Open mike 26/03/2024
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- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...7 hours ago - Dance Magic
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...19 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...19 hours ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
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- As Our Power Lessens: Published
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...2 days ago - By Any Other Name.
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...2 days ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...2 days ago - 2024 OIA stats
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...3 days ago - Climate Change: A perverse incentive
The government published its first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is missing any plan to actually meet our target. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...3 days ago
- Economic Bulletin December 2024
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...3 days ago - NZCTU make submission in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...3 days ago
- ZB’s Power Couple
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...3 days ago - Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...3 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...3 days ago - The Hoon around the year to December 20, 2024
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...3 days ago
- The baby-boomers’ last gasp
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...3 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...3 days ago
- Join us at 5pm for 2024’s last Hoon
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...4 days ago - Christmas Gifts: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...4 days ago
- GDP Figures No Christmas Present for New Zealand
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...4 days ago
- Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...4 days ago - MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...4 days ago
- The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...4 days ago - Back on Track
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...4 days ago - Book Review: How Big Things Get Done
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- Gordon Campbell On Why We Can’t Survive Two More Years Of This
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...4 days ago - Dragging our way towards the finish line, the end of this year can’t come soon enough for many…
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- Open letter to the Minister of Dwindling Finances
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...5 days ago - Open Government: The joke ends
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This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...5 days ago - NZCTU: Minister needs to listen to the evidence on engineered stone ban
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- Wednesday 18 December
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...5 days ago
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The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...5 days ago
- Notes from Afar: Will Luxon Attend Waitangi Day? And Opposition Calls Out Nicola Willis for “C...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...5 days ago - Member’s morning
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...5 days ago
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We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...5 days ago - Blaming Treasury & Labour, Willis looks for even more Austerity
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...5 days ago
- December-24 AT Board Meeting
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...5 days ago
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Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...5 days ago - It could have been worse
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...5 days ago
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Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...5 days ago
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- Join us for a pop-up Hoon at 5pm on HYEFU
6 days ago - ‘Ideas Worth Saving’: A Call for Papers
Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...6 days ago - Corrections is torturing prisoners again
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...6 days ago
- HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...6 days ago
- “Better economic management”
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...6 days ago
- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...6 days ago
- Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...6 days ago - How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...6 days ago
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In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...6 days ago - When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...6 days ago
- Govt to double number of toll roads
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The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...6 days ago
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- More public service contempt of parliament
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And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...7 days ago - A Lipstick Government
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...7 days ago
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...1 week ago
- Making Gravy
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...1 week ago - Nothing here but the shadows
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...1 week ago - The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia
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- Showing the Americans how to do it
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...1 week ago
- 2 Men, 1 Haircut
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...1 week ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
- National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...3 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...2 weeks ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...2 weeks ago
- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...2 weeks ago
- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...19 hours ago - PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
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- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
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- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
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- Appointments to the ENZ board
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- Judicial appointment announced
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- GDP data highlights importance of growth
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...5 days ago
- Building consent processing times improve
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...5 days ago
- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
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- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
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- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
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- Gene Technology Bill passes first reading
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- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December
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https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512573/how-free-lunch-leftovers-are-helping-beyond-schools
Do you think seymour could see that instead of cutting lunches , incourage the redistribution of left over ones.might be a good idea?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350225504/tova-obrien-childcare-refund-may-be-own-goal-national
National make a pigs ear out of the purse of child care assistance, and tova trys to paper over the cracks,
If Tova spent half her time wondering why our entire child care sector is a massive exercise in the transfer of public funds to people like Chloe and Wayne Wright (who then fund far right culture war media outlets to ensure their nice little earner is never threatened) instead of spending all of it endlessly analysing the courtier politics of the horse race people might respect the MSM a bit more.
Nationalise the whole ECE sector.
It is obviously a very profitable line of business. An ex workmate of mine is making a very good living by specialising in obtaining Resource Consents for childcare centers.
It seems to be one of the business of choices for immigrants who have the $$$ to establish a small to medium enterprise which is a step or two up from a dairy, cafe or vape shop, but not as expensive as a full scale restaurant.
Also – getting Childcare qualifications is seen as an easy road to NZ Residency.
Pretending to help people, while actually just subsidising extra profits for private companies. Typical. “Restricted to commercial childcare centres”.
Just like accomadation subsidies.
If they really wanted to help. Which they don’t. This is just “smoke and mirrors”.
How about family members, mostly Grand parents, who have to take up the slack with child care?
And/or funding more places over a greater age range and times, in free to parents early child hood centres, such as Kindergarten, Kohanga Reo.
My crystal ball sees more retirement directorships for NACT MP's, to go with those from trucking firms and banks.
I agree with yr comment and it speaks to the thorny issue of all the unpaid but necessary work done in society.
Previously, it could be framed along the lines of the working parent was paid enough so child care, the home, parents and community were able to be cared for by the other parent.
Sadly, even the notion of a 2 parent family is becoming unfashionable, let alone having decent wages and conditions for most working folk.
The toxic, neo-liberal mindset has permeated the family where we sub contract our love to others to look after our young and our elderly.
I don't know where the word 'commercial' came from, but if the author meant 'private, for profit' they are wrong. There is a significant portion of the ECE sector that are not private and are not for-profit. Parents of children attending these centres will also be able to access the refund, which is great news for those families.
It would be even better if they had fully funded access to ECE for their children.
Such as a place in kindergarten before their child is 4, 4 1/2, Which is the norm around here.
Depends what you mean by 'fully funded'? Do you mean 40 hours a week? Do you mean with no top up? And where is 'around here'?
Kindergartens locally, Whangarei, don't often have enough places to take local kids before 4 or 41/2 and havn't for some time.
I know that from enrolling Grandchildren.
Part of the reason is the expansion in population. Auckland refugees.
Affordable child care is non existent apart from Grand parents, or a few who provide home based child care for a couple of children.
After school care is almost non existent.
That, combined with the need for two earning parents puts the screws on families.
Thanks, I understand your last comment better now.
A lot of these things are about defining terms, specifically the term 'affordable'. The Government currently fully funds up to 20 hours per week per child of ECE. Beyond that there has been a childcare subsidy available for low-income families for many years. Some providers charge fees above the current funding, but most I'm aware of are modest, particularly those from community providers. The new policy will extend that 20 hours even further, making childcare even more affordable.
Meanwhile. Slanted questions driving responses in a curia poll about privatisation of ports of Auckland.
Auckland port lease: Mayor holds report yet to be made public (1news.co.nz)
“If council could deliver a much higher return, would you support the port management being leased out, or would you prefer it to continue with the status quo and lower financial returns but keep full ownership?”
“In fact, one of the private operators we understand has offered to not only be more efficient, but to actually shrink the footprint of the port — giving Aucklanders more of their waterfront.”
Code for cut wages and service levels and run it into the ground for short term profit. Then run away leaving public funding having to fix it,
We all know how that works.
Agree entirely on this KJT….did you hear Mike Lee on Nine to Noon today at 9.10?
No. Don't generally listen to radio, or watch breakfast.
Both are not good for an old fellers blood pressure. LOL
Rule One for drafting questions to be included in a poll: don't use hypothetical ones!
Wait we had a bunch of the usual suspects telling us that Curia would never do a thing like that! You’d think there’d be at the minimum a perception of conflict of interest given the highly political role Mr. Farrar has had.
Idiot Savant has it right today.
https://norightturn.blogspot.com/2024/03/no-credibility.html
Corin Dann destroyed Hipkins with his first question on Morning Report this week. (paraphrasing from memory here)
"You rejected changes to the tax system 8 months ago. Why should we believe you when you say changes are appropriate now?"
Hipkins has zero credibility on tax, and this is the central issue facing Labour. For a start this week he should have rejected a CGT (complicated, produces little revenue, parts of a CGT are already in place) and pushed for either a Land Tax or a Wealth Tax, but he is too timid to do this. Both David Parker and the Greens have a WT ready to go.
Hipkins has to go.
Parker should be offered the job/role of implementing a WT policy for Labour-with this he might be enticed to stay on.
At the moment Labour is drifting to defeat in 2026. A new leader and tax policy as above would at worst mean they went down fighting.
You are correct on Hopkins, and Labours, lack of credibility on introducing a fairer and more effective tax system. That taxes all income equally.
Your comparison of taxes on unrealised gains, Vs realised capital gains is the opposite to the reality.
Taxes on unrealised gains are an accountants dream and the publics nightmare. A whole new valuation industry will spring up, for one.
Capital gains on realisation. Sale inheritance or transfer are quantifiable, much easier to assess and harder to dodge. TOP's and the Greens proposals on wealth tax, are unfortunately, 7 unworkable in reality. The bugbear of the "Family home" can be overcome with reasonable tax free threshold on capital gains.
Not to forget, over 60% of the public understand and support CGT.
"over 60% of the public understand…a CGT". Yeah right.
A lot more than that. Considering those that opposed it, including those who want to claim tax off their expenses in making those gains, understand it.
It is taxes on unrealised income that is unworkable. Enough issues with rates.
You sound like one of the people who say to me in Wanaka, "ah but my house is only worth $3 million if I sell it".
BTW I worked as a qualified accountant for over 10 years.
Well. in fact they are correct.
No they are not.
Or rent it out!
Are you the same KJT as the one who made this comment yesterday?
https://thestandard.org.nz/chris-hipkins-values-matter/#comment-1993906
There you seemed to be advocating for a wealth tax, which I would say was unworkable. Now you seem to be against them. A Damascene conversion in just a day.
Can't remember if you were one.
But I remember RWNJ's arguing black was white in here that Capital gains is "not income". Now you are saying they are not wealth either. Which is it. Enlighten me.
Can always rely on right wing tragics for cognitive dissonance.
Inheritance and capital gains are effective forms of wealth tax on realisation of wealth.
I have always been constant in saying taxes on unrealised gains are very difficult to quantify and administer.
"Now you are saying"
Rubbish. I was arguing that wealth taxes are impossible to implement.
I wasn't arguing for or against CGT or Estate taxes yesterday. I was only talking about Wealth taxes. If you read through what I said carefully your cognitive dissonance may be diminished.
I was talking about CGT and inheritance taxes that are, in effect, wealth taxes.
“Almost all countries in Europe have Capital gains and inheritance taxes. Wealth taxes. Because they help even up the tax people pay.”
I will rephrase it for those with low reading comprehension levels..
Almost all European countries have some form of tax on wealth. If they don’t have a tax on unrealised wealth, they have taxes on realised wealth, such as inheritance or Capital Gains taxes.
A land value tax taxes capital gains on a regular basis, without having to wait for an asset to be sold before it can be levied. Most capital gain is probably on land anyway.
Good luck getting public support for paying a tax, before you have the cash to pay it.
Rates on a house are a type of Land Tax/Wealth Tax/Asset Tax aren't they?
And they bear no relation at all to the income being earned by the household.
"land value tax taxes capital gains"
That is a silly comment. A land value tax is a tax on the ownership of land. It is charged whether the land value rises or falls. It isn't a Capital Gains Tax at all. No gains are required before it becomes due.
The Orchardists in Pakowhai would have to pay it this year even though their land is worth less than it was before the cyclone hit them. As long as the land has any value at all they would have to pay it, even though it may be unproductive for years.
That is a silly comment. A land value tax is a tax on the ownership of land. It is charged whether the land value rises or falls. It isn't a Capital Gains Tax at all. No gains are required before it becomes due.
Quite so. It is a tax on land. It incorporates a tax on capital gain only when such a gain occurs. I would envisage that the underlying tax on the land would be offset by an adjustment to income tax rates; such an arrangement would merely represent a shift in the tax base.
The Orchardists in Pakowhai would have to pay it this year even though their land is worth less than it was before the cyclone hit them. As long as the land has any value at all they would have to pay it, even though it may be unproductive for years.
In that case it would probably be worth zero dollars – who would want to buy it – and no tax would be payable.
Land revaluations every six months?
I suppose that will result in lots more employment. For valuers and accountants?
I think, though of course I could be wrong, that land is revalued every three years, and the valuations that the IRD would work with are made by an organization called Quotable Value, not by miscellaneous "valuers and accountants".
This land value tax sounds like rates. The problem with this is often the arguments for a LVT are that LVT's have some economic effects to discourage unproductive land use. But if that is the case we have had rates for long enough to see those effects already, because a tax by another name is still a tax and should have the same impacts even if it's named something different.
The relationship between the bright-line test and a CGT is similar as CGT's are typically described as fixing the residential property market where the bright-line test already applies.
So its my understanding that these tax proposals are not going to rebalance the economy in any particular manner, though they might be used to broaden the tax base.
100% Bearded Git
Labour had 6 years in office, 3 of which they held a governing majority which would have enabled them to push through any reforms/changes to the tax system they wanted to.
Ardern and Hipkins as Prime Ministers both categorically ruled out any form of wealth tax or any major reforms to make the tax system fairer, despite their own commissioned report detailing how the very wealthy pay such a small amount of tax and despite polls suggesting a large majority of Kiwis, (including some of the wealthy) would support wealth taxes.
This from a party that is supposed to be the champion of the poor and the working class.
If you were conspiracy minded it might even make you question who is really calling the shots in regards to government economic / tax, etc policy …. It did seem a bit strange to me that both of them came out with such public "definitely not" statements. Is it possible they had beem told "no wealth tax or else?" (cue spooky twilight zone music…)
A wealth tax isn't a tax on 'unrealised gains' (or what some might call estimated potential profit) , it's a tax on wealth, which is largely quantifiable. IRD when it wants to (and when it has the resources) is actually pretty good at tracking down and detailing all sorts of financial info.
What do you classify as 'the family home'?
If a person owns a residential property then that is wealth (that mostly increases in value all by itself) and should at least be included in any discussion regarding wealth taxes IMO.
It would be up to the powers that be as to what thresholds and so on would be in place as to what amount of wealth decides inclusion for a wealth tax.
For many people right now, home ownership is something enjoyed by the 'wealthy'. If we just keep carrying on and tinkering and never really implementing any radical change then the only path we are heading down is that where in the future only the 'very wealthy' will own property. Home ownership rates have been on a steep and steady decline over the last 4 decades. That isn't going to somehow miraculously level out or heaven forbid go back up without massive intervention in various ways. So less and less people will own more and more property until…
“Taxes on unrealised gains are an accountants dream and the publics nightmare.”
Taxes on unrealised capital gains were tried in the UK nearly 60 years ago, via an outfit known as the Land Commission. It was a fiasco. The way it was set up. people were having to pay a "betterment levy" on home improvements. To everyone's relief the LC was abolished after 1970 by the incoming Edward Heath administration.
Wot b.g. said..(long comment..)
who do you think should replace Hipkins?
Same question I asked not 48 hours ago.
will you threaten to ban yourself too?
and? I didn’t give you a mod warning for asking that question. If you need me to explain why you are on the mod radar please let me know.
Parker…
.. enough with the chippy..
..time for some serious..
+100. experience and credibility needed to restore some confidence and inspire.
Plus he is nearer the end of his career than the start. So if it goes to custard, the party is not burning off emerging talent before its time.
Plus Parker would out-debate Luxon with ease….having said that my laundry basket would….
No one can out-debate Luxon – he doesn't engage, he obfuscates. He's been trained. Have you not watched "The House"?
I'd prefer Parker to be Finance Minister (shadow), he's obviously committed to trying to make the tax system fair(er)
For me, nobody is really standing out as an obvious leader at the moment. In my opinion to start with it needs to be someone at least a bit more 'gruff' and a bit less academic, nice and smiley. That probably doesn't make sense but I know what I mean lol.
Yep, support and encourage Parker to do the job he wants to do, and we need him to do – he doesn't need the distracting hassle of also being the leader.
Where is Piggy when we need him. LOL.
"You rejected changes to the tax system 8 months ago. Why should we believe you when you say changes are appropriate now?"
Hipkins should reply: When you ask questions like that, why should I not consider you a moron?
Labour, including Hipkins, said tax changes were needed six years ago.
Then when it came to the crunch, they rejected most of the tax working groups recommendations.
What makes you think Labour won't do their usual trick of baulking at the jump, at any serious changes.
Seems like a perfectly reasonable question to me. Instead of your suggestion maybe he should just give an honest answer. People tend to appreciate honesty.
Please explain why you believe it's a moronic question before calling me a moron. (Am happy to be convinced and change my mind)
It was a silly question. Whether it is believed or not is not for Hipkins to say. It is really up to NoRightTurn, Bearded Git, or, indeed, the general public, to decide whether to believe him. It was essentially a "gotcha" question aimed at Hipkin's captain's call.
What did they really want ? A letter of guarantee signed i blood ?
100% Bearded Git
Labour had 6 years in office, 3 of which they held a governing majority which would have enabled them to push through any reforms/changes to the tax system they wanted to.
Ardern and Hipkins as Prime Ministers both categorically ruled out any form of wealth tax or any major reforms to make the tax system fairer, despite their own commissioned report detailing how the very wealthy pay such a small amount of tax and despite polls suggesting a large majority of Kiwis, (including some of the wealthy) would support wealth taxes.
This from a party that is supposed to be the champion of the poor and the working class.
If you were conspiracy minded it might even make you question who is really calling the shots in regards to government economic / tax, etc policy …. It did seem a bit strange to me that both of them came out with such public "definitely not" statements. Is it possible they had beem told "no wealth tax or else?" (cue spooky twilight zone music…)
A journalist explains there is not enough working capital in the Auckland transport system budgets.
Not enough of such funding for system connectivity, this can be worse than not just enough money for maintenance of the existing roads.
https://archive.li/FCH3R
I cannot find a list of the main community groups in Auckland.
Does anybody know?
I think google and using multiple lists is the way to go now.
Reposting from DR last night.
Good lord, did Hipkins just do a reverse ferret on Let Women Speak?
starts at 6m 36s
https://twitter.com/theplatform_nz/status/1772028116715622682
I'm guessing he doesn't understand the difference between a radical feminist and a centrist/conservative GC, which makes me think his advisors are also still not doing their job properly.
It's a useful reversal generally. He's turned around, now let's see if he can head in the right direction.
As far as I can see – people who are described as "gender critical" come in all shapes and sizes and all across the political spectrum. Most of the ones I know have been active in left wing politics for most of their adult lives. They vote Labour or Green, and like me have never voted National. Many are Lesbian, and see clearly the homophobia of Gender Ideology which denies even the existence of same sex attraction.
We hear more about it from the right wing media – many of whom already oppose Gay rights, and are happy to use the excesses of the more extreme end of "Trans Rights Activists" to justify discrimination against what they call the "LGBTQI++++ Community" as if we were all one and the same.
In the wake of the Chinese cyber attack on the UK, USA and Australia, Judith Collins has released information on a cyber attack by Chinese actors on NZ.
I smell a bit of a distraction tactic going on here.
Collins has fronted up to a live press conference on the matter followed by Luxon:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/new-zealand-parliament-systems-targeted-by-china-based-hackers/RNUEMYIZFBAILLCOJ7QMIUZJ5Y/
Both have alluded to a previous attack in 2021 when Andrew Little was the minister in charge of the GCSB and my impression: they tried to belittle the previous govt.’s response which, as far as I can recall, was exactly the same as theirs.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-condemns-malicious-cyber-activity-chinese-state-sponsored-actors
Limiting the uptake to those with the readies to cover three months worth of fees and the ability to deal with the bureaucracy.
Pricks.
/
"Being able to afford ECE fees can also be a barrier to entering the workforce, particularly for the second earner in a household. FamilyBoost will make it easier and more worthwhile for families with young children to work by directly assisting them to pay those ECE fees."
She said parents and caregivers will be able to submit their ECE invoices every three months through the myIR service and get their FamilyBoost rebate refunded as a lump sum. As payments will be made every three months, those getting the full amount will get $975 every three months.
"Parents should start collecting invoices from 1 July, so they can begin to apply and be refunded from October 2024," Willis said.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/03/government-confirms-childcare-tax-rebate-move-some-families-to-receive-up-to-75-per-week.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
"Limiting the uptake to those with the readies to cover three months worth of fees and the ability to deal with the bureaucracy."
To be fair I'm pretty sure the government wanted IRD to pay the cash directly to those eligible on a fortnightly basis? Also to make it so those parents didn't need to 'claim' the cash but just received it. IRD said too complicated / expensive to implement straight away so maybe in a few years.
I'm nowhere near a fan of Wills / Luxon or this government but surely any cash, however it's given, going back to families who need it is a good thing?
IMO Politically the smart thing to do with announcements such as this is to try and allow them as little air time as possible. In other words acknowledge if you have to (better to say nothing unless you have to because a journalist asked the question) and move on as quickly as possible.
And the hundreds of thousands living payday to payday who won't have the readies?
And if you have the readies, you are likely to be on a higher income, which means the payment is abated and it may not be worth the effort to claim. In any case, we shall see what the uptake is.
The whole thing appears to me like a parody of the idiotic fetish for targeting.
Help help me Viktor.
@jacknicas
NEW: Jair Bolsonaro spent two nights at the Hungarian Embassy in Brazil, just after police confiscated his passport as part of a criminal investigation. We obtained security-camera footage that shows the president's apparent bid for asylum. Full story: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/25/world/americas/jair-bolsonaro-hungary-video.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fU0.3tu-.7S0vuUOdJ3UG
https://twitter.com/jacknicas/status/1772302823985651994
Imagine you worked hard to distress disabled folk and their carers and couldn’t even get into the top 5 worst ministers in this government.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350226548/cabinet-puts-disabilities-ministry-watch-after-families-blindsided
The ironies of Willis and Luxon putting other people on notice for their performance! And then consider how absolutely ground breakingly bad someone would have to be for that to happen…