Open mike 24/08/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 24th, 2022 - 90 comments
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90 comments on “Open mike 24/08/2022 ”

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  1. PsyclingLeft.Always 1
    24 August 2022 at 7:27 am

    Aug 23, 2022 2:11 PM

    RNZ Live

    The leader of the anti-government protest, Brian Tamaki, says many South Islanders could not attend because ferries have been cancelled.

    The Interislander says urgent mechanical repairs were needed on one of the ship's ventilation systems.

    Tamaki has baselessly accused the Transport Minister Michael Wood of making that decision.

    A spokesperson for Michael Wood said the minister denied any allegations that he interfered with the ferries.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/473355/no-arrests-as-protest-winds-up-peacefully-outside-parliament

    Brian Tamaki has announced a new umbrella political party called "Freedoms NZ".

    In an address at today's anti-Government protest at Parliament in Wellington, Tamaki said three parties had joined the new party – The New Nation Party, Vision NZ and the Outdoors and Freedom Party. One of the parties was based in London and two had signed a memorandum of understanding.

    Sue Grey, a self-employed lawyer from Nelson and co-leader of the NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party, moved to Tauranga for the byelection where she came fourth with 1030 votes.

    It started out as the NZ Outdoors Party, but changed its name in April this year to the NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party after becoming active during the nationwide lockdown.

    Supporters of the party have claimed the September 11 attacks were a false flag operation, promoted flat earth theories and denounced "mind control" and 5G technology.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/brian-tamaki-announces-new-umbrella-political-party

    Bishop Tamaki, the nuts…. Nut . Would be totally laughable..if it weren't for the faith his nutty followers have . Maybe sad? (albeit in a worrying way : (

    • Jenny how to get there 1.2
      24 August 2022 at 9:42 am

      To isolate the Far Right, It is my opinion to silence the voices of the far right, who make a play of the failings of the Left to take on the wealthy and privileged to protect the wealthy and privileged, our Labour government need to start acting more like the Michael Savage socialist administration than like the David Lange neo-liberal administration.

      One of the best summations of the motives and tactics of the far right that I have ever read was posted on facebook yesterday by Henry G Laws of Antifa Aotearoa

      …..The fascist strategy is to deceive people into thinking that the neoliberal policies that trouble them are leftist policies. They are not. The far right then pretend to be rebels against capitalism, while in fact standing for an even more extreme and brutal form of capitalism. The roots of modern fascism lie with the tyrannies of colonialism, with the horrors of racist, white supremacism, with the brutalities of patriarchy, and with capitalist exploitation….

      • Jenny how to get there 1.2.1
        24 August 2022 at 11:03 am

        '

        Kids in Cars

        TVNZ breakfast: @1:18:10 minutes

        Matty: How concerned are you about the amount of kids living in cars right now?

        Luxon: Well I am really concerned about that. Essentially just saying kind words, and saying you care isn't actually cutting it and isn't getting results. And the government, now needs to take action…..

        https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/breakfast/live

        Why doesn't the PM call Luxon's bluff and end homelessness? Why won't the government take action by freeing up the 40,000 empty homes locked up by property investors and speculators just in Auckland alone.

        What Auckland’s ‘ghost homes’ could do for the housing crisis

        There are about 40,000 'ghost houses' in Auckland. Cat MacLennan asks if a tax on these empty homes could help house homeless people and low-income workers.

        Tall white rose bushes line both sides of the path leading to the front door of the immaculate-looking villa. There are curtains at the windows and no signs of neglect or decay.

        Yet this expensive, inner-city home is one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s “ghost houses” – properties left empty long-term at a time when the country has a housing crisis. No one has lived there for years and a neighbour is paid to maintain the garden, while the owners wait for capital gains to accumulate to the point at which they plan to sell.

        According to the 2018 Census, there are approximately 40,000 empty private homes in Auckland. That is 7.3 percent of the total, up from 6.6 percent in the previous Census in 2013. And Auckland is not the only place in Aotearoa with vacant homes at a time when accommodation is expensive and in short supply. There are ghost homes in other cities, in towns and in rural areas……

        Cat MacLennan is a barrister, journalist, and media commentator

        https://www.newsroom.co.nz/cat-maclennan-on-ghost-housing

        Let's isolate the Right.

        If the Prime Minister called Luxon's bluff. The Right would be exposed as hypocrites. As the leader of New Zealand's biggest right wing political party, Christopher Luxon would be among the first ranks of right wingers to scream bloody blue murder about the property rights of wealthy privileged owners of multiple houses

        Why won't the PM call Luxon's bluff?

        Is the PM in agreement with Luxon about protecting capital gains profits of fortunate property speculators, than protecting the health and welfare of unfortunate homeless children?

        Our Labour government need to start acting more like the Michael Savage socialist administration than like the David Lange neo-liberal administration.

        Fine the owners of empty houses till they either sell them, rent them, or live in them.

  2. Ad 2
    24 August 2022 at 7:50 am

    Somehow Christ Trotter makes Labour kicking Dr Sharma out to be about suppression of all ideological difference between National and Labour:

    Bowalley Road: Politics Barren Of Principle.

    "…allowing factions to form within parties, or, worse still, encouraging genuine ideological differences to develop between parties, would only result in such factions being replicated in the general population. And a general population engaged in genuine debate between factions and/or parties capable of making a real difference to the direction of economic and social policy would place the whole, over-arching ideological infrastructure of neoliberalism in the gravest peril."

    Hmm.

    – Re-nationalisation of all NZ health. Not National.

    – Largest-ever NZ expenditure on infrastructure. Not National

    – Nationalisation of all trades and non-university training. Not National

    – Full re-regulation of drinking water and water price. Not National.

    – Comprehensive climate mitigation plan. Not National.

    – Largest increases in welfare and subsidies in several decades.Not National.

    – Deep partnership with Maori over water, stripping it from local government. Not National.

    – Over $20b in wage subsidies enabling year on year 3% headline unemployment. Not National.

    – Buyback of Kiwibank into direct Crown control. Not National.

    – Supported NZSuperFund to get to $58 billion. Not National.

    – New public holiday respecting Maori tikanga. Not National.

    – Massively brought prison numbers down and dumped the 3 Strikes law. Not National.

    Irrespective of actual policy delivery, there's plenty of ideological difference between Labour and National.

    • solkta 2.1
      24 August 2022 at 8:17 am

      – Comprehensive climate mitigation plan. Not Labour.

    • Sanctuary 2.2
      24 August 2022 at 8:21 am

      How to write a Chris Trotter op-ed:

      <straw man, preferably involving much demonstration of your ability to be to popular history what James Burke was to popular science>

      <tut tut at the general decline of modern NZ>

      <tenuously link the above to>

      <fret about the rise of Maori/condemn something he doesn't like as culture war on the shy Tory majority and express a wish that Annie Crummer was still Queen of the charts>

      <Mention life was better in Dunedin in 1981>

      <Darkly suggest that the reactionary Pakeha Lumpenproletariat is simmering, ready to explode at the touch paper of said Maori/culture war rise at their expense>

      <blame the Greens/Labour/Auckland liberals/deep state>

      <end on a lamentation of despair>

    • Jimmy 2.3
      24 August 2022 at 9:02 am

      It's amusing watching you all turn and attack one of your own if he dares to criticize the current government.. Trotter is hardly a hard right winger.

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

      • joe90 2.3.1
        24 August 2022 at 9:12 am

        Chester Borrows.

        /

      • Ad 2.3.2
        24 August 2022 at 9:21 am

        It's called discourse you moron.

        Precisely what Trotter seeks.

      • observer 2.3.3
        24 August 2022 at 9:29 am

        I love how Jimmy provides a Wikipedia link! Thanks, we could never have remembered a guy who's been doing political commentary non-stop since Seddon was PM.

      • Bearded Git 2.3.4
        24 August 2022 at 9:46 am

        Unlike Luxon who is, Jimmy.

        Very interesting and scary that Luxon is willing to govern with the help of Tamaki's new Freedoms Party. (see Observer below)

      • Sanctuary 2.3.5
        24 August 2022 at 9:51 am

        Well, have you read the comments sections on the TDB lately? it is pretty clear what sort of audience that site attracts these days. Mostly toxic people attracted onto the last train to Loserville. Bradbury and Trotter certainly imagine themselves as left wing – they constantly appropriate the rhetoric of the left and instantly and repetitively parade their credentials to anyone unfortunate enough to sit next to them on the bus – but ideologically they long ago set sail with the populist right. They spend their whole time obsessed with culture wars whilst clothing their repetitive, self righteous, and pompous dirges in the language of class. I find it particularly irksome and very wearisome that Bradbury's in particular is a one trick pony whose main shtick is to associate anyone who has achieved anything with a Trumpian monolithic "elite" and rail against them. They deserve all the mocking they get.

        • DB Brown 2.3.5.1
          24 August 2022 at 10:33 am

          Hear hear.

          Their output is drivel. Transparent to me. Unfortunately people still send me their opinions as if they have any weight at all.

        • Visubversa 2.3.5.2
          24 August 2022 at 1:21 pm

          I think the only time I comment is when they have posted the same boring crap for 3 days in a row.

        • mickysavage 2.3.5.3
          24 August 2022 at 8:14 pm

          Yep I can't understand the guests they invite onto their social media shows …

    • DS 2.4
      24 August 2022 at 6:05 pm

      "Nationalisation" refers to bringing privately-owned assets into public ownership. The DHBs and polytechnics weren't private, so what Labour was doing there was Centralisation, not Nationalisation. It is quite an important distinction (the last genuine Nationalisation being Kiwirail at the end of the Clark Government. This lot wouldn't know Nationalisation if the ghost of Clement Attlee wafted into the Beehive and started whacking them with a stick).

    • alwyn 2.5
      24 August 2022 at 8:28 pm

      Do you really want to promote the first item as something to be applauded?

      When you say "Re-nationalisation of all NZ health. Not National." do you mean that that is a good thing? If so are you seriously proposing that having the waiting lists for surgery in the BOP double in a year is a good thing and that the Government is to be applauded?

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/bay-of-plenty-surgery-waiting-list-doubles-in-a-year-at-tauranga-and-whakatane-hospitals/KIVCH32WLVCHN34S2SD6NUXYTQ/

      What would you regard as being a "bad thing"?

  3. observer 3
    24 August 2022 at 8:09 am

    On Morning Report, Luxon is asked repeatedly if he will rule out any kind of National deal with the Brian Tamaki blackshirts.

    He doesn't.

    This from a man who in his maiden speech defended his faith by citing William Wilberforce, Kate Sheppard and Martin Luther King. He's not being asked to take a courageous stand and change history, he's being asked to do the most obvious, simple, decent thing, at no political cost – and it's too much for him.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 3.1
      24 August 2022 at 8:15 am

      This from a man who in his maiden speech defended his faith by citing William Wilberforce, Kate Sheppard and Martin Luther King.

      Well…certainly an Interesting mix ! It was probably a Google Recommend… or maybe a Readers Digest recommend for ex CEO's entering Politics..who want to "appear" to be honourable.

      Oh, and like the Brian Tamaki blackshirts. Apt !

    • Incognito 3.2
      24 August 2022 at 8:29 am

      Luxon/National wants votes, whatever it costs, and donations, whatever it takes.

      • observer 3.2.1
        24 August 2022 at 8:40 am

        Sure, but this doesn't gain him any votes. I doubt the big donors want to hear that waffle either.

        It makes no political sense whatsoever. Key and Bridges made a calculation on Peters, and it was at least debatable whether it was the right one. NZF were in the mix. Whereas Tamaki has zero chance, and if Luxon doesn't grasp that then his political judgement is woeful.

        • Incognito 3.2.1.1
          24 August 2022 at 8:48 am

          Big donors to National, you mean? Why would they care? They support National.

          National wants votes from Tamaki disciples and affiliates, that’s not vote-sharing let alone making a political deal to form a government.

          • observer 3.2.1.1.1
            24 August 2022 at 8:53 am

            0.16%.

            He does headlines because he can't get votes. 1000 is a lot of marchers, it's nothing in the ballot box.

    • Bearded Git 3.3
      24 August 2022 at 8:43 am

      Tamaki has been clever here. I have been saying to friends for months that if someone sets up a party with "freedom" in the title it will pull votes in.

      The Tamaki “Freedoms Party” could well get close to 5%.

      I predict Luxon will never rule out working with them-which may mean they get even more votes.

      • observer 3.3.1
        24 August 2022 at 8:49 am

        No offence, but you're dreaming.

        Last night, only hours after Tamaki made his announcement, Sue Grey was attacking him on social media. A "freedoms/populist/right wing" party could indeed get up towards 5%, but a Tamaki party is a dead brand. They are two totally different things.

        • DB Brown 3.3.1.1
          24 August 2022 at 9:08 am

          Yep apparently Brian's been big-noting himself without consulting with the rest of them. He's announced prematurely and there's a bit of a mess:

          https://twitter.com/ijakk2/status/1562020311314284545

          • PsyclingLeft.Always 3.3.1.1.1
            24 August 2022 at 9:17 am

            Two other parties were in talks, he said, before challenging others, including the New Conservatives and Winston Peters’ NZ First to get on board. He went on to encourage “Dr Sharma Drama”, now an independent MP, to “give me a call”.

            Tamaki’s lengthy address to the crowd included verbal attacks on politicians, a denouncement of the charges against him and a lament to the demise of various values such as freedom, being able to leave your door unlocked and Waikato Draught.

            https://thespinoff.co.nz/live-updates/23-08-2022/tamaki-announces-new-freedoms-party-calls-for-gaurav-sharma-to-join

            Well this is all looking great : ) And seriously how could any reasonable Person… not lament the demise of the "various values" I mean cmon…it wuz Waikato Draught !.

            • Mac1 3.3.1.1.1.1
              24 August 2022 at 9:36 am

              Waikato draught? That's the craft beer drinkers vote gone. Tamaki is in the hands of the corporate beer barons!

              Or does he have a sense of humour? You can't see the twinkle in his eyes behind the dark glasses……..

              • PsyclingLeft.Always …
                24 August 2022 at 9:57 am

                lol. But I do think Bish Bri is pretty much a nonlol person. And behind the dark glasses….to actually look into his eyes..might be disquieting. Or not : )

          • observer 3.3.1.1.2
            24 August 2022 at 9:19 am

            (to DBB)

            Exactly. Nobody knows who the other parties' leaders are, whereas 99% of NZ knows Pope Brian.

            His ego means he gets all the media coverage, and that kills their chances.

          • Ad 3.3.1.1.3
            24 August 2022 at 9:26 am

            Splitter! Capitalist-roader! Trotskyite!

            But for the language and symbols we might want to watch out for, see:

            Microsoft Word – Facebook Report 2 27Mar MWJER.docx (radicalrightanalysis.com)

        • Bearded Git 3.3.1.2
          24 August 2022 at 9:52 am

          Observer-yes given other posts today I think I am probably wrong here re Tamaki.

          Though the point still holds that a non-Tamaki party/umbrella group of parties with "freedom" in the name could well poll 5% and it appears that Luxon is willing to govern with the help of these weirdos.

    • Barfly 3.4
      24 August 2022 at 9:30 am

      The 'eftpostle' appears to be suffering from from premature exaltation – he should see a doctor about that.cheeky

    • Nic the NZer 3.5
      24 August 2022 at 12:32 pm

      Just waiting for Tamaki to jump the gun and announce National will be joining his party umbrella now. He can just wait a week or two (so as not to annoy everybody) and then say how Chris likes the freedom he stands for (from the podium on Parliament steps) and then its a done deal (with nothing formal involved of course). And voila, Tamaki now leading National.

  5. Adrian 5
    24 August 2022 at 9:14 am

    Those disparate all-fit-in-an-old-back-country-dunny tragics will all end up knifing each other well before any vote is held. The major problem is that the parties all contain more individuals who think that it is they who should be leading the the whole deluded mess

    Freedom to Tithe to Brian is hardy a vote catcher,

  6. ianmac 6
    24 August 2022 at 9:36 am

    Not sure of the accuracy but it seems that Trump cannot find an attorney to state his case re the FBI raid on his house, so he is prosecuting it himself. If so, that would be weird.

  7. Anker 7
    24 August 2022 at 10:13 am

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/300669330/absolutely-devastating-australian-woman-sues-psychiatrist-over-gender-transition

    Sydney woman is suing her psychiatrist for allowing her to fully transition. She has lot her breast s and her womb.

    we have been saying this stuff for months/years. Only to be shut down, cancelled, called transphobes, bigots.

  8. Poission 8
    24 August 2022 at 10:51 am

    The Great fraud of Europe exposed as butterflies and rainbows are cancelled

    https://twitter.com/JavierBlas/status/1562019059570556929?cxt=HHwWgoC-oeGDtK0rAAAA

    https://twitter.com/OilSheppard/status/1562174397506535424?cxt=HHwWgICyic_V-q0rAAAA

    As the Belgian PM said yesterday The next “5 to 10 winters will be difficult” for Europe,as business model (based on cheap Russian gas) falls apart and interest rates start to explore 1970's levels.

    • Robert Guyton 9.1
      24 August 2022 at 11:43 am

      Thanks, Anne – a good read.

    • Mac1 9.2
      24 August 2022 at 12:09 pm

      "In his sermon to protesters in Wellington on Tuesday he suggested the government was responsible for cancelling ferry trips from Picton to prevent people attending the rally. This is obviously untrue."

      Shades (heh!) of Winston Peters claiming the grounding of the ferry in QC Sound.

      "Never lie!" I was told in a political briefing. "You will be found out!"

  10. arkie 10
    24 August 2022 at 11:40 am

    Rightly bashing National for their benefit sanction proposal, the Labour government could well look at the fairness of their own policy:

    The Labour Government has cut the benefits of around 4000 sick, injured or disabled jobseekers in the last five years because they weren't preparing to return to work fast enough.

    …

    Sepuloni said the Government only sanctions people if medical advice shows they are fit to return to work.

    https://www.renews.co.nz/nz-government-sanctions-sick-jobseekers-for-failing-to-prepare-for-work/

  11. logie97 11
    24 August 2022 at 12:34 pm

    Making Kiwibank stronger and meaningful.

    At the moment schools receive their government funding and put it into Aussie banks.

    What say schools were required to put all of there operational accounts through Kiwibank. (They can leave their fundraiser/PTA profits in the Aussie banks).

    And then why stop at schools. Mmmm hospitals, police, councils – progressively move them all across.

    Just saying.

    • Nic the NZer 11.1
      24 August 2022 at 1:12 pm

      My google search for 'nz school bank account choices' indicated schools have discretion of who to bank with.

      Unless Kiwibank is offering a particularly low fee package is it really helping schools to limit their choice? If it is a low fee package, well the profit rate on a customer who doesn't use credit facilities will be low anyway.

      • logie97 11.1.1
        24 August 2022 at 3:06 pm

        I understand schools raise loans all the time for projects.

        And why give any profits to an Aussie bank when Kiwibank would benefit

        anyway.

        • Nic the NZer 11.1.1.1
          24 August 2022 at 5:27 pm

          1) This may not be net profitable for Kiwibank. Banks sometimes offer such deposit accounts as loss leaders anyway. Are Kiwibank going to be required to undercut something which is already a loss leader?

          2) I don't think we need to be operating public schools in ways which are obtaining economic policy benefits. What are the public education benefits of this policy?

    • Jimmy 11.2
      24 August 2022 at 4:32 pm

      I think the government (and IRD) should shift their banking to Kiwi bank. Why do they use Westpac?

      • Nic the NZer 11.2.1
        24 August 2022 at 5:37 pm

        There is a govt contract with Westpac. This could be changed after that gets re-tendered.

        Under the contract the govt (and IRD) accounts are kept strictly separate to Westpac account (at the RBNZ). Westpac operates the infrastructure around that so providing the banking services (credit and debit cards, bank accounts) needed to facilitate the public service being able to make payments. Since the public service tends to operate in surplus this activity is not very profitable for Westpac and probably most of the profit is due to direct payments agreed under the govt banking contract.

        The contract was originally awarded to Westpac because they had a strong ability to provide this payment infrastructure to the scale required by the public service. Kiwibank may be up to scratch there now, it didn't even exist when the first such contract was tendered.

  12. Ad 12
    24 August 2022 at 2:33 pm

    According to Kiwibank today, the New Zealand housing shortage will disappear inside 12 months, and there will be a 13% average house price fall.

    Kiwibank says NZ housing shortage to 'disappear' over next 12 months | interest.co.nz

    If this really happens in time for the election, what Labour can reasonably claim is their success will be closely scrutinised. And will be something of a policy miracle.

  13. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 13
    24 August 2022 at 3:34 pm

    IMHO Seymour is a prick!

    Just watched the welcome for the new Speaker-elect. He (Seymour) couldn't resist a dig at the outgoing speaker – quite inappropriately so!

    I note also that the new speaker closed down Sharma when he strayed way off topic – cries of bullying in the wings??

  14. DB Brown 14
    24 August 2022 at 5:15 pm

    Here's an amazing and amusing bit of footage as MAGA munter Laura Loomer (who lost today, yay) tries to yell over the house but is drowned out by Republican politician (and auctioneer) Bill Long.

    You'd think it's dubbed till you see him doing it.

    https://twitter.com/DonLew87/status/1562232522238529536

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    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    6 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 days ago

  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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