Open mike 26/09/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, September 26th, 2019 - 65 comments
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65 comments on “Open mike 26/09/2019 ”

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  1. Blazer 1
    26 September 2019 at 9:03 am

    The 'going rate for talent' has a lot to answer for!

    Just like FBU-couldn't run a bath.

    Tanking s/p reflects the woeful international operations.Meanwhile in NZ all is well=500gm butter=$6.

    Sell off the good bits and restructure.Very concerning to admit the company doesn't really know its objectives.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/115924959/fonterra-slumps-to-605-million-loss

    • tc 1.1
      26 September 2019 at 10:02 am

      It's not a company, it's a co-op and as such the collective takes responsibility.

      Weldon's NZX went around hoovering up rural publication entities critical of the structure/direction/management a decade or so back.

      He was keen to have them listed so he could probably clip the ticket further.

      Having a focus on the commodity that is milk powder rather than value add products goes back to Norgate (RIP) and all the other old boys.

      • Dukeofurl 1.1.1
        26 September 2019 at 11:00 am

        The loss is actually just book keeping adjustments….no real cash loss at all.

        Total payouts to farmers as a co-op is in the billions. Thats the numbers that matter

      • Blazer 1.1.2
        26 September 2019 at 2:06 pm

        Just for you-'Fonterra is a co-operative company and its Farmer Shareholders are the suppliers of milk to Fonterra in New Zealand.'

        The listed entity is actually a unit trust if you want to nitpick.

        • Dukeofurl 1.1.2.1
          26 September 2019 at 2:57 pm

          And being a Cooperative is the best way to legally avoid tax. The 'shareholders' really receive their income via supplier payments which is a tax free distribution and as the Fonterra Limited side of things is exporter receives huge tax refunds for the GST payments

          Essentially its $20 bill per year revenue stream that magically pays no tax- you couldnt do better if you ran all the money through trusts in Caribbean

    • Ad 1.2
      26 September 2019 at 10:44 am

      Fonterra's new strategy is also out today.

      The strategy is: shrink rapidly, cut debt, focus on core ingredients.

      Coincidentlly, the New Zealand government launched its economic strategy this week and failed to mention our largest business and largest exporter, with the largest social and environmental footprint of any other entity.

      New Zealand government is for the first time in 2 decades actively reviewing the legislation that brought Fonterra into being, with timid proposals.

      Pretty clear after two years that this government is prepared to regulate resources such as water, very happy to throw $3b of tax into the regional small companies through the PGF, but simply unable to join economic strategy, resource regulation, and Fonterra into something useful.

      This government needs to lead the economy with really smart interventions, and they aren't apparent yet.

      Government needs to inspire the economy, and it isn't.

  2. weka 2
    26 September 2019 at 9:26 am

    SOUL are taking their action to the council at the Auckland Town Hall today.

    … leader Pania Newton says central and local government are passing the blame.

    "They keep hitting the balls in each other's courts, and so at the moment I think the council has been very quiet because a lot of the focus has been on the Government." Newton hopes Auckland Council will consider dipping into funding to buy the sacred land.

    "Perhaps they could offer us a land swap? Or they could reach into their heritage fund, or fund for recreation and parks, to help with the purchase of Ihumātao? … They are the ones who made the mistake in the first place."

    Auckland Council designated part of the land a special housing area in 2014, and its sale to construction firm Fletcher in 2016 sparked the long-running protest.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/09/ihum-tao-occupiers-take-protest-to-auckland-town-hall.html

      • marty mars 2.1.1
        26 September 2019 at 11:25 am

        Awesome – I have been so impressed by these land defenders – they have pulled support from everywhere and made their opponents look like – well to be honest who are their opponents really? nobodies with nothing to say it seems to me and certainly imo not taken seriously at all lol. And they have done that with dignity. True leaders we are seeing if we look. Here there and everywhere.

        • weka 2.1.1.1
          26 September 2019 at 11:27 am

          True leaders and teaching a whole new generation how to do it 😀

          I'm also impressed by their stamina and the length of the action. Lots of good stuff for others to learn here.

          • marty mars 2.1.1.1.1
            26 September 2019 at 11:30 am

            Their stamina is amazing and does indeed light the way forward – they have followed the past and that past is informing the future – like many things the past is where the answers are for the future imo

    • Dukeofurl 2.2
      26 September 2019 at 11:06 am

      Fletchers owned the land when the SHA was designated on their application.

      Before the SHA it was privately owned. Not sure how they think the Council can unwind the process.

      The Manukau Council did buy for public open space the Mountain stonefields and coastal frontage. I would think they would say that the historical area is preserved.

      • weka 2.2.1
        26 September 2019 at 11:25 am

        Buying off Fletchers is probably the most straight forward option.

        "The Manukau Council did buy for public open space the Mountain stonefields and coastal frontage. I would think they would say that the historical area is preserved."

        Of course. But Māori see it differently.

        • Dukeofurl 2.2.1.1
          26 September 2019 at 3:03 pm

          They seem to want to unwind the Full and Final Treaty settlement for past injustices signed by this iwi as well.

          There was an interesting situation for nearby iwi ,Te Ākitai Waiohua and Manukau Council which Im saving for another time

  3. Adrian Thornton 3
    26 September 2019 at 9:47 am

    US troops in Saudi Arabia defend hegemony, not security, although this doesn't seem to bother Pelosi or the establishment Dems all too much, no surprises there though.

    • Anne 4.1
      26 September 2019 at 11:25 am

      00:01
      Ukrainian officials understood that Trump's aid was conditional on Biden probe
      ABC reports that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s administration “came to recognize a precondition to any executive correspondence” between Ukraine and the US:

      “It was clear that [President Donald] Trump will only have communications if they will discuss the Biden case,” said Serhiy Leshchenko, an anti-corruption advocate and former member of Ukraine’s Parliament, who now acts as an adviser to Zelenskiy. “This issue was raised many times. I know that Ukrainian officials understood.”

      The Trump administration’s alleged insistence that the two leaders discuss a prospective investigation into Biden, one of the president’s political opponents, casts his July 25 conversation with Zelenskiy in a new light.

      During the call, a rough summary of which was released by the White House Wednesday, Trump repeatedly encouraged Zelenskiy to work with Attorney General William Barr and his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, to probe Biden’s role in the dismissal of the country’s prosecutor general, Viktor Shokin, in 2016.

      During the call, a rough summary of which was released by the White House Wednesday…

      I bet it was a rough summary.

      https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/sep/25/trump-ukraine-news-today-live-impeachment-democrats-pelosi-latest

      Headline : “Ukraine officials understood Trump’s aid was conditonal on Biden probe”.

  5. AB 5
    26 September 2019 at 9:58 am

    Local body election papers arrived today. As usual the task is to avoid inadvertently voting for undeclared Tories. Perversely, the one bit of information that would tell us most about a candidate's personal values and likely actions – their Party affiliation – is not there. Instead we get cliche-stuffed 'bios' that would be embarrassing even on a contemptible piece of junk like LinkedIn. It's initially an interesting exercise in 'close reading' – looking for tiny clues hidden in the blandness and unconsciously left there by the writer. To get all 'lit crit' about it, you are looking for self-problematising acts within the text. God it gets tedious though!

    • weka 5.1
      26 September 2019 at 10:16 am

      I guess this is part of why so many people don't bother voting.

      I'm finding Stuff and Spinoff's climate survey's helpful. Not infallible (some candidates aren't included and we don't know why), but helps with the scrutinising.

    • Adrian Thornton 5.2
      26 September 2019 at 10:40 am

      " As usual the task is to avoid inadvertently voting for undeclared Tories. " Yeah the lines are getting pretty blurred a lot of the time now, seems to be quite a bit of cross over between 'pragmatic' liberal lefties and many of the 'right'.

    • Kevin 5.3
      26 September 2019 at 10:51 am

      Every time I am approached by a local body candidate, the first question I always as is about which party at governmental level they support. Tends to catch them unawares but it means I don't waste their time or mine.

      I also take note of the colours of their billboards.

    • greywarshark 5.4
      26 September 2019 at 11:05 am

      Bios don't tell you much – probably talk about business friendly or rates linked to inflation.

      Nothing about education, community involvement, fostering small business, enabling ratepayers to pay off debts, cutting penalty of 10% rate (not per annum interest) and going to credit card interest rates. Bland, organised to obfuscate. No reference to voting propensities for sitting candidates. Nothing about beliefs and how they are going to serve community usually.

    • Ed1 5.5
      26 September 2019 at 11:07 am

      I recall last year there was a website that helped identify the anti-fluoride, etc nutters, but I haven't seen the equivalent this time.

      No Right Turn provides a good summary for Palmerston North; regarding Council he says "don't vote for real estate agents or property developers; don't vote for anyone who promises to "keep rates low" or who talks publicly about their imaginary friends; don't vote for climate change deniers or foot-draggers." – possibly good advice for anywhere. In Wellington for example it suggests not voting for the nice lady Nicola Young that is an "independent," but some of the others are less clear. In Australia the used to have "How to Vote" cards issued by the main parties, but that doesn;t happen here – are they not allowed?

      The other query is whether it is better to leave out those you dislike for whatever reason, or put them at the bottom of the list? I would have thought it is better to leave them out, but those more expert may have a different take.

      • greywarshark 5.5.1
        26 September 2019 at 5:18 pm

        In Oz the How to Vote cards were a party ploy from each, to arrange the votes with the presenting party at the top and the order of the others which would be to that party's best advantage.

        It was to try and assort the votes that didn't go directly for them, to advantage them when all totalled. The people who knew what they wanted mightn't use them, but the party would prefer they followed the advice of the party apparatchiks, and the uncertains if following would get channelled their way.

    • millsy 5.6
      26 September 2019 at 3:16 pm

      Same where I am as well. That is why I cannot be bothered taking an interest in this election. Same old candidates, same old waffle.

      Anyway, we might grumble at paying rates, but we would be paying way more if we had to buy these services from the private sector.

      Rate increases around the country are pretty low, in comparsion to 30-40 years ago, when 20-25% was the norm.

  6. Ad 6
    26 September 2019 at 10:18 am

    So, Fonterra as of this morning has a new strategy.

    Basically, its' strategy is sell off all international ambition to lower debt and shrink back to Australia and New Zealand.

    This is New Zealand's largest private business by a long way, largest exporter, and entity with the largest footprint on our society and landscape full stop.

    So far the New Zealand government has generated a timid response to the DIRA legislation.

    So far they haven't even tried to map Fonterra onto the economic strategy that they launched 48 hours ago.

    Fonterra was formed by government legislation. Not many businesses have such close ties to government, or owe them so much.

    How hard is it for this government to actually do business leadership? (Not resource regulation; business leadership.)

    In particular with Fonterra?

    • weka 6.1
      26 September 2019 at 10:59 am

      Maybe when Fonterra decide to be industry leaders on climate action?

    • Dukeofurl 6.2
      26 September 2019 at 11:12 am

      Fonterra was FORMED from a merger of two dairy companies.

      What the government did was give that merger a pass regarding laws around market dominance. In return Fonterra HAS to take all milk offered by its suppliers and HAS to provide competitors with bulk milk supply

      Not sure you will get Ministerial directions ( which you call government leadership) for Fonterra, its hard enough for Ministers to move the levers and gears for Government departments let alone a privately owned group.

      • Ad 6.2.1
        26 September 2019 at 8:21 pm

        If government had not passed the legislation, Fonterra would not have been formed.

        You're "not sure" about how government may engage with Fonterra because your two remaining imaginative neurons are but deep space circulating binary black holes.

    • Pat 6.3
      26 September 2019 at 11:22 am

      Exactly which Gov regulations (or lack of) do you wish to point to as a cause of a series of poor board investment decisions?

      Fonterra's problems wont be solved by blaming the wrong entities

      • Ad 6.3.1
        26 September 2019 at 8:23 pm

        You clearly have no idea how government currently engages with Fonterra, nor how it should.

        Fonterra's problems are so deep and so important to New Zealand that they won't be solved without the government.

  7. weka 7
    26 September 2019 at 11:45 am

    Whatever other criticisms of Jacinda Ardern I have, she is really good at this stuff. Six minutes of international promo of NZ (vid from last year, she appears again tonight).

  8. marty mars 8
    26 September 2019 at 1:44 pm

    Intimation tactics 101 – dirty

    Police questioning attendees of a Dunedin school climate strike banner-painting session about future protest plans left some feeling ''scared'', an environmental activist says.

    About 20 people, from teenagers to people in their 60s, gathered at Knox Church hall on Tuesday to create banners for the School Strike 4 Climate tomorrow.

    Two uniformed officers came to the banner-painting and began asking people about their protest plans regarding a petroleum conference in Queenstown next week.

    …A police spokesman said the officers were trying to ''establish a line of communication with the group'' and discuss ways to keep them and others safe during the conference.

    ''The group refused to engage with police, which is disappointing.

    ''Police acknowledge the importance of freedom of speech and the right to protest, and would always prefer to communicate with those planning public events in advance to help ensure safe protest activity.''

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/police-presence-concerns-activists

    yeah nah – keep people safe bullshit – public security for polluters and climate destroyers more likely imo

  9. marty mars 9
    26 September 2019 at 1:50 pm

    wow what a dirty creep this prick is

    Boris Johnson has been branded a disgrace for dismissing pleas from Labour MPs to stop using inflammatory language in light of the murder of Jo Cox, telling one that it was “humbug” and another that the best way to honour her was to “get Brexit done”.

    Johnson caused uproar in the House of Commons after he responded dismissively to Labour MP Paula Sherriff, who made a heartfelt speech calling on him to stop using language such as “surrender”, “traitor” and “betrayal” in relation to Brexit.

    He also drew gasps when telling Labour’s Tracy Brabin, who was elected to Cox’s seat following the MP’s murder by a far-right extremist a week before the EU referendum, that “the best way to honour the memory of Jo Cox and to bring this country together is, I think, to get Brexit done”.

    Before her death, Cox had campaigned to remain in the EU. Her widower, Brendan Cox, swiftly condemned the prime minister’s remarks, saying it had left him feeling sick.

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/25/pm-branded-a-disgrace-after-saying-best-way-to-honour-jo-cox-is-to-deliver-brexit

    • Incognito 10.1
      26 September 2019 at 2:37 pm

      Yan gives middle finger to NZ law

      FIFY

      • roblogic 10.1.1
        26 September 2019 at 2:43 pm

        Surprised he's not a National party candidate already

      • Dukeofurl 10.1.2
        26 September 2019 at 2:47 pm

        Doesnt NZ Law mean that the obligation then falls on the lower ranked directors who were also defendants?

        "Joint and Several Liability" I think is the legal term

        Thats what happened in the leaky homes cases , Councils were only one of a group of defendants, the others folded their companies and left the Council as last man standing who faces all the cost
        Will Jenny Shipley be moving to China also ?

  11. roblogic 11
    26 September 2019 at 2:45 pm

    So there is no housing crisis. 11% vacancy rate. It's a crisis caused by malinvestment / hoarding / aka: predatory capitalism, and lack of regulation

    https://twitter.com/Pahtrisha/status/1176861080926031880?s=20

  12. roblogic 12
    26 September 2019 at 2:49 pm

    Venezuelan delegate throws shade while Trump blusters at UN summit

    https://twitter.com/danialerodrimar/status/1176520886712713223?s=20

  13. Bearded Git 13
    26 September 2019 at 3:53 pm

    The biggest airport in the world, Daxing, opened today near Beijing. Auckland take note of the following

    The section between the airport to Beijing will operate at speeds of 250 km/h (160 mph) and the section between the airport to Xiong'an will operate at speeds of 350 km/h (220 mph).The airport to Beijing section is expected to open in September 26, 2019, while the airport to Xiong'an section in late 2020. It will take 28 minutes from Beijing West railway station to the new airport.

    • Dukeofurl 13.1
      26 September 2019 at 6:25 pm

      Take note of what ?

      Sydney Airport has two stations one each under both its terminals leading directly to City station, most passengers are just moving between terminals however.

  14. Fireblade 14
    26 September 2019 at 4:09 pm

    The National Party will have to stop using edited Parliamentary footage in attack ads.

    Boohoo, how sad.

    "Mallard asked Bridges and his office to refrain from editing official video footage of MPs and posting it"

    "If an MP uses footage from the house in ads without the perdition of the MP it features, they will face contempt – a serious offence in Parliament"

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12271288

  15. greywarshark 15
    26 September 2019 at 10:15 pm

    Chris Trotter in his latest post says that if there was an election in uk the conservatives would be returned in a landslide. Is that so? How come – is it the business of being able to win the electorates as in our FPP?

    • lprent 15.1
      27 September 2019 at 11:10 am

      My guess is that he hasn’t looked at the vote splitting effect of the Brexit party in a FPP election. They did well in the EU elections and have remained high in the polls.

      What analysis there is, appears to show that the Brexit party cutting more into the conservative party votes at the electorates than they are cutting into Labour. In effect they split the Brexit vote.

      • Sacha 15.1.1
        27 September 2019 at 11:41 am

        Yes, they would need to arrange electorate accommodations like our own rotten righties. Epsom salts all round!

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  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

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