Open mike 23/09/2010

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66 comments on “Open mike 23/09/2010 ”

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  1. Carol 1
    23 September 2010 at 8:25 am

    With respect to recent discussions in this forum about the impact of inequality, I found this article gave a good overview of some books that look relevant:

    http://fivebooks.com/interviews/danny-dorling-on-inequality

    Professor Danny Dorling says it is becoming very hard to argue against inequality when, under the surface, arguments are beginning to be made that it’s rational to have inequality. His latest book, Injustice, rejects the arguments that are put forward for preserving inequality, one by one. He chooses essential reading on the subject.

    Dorling explains why he thinks his 5 selected books make significant contributions to the issue. The books are:

    The Challenge of Affluence: Self-Control and Well-Being in the United States and Britain since 1950– Avner Offer

    The Selfish Capitalist: The Origins of Affluenza – Oliver James

    Super Rich: The rise of inequality in Britain and the United States – George Irvin

    Stuffed and Starved: Markets, Power, and the Hidden Battle for the World Food System – Raj Patel

    The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better – Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

    The comment by Dorling that I found most startling, was this (about the book, The Selfish Capitalist):

    There has been research done in the States scanning the brains of students as they see a homeless person: the evidence suggests that they don’t recognise them as human. It was only when they asked the question ‘Do you think that person is hungry?’ that suddenly all the emotions fire up. It’s a survival mechanism. If you live in a very unequal society, you barely even see people who are from different social classes.

    • prism 1.1
      23 September 2010 at 10:15 am

      I have bought The Waning of Humaneness by Konrad Lorenz 1983 though not read it entirely yet. Under the heading ‘The uneasiness inherent in culture’ he posits that the soul preceded the mind and refers to his dog’s soul and capacity to love exceeding that of a human.

      He comments on the formation of mind ‘The human mind brought into existence through conceptual thinking, syntactic speech and the heritability of traditional knowledge {through} speech…'(p123) and this overtakes the soul.

      He refers to the technocratic/capitalistic success-society and says it influences us so much that our minds have ‘become the adversary of life itself and collaterally the adversary of the human soul’.(p126)

      I have referred to a radio discussion on the limiting of humanities education in universities which includes this type of philosophical thinking. If such debilitating control grows, then there will be even more growth of the money/action oriented person as in the Ayn Randian brand and Brave New World and 1984 portray the culture that will dominate our thinking and our lives.

    • Vicky32 1.2
      23 September 2010 at 4:56 pm

      “scanning the brains of students as they see a homeless person: the evidence suggests that they don’t recognise them as human”
      Dear Heaven, that is well scary!
      Deb

  2. prism 2
    23 September 2010 at 8:48 am

    From The Daily Noose: John Key bends to pick low-hanging fruit. Douglas bites him in the bum, but Key turns the other cheek.

    • Carol 2.1
      23 September 2010 at 9:22 am

      Heh. Good one, prism. key just doesn’t accept any criticism – like water off a ducks back. He uses denial, diversion, and/or jokey deflection – all in his “down-to-earth-honest-guy” tone of voice. Sooner or later, surely (?!), the mainstream TV news & newspaper frontpage headlines must call him on it, and get him to face up to, and answer to, realities!?

    • jcuknz 2.2
      23 September 2010 at 9:37 am

      Key didn’t have to turn much since he has two cheeks up top and behind below.
      But seriously there will always be inequality, it is a fact of life, the aim should be to limit it to reasonable proportions. If there is none then there is no incentive for the individual. and no reward for effort. Everybody would be fat objectionable slobs as portrayed in the cartoon film about the waste collecting machine left behind on earth when mankind left for the stars ….I’m sure there was a message there from the producers..

      • Draco T Bastard 2.2.1
        23 September 2010 at 9:46 am

        That, quite simply, is a load of BS. Of course there would still be incentive – it would just be different than the fight to survive that drives the majority ATM (and which is used to keep them poor and the rich rich).

        • Bored 2.2.1.1
          23 September 2010 at 10:02 am

          Draco, I think from a historic perspective JC is quite correct, as we hear from the pulpit so often “the poor will always be with us” (ergo so will the rich). As a hard core lefty I work running companies (a very bourgeois activity) which makes me extremely aware of the need to allow people to contribute at their own level and to give them incentive to do so. Its as simple as recognition, people have a need to achieve and celebrate their success.

          What I think capitalism has done with this innate urge to achieve / succeed is to subvert it from the common good and the joint celebration of individual success. It is now a singular individual isolated success, and the capitalist control mechanism is the need of individuals to repeat it continuously to remain in front of the competitive pack. Rewards are material (cash) and thus success becomes an act of class warfare and control. The corollary is institutionalised poverty, no winners without losers.

        • Armchair Critic 2.2.1.2
          23 September 2010 at 10:13 am

          Yeah, I’m with jcuknz until about half way through the comment.
          I’d like a link to the cartoon film (is it on youtube, jcuknz?) so I can understand the context, because at face value it seems like BS to me.

          • Pascal's bookie 2.2.1.2.1
            23 September 2010 at 10:28 am

            He’s talking about Wall-E

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WALL-E#Themes

            • Draco T Bastard 2.2.1.2.1.1
              23 September 2010 at 10:36 am

              Yep, Wall-E. Where everything was done by the machines and the people were looking for something to do but the machines wouldn’t let them. Pretty much what we have in capitalism.

              • Armchair Critic …
                23 September 2010 at 10:45 am

                OK, thanks. I’m still not inspired to watch it. Whatsoever (which is the AS word – it’s sentient. Again.)

                • jcuknz …
                  24 September 2010 at 5:02 am

                  Thanks for the title which had slipped my memory though if you have a spare hour or so the film is well worth watching and I only refered to a short part of it … WALL-E is a highly engaging character and lovable 🙂

  3. Pascal's bookie 3
    23 September 2010 at 9:17 am

    What with everything, those folks at lower then 5 on the ACT list must be real keepers eh?

    • Dave 3.1
      23 September 2010 at 10:13 am

      Yeah, I’ll bet that party has more buried skeletons than Agincourt and Hastings combined. Good to see Clayton Cosgrove getting stuck in where he can, perhaps another backbencher could get fired up and throw in his two shillings worth?

      I hope Winston decides to stand in Epsom, that would be a debate I’d love to go and watch

      • Anne 3.1.1
        23 September 2010 at 10:38 am

        @ Dave
        You can be assured they have buried skeletons. A couple of their early antics would see them “gone by lunchtime” (and more) if they ever saw the light of day. The problem is, getting a few people to stick their necks up above the parapet and spill the beans.

  4. G8 4
    23 September 2010 at 9:42 am

    Herald article today:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10675467

    John Banks campaign manager Dr Rainbow is still on the rate payers payroll.

    WE CANNOT TRUST BANK’S

    • prism 4.1
      23 September 2010 at 10:42 am

      No apostrophe in Banks in this use G8. His name has an S at the end. But if wanted to indicate possession or attribution of something eg Banks’ trustworthiness in doubt.

      Which reminds me of funny? USA story I heard on RadioNZ other day. Two geeks went on a trip in USA drawing on their expertise with English usage and editorial experience, correcting grammar, apostrophes on or not on signs etc.

      At Yellowstone National Park they altered a sign without asking permission, but though it seemed a park sign it was an art installation purposefully done. They were charged with vandalism and were dragged before a court, fined $3000 and were forbidden to continue this activity, it was suggested for ever but finalised at six months, and had to take down their web site relating to it.

      What an extreme response. USA the land of the free? Rather a punitive, humourless, authoritarian, conformist society.

      • Vicky32 4.1.1
        23 September 2010 at 5:05 pm

        Very authoritarian, yes, and they have serious issues with freedom of speech no matter what the Constitution says! (I remember years ago, hearing about a study done – psych students (who else?) stood on the street with a clipboard and a copy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, asking the American in the street what s/he thought of it all – and got the response from 8 out of every 10 people they asked that these documents were the rankest communism and that the authors ought to be in prison!)
        Deb

        • jcuknz 4.1.1.1
          24 September 2010 at 5:44 am

          VICKY …I related your story to my son who did his higher education in the States and he asked … where in the States were the students? His wife who is American thought it hilarious.

          • Vicky32 4.1.1.1.1
            24 September 2010 at 4:33 pm

            I don’t really remember the details, sorry… I learned about the incident when doing Ed Psych 201, many years back…
            Further though, I am on various fora, and I’ve recently caught hell for perceived (not real) anti-Americanism when I commented on a fictional example one woman gave, that it sounded like something from Criminal Minds, and that American TV was not a realistic source of knowledge of human nature!
            So it seems to me, obvious, that Americans are always on the lookout for things that seem to them, attacks… Sad.
            Deb

    • pollywog 4.2
      23 September 2010 at 10:51 am

      A gay doctor with a green background named Rainbow…so does that make Banks the pink eunuch horn ?

      …what a pretty sight they must make together

    • BLiP 4.3
      23 September 2010 at 1:58 pm

      With his brown-shirt bovva boys stacking the front row at candidate meetings, his allowing council staff to ignore rules on campaigning, and with his National Ltd™ mate Boag using Momentum letterhead to seek donations . . . desparate Banks is desperate.

      • comedy 4.3.1
        23 September 2010 at 2:27 pm

        Frankly the three fuckers who are the incumbent mayors should all be gassed – you’ve got Brown rorting it up using council resources to campaign, Banks doing the same and the Looniest of the lot on the Nth Shore having council staff doing mail drops of his fliers………… we are through the looking glass.. reverse vampires etc etc etc

  5. freedom 5
    23 September 2010 at 10:39 am

    Stuff site poll on the Games now at 72% opposed to sending athletes

    capcha: come lol

  6. tsmithfield 6
    23 September 2010 at 12:17 pm

    I thought I would have seen an article by Marty or Eddie now on the student loan stand-down for failing at Uni. Thought one of you would have been into that one like a big fluffy dog.

    • Mac1 6.1
      23 September 2010 at 12:21 pm

      What are your thoughts, tsmithfield? Apart from thinking that someone else should have thoughts?

      • tsmithfield 6.1.1
        23 September 2010 at 12:37 pm

        The two year period is two thirds of the time required for an undergraduate degree. If you can’t pass more than half of your course over that period, you’re sure as hell not going to get the degree. Two years also should be long enough to determine if someone has got the intellectual grunt to be able to make it in tertiary education (One year for pissing around enjoying getting drunk etc, one year for serious study).

        So, I think its about right. It weeds out all the hangers-on who want to be perpetual students but have no hope of getting anywhere. Also, it focuses the mind a bit more so that students might actually take study seriously than some otherwise might..

        • Pascal's bookie 6.1.1.1
          23 September 2010 at 12:45 pm

          Tumeke all right.

          http://tumeke.blogspot.com/2010/09/listening-to-paul-henry-in-morning-is.html

          I’m listening to that awful Paul Henry rave on and on and on about the new draconian policy by the Hollow Brain of Steven Joyce to stop funding students who fail 50% of their courses and this has now been imposed retrospectively starting last year….

          …Here’s something to jam down Paul Henry’s throat. I hosted a debate at Auckland Uni on Monday between Sam Lotu-linga, Gareth Hughes and Jacinda Ardern about education policy on this very issue. Sam explained that the Government wanted ‘productivity’ and that was why National were pushing ahead with the ‘pass 50% our you are out’ game (he didn’t note the new news released today that this policy would be imposed retrospectively). From the floor a young woman got up to ask a question. She said in her first year she had been a straight A student, but then she was raped (the entire Quad went very silent over her statement). She pointed out that her studies suffered and she failed half her papers. She wanted to know why this blanket policy to dump students was so cruel (she also noted she was unable to get ACC counselling now the policy had been changed by this Government to cut rape counselling funding). Sam was a but stunned, the other two political spokespeople were stunned, the Quad was a bit stunned (I was a bit stunned). The student said it was easy for National to pass policy like this when they didn’t know the reasons why students failed.

          • tsmithfield 6.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2010 at 1:04 pm

            From that same article

            “To Sam’s credit he said he would ask Steven Joyce to look at possible exemptions form this blanket ban”

            And I understand that there will be consideration given to individual circumstances, as there should be. Obviously there can be situations that arise, illness, personal tragedy etc that need to be accounted for.

            However, in principal I think the idea is a good one.

            • Pascal's bookie 6.1.1.1.1.1
              23 September 2010 at 1:11 pm

              If you are going to chop sentences in half when you quote someone ts, it’s polite to use an ellipsis.

              Here’s the full sentence:

              “To Sam’s credit he said he would ask Steven Joyce to look at possible exemptions form this blanket ban, which would be a joke in itself as that is what the Universities do right now.”

              • tsmithfield …
                23 September 2010 at 1:26 pm

                So, how about you, Pascal? In principal do you think there should be some level of accountability for students considering the taxpayer is subsidising the lions share of their fees?

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  23 September 2010 at 1:33 pm

                  Quite possibly, but I don’t think this plan is much good, nor you much honest. So fucked if I see why talking to you about it would be worth anything.

                  • tsmithfield …
                    23 September 2010 at 1:38 pm

                    On the grumpy juice today?

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      23 September 2010 at 3:32 pm

                      Not really, just think blatant dishonesty is only worth responding to in certain ways. If you want people to be nice, don’t be a fuckstick. If you do be fucksticky, it’s your own fault if people treat you like the shit you present yourself as.

                      Accountability ya reckon?

                      Deal.

                    • tsmithfield …
                      23 September 2010 at 4:21 pm

                      So your reason for expressing self-righteous angst is that I forgot to put a few dots after the quote:-something I am normally quite careful to do…..

                      You also seem to be implying that I was taking the comment out of context. However, I don’t see that as the case at all. The purpose for citing that portion of the quote was to demonstrate that the government was looking at the problem that had been highlighted. The omitted part of the quote wasn’t relevant to that.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      23 September 2010 at 4:43 pm

                      Everyone here can read ts.

                    • felix …
                      23 September 2010 at 4:45 pm

                      You prior behaviour suggests that it’s more likely you deliberately omitted the last half because it makes a mockery of exactly the point you tried to make by quoting the first half, and less likely that you “forgot”.

                      D

            • Outofbed 6.1.1.1.1.2
              23 September 2010 at 1:20 pm

              Well thats ok then, good old double dipping Sam. What about the cuts to ACC funding counseling what did he say about that?
              fuck i detest Tories
              Any one see Aaron Gilmore on Backbenchers last night
              every question apart from sow crates he mentioned the fucking earthqauke and/or Bob Parker
              What a creep

        • Mac1 6.1.1.2
          23 September 2010 at 1:27 pm

          Thanks for the reply, tsmithfield.

          Back when, and as I remember, I had to complete four units (eight papers) in two years to keep the fees being paid, less than half the course which was twenty one papers.

          One bad year would have blown it under what you propose. Half the course could not have been completed by absolutely blowing one year- no passes- out of two.

          However, I would have passed half of the papers sat over two years. Is that what Joyce means?

          I agree perpetual students should pay their way. To what extent are they subsidised now? University can also be a place for some dilettante learning but that should be self-funded. I agree also that failure can focus the mind.

          • tsmithfield 6.1.1.2.1
            23 September 2010 at 1:42 pm

            When I did my Masters I actually marked quite a lot of undergrad papers. Some of the standard was very poor. The “bums on seats” mentality has pushed a lot of people into higher education that simply shouldn’t be there IMO.

            What is probably needed is a good pre-entry assessment process that selects more reliably those who are suited to university, and their maturity level to cope with it.

  7. Outofbed 7
    23 September 2010 at 12:26 pm

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/sep/22/suffolk-county-council-outsource-services
    So just a virtual council now
    this is what the future holds here

    • prism 7.1
      23 September 2010 at 12:38 pm

      But the Suffok council spokesperson says the magic words which are bolded below. While bureaucracy can be stifling, if efficient you can get them to do things that should be done. Without them? – well you might get what oldies in some NZ areas get – a phone call from a contracted agency that gets you chatting as to how you’re getting on and if you say something positive, the voice says well you obviously don’t need your home help any more, and that’s finis to that.

      The council says it wants to withdraw from directly providing public services in order to reduce the local authority’s>i/<“size, cost and bureaucracy and build community capacity to enable Suffolk citizens to take greater control of their lives.”

      • Outofbed 7.1.1
        23 September 2010 at 1:32 pm

        size, cost and bureaucracy and build community capacity to enable Suffolk citizens to take greater control of their lives. sort of like the Somalia of the British isles

  8. bobo 8
    23 September 2010 at 1:13 pm

    “The child’s identity was not stolen 26 years ago, it was simply borrowed, and that harmed neither the child nor his parents, particularly since the false passport was never used.”

    Garth George on Act’s ‘stupidity’ in managing MP roster

    I don’t know what is more pathetic Garrett’s act, or the excuses and playing down of the act by the right wing trolls in the msm.

    • Outofbed 8.1
      23 September 2010 at 1:26 pm

      We do not know it wasn’t used. As has been stated here before it could have been used for any number of purposes Setting up false bank accounts for example .
      One thing is for sure you don’t go to all that trouble for a lark
      Garth George another nice tory

    • Mac1 8.2
      23 September 2010 at 1:33 pm

      How does George’s comment about no harm to the parents fit with Garrett’s regrets that the parents had been harmed? Whose word is he taking for the non-use of the passport? The criminal himself or some reputable authority such as the relevant Govt Department?

      If I borrowed a car rather than stole it, that would be called car conversion and would still be a crime, yes?

      Silly apologist, Mr George.

      • bobo 8.2.1
        23 September 2010 at 6:04 pm

        I would have thought to borrow something you’d have to ask the owner first, maybe Garth George and David Garrett are one and the same person?

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    23 September 2010 at 1:44 pm

    Serious

    As for who’s responsible, Three News points the finger at Labour candidate Daljit Singh:

    One of the properties searched was the real estate office where Labour candidate Daljit Singh works. He said today police had not contacted him.

    I actually saw that on 3news last night. There was the definite implication that it (Papatoetoe eletoral fraud) was being done by Labour. It will be good to see just who is responsible for doing this.

    • Pramod 9.1
      4 October 2010 at 12:20 am

      I can confirm that Daljit Singh is involved in the papatoetoe vote fraud. This is a calculated strategy to undermine the Democratic process of NZ which Daljit has done with the support of 2 labour organisations namely GOPIO and Indian Newslink run by Venkat Raman who is a close associate and mentor of Daljit. The entire community knows that Daljit is being supported by Venkat Raman and Satish Sharma of GOPIO .
      Daljit is also the National Immigration Advisor of GOPIO.
      Labour should come clean of this and issue a statement as their silence indicates something fishy.
      Read the glowing tribute venkat raman is giving Daljit http://www.indiannewslink.co.nz/index.php/archives/sept_15_2010/4917.html

  10. Draco T Bastard 10
    23 September 2010 at 1:58 pm

    When ’speak to the hand’ isn’t good enough

    Mark Ford was appointed by Rodney Hide to set up the Auckland super city. The ratepayers of Auckland pay him $540,000 a year.

    He was responsible for hiring the agency Momentum to recruit 45 senior executives for the super city. Momentum has close ties with the National Party, employing former National Party President Michelle Boag as a senior executive, and with former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley on its board. Back in February it was revealed Ms Boag was working for John Banks’ mayoral campaign as an unpaid adviser while at the same time recruiting the super city’s chief spin doctor.

    Now we find out Ms Boag has been soliciting money and votes for John Banks on Momentum letterhead while the agency is recruiting the super city’s top executives. Mr Ford is asked about it by the Herald and he says “I’m not going there.”

    Looks like more corruption is showing up on the political right.

  11. Draco T Bastard 11
    23 September 2010 at 2:29 pm

    Garrett is GONE!!!

    hattip: NRT

  12. Roflcopter 12
    23 September 2010 at 3:53 pm

    Labour + Greens + NZ First + Maori Party eh?

    *grabs popcorn*

    Good on ya Phil Goff!

  13. felix 13
    23 September 2010 at 4:11 pm

    I remember learning about averages in primary school maths.

    I remember learning what mean, median and mode averages are.

    I remember my teacher putting great importance on the differences between them, and telling us to always be wary when anyone tries to use an average figure to make a case for something as it may not be the type of average you expect it to be.

    I remember other maths teachers in intermediate and high school reiterating this point.

    Was I the only one in class paying any attention to any of this?

  14. Draco T Bastard 14
    23 September 2010 at 6:54 pm

    More socialising the losses by farmers. When are we going to stop this blatant theft?

  15. Salsy 15
    23 September 2010 at 7:47 pm

    Im interested to see just how this fonterra boom plays out. They may have recorded profits this year despite droughts in the north, but never before has NZ dairy been to utterly environmentally degrading, unethical & irresponsible. How many Europeans are would be happy to sit down for breakfast, pouring over their porridge a product that has been so mismanaged, that it can singlehandedly destory rainforests in South East Asia, causing extinction as well as climate change, pollute a vast, and growing number of NZ lowland waterways to the point that NZ is now home to one of the most polluted rives in the western world, threaten to expand – intensively consuming the ecologically important McKenzie basin and could, if left uncontrolled have a significant and unintended negative impact on the industries which trade on our clean green image including the billion dollar tourism industry, …all the while at sitting at a well known major market disadvantage – being created a giant carbon footprint away from its main market.

    Its possibly one of the most environmentally irresponsible, unethical and ungreen products in the world – ironically still marketed under the clean green brand.

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    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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