Open Mike 25/12/2018

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, December 25th, 2018 - 53 comments
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53 comments on “Open Mike 25/12/2018 ”

  1. Morrissey 1

    Merry Xmas to all!
    And let’s keep it positive!

    At least, more positive than our cantankerous chums across at Kiwiblog, where this writer (i.e., moi) has already been told to stick his head up a dead bear’s arse—by a former member of parliament, no less—and to “fuck off.”

    https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/12/merry_christmas_2018.html/comment-page-1#comment-2390333

  2. Muttonbird 2

    Merry Christmas all.

    Keep fighting entrenched injustice. Keep fighting increasing inequality. Keep fighting them when they are deliberate, and when they are casual. Wherever you see it.

    And think of those less fortunate than yourself.

  3. James 3

    Happy Christmas one and all. Hope you all have an enjoyable day with your families and wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2019.

    • Robert Guyton 3.1

      Thanks, James; it’s been the best Christmas weather, ever, here in Southland and our family Christmas get-together was a charmer; great gran, gran and parents relaxed and smiling, great gran, gran and children happy and content – we need days like this, for our mental and physical health. The year ahead will be fraught, confusing and unsettling, perhaps, but for today, I’m grateful for the chance to enjoy and be thankful for family and friends.

    • mary_a 3.2

      Cheers James (3). All the best to you and yours for Xmas and 2019.

    • mauī 3.3

      Merry Christmas… troll!

  4. Morrissey 4

    Even worse than Trump’s smarmy and condescending treatment of this woman
    is the craven attitude of the other “reporters”, who meekly fall into line with Trump’s mistreatment of her.

    His braindead son in law is to his left, and the infamous Steve Mnuchin is the thug grinning in the dark glasses.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm1-74pp9Uc

    • millsy 4.1

      In series two of Handmaid’s Tale, the main character Offered/June hides out in the old building of a major newspaper. There she find that the faction that has taken over the USA had stormed the offices, dragged the reporters down the basement, lined them up against the wall and shot them all. It will probably end up happening for real if this current carry on keeps going.

      I have been kicking around the idea that the US military may have to step in and remove Trump if things start getting too bad. Highly unlikely but not impossible.

      • Morrissey 4.1.1

        Trouble with that, millsy, is that once you start supporting the army against democratically elected representatives, you have a military dictatorship. Ask a Brazilian, Indonesian, Ethiopian, Egyptian or Iraqi how pleasant that is.

        And let’s not forget that, obnoxious and horrible as Trump is, he is not the one that started separating Central American children from their families, or attacking journalists, or supporting Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt, or spouting American exceptionalism bullshit. He is merely following the precedent set by Clinton, Bush and Obama.

      • Bruce 4.1.2

        Military governments and people start disappearing for xmas.

        thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2018/12/25/another-red-shirt-disappeared/

      • KJT 4.1.3

        The US military leaders are even nuttier than Trump.

        The ones that opposed the never ending wars, were purged, long ago.

    • Mark 4.2

      Really don’t know what Trump did wrong here. So he got a bit cheeky to some female reporter…..she should just suck it up and people should stop reading too much into this. Its hardly as if he does not get heaps of bs from the media. Nothing to do with her being a woman.

  5. Kay 5

    It’s not a Merry Christmas for everyone of course, and would never be complete without Stuff setting off a bit of bashing against those having a hard time:
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/109442097/housing-new-zealand-clients-fought-to-get-out-of-dangerous-property

    Naturally they had to open the comments and the trolls are doing their thing. Whether they truly believe what they’re saying or not, I’ve said it before and will keep saying it- I believe Stuff are inciting hate speech.

    • millsy 5.1

      Stuff commenters lie awake at night seething in anger that someone is getting a cheap house provided by the state.

      • Kay 5.1.1

        And everything they’ve been brainwashed into thinking their “hard earned taxes” are personally paying for that of course they or someone close to them will never need to part take of coz I have to feel superior to someone to feel secure in my existence don’t I.

        Stuff are still promoting hate speech. Can they be had up for this?

  6. joe90 6

    Merry Christmas peoples and best wishes from the 90 household for a safe and happy day.

    Now, let me at it….

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMWmqnNfWtw&feature=youtu.be

  7. OnceWasTim 7

    Merry Xmas and all that, and drive carefully and consciously. Remember those ‘other’ folks’ spatial awareness and multi-tasking capabilities have lessened over time.
    And @ lprent – Otaki and Kapiti can be a real trial.

  8. Ankerrawshark 8

    A very merry Christmas everyone.
    Aware of what a fortunate life I have and hoping that all who are struggling and suffering have a better 2019.

    Also incredibly grateful for the standard and the community/commentary.

    Have a lovely day everyone

  9. WeTheBleeple 9

    Have a great day folks. Y’all make the internet a better place and I’m grateful I found you.

  10. Molly 10

    Meri Kirihimete, Standardistas.

    Enjoy the day however you celebrate!

  11. The Chairman 11

    Merry Christmas everyone.

  12. The Chairman 12

    Following up on our discussion on tourism the other week (https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/q-and-a/clips/tourism-the-price-of-popularity) comes this report in the following link below. https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/378933/lack-of-tourism-data-it-s-impossible-to-plan.

    We spend millions trying to attract visitors here, yet now that millions are arriving, it seems that is about as far as the strategy went.

    • Janet 12.1

      Enjoying Xmas on board in Langkawi , Malaysia, islands that have been totally overtaken by tourism. The Islanders are, in contrast to other parts of Malaysia, quite “unfriendly” and so will NZers become soon. Its already happening. We do not want to be the servants of the idle /rich. Nor do we want them crushing up our homes and playgrounds and wilderness.

      “Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” — Benjamin Franklin

      Onwards to the New Year …………… when I hope commonsence and wisdom return.

      • RedLogix 12.1.1

        I can understand that sentiment.

        Most people place a very high value on the freedom of movement; yet when masses of people all travel to the same places it detracts very much from the right of the people who already there to determine their own destiny.

        It’s one of those paradoxes of human existence that can only be resolved in a balance. It’s not dissimilar to cruising; a few thousand people might seriously sail the oceans, but not millions.

        But otherwise Christmas greetings to you all as well. Fairwinds ,,,,,,,,/),,,,,,,,

        • Mark 12.1.1.1

          yet when masses of people all travel to the same places it detracts very much from the right of the people who already there to determine their own destiny.

          That will stop or at least slow down when the resources of the world are more evenly and justly distributed.

      • The Chairman 12.1.2

        Yes, I also agree, Janet. Moreover, poor management/planning (i.e. lack of infrastructure,etc) compounds the growing resentment.

        • KJT 12.1.2.1

          Same as with immigration.

          Those profiting from it, expect the rest of us to foot the bill for the downsides.

  13. eco maori 13

    While Im watching How the Universe works I find this sad story on Stuff website
    Hundreds of Māori students missing out on STEMS higher education programme why because goverments think Maori & Pacific are not caperable of graduation in a higher Education enviroment YEAH RIGHT. I think combining maori & pacific storys and teaching science to our students is a great IDEA and our coaliion goverment owes our tamariki and should put in place/back all the programs for our tamariki to achive the highest education they can achieve . There are many ways to solve a problem and looking at problem through the square glasses of this system is FAILING our tamariki so I say to correct this wrong we need more money invested in Maori & Pacific higher education
    Should New Zealand make it easier for Māori students to take maths and science subjects Yes
    An academic course for Māori high school students is proving so popular there’s a waiting list to join. But there is little hope they’ll be able to sign up next year because the Ministry of Education won’t fund the programme.
    “There is bias within the secondary system that pathways Māori students into non-academic futures,” says Pūhoro STEM Academy director Naomi Manu.
    “But they’re more than capable of being on an academic trajectory.”
    Manu says her STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) programme is doing what the government hasn’t been able to achieve. Ka kite ano P.S my youtube ap is not working on this computer

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/109334319/hundreds-of-mori-students-missing-out-on-education-programme
    Manu says students from 46 schools are on standby to join Pūhoro but she can’t help them because she doesn’t have the cash to expand the programme.
    Pūhoro is based on Māori principles. Its ambassador is NASA engineer Mana Vautier and it’s being backed by Massey University academics. The course has operated in 21 schools in the Manawatū, Bay of Plenty, Horowhenua and South Auckland since 2016.
    Its mission is to get Māori teenagers and their whanau to love STEM subjects and develop a career pathway few Māori tread. When the student signs up, the whānau is expected to join in as well says Manu.
    “I haven’t found a similar programme in the world. After three years, we’re the largest indigenous STEM programme in the world,” says Manu.NCEA level 1 or higher in maths, compared to 80.6 percent for non-Māori.
    Less than a quarter of Māori left school with level 2 maths. Just 13.7 percent had attained level 3 compared to a third of non-Māori.
    The rates were even lower in technology and science but the STEM numbers have steadily improved every year for Māori since 2009.
    “I think about all of those students that are on a non-academic pathway that don’t need to be. I think that’s a travesty,” says Manu.
    She claims of the 439 Year 11, 12 and 13 students currently on the Pūhoro course, they have an overall 92 percent completion rate of NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 in the STEM subjects.
    “It’s incredibly frustrating because this is unprecedented,” says Manu.
    “We’re getting results for Māori either on par or exceeding the pass rates of non-Māori nationally, typically not in an area Māori students participate in.
    “Yet we’re still going cap in hand trying to find enough money to get us throught.

  14. Eco Maori 16

    In trumps world its all about thee I its all about him he does not care who he harms with his word’s action’s and dumb self serving laws he is all about trying to con the people who voted for him to beleve he has there well being first and formost in his actions {NOT} . He is all about sucking as much support he can get out of Amercian voters while lining his wallet . I say he will lose his voter base as he is going to cause a lot of harm to middle class lower class Amercians with his goverment shut down all because he wants his TOY the boarder wall.
    The US is on the edge of the economic precipice – Trump may push it over
    Robert Reich
    Government shutdowns hurt millions. Great depressions hurt even more. History suggests real pain is round the corner . The shutdown is indubitably his. Congress offered him a way to continue funding the government without the money to build his nonsensical wall along the Mexican border, but Trump caved in to the rabid rightwing media and refused.Trump’s shutdown also adds to growing worries about the economy. The stock market is on track for the worst December since the Great Depression. World markets have lost nearly $7tn in 2018, making it the worst year since the 2008 financial crisis.It’s important to understand that the root cause of those former collapses wasn’t a banking crisis. It was the growing imbalance between consumer spending and total output – brought on by stagnant wages and widening inequality.
    That imbalance is back. Trump is making it worse.America’s wealthy, meanwhile, have been taking home a growing portion of the nation’s total income. But the rich spend a small fraction of what they earn. The economy depends on the spending of middle-, working-class and poor families.
    The only way these Americans have continued to spend is by going deeper into debt. By the third quarter of this year, household debt had reached a record $13.5tn. Almost 80% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck. ka kite ano links below

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/23/us-economic-precipice-donald-trump-government-shutdown.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xMCWr0O3Hs

  15. eco maori 17

    So if the carbon companys can see the writings on the wall about green energy WHAT’s blinding the POLLIES is it the migthy $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ kick backs they are getting that puts there views through a prism of money that distorts there reality
    Shell says it wants to double green energy investment
    Company already committed to spend $1bn-$2bn annually in the next two years on low carbon energy
    Solar will be the world’s biggest future source of low carbon power, he said, because of the number of regions it was viable in.
    He acknowledged Shell had failed to make serious inroads on wind power yet, admitting it had lost out on as many as nine windfarm projects when competing in auctions for government subsidies. Until the two it won in the US this month, it had only won in the Netherlands.
    But he said the firm was committed to the technology. “From a Shell perspective, we are very, very keen to win more in this game. In the North Sea but also offshore North America. And we’re even looking at China, India, Taiwan, Japan maybe.”
    Buying up clean energy firms would be essential if Shell’s power business was to be on a par with its oil and gas business in the 2020s, he said. But he vowed to avoid acquiring traditional utilities that might become irrelevant in a world of decentralised energy.
    “What I don’t want to buy is a huge old utility with outdated IT systems and a huge workforce that is still in the old ways of working.” Ka kite ano links below

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/26/shell-says-it-wants-to-double-green-energy-investment

  16. Eco Maori 19

    Hundreds of sexual harassment claims against male police officers
    Guardian investigation shows fraction of complaints over past six years led to dismissal
    What do you know I bet that is just the tip of the iceburg in Aotearoa being exposed the police have a lot more suppresion powers on there bad behavour facts here in Aotearoa ana to kai
    More than half of British police forces received almost 450 complaints from staff and members of the public about sexual harassment. Photograph: Max Nash/PA
    Hundreds of people have claimed they were sexually harassed by male police officers in the past six years, prompting calls from senior officers for outdated and unacceptable behaviour to be “rooted out”.
    A Guardian investigation using freedom of information laws has revealed that more than half of British police forces received almost 450 complaints from staff and members of the public about sexual harassment. They included accusations against senior detectives and inspectors.
    Yet a fraction of the cases led to dismissal, with a number of cases simply resulting in an officer resigning or retiring.
    The true number of harassment grievances was likely to be even higher as only 28 out of 43 police forces provided data, with many – including the Metropolitan police – claiming they were unable to supply information or had failed to respond within the time limit. Ka kite ano links below

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/25/revealed-hundreds-of-sexual-harassment-claims-against-male-police-officers-england-scotland-wales

  17. Eco Maori 20

    2018 is the year the Papatuanuku learn to respect wahine ka pai

    How 2018 became the year of #MeToo
    From the fall of Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer and Al Franken, to ‘Time’s Up’ and the Kavanaugh hearing, 2018 was marked by the power of the #MeToo movement.Source: CNN Ana to kai ka kite ano links below

    https://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/12/23/me-too-2018-wrap-lc-me-cs-orig.cnn

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8flZCEq3kU

  18. Eco Maori 21

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J91ti_MpdHA

  19. Eco Maori 22

    Kia ora Newshub It was cool that the kitekite track that they close to protect Tanemahuta has been reopened I hope that anyrisk has been minermized for the spread of the kauri died back desease .
    That was hard case the Origian man who I say wants grandchildren who advertsie his 3 single son for kiwi wahine hope his wishes are meet sound like it with 500 responces to his ad lol.
    The Royal family of Great Britain look quite happy ka pai
    Newshub showing EV owners were the charging stations are around Aotearoa is a good Idea
    Happy New year to the Newshub Team P.S Eco Maori wishes all the wealthy nations give more to the poor nations to help them mitigate and servive green house warming sea level rise climate change ka kite ano

  20. SHG 23

    well that’s this page dead

  21. eco maori 24

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHCob76kigA

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    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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