Open mike 26/05/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 26th, 2015 - 69 comments
Categories: uncategorized - Tags:

openmikeOpen mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

69 comments on “Open mike 26/05/2015 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Charles 1
    26 May 2015 at 6:33 am

    The earlier episodes of The Simpsons often had racist and prejudiced content, but in this episode they sum up, in one and a half minutes, how politics works in modern democracies:

    (Disregarding M. Cullen’s advice, I have omitted “stating the obvious”. It’s called satire.)

    The episode opens with a stray, inoffensive, and gentle brown bear “…wandering down from the hills, in search of food, or maybe employment…”. The townspeople hysterically petition Mayor Quimby to ban all bears (won’t someone think of the children!) and trapped in his office, he asks his aides,

    “Are these morons getting dumber or louder?”
    “They’re getting dumber, Sir.”

    In other news, over on TDB, a protestor from AAAP asks middle NZ, “Why you no like agro protest? Poor is ANGRY.”

    At the risk of stating the obvious: Explaining is losing. If you’re angry, be angry, and don’t apologise or seek approval from the people you oppose after the fact. You do oppose them, right?

    • Rosie 1.1
      26 May 2015 at 9:42 am

      Exactly Charles. Furthermore, anger is a a motivator for us to instigate change. It’s needs to be left to burn and should never be tamed. Our very expression of anger over social, political and environmental issues tells the world that something is very wrong.

      There’s some things you just can’t be polite about.

      “Anger is an energy”.

      Here’s John Lydon demonstrating that sentiment with “Rise” by PIL

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2
      26 May 2015 at 11:21 am

  2. stever 2
    26 May 2015 at 6:58 am

    It’s happening there…and here, of course.

    “Do we care more about the past than the future?”

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/25/children-austerity-david-cameron-cuts-young-people

  3. vto 3
    26 May 2015 at 7:04 am

    Do you think the US has finally just about got the middle east to the point it wants? i.e. total and complete chaos….

    Who believes anything the US says about Iraq, Syria, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc? Anyone? Garden gnomes?

  4. Charles 4
    26 May 2015 at 7:29 am

    It’s NZ music month, or it will be, next month, brought into popularity during the Clark government. If you are a musician then it’ll be NZ music month every day of your life.

    Organised politics is always “an offense to the sovereignty of the individual” and good art usually moves away from organisation, so here’s two songs that tap into that anarchistic sentiment, without losing themselves in self-indulgence.

    This is Julia Dean’s, Modern Fables. It’s worth the time to listen to the work of her career, since she covers a lot of ground in many styles. We can continue making progress… if we all pretend…

    And this is Bailter Space with, Splat, asking us to remember that whatever they tell you, it’s always from their point of view, and about what works best for them…

    (Note to The Standard admin: these youtube links can stay as links if you like, since some people have difficulty with video on their home systems.)

  6. adam 6
    26 May 2015 at 8:35 am

    How odd is this – Now our PM can do policy speculation and it’s news. How far have the media fallen…

    https://nz.news.yahoo.com/top-stories/a/28221038/key-convinced-labour-would-reduce-supannuation/

  7. Ron 7
    26 May 2015 at 8:58 am

    Listening to Andrew Little this morning on the fairness of receiving pension whilst still working. (Notice now that it has the word wealthy inserted) If you run off at the mouth and say something silly then either stick with it or apologise and move on. Little did not want to do either so he just sounded stupid.
    Can we please not get sucked in on Superannuation being unaffordable. It is not. Government have choices where they spend and ‘Super’ is just one area.
    We could always stop buying military weapons that are useless which would go a long way towards covering Pension bill

    • Draco T Bastard 7.1
      26 May 2015 at 11:31 am

      We could always stop buying military weapons that are useless which would go a long way towards covering Pension bill

      1. Probably not
      2. Despite us not wanting to attack anyone else there are people out there who will attack us if we don’t have the means to defend ourselves
      3. It’s not about money but about resources and we have the resources to do both

      Number three is actually really important as it highlights the delusion that our economic system has become and how we focus on the money rather than looking to the resources.

      • Ron 7.1.1
        27 May 2015 at 8:46 am

        Re 1 my point was that Defence seems to waste money on purchasing items not fit for purpose eg LAV’s and the Charles Upham which was completely useless and was sold. Now we have expensive helicopters that already is some argument about the model we are buying. I think that replacing our armed forces with a modern Coastguard capable of reaching from Antarctica to anywhere north of NZ that requires our presence while at the same time being equipped to enable SAR work when required, protecting our fishing area helping countries in our area when disaster occurs. A modern Coastguard would seem to offer better use of resources.

        • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.1
          27 May 2015 at 9:26 am

          The Charles Upham was bought on the cheap resulting in a waste of time and effort. Certainly another case of National trying to do something cheaply and failing.

          The LAVs were bought for use in the peacekeeping role that the government at the time wanted to focus upon.

          The helicopters fit into SAR, peacekeeping and defense roles. There has been some concern about the model and standards.

          IMO, military equipment should be researched, designed and built here in NZ by a government department (I think profit should not be allowed on weapons production) so as to a) remove the logistic weakness that comes with buying equipment offshore and b) help develop the economy.

          As for which forces we keep I think that we’re going to have to keep the three that we have. They cover the roles needed no matter what we use the defense forces for.

  8. AsleepWhileWalking 8
    26 May 2015 at 9:10 am

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-05-25/israel-refuses-pay-old-oil-debt-iran

    Israel defies Swiss court order to pay debt of 1.1 Billion (USD) owed to Iran.

  9. Corokia 9
    26 May 2015 at 9:55 am

    Yet more evidence this morning that “the market” is not an appropriate mechanism for dealing with the problems we are faced with (as if we didn’t know) . When interviewed on Morning report today the chief executive of Contact Denis Barnes, said he thinks there is great long term opportunity in renewables “ but the most value we can add is by finding resource and developing that resource and that takes many, many years, you know something like 5 to 7 years from when you first come across an opportunity to where you might be earning money from it”

    Since when is 5-7 years “many, many”??!! Selling essential infrastructure to people with such ridiclously short term thinking is extreme negligence.

    http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/business/bus-ckpt-20150525-1734-todays_market_update-048.mp3

  10. Rosie 10
    26 May 2015 at 9:58 am

    The plight of the Postie and of the postal service may have slipped under the radar for many but the problems remain.

    NZ Post have been closing down Post Shops all over the country in recent years and cutting back services such as next day across town delivery, leaving the gap open for private competition such as DX mail to pick up the slack.
    Many elderly and those without the internet prefer or need to pay their bills at the P.O and they get pissed off when NZ Post goes and closes their local P.O down:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/kapiti/67599873/nz-post-fails-to-find-operator-for-raumati-post-shop.html

    Here’s a good article quoting John Maynard, Southern Secretary for the Postal Workers Union Aotearoa. Among other things he discusses privatisation by stealth and the social duty NZ Post have to provide a service to NZer’s.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/68693716/postal-union-boss-unhappy-about-nz-post-policies-in-porirua

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1
      26 May 2015 at 11:42 am

      NZ Post, like all postal services around the world, became a government service because the private sector couldn’t do it and make a profit. It’s also one of those services that is a natural monopoly as competition in carriers just increases the costs without increasing the service. Basically, posting anything across town or even across the country shouldn’t cost anything directly as it should be a government service paid for through taxes with shops in all centres.

      That said, as the amount of mail declines then delivery schedules need to reduce. There’s really no point in being inefficient about it. And, yes, eventually, there’ll b e no more mail. Hell, about the only thing that turns up in my mail box these days is junk mail which should be banned as the waste that it is.

      • Rosie 10.1.1
        26 May 2015 at 12:27 pm

        Interesting point in paragraph one.

        Re last paragraph. The PWUA acknowledges mail volumes are declining, and from what I’ve heard, the posties are realistic about the change, in that respect.
        It’s when NZ Post deliberately drop next day delivery across town and let a private company fill the vacuum that you can begin to sniff a rat. Why would they drop a still well used service and hand business over to another competing company?

        For example several DHB’s have switched from NZ Post to DX Mail as they send all their patient appointments and correspondence via post.

        We still need the post for sending parcels and sending greeting cards. Many may get their bills sent via email, like we do, but it’s still nice to send some one a birthday card or a bereavement card, (not a corny one) if they’ve lost someone.

        It’s especially nice as people expect to receive less cards, so it’s a pleasant surprise when one turns up.

        • te reo putake 10.1.1.1
          26 May 2015 at 12:30 pm

          The problem with the likes of DX mail is that they don’t do the deliveries. That’s still a NZ Post postie putting the item into your mailbox. NZ Post are required to support their own opposition. It’s pretty weird.

          • Rosie 10.1.1.1.1
            26 May 2015 at 1:24 pm

            DX are doing deliveries – on their scooters. We get our NZ Post Postie come by in the morning and the DX postie on his scooter late arvo. From what I’ve heard, it’s at the mail sorting end where NZ Post are having to do DX’s work, and they are obliged to, they can’t refuse to handle their mail. Have you heard of cases where NZ Post posties are carrying DX mail as well as their own?

            I’d need to get specifics from my buddy at NZ Post before I go into it any further.

            Agree it is weird, NZ Post supporting their opposition. What I also find weird is they intentionally give up their business to their opposition. Kind of shooting yourself in the foot – thats surely “the privatisation by stealth” angle.

            • te reo putake 10.1.1.1.1.1
              26 May 2015 at 1:44 pm

              Yes, you are correct about the scooters, Rosie. DX have delivery in specific, high density areas, but its NZ Post who do the deliveries for DX and the others everywhere else. For Dx et al, it’s kind of like airlines cherry picking their routes and leaving Air New Zealand to fly the unprofitable regional runs. A sort of reverse subsidy.

              • Rosie …
                26 May 2015 at 1:51 pm

                Got ya.

                • Invisible Axe …
                  26 May 2015 at 6:33 pm

                  Yes NZ Post posties are delivering DX Mail, to areas where DX Mail cannot make a profit. Only NZ Post offers redirections, or hold mail, or RTS (Return to sender), or PO Boxes. DX Mail do not do those services (though they may well be thinking of doing it). DX Mail offer 5 day delivery, whereas in a month NZ Post will be delivering to your house every 3 days (Still 6 days for PO Boxes, Rural Delivery & places like Balclutha).

                  NZ Post are trialling some mixed services with Courier Post delivering mail side by side with NZ Post posties, so they have wage earners sitting alongside contractors, the end game is to contract out posty work (My assumption).

                  The Unions (EPMU & PWUA) have been next to useless on this, or to be fair they have been outfoxed (the introduction of PPM (Postie Pay Model – paid for volume of mail rather than hours) is killing posties, especially the older guys, its a crap system (DX Mail still get paid by hours worked).

                  • Rosie …
                    26 May 2015 at 8:03 pm

                    Thanks Invisible Axe. Wasn’t aware of the PPM. Re this bit:

                    “NZ Post are trialling some mixed services with Courier Post delivering mail side by side with NZ Post posties, so they have wage earners sitting alongside contractors, the end game is to contract out posty work (My assumption).”

                    I’d heard about this too. I’d also make the assumption that NZ Post are wanting to move towards contractors and away from permanent employees. That would suck.

                    • Colonial Rawshark …
                      26 May 2015 at 8:06 pm

                      It seems likely that the Board would be approving of executive management’s strategy here, given how big of a change it is.

  11. esoteric pineapples 11
    26 May 2015 at 10:03 am

    Apparently a neutron bomb has been dropped on Yemen with Saudi and Israeli connections. I imagine nothing has been verified for sure but one only has to look at the video to see that whatever was dropped was pretty mean and ugly and very much looks like a mini nuclear bomb.

    http://robinwestenra.blogspot.co.nz/2015/05/a-neutron-bomb-dropped-on-yemen-by-iaf.html?spref=fb

    • te reo putake 11.1
      26 May 2015 at 10:42 am

      Yeah, it’s bollocks though, isn’t it? A neutron bomb dropped on Yemen by Israel on behalf of Saudi Arabia and not picked up by any seismic or radiation readers anywhere in the gulf, but, remarkably, only visible to nutters on the net. Sounds plausible.

      • hoom 11.1.1
        26 May 2015 at 11:29 am

        If it was a Nuke (which Neutron bombs are) then the cameraperson would be blind from the flash & dead shortly after from the Neutrons.

        Probably they just hit an ammo dump or other large concentration of explosives.
        Any big enough explosion makes a mushroom cloud, thats just physics.

        • millsy 11.1.1.1
          26 May 2015 at 2:42 pm

          The Isrealis arent that stupid. They know full well that using nuclear weaponry would lead to a huge backlash which ordinary Jews will bear the brunt of.

          A few Arabs arent worth the burning and sacking of every synaogue in Europe.

        • David H 11.1.1.2
          26 May 2015 at 10:42 pm

          If it’s a Neutron bomb then the fl;ash would have been seen by the Americans sattelite network. but it is a nasty bomb.

          “A neutron bomb is a hydrogen bomb without the uranium-238. This lowers the explosive yield while letting the neutrons bust out all over.”

          http://io9.com/though-it-seems-crazy-now-the-neutron-bomb-was-intende-1636604514

      • David H 11.1.2
        26 May 2015 at 10:51 pm

        @E Pineapples. That’s not a Nuc for one the flash would have blinded anyone looking at it, and the camera would have died from the EMP released.

      • te reo putake 11.2.1
        26 May 2015 at 2:08 pm

        Er, most likely a conventional weapon. Possibly a large one. It also depends on what the target was; if it was a munitions dump then big bangs can obviously be expected. The other thing about the bogus original story is the lack of context (how big? How far away from the photographer? What was hit? etc.).

        • joe90 11.2.1.1
          26 May 2015 at 2:22 pm

          Fuel-air devices are conventional.

          • te reo putake 11.2.1.1.1
            26 May 2015 at 2:34 pm

            Hmmm, by definition they’re not conventional. Do you mean they’re in common use?

            • joe90 11.2.1.1.1.1
              26 May 2015 at 3:14 pm

              Yup, in Syria, drone, fixed wing and helicopter borne Hellfires used across the middle east to incinerate people and reported use in the recent demolition of Gaza.

              “Flechette shells, fuel-air bombs (which explode twice, including after impact), dime shells, and flechette shells saturated with uranium were fired at Gaza Strip,” the statement added, stressing that the weapons “affect the environment, soil, and water and will affect the next generations by spreading diseases especially cancer.

              http://mondoweiss.net/2014/08/jerusalem-hospital-children

              • Colonial Rawshark …
                26 May 2015 at 6:47 pm

                yeah most likely a MOAB type device.

                If it had been a neutron bomb the EMP would have fried everything electronic which wasn’t hardened, certainly within the 4-5 mile radius that footage was taken in.

    • TheContrarian 11.3
      26 May 2015 at 2:06 pm

      Yep – looks like utter bullshit.

      Though Ugly Truth should be around any time now to tell us how it’s real because Jews.

      • Colonial Rawshark 11.3.1
        26 May 2015 at 6:49 pm

        Though Ugly Truth should be around any time now to tell us how it’s real because Jews.

        because Israeli Government. Don’t conflate them with “Jews.”

  12. One Anonymous Bloke 12
    26 May 2015 at 10:56 am

    Also linked in the Roy Morgan thread.

    Problem: the NZ Law Society warns the UN that the National Party is undermining the rule of law.

    National Party solution: abandon commitment to the rule of law.

  13. Chooky 13
    26 May 2015 at 11:10 am

    Are we on a hiding to nowhere?!…We need to pull our brave troops out of Iraq !….Where is the Labour Party on this?….There is no reason for our troops to be there training Iraqi troops if Iraqi troops don’t want to fight!!!!

    ….the Left must get together on this and oppose jonkey Nact and pull the troops out NOW!

    ‘‘No will’ to fight ISIS? US Defense Sec blasts Iraqi troops’

    http://rt.com/usa/261681-carter-iraq-fight-isis-ramadi/

    “US Defense Secretary Ash Carter has lashed out at the Iraqi army, which last week abandoned the major central city of Ramadi, as well as millions of dollars’ worth of equipment, to the Islamic State, despite reportedly outnumbering the jihadists 10-to-1.

    “What apparently happened was that the Iraqi forces just showed no will to fight. They were not outnumbered. In fact, they vastly outnumbered the opposing force, and yet they failed to fight, they withdrew from the site,” Carter, who was appointed earlier this year, told CNN in scathing commentary.”

  14. Clemgeopin 14
    26 May 2015 at 11:43 am

    The sky city-convention-centre. New plans:

    The comments from readers under this article are interesting. Take a look.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/68851861/govt-greenlights-skycity-convention-centre

    Five crucial points :
    (1) the government practically gifted the tax payer owned TVNZ land to Sky City for this convention centre (2) All the income and profits made will go to the coffers of Sky City and its share holders and not to us, the government (3) To allow Sky City this huge money making bonanza, the government reduced the pokie machine numbers from small outlets, clubs etc from around the regions in the country, and increased the number of pokie machines and other gambling tables for their Sky City crooked corporate mates. (4) If instead of giving huge tax cuts worth billions of dollars each year that primarily benefit the most wealthy the most, had the government itself or a public-private-council partnership funded this convention centre, then the international centre would have been OURS as an SOE and profits would have been OURS in perpetuity.(5) We have an unpatriotic, myopic, cunning government that primarily works for the wealthy, the corporates and their mates.

    • DoublePlusGood 14.1
      26 May 2015 at 4:26 pm

      Well, we could always just repossess the land, given that it was procured in such an ill-gotten manner.

      • Clemgeopin 14.1.1
        26 May 2015 at 4:33 pm

        Legally not that easy because it was passed by parliament (I think).

        • Kiwiri 14.1.1.1
          26 May 2015 at 6:33 pm

          Is there any statement from the Labour Party that they no longer receive any donations from SkyCity, whether directly or indirectly or in any elusive way that would be difficult to track? Will Labour campaign to reverse Nat’s law that increased the number of pokie machines?

          • Clemgeopin 14.1.1.1.1
            26 May 2015 at 10:29 pm

            I don’t know. I have nothing to do with the Labour party. Just a Labour party supporter. I like their great policies based on socialism, social justice, fairness, pragmatism, common sense and care.

            I voted Mana at the last election as I did not like Hone and IMP being attacked unfairly!

            Regarding Sky City donation, that would be declared in the election returns.

            No idea about ‘indirectly’. Hope not. It is high time for all MPs to be honest and corruption free of big business influence and being tempted by corporate crooks.

            Reversing pokie machine laws or the Sky City deal will be difficult legally I think, because these contracts deals are legal stuff and voted in by parliament.

            I suppose it could be done but at very huge cost in money, and business trust both nationally and internationally. So no, I don’t think that will be possible, though I am sure the future governments will be able to change gambling laws through parliament because parliament is supreme. But I think only the wily secretive brethren Steven Joyce knows the small prints in the deal. I doubt if he published the ENTIRE document. Did he?

  16. Draco T Bastard 16
    26 May 2015 at 3:39 pm

    What Classical Liberal Economist Adam Smith Would Have Thought About the TPP Negotiations

    The proposal of any new law or regulation of commerce which comes from this order ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention.

    It comes from an order of men whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it.

    The people writing up the TPPA are the big businesses, those that Adam Smith described as having “deceived and oppressed” the public. The secrecy surrounding the TPPA is part of that ongoing oppression of the public for the benefit of the corporations.

  17. Draco T Bastard 17
    26 May 2015 at 4:05 pm

    League: Sir Owen Glenn enlists John Banks to help run Warriors trust

    How long before we find Banks up in court again for signing a document that’s incorrect?

    • McFlock 17.1
      26 May 2015 at 4:12 pm

      lol – and ISTR that the electoral act was aberrant in having the “knowing it to be false” qualification, rather than the basic “signs false declaration” prohibition.

      • tinfoilhat 17.1.1
        26 May 2015 at 4:27 pm

        Good ness I couldn’t believe that headline and was wondering what he was thinking.

        Having read the article i must admit I never knew Banks was so involved in league over the years.

        • Draco T Bastard 17.1.1.1
          26 May 2015 at 4:47 pm

          I don’t think how long he’s been involved matters much. It’s the fact that seemingly every time he’s in a position of power and responsibility he goes round signing legal documents without reading them or checking them for things like facts and truthfulness.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 17.1.1.1.1
            26 May 2015 at 6:43 pm

            If you know of a better way to profit from corruption and avoid jail I’m sure he’d be all ears.

  18. just saying 18
    26 May 2015 at 4:07 pm

    I’m changing my internet/phone company.
    Flip looks the cheapest. Anyone know anything about them?
    Good, bad, indifferent?
    Ta

    • Johnycomelater 18.1
      26 May 2015 at 7:10 pm

      Yes, they are one of cheapest. Just switched to them 2 weeks ago at work. (small office in a biggish building). Been connected apparently but no service. Not there problem because they use Chorus for connections. Chorus will charge to come and inspect it and Flip don’t do call backs regarding problem resolution.

      Also like most other providers, it take for ever to get through to Tech support (4 hours yesterday and slightly better today at 1 hour). Ended up calling sales and got through directly.

      Pretty average IMHO and thinking about ditching them.

      • Kiwiri 18.1.1
        26 May 2015 at 10:05 pm

        never used them before
        well, going by how ‘average’ they seem to be in terms of service provided by help desk, we know what the expression is for the other side of flip
        … flop

      • just saying 18.1.2
        27 May 2015 at 8:23 am

        Thanks,
        It seems that cheap is synonymous with really bad service.
        Unfortunately the sorts of messes they can make can make them more expensive in the long run.

  19. Ennui 19
    26 May 2015 at 5:59 pm

    Just been looking around The Standard and see collective woe at the latest polls. I sense an aura of powerlessness on the “Left” like a rabbit in the headlights. Key the Untouchable, ruler of all you see.

    Couple of observations..Key Stormcrow. Imagine petrol getting very rare very quickly. Theres fighting going on near the Saudi oilfields and its spread to Yemen. ISIL runs riot, Iran see the US as the great Satan but will fight for Shiism against the Sunni. Its got the potential to kill off exports of oil, to break markets. On top of this the financial markets sit on the brink of failure. What could this do to our trade? Or the Auckland property bubble. In short the disasters are lining up to kill our economy and Key with it.

    Given that Keys mob rely upon paying some of us with baubles to get votes any of the above could be fatal. Now imagine that the storm is so severe that the current wealthy lose everything and the rest become destitute. The end result could be the loss of all legitimacy. Are the Left ready for or up to the challenge. ? I doubt it going by the comments here. All I see is the wish to control the status quo for different beneficiaries. The coming storms wont leave anything worth benefitting from.

    • Colonial Rawshark 19.1
      26 May 2015 at 6:12 pm

      +100

      Labour trying to figure out how to restack electronic ones and zeroes to pay for Super in 2050 misses the mark by so far its not even worth measuring.

        • Colonial Rawshark 19.1.1.1
          26 May 2015 at 8:08 pm

          Labour is welcome to run mucking around with NZ Super by the voters again in 2017, if it likes.

          • te reo putake 19.1.1.1.1
            26 May 2015 at 8:24 pm

            Last time I heard, you were Labour. Has something changed?

            • Colonial Rawshark 19.1.1.1.1.1
              26 May 2015 at 8:40 pm

              Lots of Labour people think that fucking around with NZ Super is not just electoral death, but also plain wrong headed. I’ll be making sure the MPs hear that message loud and clear. The less compliant the Labour membership is from here on in with voter losing BS, the better.

              • Craig H …
                26 May 2015 at 9:58 pm

                Was pretty clear what we thought about it at region 5 conference – it’s toxic, and leave it.

                • Kiwiri …
                  26 May 2015 at 10:08 pm

                  Of course it is toxic and Labour MPs must surely appreciate that or don’t they?

                  • Colonial Rawshark …
                    26 May 2015 at 10:21 pm

                    They are wed to orthodox economic and monetary thinking, which means that at best, they aspire to a future of being better book keepers and detail managers than National.

                • Colonial Rawshark …
                  26 May 2015 at 10:22 pm

                  Craig H – thanks for the report from Region 5

      • Chooky 19.1.2
        26 May 2015 at 6:33 pm

        +100 CR and Ennui

  20. Ron 20
    26 May 2015 at 9:26 pm

    Watching Parliament recently and noted how few MP’s were present. This of course is because MP’s no longer need to be present as whips cast the votes on their behalf.
    It seems to me that this is a retrograde step. All MP’s should be present at all times with few exceptions.
    Unfortunately it would be very difficult to change it back now a bit like turkeys voting for Thanksgiving.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    45 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 hour ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    19 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 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
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T01:11:42+00:00