Open Mike 26/12/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 26th, 2017 - 54 comments
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54 comments on “Open Mike 26/12/2017 ”

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  1. Carolyn_Nth 1
    26 December 2017 at 7:46 am

    This morning on Newsroom: Melanie Ried’s special investigation into Todd Barclay, updated. Includes a video of the investigation at the link. I think this was an earlier investigation and articles that’ve been updated today.

    Not sure what has been added today, if anything.

    However, a Newsroom investigation into the MP’s conduct — including an interview with Dickson, speaking publicly for the first time since her resignation — has produced new information about the first-term National MP.

    – Barclay denied to members of his electorate there had been recording of Dickson, and about being approached by police.

    – English knew Dickson had been recorded by Barclay and spoke to her about it, despite telling media he had not been directly involved in any discussions.

    – Then-Prime Minister John Key’s parliamentary budget was used to pay part of a confidential settlement to Dickson, in an attempt to avoid “potential legal action”.

    – Dickson and others in the electorate have been threatened and intimidated by others since falling out with Barclay.

    It’s generally pretty damning of Bill English – being in the know, and lying.

    Sam Sachdeva reports on Barclay’s response, June 2017.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1
      26 December 2017 at 1:35 pm

      That’s a deeply disturbing story.

      Overt corruption in the National Party and the police failing to prosecute the several people involved in the cover-up and perverting the course of justice.

  2. Ed 2
    26 December 2017 at 10:36 am

    An article by Peter Lyons in the Herald this morning about NCEA.
    This paragraph is particularly interesting

    ‘My nephew even missed a few deadlines for internals during his schooling. This completely stressed his mum. But she gets stressed if Easter is late. No worries. It’s cool, teachers usually offer re-submits. They also offer resits for students who don’t succeed first time around. The onus is on them to ensure they get decent pass rates. It is very important that teachers achieve well under NCEA. Otherwise school administrators get antsy and nervous. School pass rates are reported in the media. They are a window to the world. Bad NCEA pass rates suggest poor teaching. In the past few years, with more and more assessment being done in schools, by teachers, pass rates have rocketed.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11965850

    • Anne 2.1
      26 December 2017 at 11:03 am

      This is the time of the year when we get some good reflective articles from ‘guest columnists’ in the newspapers and online. You may not always agree with the hypothesis presented, but they make for interesting holiday reading. I might even break a former New Year resolution and actually buy the Herald over the next few weeks.

      • red-blooded 2.1.1
        26 December 2017 at 12:45 pm

        A couple of things that the Herald columnist didn’t mention, though:
        1) A resubmission actually involves starting again, and not on the same piece of work, but on another piece of work aimed at proving competence in the skills being measured for that standard (eg, a different piece of creative writing, or a different piece of coding to solve a different problem).
        2) The opportunities for resubmission are actually pretty limited (eg, in my school students have the chance to do one resub per subject, if they choose, but in Year 13 this will involve signing up for a brief time at the start of the next year and working under supervision before the beginning of the school year and/or in the fist few weeks. This is because there simply isn’t time in the Y13 courses to allow for resubs.

        Actually, schools are meant to have policies around deadlines that they stick to. That can be hard (there’s a lot of pressure from kids and parents and in some schools I’m sure it also comes from the leaders), but we’ve found that it’s easier on the kids as well as the staff if you do tighten up on deadlines. It lets them deal with internal assessment, clear the decks and then focus on externals (exams). Of course, not all kids care about exams – depending on what they’re aiming for they might not need to do well in exams, but most still do and keeping to deadlines helps with this. Plus, it helps them develop their self-management skills (which are core skills that run through the curriculum and that are meant to be embedded in any course).

        • mpledger 2.1.1.1
          27 December 2017 at 10:22 am

          One school I know has pretty much no resubs and absolute deadlines (only exception illness). Other school offer resits. I wish they would tidy this up – allowing retests for changing merit to excellence is really unfair when only some schools do that. That really is more for the benefit of the school’s reputation and the child’s credentials rather than for the child’s education.

    • Incognito 2.2
      26 December 2017 at 2:46 pm

      I’ve always enjoyed reading Peter Lyons in the NZH. His contrasting of making a decent coffee and differential equations may be more tongue-in-cheek than we realise as the description of the cooling of a cup of coffee by differential equations is not that uncommon in schools (e.g. Cooling Coffee without Solving Differential Equations).

      Assessing, testing, and exams, for example, used to be schnappshots for measuring individual progress against a set standard of subject material. It aimed to identify gaps in knowledge and/or understanding and readiness to move to the next level and, if so, how far & fast. Ideally, it would also help to tailor pedagogy to the learner, in a three-way feedback process. Tests and the likes were means to an end, which was proper education through a variety of learning methods that would, ideally, continue throughout life.

      Nowadays, tests are an end in their own right; not measures of readiness but measures of success and ranking among peers (competitors). Test results are not acknowledged as milestones of accomplishment & achievement; they are simply stepping stones to more ‘success’. Instead of celebrating a journey of achievement, all eyes are on the (exam) result and the award, or reward rather. Not passing is no longer seen as a necessary (life) experience from which useful conclusions can be drawn but as a failure, a weakness that needs to be avoided & corrected at all cost. In a cut-throat education system – let’s face it: our education system simply mirrors our prevailing attitudes (society= rate race) – one failure leads to another, a slippery slope of doom & gloom and away from the trophies of success later in life. No wonder that people stress out!

      Everything is measured and described in numbers & metrics; information is distilled down to numbers – ultimately to binary numbers. Context and nuance (or deeper meaning for that matter) are supposedly captured in/by measuring lots of things (big data). All this is not too complicated and with modern technology can be done very quickly. This is another sign of our times: expediency. Things need to be done quickly and efficiently (pragmatic) and decisions need to be schnappy. Coincidently, the ability to make quick decisions is regarded as a mark of leadership and (being) a leader is the epitome of success, of course.

      Education has become an ideological battleground; it always has been and always will be a breeding ground for contentious & opposing views but these come more to the fore when battle lines are drawn and become entrenched in society at large.

  3. Ed 3
    26 December 2017 at 11:28 am

    4 Scottish councils pilot universal basic income.

    ‘In Scotland, a country wearily familiar with divisions of a constitutional nature, the concept of a basic income is almost unique in enjoying multi-party favour. Across the four areas currently designing basic income pilots – Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife and North Ayrshire – the projects have variously been championed by Labour, SNP, Green and, in one case, Conservative councillors.’

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/25/scotland-universal-basic-income-councils-pilot-scheme

    • The Chairman 3.1
      26 December 2017 at 1:18 pm

      £5,200 a year?

      Do you know if that is more or less than what current benefits are paying over there?

  4. The Chairman 4
    26 December 2017 at 1:33 pm

    With the Greens only securing a small number of seats, their supporters are more reliant on the leadership to utilise this new platform and secure wins for them.

    Is James Shaw best suited for this role? Is he assertive enough?

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      26 December 2017 at 1:40 pm

      Still dutifully attacking the Greens I see.

      • The Chairman 4.1.1
        26 December 2017 at 1:43 pm

        Do you believe Shaw is that useless that you see questioning if he’s best suited for the role as an attack?

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1
          26 December 2017 at 1:58 pm

          No, I think he’s doing a good job and will get better over time.

          I’m just sick of your petty little attacks that have no basis in reality.

          • weka 4.1.1.1.1
            26 December 2017 at 1:59 pm

            +1

          • The Chairman 4.1.1.1.2
            26 December 2017 at 2:09 pm

            I think he is too much of a pushover. He’s no fighter (IMO).

            Questioning is not an attack.

            And the basis for it (IMO) is their poor performance thus far.

            • Incognito 4.1.1.1.2.1
              26 December 2017 at 4:35 pm

              Questioning is not an attack.

              Quite right; it can be much more effective in the long run than blunt (political) attacks. It is great to see that not all MPs think they need to behave like attack dogs trying to hunt down their prey and tear it into pieces; some act like decent humans with higher goals.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1.2.2
              26 December 2017 at 5:59 pm

              Questioning is not an attack.

              It is when it’s constant and phrased in negative terms – just like yours have always been.

        • OnceWasTim 4.1.1.2
          26 December 2017 at 1:58 pm

          Not sure about DtB, but all I question is the reason and motivation behind someone who obviously isn’t Green suppota (such as yourself) putting it out there in the first place.
          In the spirit of Xmas tidings and goodwill to all humankind, and the desire for world peace – in between Kmart and Harvey Norman shopping engagements – I’ll assume your concern is more about maintaining a fishint n fektiv gummint comprising a 3 party coalition rather than still coming to terms with a loss and the realisation things are going to change

          • The Chairman 4.1.1.2.1
            26 December 2017 at 2:05 pm

            I voted Green. However, I feel they are failing (thus far) to best utilise the new platform us supporters helped secure for them.

            Therefore, I’m taking it to the top and questioning the leadership.

            • OnceWasTim 4.1.1.2.1.1
              26 December 2017 at 2:13 pm

              So what are your concerns about JS @TC?
              Initially (for me) I was worried about his corporate-ish background, knowing how things ‘rub off’ when one id in that environment. Then, I was a little concerned about the level of public support for MT, and the morale among people at the coal face doing the hard yards.
              So far however, JS seems to be doing just fine (so far).
              How about you? Is he not turquoise enough, because for me, that’s how you come across, although I acknowledge a medium such as this isn’t the best place to guage things?

              Oh, and btw, I think there are one or two have the ability to whip the bugger into shape (Julie-A and Golriz for example) if he flops into comfy corporatism – is that what worries you though?

              • The Chairman …
                26 December 2017 at 2:24 pm

                He’s not assertive and outspoken. He comes across as to pragmatic and willing to concede. In other words, he’s got no fight in him. And we need an astute fighter to better our odds.

              • OnceWasTim …
                26 December 2017 at 5:09 pm

                … I was a little concerned about the level of public support for MT…
                By which I meant I was concerned he did not appear to express enough support for MT publicly (just to clarify).
                Agree with KJT below too re “authoritarian” master-of-the-universe leadership (4.1.1.2.1.2).

            • KJT 4.1.1.2.1.2
              26 December 2017 at 2:51 pm

              I for one have had my fill of “Authoritarian leadership”.

              We should have got over looking for the, “Messiah” by now.

              I think, even if you are a Green voter, you fail to understand how co-operation and consensus, the Green Kaupapa, work!

              Real change always comes from below.

              Personally, as a Green party member, I am very happy with James Shaw.

              • The Chairman …
                26 December 2017 at 3:35 pm

                “Real change always comes from below.”

                Yes, but it needs a good leader to spearhead it and help drive it through.

              • Incognito …
                26 December 2017 at 5:06 pm

                We should have got over looking for the, “Messiah” by now.

                Wicked!

                The weaker and more fearful we are the stronger we need our leader(s) to be. They can (must!) absolve us from taking personal responsibility, we can abstain from taking personal action, we don’t even need to vote it seems; the leader will take care of everything. And once the leader falls from the pedestal, from the lofty heights of our unrealistic expectations and their own over-promised hype – the worst leader is the strong leader who identifies with the archetype of the “hero” (Superman, Übermensch) – inevitably, we admonish them with the full force of our emotions for failing to remove our fears and softening of our suffering. Such is our stupidity ignorance that we put our hopes in an illusion projected onto and into one single person.

    • Ad 4.2
      26 December 2017 at 2:51 pm

      James is not enough. He’s good, good enough to sustain them at 7%.

      Not enough to get them beyond that. He just doesn’t have enough media savvy.

      They Greens need to accelerate their co-leader programme into March 2018 if not sooner.

      They need to aim up to wiping out NZF and getting dominant in 2020 with Labour.

    • Psycho Milt 4.3
      26 December 2017 at 2:55 pm

      Is James Shaw best suited for this role? Is he assertive enough?

      Yes, and yes. Now on to the more pertinent question:

      Are The Chairman’s constant concern-trolling questions deliberately aimed at undermining confidence in the Labour and Green parties?

      • weka 4.3.1
        26 December 2017 at 3:06 pm

        Probably, but who tf knows.

      • The Chairman 4.3.2
        26 December 2017 at 3:32 pm

        “The Chairman’s constant concern-trolling questions deliberately aimed at undermining confidence in the Labour and Green parties?”

        It’s not my questioning that continually undermines them, it’s their actions or lack of.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.3.2.1
          26 December 2017 at 6:04 pm

          They’re doing a lot.

          Your questions are undermining such that it seems that they were designed that way.

          • The Chairman 4.3.2.1.1
            26 December 2017 at 11:32 pm

            “They’re doing a lot.”

            A lot of falling short – i.e. not bringing the minimum wage up to the living wage, no core benefit rate increase, a Claytons ban on offshore investors, a failure to offer to provide a sufficient number of state homes.

            Furthermore, the Greens have been silent on all these shortfalls.

            They have the platform to challenge the Government and a relationship robust enough to withstand it (as highlighted when they spoke out against the TPP) – yet there was nothing.

            My two questions were straightforward and considering their performance, to be expected. However, while my questions may highlight there actions or lack of, it is their actions or lack of that undermines them.

            If they didn’t have performance issues, my two questions would have been easily brushed away and nothing to worry about.

        • Incognito 4.3.2.2
          26 December 2017 at 9:41 pm

          There’s questioning with an open mind, in a true and honest pursuit of the truth.

          There’s rhetorical questioning, to persuade.

          There’s leading questioning, to lead to a certain answer that’s usually negative for the answerer.

          There’s loaded questioning, to imply a certain answer within the question that’s usually negative for the answerer.

          Have I missed any types of questioning?

        • Robert Guyton 4.3.2.3
          27 December 2017 at 3:37 pm

          The Chairman regularly declares that he’s not, but he always is. “It’s their fault”, he intones, “I wouldn’t have to do it if they did what I demand of them!”.
          Weasel-worder.

          • The Chairman 4.3.2.3.1
            28 December 2017 at 10:20 am

            It’s not so much merely what I’m demanding, Robert. Things like the living wage, core benefit increases, a sufficient number of state homes, etc are things many of us on the left want.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 4.4
      26 December 2017 at 2:58 pm

      I do not know if James Shaw is best suited to the co-leadership role; he might be. Who, in your opinion, would be more assertive, and what might be the benefits of this more assertive stance for Green party members, NZers and NZ?

      What is the timeline for the selection of a new co-leader for the Green party?

      IMO, having recently become part of a NZ government for the first time in their history, now the not a good time for the Green Party to be considering additional leadership changes.

      Why are you unwilling to cut Shaw some slack? Not that he needs it, IMO.

      • The Chairman 4.4.1
        26 December 2017 at 3:28 pm

        “Who, in your opinion, would be more assertive, and what might be the benefits of this more assertive stance for the Green party members, New Zealanders and New Zealand?”

        The benefits are potentially huge. For example, poverty is one of their core policy aims, yet they been MIA in one of the main battles on this front.

        With just under half of the kids suffering poverty coming from working families, the living wage is a vital aim. However, when it came to these new Government created jobs (planting trees) instead of announcing they have dispatched Marama Davidson to go see Willie Jackson to fight for a living wage, they were MIA.

        I’ve seen nothing on the matter (a living wage for those new Government created jobs) on their website.

        I preferred Norman over Shaw. But when it comes to replacing Shaw (with more of an astute fighter) I think they may lack depth. Nevertheless, we require better.

        The more slack we cut Shaw, the more we will potentially miss out on. And if we fail to put the acid on them, they are unlikely to up their game. Shaw seems happy with what they have done and got, a number of supporters are not, thus expect more effort from them.

        Would it be better to cut him slack and fail to achieve more, or better to bite the bullet now?

        • Drowsy M. Kram 4.4.1.1
          26 December 2017 at 4:22 pm

          IMO, “we require better” could potentialy apply to any and all of us.

          What purpose is served by calling out James Shaw for his inadequate (in your opinion) leadership, when the alternative male co-leader for the current parliamentary term is Gareth Hughes? Is such criticism constructive, or impotent?

          You “preferred Norman over Shaw”; I preferred Turei over no-one.

          The Green party’s current MPs are a relatively small team, and since the party’s formation their candidates have had more depth (IMO) and certainly more integrity than the corresponding National Party caucuses.

          Putting the acid on the (co-)leader of a small political party (think Turei) is potentially not the best way to support that party (IMO.) With friends like these…

          • The Chairman 4.4.1.1.1
            26 December 2017 at 11:50 pm

            Unlike the acid poured onto Turei (to take her down) I’m taking about putting the acid on them to up their game. I’m not calling for Shaw to stand down from the party.

            One of the reasons why this is directed at Shaw is because he’s the current party leader, thus is ultimately accountable.

            Gareth Hughes would be an improvement on Shaw IMO.

            Turei deserted us, leaving us with Shaw to enter into negotiations.

  5. greg 5
    26 December 2017 at 5:22 pm

    what is first thing the new female doctor who does crash the tardis. women cant do time travel and they have proven it already and shes blond the tardises insurance premiums have just rocketed.

  6. joe90 6
    26 December 2017 at 6:43 pm

    They’re eating their own.

    Former Trump chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon milled his former Oval Office colleague Jared Kushner into a bloody chunk of battle sausage this week and smeared him across the shiny pages of Vanity Fair. You’ve got to read Bannon’s quote three or four times to fully savor the tang of its malice and cruelty. After scorning the Russia collusion theories as fiction, Bannon acknowledged the grisly reality that the Russia investigation poses for his former boss. And he blamed it all on Kushner, for having created the appearance that Putin had helped Trump. Dropping Kushner head first into the grinder, Bannon turned the crank.

    “[Kushner was] taking meetings with Russians to get additional stuff. This tells you everything about Jared,” Bannon told the magazine’s Gabriel Sherman. “They were looking for the picture of Hillary Clinton taking the bag of cash from Putin. That’s his maturity level.”

    https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/12/23/swamp-diary-breitbart-bannon-kushner-216166

  7. joe90 7
    26 December 2017 at 10:42 pm

    Jim Wright on the long con.

    So, Republicans know they’re going to be out of power soon, 2018, 2020, they’re history. Until the next time. Click. Click. Click.

    Mitch McConnell is far, far too savvy a politician not to know this. He might or might not keep his seat, but he’s not going to be Senate Majority Leader much longer.

    […]

    Repeat as necessary. This is the basic GOP formula since Nixon. This is the mindset of modern business, of wealth. They’re not interested in building a better world in perpetuity. They’re not interested in leaving anything behind. These aren’t the industrialists of old. This is modern business, run by the MBAs. They run the country the same way they run business: swoop in, liquidate, boost the stock, cash out to millions. Move on. They don’t care what happens to the company when they’re done with it, they don’t care about customers, or products, or employees. They’re not builders, they’re predators.

    http://www.stonekettle.com/2017/12/lemonade.html

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  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    19 hours ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    20 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    21 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

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

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    47 mins ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
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