooperation on disaster managementHon Kieran McAnulty, New Zealand Minister for Emergency Management Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Federal Minister for Emergency Management Strengthening Trans-Tasman cooperation on disaster management issues was a key area of focus when Australia and New Zealand’s disaster management ministers met this week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on ...3 days ago
- More transparency, less red-tape for modernised charities sectorThe Charities Amendment Bill has been introduced today which will modernise the charities sector by increasing transparency, improving access to justice services and reducing the red-tape that smaller charities face, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Priyanca Radhakrishnan said. “These changes will make a meaningful difference to over 28,000 ...3 days ago
- Pacific visas reopened to help boost workforceWork continues on delivering on a responsive and streamlined immigration system to help relieve workforce shortages, with the reopening of longstanding visa categories, Immigration Minister Michael Wood has announced. From 3 October 2022, registrations for the Samoan Quota will reopen, and from 5 October registrations for the Pacific Access Category ...3 days ago
- Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day Bill passes into lawThe Bill establishing Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day has passed its third reading. “As Queen of Aotearoa New Zealand, Her Majesty was loved for her grace, calmness, dedication, and public service. Her affection for New Zealand and its people was clear, and it was a fondness that was shared,” Michael ...4 days ago
- New investor migrant visa opensThe new Active Investor Plus visa category created to attract high-value investors, has officially opened marking a key milestone in the Government’s Immigration Rebalance strategy, Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash and Immigration Minister Michael Wood have announced. “The new Active Investor Plus visa replaces the previous investor visa categories, which ...4 days ago
- New wharekura continues commitment to Māori educationA new Year 1-13 designated character wharekura will be established in Feilding, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis announced today. To be known as Te Kura o Kauwhata, the wharekura will cater for the expected growth in Feilding for years to come. “The Government has a goal of strengthening Māori ...4 days ago
- National minute of silence for Queen Elizabeth IIA national minute of silence will be observed at the start of New Zealand’s State Memorial Service for Queen Elizabeth II, at 2pm on Monday 26 September. The one-hour service will be held at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, during a one-off public holiday to mark the Queen’s death. ...5 days ago
- Speech to the Climate Change and Business ConferenceTēnā koutou i tēnei ata. Good morning. Recently I had cause to say to my friends in the media that I consider that my job is only half done. So I’m going to take the opportunity of this year’s Climate and Business Conference to offer you a mid-point review. A ...5 days ago
- Government enhances protection for our most-productive land Enhanced protection for Aotearoa New Zealand’s most productive land Councils required to identify, map, and manage highly productive land Helping ensure Kiwis’ access to leafy greens and other healthy foods Subdivision for housing on highly-productive land could still be possible in limited circumstances The Government has today released a National ...6 days ago
- Kieran McAnulty to attend Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk ReductionMinister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty will travel to Brisbane this week to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. “This conference is one of the most important meetings in the Asia-Pacific region to progress disaster risk reduction efforts and increase cooperation between ...1 week ago
- Trade and Agriculture Minister to travel to India and IndonesiaMinister of Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor will travel tomorrow to India and Indonesia for trade and agricultural meetings to further accelerate the Government’s growing trade agenda. “Exploring ways we can connect globally and build on our trading relationships is a priority for the Government, ...1 week ago
- Poroporoaki: Cletus Maanu Paul (ONZM)E te rangatira Maanu, takoto mai ra, i tō marae i Wairaka, te marae o te wahine nāna I inoi kia Whakatānea ia kia tae ae ia ki te hopu i te waka Mātaatua kia kore ai i riro i te moana. Ko koe anō tēnā he pukumahi koe mō ...1 week ago
- Pacific Wellbeing Strategy sets clear path to improve outcomes for Pacific AotearoaStrengthening partnerships with Pacific communities is at the heart of the Government’s new Pacific Wellbeing Strategy, Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio announced today. “Working alongside communities to ensure more of our aiga and families have access to the staples of life like, housing, education, training and job opportunities ...1 week ago
- Jobs on the horizon for more than 1,000 rangatahiFollowing on from last week’s Better Pathways Package announcement and Apprenticeship Boost 50,000th apprentice milestone, the Government is continuing momentum, supporting over 1,000 more rangatahi into employment, through new funding for He Poutama Rangatahi. “Our Government remains laser focused on supporting young people to become work ready and tackle the ...1 week ago
- NZ/AU partnership to bring world-class satellite positioning servicesLand Information Minister Damien O’Connor today announced a joint Trans-Tasman partnership which will provide Australasia with world-leading satellite positioning services that are up to 50 times more accurate, boosting future economic productivity, sustainability and safety. New Zealand and Australia have partnered to deliver the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN), with ...1 week ago
- Govt helps small businesses get paid on timeThe Government is adding to the support it has offered New Zealand’s small businesses by introducing new measures to help ensure they get paid on time. A Business Payment Practices disclosure regime is being established to improve information and transparency around business-to-business payment practices across the economy, Small Business Minister ...1 week ago
- Economy grows as tourism and exports reboundThe economy has rebounded strongly in the June quarter as the easing of restrictions and reopening of the border boosted economic activity, meaning New Zealand is well placed to meet the next set of challenges confronting the global economy. GDP rose 1.7 percent in the June quarter following a decline ...1 week ago
- New Ambassador to China announcedForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced the appointment of Grahame Morton as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to China. “Aotearoa New Zealand and China share a long and important relationship,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “As we mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between our nations, we are connected by people-to-people links, ...1 week ago
- 1.4 million hectares of wilding pine control work in two years1.4 million hectares of native and productive land have been protected from wilding conifers in the past two years and hundreds of jobs created in the united efforts to stamp out the highly invasive weeds, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor said. Speaking today at the 2022 Wilding Pine Conference in Blenheim, Damien ...1 week ago
- HomeGround – “a place to come together, a place to come home to”After 10 years’ hard mahi, HomeGround - Auckland City Mission's new home – is now officially open. “It’s extremely satisfying to see our commitment to providing a safety net for people who need housing and additional support services come together in a place like HomeGround, to create a better future ...1 week ago
- Speech to New Zealand Nurses Organisation Toputanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa ConferenceTēnā tātou katoa Ki te reo pōwhiri, kei te mihi Ki a koutou ngā pou o te whare hauora o Aotearoa, kei te mihi He taura tangata, he taura kaupapa e hono ana i a tātou katoa i tēnei rā, Arā, ko te New Zealand Nurses Organisation Toputanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki ...1 week ago
- The New Zealand Economy – The Case for OptimismThere are a few quotes that I could use to sum up where the world is today in the bow wave of COVID, facing the effects of a war, and the spiralling cost of living. One stands out for me. In the midst of chaos there is always opportunity. It ...1 week ago
- Fate of Papua’s Governor Enembe – the ‘son of Koteka’ – lies in balance amid allegations
SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya Alleged corruption involving Governor Lukas Enembe has dominated both Papuan and Indonesian media outlets and social media groups over the past two weeks. The Indonesian media is rife with allegations and accusations against the governor who is suspected of spending of billions in rupiahs. These ...20 mins ago - Ardern greets UN General Assembly in te reo before stating NZ’s stance on the big issues – inclu...
Buzz from the Beehive The Beehive website treats us today to the speech – or “national statement – which our PM has delivered to the United Nations General Assembly. The speech has been posted along with news about the government … investing around $19 million to support upgrades at ...4 hours ago - Focus on Politics: Three waters on the boil as elections loom
Water management is shaping up as a major political battleground ahead of local and general elections, Political Journalist Russell Palmer finds. ...6 hours ago - Tackle Housing Affordability, Efeso Collins Says
Let's tackle housing affordability so we don't lock a generation out of the market, Efeso Collins says. Auckland mayoral candidate Efeso Collins says the Council he leads will be laser-focused on housing affordability. “Too many ...9 hours ago - Ukraine war to end – but what then?
With every pause in the Ukrainian counteroffensive, talk of stalemate pops up. But pay more attention to the currents, than the surface froth. So nice to get some quality thinking in the Hoover Institution’s Strategika publication. First, Niall Ferguson with a typically thought-provoking insight into war as a continuation ...9 hours ago - Aucklander Inspires Demonstration Around British Parliament To Free Julian Assange, October 8thAucklander Matt Ó Branáin has inspired a historic demonstration in London on October 8th , to free jailed Australian journalist Julian Assange . Matt’s proposal to #HugBelmarsh prison with a Human Chain of 1,100 people went viral. Due to some difficulties, ...9 hours ago
- New Zealand's 'strong and firm' stance on nuclear weapons more important than ever &#...Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand has an important role to play in continuing international efforts towards nuclear non-proliferation. Watch her latest media stand-up here. ...10 hours ago
- NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemns Russia, calls for ban on nuclear weapons in UN speechJust days after the Kremlin threatened nuclear warfare, Jacinda Ardern has taken to the United Nations podium to condemn Russia and call for a complete ban on all nuclear weapons. ...11 hours ago
- The merger of TVNZ and RNZ needs to build trust in public media – 3 things the law change must get...ANALYSIS: By Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato and Claire Breen, University of Waikato With only six days left for submissions to the select committee examining the Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media Bill, it is becoming clear this crucial piece of legislation has some significant shortcomings. These will need attention before ...15 hours ago
- 5 suspects arrested as probe continues into killing of PNG Ports chiefBy Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea police have arrested five men in Goroka over their alleged involvement in the killing of PNG Ports managing director Fego Kiniafa. Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent Michael Welly said the men were in police custody and were now being questioned over ...16 hours ago
- Tunoa – house arrest – on Tokelau family ends after more than a yearRNZ Pacific The Taupulega, or council, on the Tokelau atoll of Nukunonu, has lifted a house arrest order on a family which had refused to get vaccinated against covid-19. The family was placed under tunoa in August 2021. A council meeting on Wednesday told family member Mahelino Patelesio that the ...16 hours ago
- Michael Field: Freedom at midday – stories from Facebook prisonCOMMENTARY: By Michael Field Just the other day a robot guard came along a corridor in a special digital prison, consulted his flatscreen embedded on its wrist and then pressed his thumb on a door, which sprang open. For the fourth time, I was being released from Facebook prison having ...16 hours ago
- $100m apartment complex coming to Manukau – but you’ll have to be 55 to get inBy Stephen Forbes of Local Government Reporting A new $100 million apartment complex is coming to Manukau — Auckland’s heart of Pacific communities. But you’ll have to be aged at least 55 to get in. Kāinga Ora is expected to start construction of the 123 apartments in Osterley Way in ...16 hours ago
- How not to tell customers their data is at risk: the perils of the Optus approachSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edwina Luck, Senior Lecturer QUT Business School, Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations, Queensland University of Technology Optus fears data on up to 9.8 million of its customers has been accessed in a sophisticated cyberattack – including, for some customers, passport and drivers ...22 hours ago
- Threats, rates and mullets in spotlight at feisty mayoral debateOne New Plymouth mayoral candidate was banned from today's debate for allegedly making threats against the media, while another has dropped out of the contentious race. ...23 hours ago
- VIDEO: Albanese to attend Abe funeral next week; integrity legislation to go to parliamentSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Paddy Nixon discuss the week in politics. While the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and a memorial service in Canberra dominated the news ...1 day ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The Political mood of the business eliteAnalysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: The Political mood of the business elite Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. The New Zealand Herald has released the results of its annual “Mood of the Boardroom” survey today. Should we care what businesses think of politics, the economy and society? There’s a good ...1 day ago
- Indigenous Issues, Climate Change, And Artificial Intelligence On The Agenda For Canadian Political ...A cross-party delegation of Members of Parliament (MPs) is heading to Canada for a week-long political exchange. The purpose of the delegation is for members to gain a better understanding of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, and ...1 day ago
- Government announces $5m fund to help reduce reliance on plasticsThe government says the country needs to be doing more to match recycling practices in other parts of the world. ...1 day ago
- Mahuta’s husband and the Public Service Commission inquiry: how Chris Hipkins ineptly played the r...We intended alerting our readers (if they had not already noticed) to how Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins played the race card in the matter of the Public Service Commission deciding to look into the propriety of government contracts awarded to Nanaia Mahuta’s husband. We have taken a short cut ...1 day ago
- Week in Politics: Sam Uffindell cleared but it's a bleak week for NationalAnalysis - Uffindell is back in National's fold but Luxon's refusal to release the report on his behaviour creates uncertainty over its findings, Foreign Minister Mahuta is embroiled in a conflict of interest investigation and there's a warning ...1 day ago
- ‘No body, no parole’ laws could be disastrous for the wrongfully convictedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jarryd Bartle, Associate Lecturer, RMIT University The New South Wales government is set to introduce new “no body, no parole” laws, which will deny parole for homicide offenders who refuse to provide information or assistance to locate their victim’s remains. This follows ...1 day ago
- No, we are not a member of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty – but we are o...We reported yesterday on the speech – a short one of around 500 words – which the PM delivered to the 10th meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty. She said the gathering provided an important opportunity to reiterate New Zealand’s unwavering commitment to achieving a world ...1 day ago
- Cowardly Government Needs To Keep Its Promise On No New MinesThe Government's decision not to support Green MP Eugenie Sage's members bill to ban new mines on conservation land shows how little it truly cares about conservation, and keeping promises, says Ours Not Mines spokesperson Morgan Donoghue. "When ...1 day ago
- Ukraine ambassador urges Australian embassy in Kyiv to reopen ASAPSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Ukraine conflict has escalated this week, with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announcing a partial military mobilisation and once again raising the threat of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile Ukraine has been pressing Australia to provide ...1 day ago
- A UN-backed tribunal on Khmer Rouge crimes just confirmed the conviction of key leader Khieu Samphan...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rosemary Grey, Lecturer in Law, University of Sydney Nhet Sok Heng/Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia via AP A United Nations-backed tribunal in Cambodia has just concluded its largest trial, concerning crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime. The ...1 day ago
- Should I give my teen alcohol? Just a sip, the whole can, or none at all?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra Aiken, Adjunct Associate Lecturer, UNSW Sydney Kindel Media/Pexels, CC BY-SA You’re at a barbecue and the adults are enjoying a few drinks. Everyone is relaxed and having a great time. One of your friends has just given their teen ...1 day ago
- High Court sits vac – it looks like we don’t qualify but (while we live off our nest eggs) our b...Latest from the Beehive The Government opened up a great career opportunity yesterday at much the same time as it announced an initiative to protect – within limits – our savings. The job opportunity (which excited us here, at Point of Order, until we were alerted to the age limit ...1 day ago
- Want noisy miners to be less despotic? Think twice before filling your garden with nectar-rich flowe...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jade Fountain, PhD Student, University of Adelaide Photo by Vlad Kutepov/Pexels, CC BY Noisy miners are complicated creatures. These Australian native honeyeaters live in large cooperative groups, use alarm calls to target specific predators, and sometimes help raise the young ...1 day ago
- Government commits nearly $19m to sporting upgrades ahead of 2023 FIFA World CupThe money will pay for upgrades at potential sporting facilities earmarked for the tournament, including pitch, lighting and facility enhancements. ...1 day ago
- Small communities could be buying, selling and saving money on electric power right now – here’s...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Soheil Mohseni, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Shutterstock/Riccio da favola Globally, the electricity sector is shifting from large, centralised grids powered by fossil fuels to smaller and smarter renewable local ...1 day ago
- Not Invisible – Let’s Celebrate The Resilience And Contribution Of Older WomenInternational Day of Older Persons on 1 October each year is a day to celebrate older people – to highlight the value of all older people and to promote dignity and respect. This year the United Nations (UN) theme is “The Resilience and Contributions ...1 day ago
- Labour Kills Green Members Bill On MiningCoromandel Watchdog of Hauraki are furious that Labour have announced they will not support the Green Member Eugenie Sage’s Bill which would have advanced Labour’s own mining policy. “It’s ridiculous that Labour wouldn’t allow the “Crown ...1 day ago
- NZ Announces Funding For Glorification Of TerrorNew Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Hon Minister Mahuta, has moved NZ further from its 5 eyes allies by rewarding incitement to terror via her announcement on Twitter that New Zealand will provide UNWRA with“ $3 million over 3 years” and that “Aotearoa ...1 day ago
- EU Protects Deep Sea Life From Bottom Trawling, As New Science Shows Up NZ Industry ProposalThe European Union has agreed new measures to protect seamounts from bottom trawling, showing up the New Zealand government’s inaction on the issue, environment groups said today. Meanwhile, a NIWA study released this week has revealed that there are ...1 day ago
- Lack Of Respect Shown To VotersMayoral candidate, Craig Lord is starting to wonder about the ethics being shown by his opponents as another debate is cancelled at short notice. In what has become a disturbing pattern during the campaign, Efeso Collins has put in yet another apology ...1 day ago
- Balance Of Payments And International Investment Position: Year Ended 31 March 2022Balance of payments records the value of the country's transactions with the rest of the world. It shows changes in financial claims on, and liabilities to, the rest of the world. International investment position is a snapshot of the country's financial ...1 day ago
- Expelling Russian ambassador 'least meaningful' diplomatic option – ArdernPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has downplayed the likelihood of the Russian ambassador being expelled. ...1 day ago
- ACT Claims FFP Extension Is Unavoidable“Figures collected by ACT show the avalanche of consents David Parker is going to inflict on councils to meet Freshwater Farm Plan requirements, his only option is to extend the deadline,” says ACT’s Primary Industries spokesperson Mark Cameron. ...1 day ago
- EU boss says trade deal with NZ a 'gold standard' for future agreementsThe chair of the European Parliament's International Trade committee is confident the process of ratifying the trade deal with New Zealand will be simple. ...1 day ago
- Political panel: Uffindell, Russia, and MPs under threatMorning Report - RNZ and the NZ Herald's political editors Jane Patterson and Claire Trevett discuss the Uffindell report's handling and increased Russian aggression. ...1 day ago
- Public Service Workforce Spend Must Be Transparent And JustifiedThe New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says more transparency is needed in our public service including when it comes to the amount being spent on the workforce. "News that nearly a third of public servants are earning more than $100,000.00 per annum ...1 day ago
- Curious Kids: How is lava made?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janice Crerar, Lecturer in Education, Charles Darwin University ImageBank4u/Shutterstock How is lava made? – Leon, age 7, Sydney, Australia Thank you for a great question Leon! Have you ever seen lava? What does it look ...1 day ago
- Grand design: why the AFL structure is unique – and has enabled competitive balanceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Since 2017, Victoria has commemorated AFL Grand Final Friday as a public holiday, with a parade of the two competing teams through a festive Melbourne (apart from interruptions in 2020 and ...1 day ago
- Someone in my house has COVID. How likely am I to catch it?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Rebecca Tapert/Unsplash Throughout the pandemic, one of the biggest COVID risks has been sharing a house with someone who is infectious. Given how contagious COVID is, especially more recent variants, you’d imagine ...1 day ago
- Termites love global warming – the pace of their wood munching gets significantly faster in hotter...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Cheesman, Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University Wood feeding termites (_Microcerotermes spp_) inside their nest. Johan Larson, Author provided When we consider termites, we may think of the danger they can pose to our houses once they settle in and ...1 day ago
- Australia has relied on agricultural innovation to farm our dry land. We’ll need more for the unce...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Rudd, SIEF Ross Metcalf STEM+Business Fellow – Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia Shutterstock Since European colonisation, Australia’s farmers have had to pioneer new technologies to adapt agriculture to this dry land. Think of innovations such as the world’s ...1 day ago
- Lizard in your luggage? We’re using artificial intelligence to detect wildlife traffickingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University A scanned lace monitor lizard (_Varanus varius_) image produced by using new technology. Rapiscan Systems, Author provided Blue-tongue lizards and sulphur-crested cockatoos are among the native animals frequently smuggled overseas. While the ...1 day ago
- How do you teach a primary school child about consent? You can start with these booksSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Whatman, Sessional Academic, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University Johnny McClung/Unsplash, CC BY Parents will be increasingly aware they need to talk about consent with their children. There is no such thing as “too young” to start the ...1 day ago
- Memo to the Productivity Commission: fixing inequality is the key to productivitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Gordon, Honorary Professor, Centre for Social Research and Methods, Australian National University Shutterstock Every five years the Productivity Commission is charged with examining everything that can be done to lift Australia’s productivity. Its first interim report in the current inquiry, ...1 day ago
- Some survivors will find peace and healing in Bali 2002 – but others may find the series triggerin...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carmen Jacques, Research Officer, Edith Cowan University Stan Around 11pm on October 12 2002, the first of three separate bombs detonated when a suicide bomber entered Paddy’s Bar in Kuta, Bali. Another bomb detonated shortly after outside the Sari nightclub, before ...1 day ago
- Jacinda Ardern meets UN Secretary-General António GuterresJacinda Ardern met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and challenges facing the Pacific. ...1 day ago
- Orban et urbiHungary’s PM Viktor Orban doesn’t get a great press – at least outside Hungary where it’s harder to arrange. So broadminded diversity connoisseurs might profit from a recent speech at the Bálványos Free Summer University and Student Camp (a ‘large-scale intellectual workshop of the Carpathian Basin’ apparently). It reads ...2 days ago
- Local elections: Three mayoral races you should know aboutThe Detail - Mayoral races in Auckland and Wellington may be front page news, but the most fascinating local elections are happening elsewhere. ...2 days ago
- Grattan on Friday: Can Jim Chalmers become a reforming treasurer?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Jim Chalmers’ long term ambition is similar to that of most treasurers. He wants to be prime minister. More immediately, he aspires to be a reformer, which has become harder in today’s electorate, with its ...2 days ago
- Emotions run high as Ngāti Maniapoto secures agreement with CrownCheers roared through both parliament and Pipitea Marae in Wellington today, as the crown and Ngāti Maniapoto reached settlement. ...2 days ago
- Exciting Local Recycling Projects Deserve Council AttentionSouthland District Mayoral candidate Kirsty Pickett says southern councils need to get back to working together on recycling services to champion and take advantage of exciting progress being made in the local private sector. “I was privileged ...2 days ago
- Ukraine war: NZ government actively considering expulsion of Russian ambassadorThe government could be inching closer to expelling the Russian ambassador, as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia escalates. ...2 days ago
- Christopher Luxon continues to refuse release of Sam Uffindell reportNational Party leader Christopher Luxon is continuing to refuse releasing the findings of an independent inquiry into allegations against Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell. ...2 days ago
- Fonterra reports a $585m net profit- and $13.7bn in payments to farmers from the milk price will flo...
New Zealand’s big dairy co-op Fonterra, reporting its annual result with revenue rising 11% to $23.4bn says it has an “exciting future”. Net profit of $585m took a $80m hit from its Sri Lankan business following economic disruption in the nation. But chief executive Miles Hurrell says the co-op is ...2 days ago - PM speaks about our support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty – but have we joined the...Buzz from the Beehive It was a short speech – around 500 words – on a big subject, when the PM addressed the 10th meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty. She said the gathering provided an important opportunity to reiterate New Zealand’s unwavering commitment to achieving ...2 days ago
- National welcomes review into process for awarding government contractsThe National Party is welcoming an investigation into any potential conflict of interest in contracts between government agencies and the company owned by Nanaia Mahuta's husband. ...2 days ago
- Cheeky Wellington Billboards Highlight Government’s Climate GreenwashThe day before nationwide Climate Strikes, Greenpeace Aotearoa has erected three billboards across Wellington today in a bid to highlight the Government’s lack of action on climate change. The satirical billboards feature Prime Minister Jacinda ...2 days ago
- Employment Indicators: Weekly As At 19 September 2022The experimental weekly series provides an early indicator of employment and labour market changes in a more timely manner than the monthly employment indicators series. Please note that we will be changing the dissemination method of this release from ...2 days ago
- Putin plays the annexation card, pushing the war in Ukraine into a dangerous new phaseSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images A lot has changed since world leaders last met in person at the United Nations General Assembly: a global pandemic, a looming food crisis, economic stress, climate disasters – and, ...2 days ago
- Make The Mahuta Contract Probe A Thorough OneThe New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union welcomes the news that the Public Service Commissioner, Peter Hughes, will undertake an investigation into the many Government contracts obtained by Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s husband, William Gannin Ormsby. “It has ...2 days ago
- How Victorian Labor’s failure on upper house electoral reform undermines democracySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist), The Conversation AAP/Joel Carrett At the 2018 Victorian state election, Labor easily won a majority in the lower house of the Victorian parliament, but the upper house result was an anti-democratic shambles, as the Greens ...2 days ago
- Biosecurity bill passes first readingThe bill is aimed at deterring incoming visitors from bringing in illegal biosecurity items such as fruit or other food. ...2 days ago
- Incoming Councils Must Prioritise Climate Resilience"Incoming mayors, councillors and community board members must prioritise investing in community-centred climate resilience," says Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) Chief Executive Tim Grafton. Local government ...2 days ago
- PM Jacinda Ardern condemns Russia's escalation of Ukraine invasionPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has strongly condemned Russia's recent escalation in the Ukraine war, including the threat of nuclear weapons. ...2 days ago
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The Prime Minister has ordered a paid national day off work on the death of the Queen
The death of 50 Muslim men women and children murdered in Christchurch got only two minutes.
What does this say about us?
What a ridiculous comparison.
Ridiculous?
How?
DB could you expand on your objection
In your opinion which is more ridiculous? A one whole day national stoppage for the death on the other side of the world of the Queen of England in her bed? Or the two minutes national stoppage for innocent deaths of Muslims murdered at prayer in this country?
I would like to ask you, DB which commemoration is more ridiculous?
I know which one I think is more 'ridiculous'
DB I can't help thinking how much more significant and worthwhile it would have been for us if the PM had ordered the country to take a day off for us to reflect on the lives and cruel deaths of of 51 defenceless innocent Muslim men women and children here in our country at the hands of a racist white supremacist?
How much more significant and worthwhile this would have been than ordering the country to take the day off in honour of the life and death of an uber rich white women on the other side of the world?
Maybe our leaders could pass legislation as they have done for the Queen's death, order that on the next significant anniversary of the Christchurch killings, that we are insightful and caring enough to mark out of respect for the dead in the terrible tragedy in Christchurch with a one off day off.
Would that be ridiculous or too much to ask?
You may ask of me nothing you ridiculous fake.
'
"…..they should have been safe in New Zealand."
Prime Minister Ardern, March 20, 2019
There goes my Good Friday …
I played the ball she replies with a bunch of personal pleas like one of those email ads trying to sell us a course for a motivational speaker. It may go on and on but I'm done with that speaker on that topic.
Also, you might have noticed – I short-ban myself if I get too tetchy.
Sorry, you took it the wrong way – it was meant as a very subtle response to Jenny’s … musings. I used capitals …
"I played the ball she replies with a bunch of personal pleas…."
DB Brown
With respect DB, you didn't play the ball you replied to me with an ad hominem insult.
"You may ask of me nothing you ridiculous fake."
DB Brown
Fuck off you and your clown shoes. I called you out when you, by name several times, tried drag me into your pathetic charade. You utter fuckwit.
[lprent: Less of that, please. While that is how I often think of you, I really don’t think that it adds anything to the debate. It is the act of a simpleton with poor control and no argument. ]
Do you think there should be a day off for the Pike River miners as well?
And certainly one for the people killed in road accidents (over 350 of them every year)
Now there's a thought.
Great idea.
Again. Why not?
We could have a real debate to examine the real cost of private transport on deaths and environmental damage, and how to effectively lower the road toll.
Why should one off commemorations be limited to celebrating royalty?
Maybe having one off paid days off work could be the way to have a national discussion and debate to examine and reflect on such major questions. It may very well be a way to engage the public and enhance our democracy.
Bring on this national debate I say.
Anyone who believes that a day off work involves people engaging in national discussion and debate on major questions, is invited to observe how the majority of Kiwis spend Waitangi Day.
‘
“Do you think there should be a day off for the Pike River miners as well?”
Jimmy
Yes.
It should have been done.
We can have a one off day for the death of the figurehead of one of the most brutal empires in the history of the world, but we can't have a day off to commemorate the deaths of honest working men who died arguably unnecessary deaths in the service of a fossil fuel company. .
Maybe if we had had a one off day to commemorate those men's deaths, it would have given us a chance to have a national debate to examine our collective consciences over whether those workers should have been engaged in that dangerous and environmentally damaging practice in the first place.
Instead of being treated as adults and equals we are made to passively consume images of empty pageantry and rituals of a dying empire on the other side of the world. Spoon fed endless mindless discussion and debate over the smallest minutia of the British Royals' lives (and deaths). Not that any of this has any relevancy at all to most people's real lived experience. Except as a form of escapism.
Ah, no. You are perfectly free to switch the channel on the TV coverage (should you actually watch that archaic form of media), and read/watch something else.
As, based on your frequent posts on international affairs, you clearly have done.
No one is forcing you to watch anything – either passively or actively.
Just as I (oh, heresy in NZ) am not particularly interested in rugby, and don't enjoy/watch or 'passively consume' the endless forensic analysis of the latest AB win or loss – and, therefore, choose not to watch/listen/read the coverage. However, I don't demand that the coverage cease to be produced for the benefit of those who do enjoy it – simply because I'm not interested.
Point taken.
If I hadn't rushed I would have written;
A lot of time and money and effort has been put into encouraging us to become passive consumers of the pageantry and rituals of a moribund empire on the other side of the world. The purpose of course is not to change it. (to
paraphrasemangle Marx)Public opinion is a manufactured product.
Well, yes. That is just as true of the Kardashians, Johnny Depp & whoever the latest sports royalty is.
Railing against press coverage of something which demonstrably has a significant degree of popular interest – but which you don't happen to like – is an entirely futile activity.
Vote with your feet (or eyes in this case).
“Vote with your feet (or eyes in this case).”
With the wall to wall coverage, that would have been hard.
Even if you were actively averting your eyes I am sure Belladonna that you would have viewed at least some of this footage or been aware of the massive fandom generated by it. If you did the opposite and watched the MSM media all you liked and you would have found it hard to get news of the terrible climate disaster in Pakistan unfolding
before our eyes, removed from before our eyes.[deleted]
I’ve deleted the paragraphs that looked like they were copy and pastes but didn’t have any formatting to show that and didn’t link to the source.
‘
"Vote with your feet (or eyes in this case)."
Belladonna
With the wall to wall coverage, hard to do in this case.
And I sure Belladonna that you, and probably everyone you know, would have watched at least some of it.
And even if you didn't, you would still have been aware of the massive Stan-dom being generated by this wall to wall coverage and hype.
But let's say, for arguments sake, you did the opposite to what you advocate, and didn't boycott the mainstream media.
The climate disaster and resulting deaths of ordinary people in Pakistan
unfolding in front of our eyesremoved from in front of our eyes, replaced with wall to wall coverage of the death of one, very white, very rich, very old lady.You would have to be a hermit living in a cave to not be aware of the Queen's death. But you could easily be unaware of the climate catastrophe in Pakistan. Which is still ongoing, with little relief for the people caught in it.
Royal pageantry and ritual is the original and oldest way of generating Stan Culture. As Juvenal said give them circuses to keep the people diverted from public policy and civic duty.
The Queen's greatest public service, for which she has been heaped endless praise and honours, has been to rehabilitate the reputation of imperialism and colonialism.
King Charles will be allowed to continue his mother's work and carry out his main political duty to white wash imperialism.
But Charles Windsor the former Prince of Wales has been reminded (more than once) of his civic duty, now that he is King, not to agitate on climate change and to concentrate on his main role.
Unfortunately all the gold braid and pageantry in the world will not save us, or our King.
[You failed to provide the link to Wikipedia for your quote on “Bread and circuses”.
You changed the quoted text (aka butchered it) in a way that was not clear and this only became clear by going to the original text.
This may not seem a big deal, this time, even relatively harmless, but this apparent clumsiness with selective quoting, altering text, removing context, et cetera, is often used as a tool for influencing and manipulating.
When you quote we have to trust you that your quote is a perfect representation (aka copy & paste) of the original text and an accurate representation of the meaning/message. Please lift your game – Incognito]
Mod note
Not really hard to avoid at all.
I chose to stay up and watch the actual funeral coverage (I happen to like old buildings, pageantry and church music)
But it was a deliberate choice – it was hardly in prime time viewing (from about 10pm onwards).
And haven't paid attention to any other coverage subsequently. I read the papers online, and simply choose not to read any of the articles. And, in common with the majority of Kiwis under 60, I don’t watch TV news – and catch up with any programmes on demand (i.e I choose what to watch and when to watch it)
It hasn't been hard.
Disasters in Pakistan would still not have had high profile coverage in NZ – regardless of any royal pageantry. Our media is fairly parochial – and those of us with wider interests know that we have to supplement them from overseas.
Luckily, in this modern age, this is relatively easy to do.
Your complaint about saturation coverage might have had validity in the 1950s (King George VI's funeral and Elizabeth's coronation) – when there were few (if any) media alternatives in NZ – the local paper and the TV channel were the sum total. These days – people's consumption of media comes from so many sources that it's virtually impossible to achieve the slanted presentation that you appear to believe is the secret plan of the British monarchy.
I can assure you, that the coverage of the Kardashians, Johnny Depp and Roger Federer continues unabated (based on a quick sample of my newsfeeds this morning). All continuing to suck media attention away from Pakistan, Ukraine & climate change. Why are those circuses (without even bread) not a target for your ire?
It says alot about you.
Trying to beat up a story where none exists.
'
"Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it"
George Santayana
If the government passed legislation that at the next significant anniversary of the Christchurch massacre a one off national day of reflection on the causes of this tragedy, it would be sign of our maturity as a nation.
We commemorate the war dead of the First and Second World Wars. We don't commemorate the war dead of the New Zealand Wars.
We condemn German and Japanese fascism but we don’t condemn British imperialism or colonialism.
Because alongside our culture of remembering and commemorating historical events, we have another culture of forgetting historical events that we don't want to remember.
I have heard a number of commentators saying that the death and life of the Queen of England will be remembered for ever in history. They are probably right.
How about this: Heeding George Santayana's caution, taking the precedent of a one off day to remember and reflect on life and death of the British Monarch. the government legislate; That at the next anniversary milestone of the Christchurch massacre a one off day stoppage will be called to reflect on this terrible tragedy committed in our midst, to learn and never forget, so that such a thing is never repeated.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57322/for-the-fallen
Do you think we needed to have assassinated the queen before we were entitled to a day off?
Now that would’ve been an event worth commemorating with a day off. [Sarc.]
We're just following the practice of others – to commemorate the end of an era of a head of state. These are (normative) national occasions.
The argument for the utility of another memorial is a separate matter – and there was a planned one (annual, pandemic impacted).
'
"We're just following the practice of others…."
SPC
We should all be heartilly sick of being global followers. John Key wanted us to be 'Fast Followers' It's time we stopped being followers and started being leaders. I have long supported calls for this country to be a global leader, in social in climate justice and peace issues.
.https://thestandard.org.nz/our-plan-to-change-the-government/#comment-1183829
P.S. It was very heartening to see on TV1 News tonight that New Zealand will be taking a global lead on dealing with plastic waste, especially encouraging are moves to sheet the responsibility back to the big plastic polluters at the point of production instead of the public at the point of consumption. Something I have long argued was sorely needed
https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/129960960/50000-people-may-need-to-lose-their-jobs-to-bring-inflation-under-control
Maybe the cold hearted zolner lady needs to go and come up with a better plan than fucking people lives to lower inflation
Yeah I saw this. These economists and their banking buddies are worse than useless, they're detrimental to society.
The plan here is to make many people poor so they can't afford to participate in society. This will in turn reduce demand for goods so prices drop and rich people can get cheaper goods.
We could have put ceilings on corporate profitability – the prices got jacked by corporations, not consumers. We could have retrospectively hit them with windfall taxes, of course we have not.
They blame supply and demand. They blame employment figures. They blame subprime mortgages, wars, pandemics, markets – anything but the truth of bank and corporate roles in society today – to take everything they can get their grubby hands on.
Yesterday, after widespread advertising for stories of supermarket profit gouging, I noticed several exorbitant prices have suddenly shrunk overnight. Flax meal, tahini, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, vegan mayo – all came down significantly since the last shop… Almost like they've been taking the absolute piss.
These people are a fucking disgrace. But just try stop the profit gouging – communism!
Banks have taken 30$ per week in PROFIT from every person in NZ
Can you link to where that figure came from? Sounds excessive…
It's more like $22 per person…..x52 x5million.
Last quarter 1.74 billion profit / 5 mill in 12 weeks
Is 29$
That's $7.8 billion in bank profits per annum I think they are about $6 billion altogether so that would be $23 per week from every person in NZ
Ouch
Don't shoot the messenger, wags. Thats just a more or less plain english description of what the RBNZ is planning to achieve via monetary policy.
The messenger is part of the establishment, so fuck im ,fire at will!!
'been spending most of life….living in a banksters….paradise'!
"THERE HAS GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY "
the profit Lenny Kravitz I believe
I think, in general, that jobs might be lost if people demanded higher wages to compensate for the inflation. That would seem to be the theory.
Belive me I'm less than pleased that just when I finally got into a wage bracket that I thought might give me a chance of getting some security for my future, just got gobbled by the inflation monster, but I don't want 50,000 extra people on the dole to fix it for me.
Now that you have received an increase in income, do you feel that you are better off than before?
Yes but inflation has nicked a decent chunk of it, and no I don't think it's 'cindys' fault if that's where you going jimmy old boy.
No wasn't 'going there at all'. A large portion of the inflation is beyond NZ's control and would not matter who was in government.
Some though is definitely due to the reserve bank.
I genuinely think that making ends meet and affording petrol, groceries, mortgage and rent payments are the biggest and most immediate concern to many NZers. Many people have had pay increases this year (and it is a good time to ask the boss for a rise), but I think it will really tighten up next year with many companies unable to afford to give further pay increases.
As NZ inflation is mostly less than our trading partners.
No. It is not due to the reserve bank.
Except, of course for the house price inflation over the last several decades, Which is due to tax policy since the 90's, lack of curbs on foriegn "investment" and imported cheap labour numbers.
NZ inflation is greater then all our trading partners except the Americas and Europe.
The NZ $/US$ of which all trade is realized to include Freight and insurance has depreciated 14.4% YTD,
Our current account is 7.1% of gdp and is nearing the worst it has been,our debt loading is increasing as is government debt and with an increasing interest bill on sovereign debt doubling over the next 2 years.
High interest rates are here to stay,the days of easy money are gone,and can only be dampened when core inflation ( shelter,utilities and service inflation) reduces.
Nah, if there is such a concern of govt spending impacting interest rates then there will be a quiet conversation between Orr and Robertson (in a smoke filled room), followed by another round of QE and the govt owning more of its own debt.
If the RBNZ wanted interest rates at zero it could of course lower the OCR just as it has raised it recently.
This means sweet FA, but may well send you into a commenting frenzy.
The RBNZ balance sheet has increased around 7 billion since march,the so called QT has not happened as the RBNZ lent at OCR rates to Banks ( 12 billion to xmas)
https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/series/reserve-bank/our-balance-sheet
The Australian RBA took a hit removing all equity for a 36b loss on the effects of QE .
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/21/australias-central-bank-has-equity-wiped-out-by-billions-in-bond-losses.html
NZ debt is firmly in the hands of the kindness of strangers very similar to the UK were debt rates go through the roof.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/suspicious-minds-leave-uk-assets-all-shook-up-2022-09-14/
The only entity which can bankrupt a central bank is its legislature. This makes the question of central bank profit, loss and equity completely irrelevant. Unlike most entities, negative equity has zero impact on central banks ability to function.
Of course the way Citi bank talks about policy is in those terms because this is just the common language for "we recon the BofE should keep bumping interest rates up" (which co-incidentally helps Citi's profits). But, as Japans central bank policy is highlighting, alternate policies can equally be pursued at their discretion, including to lower interest rates.
Japan has 2 trillion in foreign exchange sitting in overseas banks,earning increasing interest payments.Its offshore investments outweigh its onshore foreign liabilities,this weak its 10 yr bond did not trade for 3 days.
The RBA decreased the ability to raise funds to protect its currency or Interest rates it de levered.
Sure, the RBA probably did for some combination of those reasons. But for some reason you didn't put it that way instead focusing on the "cost" of economic policy as if the RBA has any need to earn profits.
And regarding the BoJ (or other central banks) we can only evaluate any external limitations to its policy when they visibly buck market expectations and considering how that works. Highlighting foreign exchange reserves on a balance sheet is about as credible as the old story that, Japans long history of avoiding inflation while running QE for decades, was due to Japanese house wives saving rates.
Obviously when we consider some of the actual outcomes of RBNZ policy (e.g maybe 50,000 additional unemployed) some people are proposing its time to actually run some of the experiments and see how these theories stack up. Frankly if the NZ exchange rate fluctuates 2% off US inflation coming in low (but somehow also above market expectations), we could maybe focus on the economic policy bits we can actually control.
The Japanese household saving rate in July (last data) was 37.7% of disposable income..
With unemployment and some model showing 50k,would it not be better to reduce immigration,( which is a similar number) or would there be just a pool of unemployable.
Jobs full time positions increased by 7000 in the week ending 14/8.When the data reflects a decrease in value,the first affects will be in the service industry which it seems is not affected.
https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/employment-indicators-weekly-as-at-19-september-2022/
Sure, maintaining the lower immigration rate does seem to be having some positive outcomes for NZ.
As far as RBNZ policy implementation goes, their official policy position of running a raised cash rate, is supposed to flow through to the economy via elevated unemployment. AFAIK their expectations should be that domestic inflation will not decrease without the extra 50,000 unemployed. But this seems to have changed since they were initially just saying the country would need to accept the transitory (e.g. supply side) inflation and spread its burden fairly until it abated.
The fundamental question appears unstated….what can the NZD provide?
The answer is very little…. and even less if it is undesired offshore.
A low nz$ makes assets very cheap,especially rural land.
And inputs expensive…and it is all relative as your 'trading partner inflation rate' comment indicates.
A major issue is our exchange rate volatility….it makes long term investment decisions problematic…who will (either onshore or off) commit capital when any decision can be rendered a loser with a currency swing such as we have been subjected to the past 40 years?…a low of 0.39 to near parity with the world default trading currency and widly variable in between.
True,some will have local substitution possibilities such as cereal imported from Aus,where a new bulker on the coast will make shipping competitive SI-NI,cheaper then oz-nz. (up 70m in August)
So. Most of them. As I said.
No .not by price or volume.
https://www.worldstopexports.com/new-zealands-top-trade-partners/
Trading partners are not only "exports".
From your own link. Which is about export reciepts.
Imported inflation comes from imports and services supplied from overseas, does it not?
Global inflation tracker: see how your country compares on rising prices | Financial Times (ft.com)
Of the top 10 import countries into NZ,only the US and Germany have higher inflation rates.
The largest increases in cost are actually freight rates,insurance etc,with import values include CIF, which are now starting to contract.
The argument was not all our trading partners have high inflation,which excluding the Americas and Europe (excluding switzerland) they do not.
President of France Jacques Chirac knew in 1996. Hs told the ILO that the economy serves the people and not the other way round.
https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_008059/lang–en/index.htm
How much further away from a notion of a decent society is that 5% of the people should be unemployed so that others may prosper. This latest advocate talks of a necessary pain. One Mark Lister gives away the mantle of altruism to the unemployed when he would better serve us and himself by trying a little altruism in his own life.
“You’ve got to cause some pain. You’ve
got to create some unemployment” he said. Marlborough Express Sept 23 2022 page 7 Business section
Anybody's pain but mine…….
What a truly ugly man
Have these people not twigged the inherent stupidity of their version of an economy where it is argued that we need more workers and also we need more unemployment?
Locally in Rotorua its 11%. – per the pre election report from the current Rotorua council.
5%unemployment in Rotorua currently would be awesome.
Will somebody please ask Luxon for his 'wisdom' on this.
Wisdom? Best laugh of the day Barfly!! Opinion yes… Wisdom lol,
no!! He will lead with his arrogant chin.
Here's an interesting take on this:
Which 50 000 has to go?
If it's supply and demand issues, then we must get rid of the useless from the workforce, not the actual workers who produce the supply! Anything else would be madness. We know who is essential now (we've always known), the people who actually keep the lights on.
But there are others:
Economists are clearly useless, how many of them are there?
There's bound to be plenty of middle management playing paper-go-round in plenty of places.
Who must go?
Reminds me of the Douglas Adams Golgafrinchams
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/hitchhikers/guide/golgafrincham.shtml
We do know that the social value of a banker is negative but hospital cleaners add x15 the value of their salary.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/dec/14/new-economics-foundation-social-value
Economists are funny, one day they say we need more unemployment to reduce inflation BUT the next day they say the economy lacks workers and we need more migration.
These two things are not coherent. They and their neo-liberal school are out of their depth in the real world 2022.
I'll note that when Muldoon was PM 1976-1981 there was 5 years of wage growth/inflation during which house prices flatlined and fell in real terms.
Inflation reduces the real value of assets (which one can note are overvalued) and debt (good for coming out of the QE debt of the GFC and pandemic). Containing inflation by holding down wages merely to preserve the asset wealth of a privileged elite (after a period of extreme inequality) is risible.
RBG's applying neo-liberal policy are going to risk populist pressure to the democratic fabric in way not seen since the 1930's.
You can have both national proved that I believe last time , flood the country with cheep foreign labour ,have kiwis on the dole , added bonus is a bigger target for right wingers to hate on.
… they'll allow prison for profit growth to manage homelessness (known as three strikes and clearances for urban renewal in the USA and here to manage the lack of housing).
That is actually coherent. More imported cheap labour = in their minds, more unemployed, less wage rises and less inflation.
The idea that you fight inflation by driving down wage price pressure regardless of other factors.
Obviously it means workers, and unemployed pay all the coats of reducing inflation. But we can't have banks and assett/housing speculators taking the pain instead, can we??
All the costs???
Both will take the hit…a consequence of the interest rate hikes is asset depreciation. (or revaluation)
Wealth destruction,global sharemarkets 25 trillion ytd,Crypto 2 trillion,Housing will be big here as the half billion pumped bubble implodes.
https://edition.cnn.com/markets/fear-and-greed
Why do you think, speculators and banks are so keen on wages taking the hit to contain inflation?
So they don't, of course!
I would argue the stimulus from population growth (more migrants) would in fact increase demand/inflation.
Hubby and I banked with ANZ – well firstly the National Bank, for 55 years. We told them where to go 3 years ago and moved to Kiwibank. We'd had enough of their utterings from John Key and the CEO in Melbourne (who I believe is a Kiwi) who threatened to close the N Z division down. I guess he was bluffing, but sheesh, what a tosser. Sharon Zollner also needs to pull her head in, but of course the unemployment subject is a favourite among such pointy heads who wouldn't be at all affected by such a move. Just don't get me going on the report in the Herald today about the Mood of the Boardroom
The Former Guy claims he declassified the documents he removed from the White House just by thinking about it. We didn't know he has the amazing superpower of teledeclassification.
https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/22/2124549/-Donald-Trump-claims-he-declassified-documents-by-thinking-about-it-but-that-s-not-the-worst-thing
Plotting, scheming, embezzling, gouging, dodging, lying, bullying–all skills Mr Mango Mussolini has amply demonstrated–but thinking? is a stretch.
In a fairer world Mr Trump would have been locked up years ago, but the US political establishment really has not chosen its battles with the ex President wisely at all.
Donald who?
He's not a well man.
New Zealand's very own Fox News, the NZ Herald, running their annual hit job on the left today. It is laughably titled, "The Mood of the Boardroom" – a name so suffused with fake gravitas it can only have come from the ponderously dull Fran O'Sullivan. The conclusion of 90 CEOs and 18 Directors is that this is the worst government since Muldoon. Yawn – rich, powerful private sector interests wanting the playing field tipped in their favour, and completely without irony, equating that with good economic management.
The winter of discontent team leader (2000) also ran an ad/editorial demanding New Zealand voters prevent a Labour-Green government (2005). Must have been so sad there when one law for all, across the board tax cuts (less money for poor families), keep interest on tertiary loans Don Brash was defeated
(Winston Peters kept his word to go with the party with more votes – Labour)(but in its way NZH represents the Koch brothers denial of need for global warming action and maintenance of a neo-liberal global regime)
The government must be doing something right then.
Yep, and one of the Herald and ZB adherents – who also happens to be a relative – told me yesterday we have a Communist government and its going to go next year before we are all destroyed.
Does anyone know where I can locate a membership form for the VFF crowd so I can send it to her? Or the Brash crowd will do – Hobson's Choice they call themselves? 😛
But, but, but if we have a Communist Government it is headed by a 'pretty little communist' isn't it and that must count for something surely. I mean better a pretty little communist than some idiot riding a bear? Your relative should thank their lucky stars. I didn't see the man on the bear being pressed to speak at the UN or being invited to the Queen's funeral.
I know the 'pretty little comm' is correct as I read it on a poster on the tractors and trucks in the Groundswill protest. And farmers know everything don't they? Those ones do anyway.
Perhaps get a membership form for Groundswell too so she can feel the faint pulse of this crowd from the rural sector. They are not supported by the majority of rural dwellers that I can see so should be a good match for VFF & Brash's rush of blood to the head group.
Actually I think it is the "pretty little communist:" who started it cos the plc is very attractive and intelligent and she's younger and oh so popular with her overseas peers.
Its called jealousy and afflicts a lot of women. HDPA is another example.
Yes indeed.
The Mood of the Boardroom in the Herald is just more right wing propaganda. Plenty more to come daily from Ganny Herald folks.
As a swing voter looking for excuses to stay with Labour, I'm finding it harder by the day. This so called '' hit job'' on Labour was in reality a reflection of what many voting people are pondering. Grant Robertson taking at hit in the ratings should be ringing alarm bells. He has generally until now been well tolerated by the opposition and general public. For me there were some surprises in the survey. Co-governance having some support for example. Labour has been given fair warning. They can continue to flip off such findings as the deluded rantings of rich white boys wanting more bucks in their pockets, or they can cross reference this survey with public opinion polls, gain a reality check, and do something about it.
25-26% of rain forest loss …
A study on Vitamin D levels and health outcomes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8541492/
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Blimey ! You appear to be the first tragically-smug Woke dogmatist here to conspicuously break ranks from the well-rehearsed narrative that Vitamin D is all part of some Far Right Trumpist conspiracy theory to deliberately perplex the hoi polloi who lack the "unusually refined moral & intellectual sensibilities" of those wannabe elites trapped in your stifling little echo-chamber.
How did dear old muttonbird put it, again ? … oh yes:
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-03-08-2022/#comment-1903527
I was posting John Campbell on this back in 2020. and also on old fashioned “aspiration” in vaccination.
The only reason I take my vitamins is when instructed by my partner, and I don't think they are doing anything either.
I will now compare myself to Niels Bohr.
https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/magic-shows/miscellany/niels-bohrs-lucky-horseshoe
Meanwhile the Medical Council of NZ says that Vitamin D supplementation is not required, except in some very specific population categories:
Unlike the Northern Hemisphere, Kiwis in general get enough sun exposure to ensure our levels are well within the healthy range.
Vitamin D prescription in NZ doesn't correlate with a reduction in the known medical consequences of low rates (rickets, etc). And is no longer prescribed for prevention of osteoporisis (no clinical benefit). It seems as though most prescriptions are to the 'worried well'
https://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/vitamin-d-deficiency-supplementation-and-testing-have-we-got-it-right-in-new-zealand
Has anyone seen this rating of each Auckland Councillor?
Rating every Auckland councillor: Bernard Orsman and Simon Wilson give their verdicts – NZ Herald
It's Herald Premium content – but Aucklander's with a library card should be able to view it using Press Reader, through the library website.
I think this is absolutely accurate
CEOs give the govt. a fail report card. 'Wost Govt since Muldoon': Ardern, Robertson blasted by business leaders in CEO survey (msn.com)
Even from the title the illiteracy of said CEOs suggests their opinion is less than bankable.
Yes just get woser and woser really.
Stuart-listen to this afternoon's The Panel on RNZ. Fran O'Sullivan got a roasting, got pissed off and basically fell apart when questioned by Panel members about the Mood of the Boardroom survey.
Here it is:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018859987
Fran O….ex NBR…now with NZ Herald ….is so biased it's hard to take her…seriously.
I'm going to differ with you there. Fran is a damned good journalist when she sets her mind to it. I'll grant you, that may be less than half the time, but she knocks sad idiot panel hacks out of the park from time to time. It's just that she spends too much time rubbing elbows with CEOs to be a full-on Blomkvist.
"Fran O'Sullivan got a roasting, got pissed off and basically fell apart when questioned by Panel members about the Mood of the Boardroom survey."
Think we must have listened to a different panel discussion
Perhaps Shanreagh and Anne describe it better below, but I stand by the fact that O'Sullivan was very unimpressive, mostly because she was defending the indefensible because the Mood of the Boardroom survey is wrong to attack the performance of this government.
From about 10.00 in. But, but, splutter is a good summary of Fran's response to some of Simon Wilson's questions…she quickly switched to saying it was a snapshot of a mood and overseas there was inflation that the CE's were reflecting on.
Most unimpressive but then these are not a group given to self reflection or acknowledgement that we have faced tough times. She did not seem to have an answer to the query about pushback on paying workers more being a way to lift people out of poverty……something that the CE's group are ostensibly concerned about.
The group does not include large NGOs
The best response was made by Wallace Chapman when he pointed out that the report did not acknowledge the fact this government had been through a major pandemic that no other government in NZ has had to grapple with, and was able to bring NZ through in far better shape than most other countries.
I note Fran O'Sullivan immediately changed tack and pointed out that the pandemic emergency has passed, and the CEO's are concerned about what is happening now.
I paraphrase both responses.
Surely what is happening now is a direct consequence of that pandemic and the world wide disruptions etc. it created. All the blame cannot be laid at the feet of the government. It will take time to re-establish normality in all sections of society including the business sector, so it is disingenuous to pass judgement at this stage of the procedure.
I gather also there was no mention of the impact being felt over the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
Yes Anne, 'disingenuous' is a good word to describe the responses from the CEOs being discussed with Fran O'Sullivan.
As well there have been thoughts that while the situation was 'fluid' we could generally have a look at whether we wanted to go back to BAU circa 2021 or if we could be 'nimble' and take the opportunities for change.
NZ used to have a reputation for this nimbleness in days gone by not so long ago. Nimbleness is not a product of $$$$ or of handouts but of far-sightedness in business and brains working. Also adequate R & D and product and market investigation and investment.
Perhaps the CEs have been struck down by a late arriving variant of the Moaning Minnie virus that my ‘research’ showed accompanied earlier Covid variants in the general population.
This Covid virus has been long lasting, we have had to help those affected and so we have had to take time to deal with it. Some of the responses I have seen have built on the bull kaka that every country in the world except NZ has moved on. Partner is in the south of Italy travelling by public transport and says operators of public transport are fanatical about continued mask wearing on buses etc. NB NZ has no mask wearing restrictions on public transport.