Open mike 24/12/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 24th, 2023 - 74 comments
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74 comments on “Open mike 24/12/2023 ”

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  1. Robert Guyton 1
    24 December 2023 at 8:28 am

    Nick Rockel, much admired her on The Standard, writes today,

    "At the end of the month the culture wars came calling in the form of Posie Parker who travelled here for a tomato juice.

    The two newsletters I wrote about that were probably the most contentious I’ve written. The topic is a minefield, and while I tried my best to navigate it there was no way to keep everyone happy. Some of the vitriolic comments I received, on both sides, including from people I know well, were pretty unhinged."

    Interesting to read of his experience, one that perhaps matches that here 🙂

    https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/2023-in-review-part-3

    • weka 1.1
      24 December 2023 at 10:48 am

      it does seem to be a common theme. Many of us start out trying to keep everyone happy, but it's just not possible. My best hope is a rapprochement between the lefties on each side finding some common ground and taking care to listen and engage.

      I'm not sure I would characterise aspects of the TS debate as vitriolic or unhinged, although I agree both sides get pretty heated at times.

      • Incognito 1.1.1
        24 December 2023 at 12:10 pm

        Many a discussion here on TS can be characterised as a tug of war with two teams/camps pulling away at and from each other. Ideally, deliberation should be more like two crews of the same team boring an underground tunnel starting at opposite ends and meeting somewhere in the middle.

    • Anker 1.2
      24 December 2023 at 11:20 am

      Was it really vitriolic and unhinged on TS Robert? I don't remember it that way.

      Nick says that Peters, Foster and Jones are simply scoring points with bigots. Oh dear that must mean that 60% of NZ ders are bigots. That's the number of people who don't support trans identifying males playing in women's sports. Only a small number of people actively support TIMs in women's support. To do so, means being a science denier as the science is clear, males have a clear and significant advantage over female sportswomen. And that also means in some sports they are a risk to women physically. I have posted Dr Ross Tuckers the science of transgender in sports a number of times,happy to do it again if requested.

      https://aboldwoman.substack.com/p/new-zealand-womens-sports-gets-a

      Meanwhile, this is a lovely article from a women's point of view (to the best of my knowledge the msm never interviewed a women about the new policy, they only interviewed trans identifying male Kate Weatherly aka Anton Weatherly, a cyclist from the Kapiti Coast who is aceing the competition (women) in cycling events.

      https://thecritic.co.uk/author/victoria-smith/

      • Robert Guyton 1.2.1
        24 December 2023 at 11:56 am

        "Was it really vitriolic and unhinged on TS Robert? I don't remember it that way."

        Didn't say it was, although it was a bit fevered, imo 🙂

        • weka 1.2.1.1
          24 December 2023 at 12:49 pm

          Might be a communication style thing. I also thought you were implying that TS was similar to Rockel's experience of the debate, thus,

          Some of the vitriolic comments I received, on both sides, including from people I know well, were pretty unhinged

          • Robert Guyton 1.2.1.1.1
            24 December 2023 at 1:01 pm

            You're right, it is. Assuming good intent is the way to manage the issue of language's multi-facets, imo. I always assume your comments are intended to be constructive, for example 🙂

            In this instance, I did say, "similar" 🙂

    • Francesca 1.3
      24 December 2023 at 11:22 am

      Yeah, he's great , I love him

      But then again, I don't require him to mirror every single one of my positions on modern matters

  2. Molly 2
    24 December 2023 at 9:07 am

    Oh, Robert. Once again the familiar stunning bravery of standing behind someone else's unsubstantiated falsehoods and uninformed reckons.

    I could only make it halfway through the first referenced newsletter because my tolerance for poor quality writing is about Nil this time of the year.

    However, I do recommend reading on for those whose current perspectives are being challenged by due consideration and logic. There are the predictable catechisms that can be learnt to repeat whenever you find yourself in a logical hole of your own making.

    After all, it would be appalling if now the public discussion is happening, it is discovered that people – especially those pesky women – speaking of their concerns may actually have some salient points.

    They should remember their only duty is to "Be Kind".

    And in regards to sports, well the answer is also clear:

    "Train Harder"

    https://youtu.be/dbk4zQttKyE?feature=shared

    • Molly 2.1
      24 December 2023 at 9:14 am

      Problems posting from Android. Cannot remove via non-presentung edit options.

      Apologies to all for duplicate.

    • Robert Guyton 2.2
      24 December 2023 at 9:20 am

      Hi Molly – you've jumped to a Wrong Conclusion. I haven't posted Nick's post to represent my thoughts, but instead to show how similar the his on-line experience was to that on TS. He's regarded well here, for his thoughts on the present Government especially, and it's interesting, I believe, to see how he expressed himself on that topic. I wondered what his view is now?

      • Robert Guyton 2.2.1
        24 December 2023 at 9:42 am

        Have I?

        Oh, yes, I take close notice of advice given by weka.

        On a completely different thread, have you ever wondered the true details of Van Gough and the fate of his ear? Gauguin was closely involved. It's quite a sorry tale.

        https://www.themarginalian.org/2017/08/23/gauguin-van-gogh-ear/

        • Molly 2.2.1.1
          24 December 2023 at 9:51 am

          I am surprised that I have once again been tricked into reading a reply from you in the hope it is relevant.

          That'll teach me…wink

          Oh, well. Third time's the charm. I'll go off and do something worthwhile now, so you can move your creative writing workshop elsewhere.

          Merry Christmas Robert!

        • Francesca 2.2.1.2
          24 December 2023 at 9:59 am

          On another matter Robert , bamboo?

          Do you grow it down there ?

          .I've become a bit obsessed with it.

          My main bamboo plot was planted 50 years ago, between 2 driveways so its spread is controlled.I have the room anyway.

          I've just constructed an extensive bamboo fence to keep wekas out of my veg.garden.(my biophiliac tendencies balked at allowing wekas a free reign)

          I use it for garden structures (the fairy bamboo for lattice work) but I would love to build more with it

          A neighbour , who has that huge bamboo, has just constructed a magnificent entry way into his woodland area.

      • Molly 2.2.2
        24 December 2023 at 11:09 am

        @incognito yes

        [Molly’s restored comment, originally submitted @ 2023/12/24 at 9:28 am – Incognito]

        This also contributes nothing of your own thoughts, Robert.

        Nor provides any of the missing supporting evidence for his fairly lazy uninformed newsletters.

        Given your reference to his quality, and regard (which perhaps is not universally held) it reads as an appeal to a quasi-authority of your own making. The critique I have of his referenced newsletter remains. It is indeed indicative of the uninformed rhetoric that many participated in here on The Standard.

        “I wondered what his view is now?”

        Why not contact him directly to ask? I hold little hope he has taken ANY time to challenge his own misconceptions.

        After all, have you?

        • weka 2.2.2.1
          24 December 2023 at 12:57 pm
          1. Robert shared his thoughts on both the Rockel piece, and on your response to his original comment.

          2. Robert is under no obligation to provide evidence to support someone else's writing, when he was commenting on the author's experience, not the politics. Are you missing the point of the OP?

          3. there are indeed people on TS who value Rockel's writing. I've seen people here talk about it and reference it.

          4. you are free to critique Rockel's newsletter, it just doesn't have much to do with Robert's point, so maybe stop hassling him about it?

  3. Francesca 3
    24 December 2023 at 10:10 am

    Oh

    That sounds just like a federation

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

    • lprent 3.1
      24 December 2023 at 10:32 am

      FFS: The current Russian Federation isn't the only place that had Russian imperial colonies of ethnic Russians implanted. Nor is it the only place that has Russian Federation has military bases.

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

      Stay off my posts until you can learn to contribute.

      • Francesca 3.1.1
        24 December 2023 at 11:07 am

        As this is not your post, assuming we're all on the same page of Open Mike ,I can feel free to reply I assume

        Compared to 750 bases spread around the world a long way from the Us neighbourhood, 11 bases in the near surrounds does not seem excessive or indicative of an ambitious empire

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 3.2
      24 December 2023 at 10:33 am

      6 minutes to reply…so you didn't look at the video. I suppose watching RT is easier (and to be fair, much better produced and edited).

      A federation in the sense that Aboriginal Australians were "federated" by the British "Federation" in the 1800s…

      • lprent 3.2.1
        24 December 2023 at 10:58 am

        Francesca seems to never look at anything that might upset their world view. I suspect that there is a religious component in their nature, one that completely relies on uninformed faith rather than knowledge.

        I noticed the fast response as well. That is why her comment got moved to Open Mike.

      • Francesca 3.2.2
        24 December 2023 at 11:28 am

        Fucken hell uncooked , give us a chance .She looks like a lovely girl and I will definitely watch further.But Jeez, its the day before Xmas, baking, wrapping, entertaining to do .I already feel I've spent way too much time here , watching beyond part one (33 minutes) is going to have to take a back seat to real life

        I'm off! Have a great Xmas!

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 3.2.2.1
          24 December 2023 at 12:41 pm

          Sorry! I certainly don't mean to say you should watch them quickly, or at all. I'm impressed you watched the first one, because they are quite long and have a lot of detail (and it is 24 December!)

          If/when you do watch some, I'd be very interested to hear your impression, coming from a different view.

          Have a great Christmas!

  4. Incognito 4
    24 December 2023 at 10:28 am

    @ Molly, Robert Guyton, and Francesca:

    I accidentally deleted a sub-thread with your comments when trying to delete Molly’s duplicate comment to RG @ 1 (now deleted to avoid duplicate sub-thread forming).

    My sincere apologies.

    I still have access to the text of your deleted comments in the back-end and can help if you wish to re-do them.

    • Molly 4.1
      24 December 2023 at 10:54 am

      You can repost all of mine on the 2.0 comment of Robert's – yes.

      I don’t think it makes much of a difference, as the first comment is easily scrolled past.

      • Incognito 4.1.1
        24 December 2023 at 11:03 am

        To avoid further confusion, you could start off the restoration process by posting a dummy comment as placeholder in reply to RG’s comment @ 2.2 (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-24-12-2023/#comment-1982367). Then I’ll copy & paste your original reply into your dummy comment and we’ll go from there.

        Apologies for the inconvenience, but this might be better than me impersonating you and other commenters.

        • Molly 4.1.1.1
          24 December 2023 at 11:10 am

          Done. But unless Robert does the same, I lose my replies to him?

          Shall I just do three in a row?

          • Incognito 4.1.1.1.1
            24 December 2023 at 11:13 am

            Ta

            No, the replies have to be to the newly restored comments, in order. So one at the time, I’m afraid – there were not many 🙂

            • Robert Guyton 4.1.1.1.1.1
              24 December 2023 at 11:16 am

              I'd let them dematerialise – none were gems, imo, though I did reference weka's value as a commenter on the topic 🙂

              • Incognito …
                24 December 2023 at 11:22 am

                Ok, I respect your choice, which means that Molly’s other reply also won’t be restored, at least not by me.

              • weka …
                24 December 2023 at 12:52 pm

                I'm still recovering from talk of weka-proof bamboo fences.

                • Robert Guyton …
                  24 December 2023 at 1:08 pm

                  Pretty sure Francesca enjoys having weka around, just not "having their way entirely", as we all do 🙂

                • Francesca …
                  24 December 2023 at 1:17 pm

                  Oh Weka!

                  I think you're a really good communicator., and a very fair person My peregrinating mind must have been prompted by the word weka, which led to bamboo and my weka proof fence.I'm not clever enough to weave a convoluted story around you and fences.Its all true! I hope your recovery is complete! I'm a fan

                  • weka …
                    24 December 2023 at 1:58 pm

                    All recovered now lol.

                    Loved the bamboo convo. One of may favourite things about TS is that we veer off into such things from time to time.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      24 December 2023 at 8:00 pm

                      Nobody comments on political blogs on Christmas Eve, do they?

                      In any case, the parade in the village doesn't do it for me any more – too many agricultural machines for my liking, so I stayed home to dress…the chimney! Or rather, the flue in our lounge. It's black, so I wrapped it in white paper, then added, with a black marker, the marks such as silver birch carries on its bark, so now it looks like a birch growing in our living space. At the base, I added paper mache amanita mascaria toadstools I made long ago, along with associated creatures; a toad, a hedgehog and a small Tomten figure, pointed hat, long white beard and all. From the real birch outside, I harvest leaves and catkins and strewed those all about the scene. It looks wonderful, I believe. When my grandchildren arrive tomorrow, they'll love the decorated pine Christmas tree, for sure, but I think they'll also enjoy the chimney 🙂

                    • weka []
                      24 December 2023 at 8:38 pm

                      oh that is delightful.

                      I rather enjoyed this Christmas tradition, from the Isle of Man

                      https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin/videos/873882654419076

            • Molly 4.1.1.1.1.2
              24 December 2023 at 11:18 am

              In that case, just copy and paste all my replies in that first box.

              For context you can put in Robert's replies in italics, if Robert stands by his responses and is happy for that to happen.

              Else, just do all mine in that first one.

              Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and the rest of the team at the Standard.

              • Incognito …
                24 December 2023 at 11:25 am

                Robert declined, so I’ll leave it at this and move on 🙂

                Wish you and all other commenters Merry Christmas too.

                • Molly …
                  24 December 2023 at 11:29 am

                  I did not decline. So I'd appreciate you posting ALL of mine in the box I provided, as you initially offered after your sincere error.

                  I'm happy to stand by my comments.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    24 December 2023 at 11:35 am

                    Molly's doubling-down 🙂

                    • Molly …
                      24 December 2023 at 11:40 am

                      Holding people to their offer.

                      As you no doubt do, Robert. I put thought into my comments, and would like them reinstated.

                      Alternatively, incognito – you can email me the thread and I can save on my computer.

                    • Incognito []
                      24 December 2023 at 12:21 pm

                      Well, this is awkward; RG declines and you insist (for want to a better word).

                      I won’t do any more restoring and I don’t e-mail individual commenters (another Mod might but I wouldn’t want to impose on any of them, as it was my mistake and ‘tis the time of the year to unwind).

                      For the record, only 2 comments left: one by RG @ 2023/12/24 at 9:42 am and then a reply by you @ 2023/12/24 at 9:51 am.

        • Francesca 4.1.1.2
          24 December 2023 at 11:19 am

          I'm all good

          Just did another comment to Robert

    • Robert Guyton 4.2
      24 December 2023 at 10:55 am

      All good. I blame Molly 🙂

        • Anker 4.2.1.1
          24 December 2023 at 1:57 pm

          A shame Molly. I regard you as one of the best commentators on the Standard for you ability to argue logically and rationally and challenge those who aren't interested in engaging on the arguments re gender critical issues.

          Oh well quality as usual from Molly rather than quantity.

          Anyway Merry Christmas to all on the Standard

  5. Francesca 5
    24 December 2023 at 11:17 am

    Oh bugger

    In the grand scheme of things my comment to Robert was dearer to my heart than anything else.

    Dear Robert, I'm in love with bamboo!

    I planted mine 50 years ago, between 2 driveways so its spread has been as glacial as our commitments to the Paris accords.

    Recently I've constructed a weka proof bamboo fence around my big veg.garden.(My biophiliac tendencies balk at wekas having their way entirely.)

    I'm growing black, green and fairy bamboo which I use for latticework.

    I make heaps of garden structures but would love to branch out

    Can you grow it down there?

    If so , got any tips for how else I can use it ?Thinking of producing char with split bamboo.I would love to build with it!

    • Robert Guyton 5.1
      24 December 2023 at 11:49 am

      Hi Francesca

      50 years of growing bamboo! Puts my recent efforts to shame 🙂 It sounds as though you planted a running variety; best for carbon draw-down, but not for neighbourly relations 🙂 It sounds though, as though you know what you are doing. I do have a clump of runner, but it's easy to manage and can't overwhelm the already overwhelming forest. My favourite bamboos Himalayacalamus falconerii, a classy, glassy clumper that provides most of the canes I use for constructing structures to support grapes, runner beans, kiwifruit etc. Your weka-proof fence sounds impressive and I understand your wish for such an excluder – there are no weka in my area, but I read of the challenge they pose. Isn't it fortunate that bamboo doesn't grow from cuttings 🙂 Mostly these days, I use bamboo canes to mark young, newly-planted trees, so that I don't lose them to the vigorous seasonal growth of understory herbs – I'm establishing the next iteration of trees; chestnut, oak and other more exotic croppers, throughout the forest garden and don't like losing anything the the green tide. I do have several other varieties of bamboo, but none suit so well as the Himalayan. Do you grow the giant miscanthus (elephant grass)? It's impressive; softer than bamboo and more for biomass production, but a big grass nonetheless. You couldn't construct anything with it, but it looks jungly, in an African sort of way 🙂

  6. Francesca 6
    24 December 2023 at 12:04 pm

    Yes I do grow miscanthus! I use it as a mulch when I cut it to the ground each spring with a niwashi shark

    My only neighbour is my sister, we share the bamboo, we have 14 acres between us , so no worries about being swamped .It is a running variety, even the clumpers eventually decide to break out and start a new colony I've noticed.I really do consider it a resource.Its kept contained because so many come to harvest it

    Any new shoots are soft and easily removed.

    I certainly wouldn't be planting it in a small section though .

    I'd grow fairy bamboo (really useful)in a pot instead.

    I love the sound of your place, I imagine you have times drifting about and swooning at the lushness

    • Francesca 6.1
      24 December 2023 at 12:07 pm

      PS I want an exemption to be made for me so that I can live another 40 years and see the trees I continue to plant reach maturity

      It all gives me far more contentment and wonderment than a lot of pointless quarrels .

      Happy Xmas! (if thats your thing)

    • Robert Guyton 6.2
      24 December 2023 at 12:29 pm

      Oh, yes, I drift alright. When I walk out of my door, despite having already gazed out of the windows into the forest, I feel astonishment and bliss to find myself in such a world; beyond fortunate, I reckon. I get so much satisfaction from having been closely involved in the growing of this forest; my contribution is minor really; selecting and managing mainly – the "growing" bit is done by the forest itself. After 30 years, I'm still planting at a pace that makes me feel as though I'm contributing positively to the future and in any case, I can't stop. Like you, I'd like an exemption, though I'll be satisfied with whatever I receive, years-wise. It is lush here; a recent visitor who has travelled the world opined that it reminded him very much of a Peruvian jungle – I glowed inwardly 🙂 With plants such as banana, brugmansia and canna looking very comfortable out amongst the apples and walnuts, the jungly-look is coming more and more to the fore; I'm not a keen traveller, so am bringing the jungles I would like to see, here. As to quarrels, I quite enjoy them, so long as they are built on supportable claims 🙂 Happy Christmas to you too, Francesca.

      • Patricia Bremner 6.2.1
        24 December 2023 at 1:08 pm

        Our family loved gardening and arguing the toss lol Up and down until we agreed to disagree or compromise lol

        We were not allowed sarcasm or personal attacks. Compromise is a dirty word to some.

        I actually find Nick's writing is open hearted and without artifice.

        But pleasing all is impossible.

        yesHappy holidays/ Merry Christmas/Greetings of the season… whatever floats your boat.

        • Francesca 6.2.1.1
          24 December 2023 at 1:20 pm

          Thats the key alright Patricia , no sarcasm, no personal attacks, makes the difference between a quarrel and a discussion

        • Robert Guyton 6.2.1.2
          24 December 2023 at 2:35 pm

          "Our family loved gardening and arguing the toss lol Up and down until we agreed to disagree or compromise lol"

          That's a great formula, Patricia – debating in the manner you describe, all underpinned by gardening! If only we could all live this way 🙂

          (way better than grinding a tunnel through dark and unforgiving rock, Incognito 🙂

  7. Incognito 7
    24 December 2023 at 1:26 pm

    A shout-out for a surprise find and gem.

    A fashion world lacking in depth often reaches for the nostalgia of past decades. In politics, too, it looks like we’re headed for a return to the past.

    https://www.thepost.co.nz/a/culture/350137097/our-cult-ideas-costing-us-substance

    • weka 7.1
      24 December 2023 at 1:48 pm

      I'm not reading very much atm apart from fiction, but that was excellent.

    • Francesca 7.2
      24 December 2023 at 2:23 pm

      That was so well expressed , in simple language.

      Really really good

      • Incognito 7.2.1
        24 December 2023 at 2:32 pm

        I’d think that James Bush would say that it was well executed 😉

        • Robert Guyton 7.2.1.1
          24 December 2023 at 2:40 pm

          "we push our young designers to focus on self-expression and personality without giving them the chance to first discover what that might be"

          Better then, to retain designers till they're old and fully cognisant of their personality, having matured one over time, and well-practiced at self-expression in a way that only long experience can provide.

          Go the vintage designers!

    • Patricia Bremner 7.3
      24 December 2023 at 6:02 pm

      yes 100% and thank you to you authors organisers and gorgeous geeks.

  8. mary_a 8
    24 December 2023 at 3:08 pm

    Compliments of the season everyone. Take good care and keep safe and welllaugh

  9. aj 9
    24 December 2023 at 4:35 pm

    Very sad for The (Dixie) Chicks. Stand against Bush in Iraq courageous.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/world/dixie-chicks-founding-member-killed-car-crash

  10. SPC 10
    24 December 2023 at 11:30 pm

    Manipulation 101

    It feels like we need a good dose of national pride.

    Why?

    It’s been a challenging year in many ways. The end of a controversial Government has left us almost unrecognisable from our 2017 selves. That Government left us financially bereft and emotionally divided.

    While the vocal minorities will continue to shout their displeasure, the direct, no-nonsense approach to the new 100-day plan, and the immediacy of the Cook Straight ferry decision shows that we have a no-nonsense Government that is serious about the economic and structural repair job that awaits them. The fear of what might have been, has been replaced by an atmosphere of hope for the year ahead

    Oh, so so the right has moved from playing on fears, to promoting hope.

    So where does the pride come in?

    Because the biggest difference in the outlook for New Zealand will come as a result of the attitude that we bring to our challenges and opportunities alike. Across the broadest possible spectrum, we have a history to be proud of and a contribution to make to the world. Left and right. Māori and Pākeha. Local and immigrant. Educated leader and blue-collar worker. We all have a contribution to make. And we should be excited about what we can collectively achieve, and what we can offer a world in need. After all, that’s how the world’s leaders think

    So it's in the contributions we make. World leaders are excited at the contributions that the people can make to the world. And we should be to. Is that measured by GDP, improving the return to capital on foreign and or domestic investment?

    Must be softening us up for Luxon's talk of one and two year plans when the 100 days are up.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/bruce-cotterill-why-we-need-a-good-dose-of-national-pride/LUACBJSSB5FKXJHVSPIAYUW76Y/

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

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

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

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

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

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

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    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
    20 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
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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