Open mike 26/08/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 26th, 2015 - 143 comments
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143 comments on “Open mike 26/08/2015 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    26 August 2015 at 6:39 am

    The Herald continues to try to reassure its property owning ( and owing) readership.
    ‘There is no economic crisis ……..There is no economic crisis ………There is no economic crisis ………There is no economic crisis ……..

    John Key has it all under control……….John Key has it all under control……….John Key has it all under control……….John Key has it all under control……….

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11502803

    • marty mars 1.1
      26 August 2015 at 7:59 am

      Paul do you see the irony of posting how crap the herald is because of what you have read in the herald?

      • Realblue 1.1.1
        26 August 2015 at 9:21 am

        He doesn’t.

        • Morrissey 1.1.1.1
          26 August 2015 at 9:29 am

          Oooohh, I think he does. You, on the other hand, are not entirely capable of making that sort of judgement. (I’ve just had a look at your sorry recent posts.)

        • Paul 1.1.1.2
          26 August 2015 at 2:48 pm

          Highlighting the bias and incompetence of the mainstream media has a point.
          You never know if it were not pointed out, simple right wingers might actually believe what they are told to think by such sources.

      • b waghorn 1.1.2
        26 August 2015 at 12:33 pm

        I think Paul should keep at it , they might not admit on the other side but the standard is being read by a lot of people in the news game IMO , so any pressure being applied is good .

      • AmaKiwi 1.1.3
        26 August 2015 at 2:22 pm

        Follow the money.

        The Herald survives on real estate advertising.

      • North 1.1.4
        26 August 2015 at 8:23 pm

        That would have to be a pretty stupid comment from you MM……like we talk about the horrors of a fart from whomsoever yet assiduously avoid talking about whomsoever ? And we talk about the crap of the Herald and deny reading it ? Not your best work !

  2. Morrissey 2
    26 August 2015 at 7:15 am

    What is it about Television One that lends itself to such foolishness?
    Jack Tame is quite possibly stupider than Mike Hosking.
    Seven Sharp, Television One, Tuesday 25 August 2015

    “I read a column by Jack Tame today….” —-Jim Mora, 16 July 2014

    bewildered /bɪˈwɪldəd/ adj. 1. confused and indecisive; puzzled.

    Just after the start of this dog, Mike Hosking’s dismal understudy Jack Tame put on his most serious face, dropped his voice an octave and, in a tone of perfect mock seriousness, asked his bearded Muslim guest: “What is it about Islam that lends itself to extremism?”

    I watched no more than that first question. I was in a hurry, but I’ve got better things to do than watch the irretrievably dim pretending to grapple with issues they have not bothered to give more than a moment’s study.

    More on Jack Tame….
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16072015/#comment-1044978

    • AmaKiwi 2.1
      26 August 2015 at 7:38 am

      “What is it about you Europeans that you detest the idea that people of the Middle East should rule themselves and profit from YOUR oil that somehow is under our sand?”

      Geobels in the Antipodes: Muslims are the cause of all modern wars: WW 1 and 2 (when they invaded France, Manchuria, Pearl Harbor), Korean War, Falklands, endless Latin American wars, . . .

      The Yanks have been endlessly busy stopping Muslim aggression.

      /sarc

    • gsays 2.2
      26 August 2015 at 8:24 am

      hi morrissey,
      “What is it about Islam that lends itself to extremism?”

      i think a far more enlightening question would be: what is it about commercial imperatives that make broadcasters present violent, frightening and grim stories that play on the fears and prejudices of the viewers?

      • tracey 2.2.1
        26 August 2015 at 9:25 am

        money honey… apparently fear = readership/viewership… but your question requires either;

        1. a level of introspection not capable
        2. a level of introspection set aside for the salary package and face on telly

  3. Morrissey 3
    26 August 2015 at 7:42 am

    Which would YOU call evil: killing people or viewing pornography?
    Now see which choice Paul Henry made.
    Paul Henry, TV3, Tuesday 26 August 2015

    depraved /dɪˈpreɪvd/ adj. morally corrupt; wicked.

    Shortly before 7 a.m., the following conversation occurred between the eponymous host and his “U.S. correspondent” Sandy Hughes….

    PAUL HENRY: Barack Obama’s right hand man Joe Biden may be running for president as more and more donors shy away from Hillary Clinton.

    SANDY HUGHES: He doesn’t have a scandal plaguing him but he does have a habit of putting his foot in his mouth.

    PAUL HENRY: All right, Jared Fogle the Subway guy. Evil man. We’ll only talk about him for a little while. Nasty man….

    So what has just happened here? Henry has mentioned four people—three of them are key figures in a regime carrying out massive war crimes abroad and harassing and imprisoning political dissenters in the United States. Yet the one he calls “evil” is the Subway guy.

    Sandy Hughes’ assertion that Biden “doesn’t have a scandal plaguing him” makes sense only if you don’t count his role in the deaths of more than one million Iraqis, Syrians, Yemenis and Palestinians, not to mention his involvement in the bloody, failed, right wing insurrection in Venezuela.

    • Undecided 3.1
      26 August 2015 at 8:26 am

      The subway guy wasn’t just watching pornography you know, theres that little matter of child rape (allegedly) as well but I see the point you’re trying to make

      • Morrissey 3.1.1
        26 August 2015 at 9:21 am

        Sorry, I forgot that. He always struck me as creepy, I must admit, especially in the movie Supersize Me, when he tells a teenage girl that SHE has to change, and that there is no hope of ever controlling the junk food industry.

        Still, whatever crimes he has committed, he is Albert Schweitzer when compared to Clinton, Biden and Obama.

        • James 3.1.1.1
          26 August 2015 at 9:40 am

          Jesus Wept.

          Talk about supporting the Rape culture that a lot of people on the left decry .

          I guess some think its not so bad – as long as it helps score a point on a “righty”

          Morrissey: “Yet the one he calls “evil” is the Subway guy”

          Undecided: “The subway guy wasn’t just watching pornography you know, theres that little matter of child rape (allegedly) as well but I see the point you’re trying to make”

          Morrissey: “Sorry, I forgot that” ….. “Still, whatever crimes he has committed, he is Albert Schweitzer when compared to Clinton, Biden and Obama.”

          Personally – I find any predator of underage girls as about as evil as you can get.

          • Undecided 3.1.1.1.1
            26 August 2015 at 9:49 am

            I think what Morrissey is trying to say (and correct me if i’m wrong) is that while child rape is evil, starting a war and all the associated deaths is a greater evil due to the greater number affected

            • Morrissey 3.1.1.1.1.1
              26 August 2015 at 9:54 am

              He knows that perfectly well, my friend. He’s got some other agenda working here.

              • James …
                26 August 2015 at 10:15 am

                No Agenda.

                Buy you lose any credibility commenting about how bad “rape culture” is, and then minimising it because its not so bad as what other people have done.

                With the RoastBusters case – would you have been happy with a “oh well – he’s not as bad as someone who did something I think is worse”.

                But – far easier to blame me and an “agenda” than you to own your own bias.

                I guess if it was your daughter (if you have one), you wouldnt be so quick to minimise it.

                • Morrissey …
                  26 August 2015 at 10:45 am

                  You’re going to suggest the Roast Busters are on a par with President Suharto now, I suppose.

                  • weka …
                    26 August 2015 at 1:05 pm

                    Morrisey, men like yourself with limited understanding of rape culture don’t get to prioritise rape down the list according to your own values.

                    Forgetting that the person whose crimes you were minimising was an alleged child sex offender pretty much sums up the value of this conversation. Please stop using rape as an example to push your point, you’ve just made a complete mess of it and are being offensive.

                    • Morrissey …
                      26 August 2015 at 1:20 pm

                      Forgetting that the person whose crimes you were minimising

                      Whose crimes did I minimise?

                      You are either willfully obtuse or you are trying to be clever.

                      Neither is acceptable in a serious conversation. Have you thought of speaking to Paul Henry? Perhaps that’s more your level.

                    • weka …
                      26 August 2015 at 3:54 pm

                      Morrisey, men like yourself with limited understanding of rape culture don’t get to prioritise rape down the list according to your own values.

                      “Whose crimes did I minimise?”

                      Reread what I said, it’s pretty obvious what I am referring to.

                      Fuck off with all the rest of the dissembling and bullshit ad homs, I can’t be bothered.

                      edit, btw, the guy is known for using child porn, so your whole argument here is ignorant and misusing concepts of misogyny and rape culture. Please stop.

              • Undecided …
                26 August 2015 at 10:17 am

                I do think Jared Fogles crimes are evil (if proven) and as such he warrents being called evil

                • Morrissey …
                  26 August 2015 at 10:54 am

                  I agree with you, Undecided. My problem is with Paul “Kill them ALL” Henry calling HIM evil straight after he has mentioned Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.

                  Perhaps even worse than that was his “U.S. correspondent” claiming that Biden, whose hands are bloodied with victims from South America to South Yemen, “doesn’t have a scandal plaguing him.”

          • Morrissey 3.1.1.1.2
            26 August 2015 at 9:53 am

            I condemn anyone who does what the Subway guy did.

            But it takes a special kind of moral imbecile to suggest that he is in the same league as Obama, Biden and Clinton.

            • James 3.1.1.1.2.1
              26 August 2015 at 10:18 am

              So right to the name calling – typical, and a sure sign you know you are wrong.

              And can you point exactly to where you condemned him in your post or reply?

              No – just a “I forgot about the child rape bit” – oh well – not as bad as xxxxxx

              • Morrissey …
                26 August 2015 at 10:44 am

                Maybe you are not a moral imbecile; it would be wrong for me, or anyone, to call you that if you are merely guilty of failing to express yourself clearly.

                Your ill-advised and rash attempt to suggest Jared Fogle’s crimes are on a par with those of three war criminals suggests that you are simply out of your depth.

                • James …
                  26 August 2015 at 11:23 am

                  “those of three war criminals”

                  Any evidence to back up your claim that they have even been charged with this? Or are you making accusations, and pretending it as “fact”?

            • vaughan little 3.1.1.1.2.2
              26 August 2015 at 2:40 pm

              it’s a chumps game, comparing evils. unless you were interviewing both obama and subway guy for a job and had to pick one of them. which you’re not.

          • North 3.1.1.1.3
            26 August 2015 at 5:50 pm

            James, unplugged, unhinged, weeping Jesus-like and paraphrased thus – “It is soooo churlish to focus on child murder. You should be ashamed Morrissey !”

  4. The lost sheep 4
    26 August 2015 at 7:46 am

    Paul/Morrissey,
    i get your point. The MSM are biased Right Wing imbeciles.

    So tell me. What do you think should be done about it?

    • Paul 4.1
      26 August 2015 at 8:35 am

      1. The setting up of a genuine national TV broadcaster with several channels.
      2. Support for local grassroots media.
      3. Not permitting the concentration of massive media companies though conglomeration.
      4. Regulations with teeth about impartiality.

      • The lost sheep 4.1.1
        26 August 2015 at 8:45 am

        “The setting up of a genuine national TV broadcaster with several channels.”
        How would you control the content of such channels?

        Support for local grassroots media.
        Any grassroots media, or grassroots media that had to meet some form of Govt. approval?

        Regulations with teeth about impartiality
        ‘Regulations’ is a big word. What would be the central details of such regulation?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.1.1
          26 August 2015 at 8:53 am

          I have an idea for how content can be “controlled”.

          Reduce the number of adverts to zero.

          What’s with the authoritarian fantasies?

          As for impartiality, why reinvent the wheel when there are so many existing templates available? It may be rocket science to a sheep I guess…

          • The lost sheep 4.1.1.1.1
            26 August 2015 at 10:28 am

            Is Paul your alter ego OAB?

            But while you are here…
            Reducing ad’s to zero would eliminate commercial media? That would be the point of that ‘control’?

            • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.1.1.1.1
              26 August 2015 at 10:33 am

              The only person talking about ‘control’ is you. It looks like you’re determined to spin a false authoritarian narrative around the subject.

              Boring and lame make bad entertainment, Sheep.

              • The lost sheep …
                26 August 2015 at 10:59 am

                I’m only asking questions OAB, and the ‘narrative’ will be the answers I receive.

                This blog is awash with daily criticism of the media, so why is it not a valid topic to ask what those who are constantly critical think could improve the situation?

                So why don’t you answer the question I asked you?
                How would removing ads “control” content?
                And what existing template for impartiality do you favour?

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  26 August 2015 at 11:24 am

                  I’m only asking questions OAB,

                  No, you’re trying to manipulate people into saying that there will be political control over the media when you know damn well that we don’t support any sort of political control especially that of corporations and political parties.

                  • The lost sheep …
                    26 August 2015 at 1:59 pm

                    Bullshit McFlock.
                    The questions can be answered in anyway anyone chooses.
                    It is YOU who is making an assumption about the way people might answer.

                    All I can see at this point is that everyone who has replied has suggested they feel some change in the current media situation is desirable, but only Morrissey has indicated a willingness to freely discuss the topic…..

                    Given the amount of time spent criticising the state of the media on this blog, I have no idea why there is a reluctance to talk about ways to improve it?

                    • McFlock …
                      26 August 2015 at 2:49 pm

                      “Reducing ad’s to zero would eliminate commercial media? That would be the point of that ‘control’?”

                      That’s an example of your duplicity/stupidity.
                      It’s as if you’ve never heard of HBO…

                    • The lost sheep …
                      26 August 2015 at 3:00 pm

                      ‘Debate’ with you is like trying to catch a fart in a butterfly net.
                      You can hear and smell it, but there is nothing of substance to get hold of.

                      This discussion disturbs you doesn’t it?
                      You don’t want it be openly debated, and so you are attempted to derail it. Wonder why?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      26 August 2015 at 3:09 pm

                      You get really snippy when someone illustrates your feeble character. Sheep are supposed to be more placid 😀

                    • The lost sheep …
                      26 August 2015 at 3:16 pm

                      Is that a constructive contribution to the discussion OAB, or is it just A POINTLESS PERSONAL ATTACK?

                      And do you intend to ARGUE THE POINT YOU MADE EARLIER and I REQUESTED YOU ANSWER, or are you just here like McFlock trying to shut down a discussion you don’t want to occur by using FLAMEWAR tactics?

                    • McFlock …
                      26 August 2015 at 3:35 pm

                      You have heard of HBO, haven’t you?
                      You do realise it is commercial media?
                      Guess how many ads are on it. How often does it cut to a coke commercial, for example.

                      So presupposing the “elimination” of commercial media simply because of an ad-free channel, and then asking what the point of that would be, is a loaded question.

                      The discussion does not disturb me. But stupid fucks who think they can do a penny-ante pseudo-Socratic dialogue when even that is far beyond their level of competence? You lot just piss me off.

                    • The lost sheep …
                      26 August 2015 at 3:52 pm

                      “So presupposing the “elimination” of commercial media simply because of an ad-free channel, and then asking what the point of that would be, is a loaded question”

                      No.
                      In response to a question I put to someone else, OAB stated that Media ‘Content could be controlled by reducing the number of adverts to zero’.,

                      I responded by asking him whether the point of that would be the elimination of commercial media. A question that could be very simply answered you would think?
                      ‘No’, if that is not what he meant, and a brief explanation of what he did mean.
                      Or ‘yes’ if that was his point.

                      But OAB declined to argue that point, or any other subsequent genuine points of discussion, but stayed engaged in order to make flamewar and pointless personal attack comments.

                      So as you and he seem to be interchangeable, maybe you have the integrity/balls to actually answer the simple question I asked?
                      Then the discussion could move past your FLAMEWAR…

                    • McFlock …
                      26 August 2015 at 4:10 pm

                      You were the only one who brought up the elimination of commercial media.

                      Only you.

                      HBO says no.

                      All subsequent questions are therefore bullshit.

                    • The lost sheep …
                      26 August 2015 at 4:32 pm

                      So you can’t confirm or deny the meaning of OAB’s statement?
                      Gee it must be sensitive stuff…..

                    • McFlock …
                      26 August 2015 at 4:49 pm

                      I can confirm for you that this statement:

                      I have an idea for how content can be “controlled”.

                      Reduce the number of adverts to zero.

                      In no way requires the elimination of commercial media.

                      It would, however, eliminate that particular broadcaster’s conflict of interest between news and advertising revenue. So it can be reported if Cadbury Creme Eggs are filled with dolphin sperm without any fear of losing advertising revenue.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      26 August 2015 at 5:36 pm

                      Rather than remaining placid,
                      Lost Sheep tried playing with acid,
                      But the goatfucker gambit’s,
                      The extent of his ambit,
                      Not so much placid as flaccid.

                    • The lost sheep …
                      27 August 2015 at 7:44 am

                      Yet another post that has no purpose other than being a Pointless Personal Attack OAB?

                      Huh?

                      “this site run for reasonably rational debate between dissenting viewpoints and we intend to keep it operating that way.

                      What we’re not prepared to accept are pointless personal attacks, or tone or language that has the effect of excluding others. We are intolerant of people starting or continuing flamewars where there is little discussion or debate.”

                    • The lost sheep …
                      27 August 2015 at 7:48 am

                      @ McFlock
                      ( Eliminating ads) “In no way requires the elimination of commercial media.”

                      How would commercial entities then generate sufficient turnover to continue operating? I can’t see how any could be viable under those conditions?

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.2
          26 August 2015 at 11:21 am

          How would you control the content of such channels?

          There’s these remarkable things called regulations. Perhaps you’ve heard of them?

          Any grassroots media, or grassroots media that had to meet some form of Govt. approval?

          Nope, just the regulations.

          What would be the central details of such regulation?

          Not allowed to spin, must report the truth (ie, report when the PM is lying using the word liar), ban advertising…

          There’s more that needs to be put in place and the whole lot needs good discussion.

          • The lost sheep 4.1.1.2.1
            26 August 2015 at 11:43 am

            You’ve confused me there Draco.
            You say in your first reply that “we don’t support any sort of political control especially that of corporations and political parties.’

            And then in your second reply you say that there must be ‘regulations’ and ‘more that needs to be put in place’

            So who is going to put these regulations in place and enforce them?

            And no, I am not trying to manipulate anybody into saying anything. I’m just keen to hear what it is people have to say.
            Or don’t want to say. I notice that both Paul and OAB started out with some statements and then refused to discuss their views any further. What is wrong with freely discussing this topic?

            • McFlock 4.1.1.2.1.1
              26 August 2015 at 12:45 pm

              poor little sheep.

              The only form of administration he can imagine consists petty, partisan actions by corrupt lickspittles who corruptly abandon their duties of their office in order to score points against the opponents of their patrons. Folk like David Carter, for example.

              The idea of bureaucratic impartiality is alien to the sheep.

              • The lost sheep …
                26 August 2015 at 2:03 pm

                That’s complete and utter bullshit McFlock.
                If you have nothing of substance to offer to the discussion, why bother butting in with unsubstantiated allegations and pointless abuse?

                • McFlock …
                  26 August 2015 at 2:45 pm

                  What discussion? All you want is for people to answer your loaded questions without you offering anything yourself.

                  • The lost sheep …
                    26 August 2015 at 3:10 pm

                    I’m reasonably happy with the current situation McFlock, as I find I can very easily access all the information, comment and opinion I want from the whole spectrum of Political belief.
                    I consider most people in Western societies have much the same access.

                    But having noted an endless chorus of discontent with the situation from TS commentators, I’m genuinely interested in hearing what improvements commenters believe could be made?
                    When I hear what changes people are suggesting I will be happy to offer some further discussion of my own.

                    So what about you McFlock? Are you happy with the current environment the media operates in, or do you think there should be changes made to that?

                    As if you have any intention of making any constructive contribution to the discussion….apart from shutting it down.

                    • McFlock …
                      26 August 2015 at 3:49 pm

                      lol
                      So finally you offer something. That didn’t take much extraction at all /sarc

                      TV’s broadly ok, although maintaining the independence and impartiality of TVNZ requires constant vigilence, especially against this lot. I suspect a commercial-free free-to-air with a public-interest charter would be a good thing, though.

                      RadioNZ is pretty much the model – not perfect, but generally pretty good.

                      The real problem is print media and their clickbait “news” websites. These are fast plummeting in standards as the old media dies and the new media still barely funds investigations rather than fast turnaround gotcha numbers.

                      A new print/web news organisation is needed, but is generally against the interests of private capital. One that will investigate as well as recycle media releases from all and sundry, and provide intelligent, low-hype analyses rather than flustered pieces to camera.

                    • The lost sheep …
                      26 August 2015 at 4:31 pm

                      A new print/web news organisation is needed, but is generally against the interests of private capital. One that will investigate as well as recycle media releases from all and sundry, and provide intelligent, low-hype analyses rather than flustered pieces to camera.

                      10-15 years ago I would have agreed with you, but I suspect that this kind of model has already been superseded by the digital age, in that people now access information/comment/analysis from a diverse range of sources, many of which are completely independent of either govt. or commercial control.
                      This is the very reason the commercial print media are changing away from the traditional newspaper based model towards a more soundbite/entertainment snackbite?

                      But I’ll die in the ditch to retain the RNZ model, and wonder if in fact a partial solution to your suggestion above would be expand RNZ’s remit to cover a wider range of activity than present?
                      They already have John Campbell…

                    • McFlock …
                      26 August 2015 at 4:59 pm

                      The thing is that an awful lot of people still rely on the old media, because it serves everything up on a plate, one thing at a time. That’s the only advantage they have over clickbait websites.

                      Fairfax has made a clear policy decision to move into clickbait and centralise its content that then gets distributed to its regional papers, but then that’s the problem with purely capitalist incentives – sales over quality. I visited a few hours ago, and some celebrity teenager is talking about her sexual orientation. Yay for her, but damned if I know why it’s international news.

                      There is a public good in preserving an impartial public news service, even down to newspapers. Something like Big Issue, maybe, as the old media frontpiece to a full digital service.

          • AmaKiwi 4.1.1.2.2
            26 August 2015 at 2:33 pm

            Fox News was create by the abolition of the fair and balanced rule. (Not sure if that was precise name.) It told all US broadcasters that in return for being allowed to use the public airwaves, your news items must be fair and balanced. If the PM sounds off in a partisan way for 3 minutes, a spokesperson from the Opposition must get equal time.

            On the premise that the uncontrolled free market was the theme of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount or the Ten Commandments (or both), Bill Clinton abolished this regulation.

            A similar regulation required a set amount of tv public service advertisements. Things like “carrots are good for you and Coke isn’t.”

            Such regulations are NOT difficult to write or enforce.

            • The lost sheep 4.1.1.2.2.1
              27 August 2015 at 7:59 am

              “Such regulations are NOT difficult to write or enforce”

              Not difficult to write….maybe.
              But enforce?
              Who sets the guidelines and does the enforcing? How do you ensure there is no political influence on that?
              But the big issues are how far down the tree you apply ‘fairness’, and how you dealt with comment and opinion.
              Would that mean if John Campbell ran an program on inequality critical of the Government – would someone would need to approve the content as fair as in factual? And would it then be required that a balance was provided in the form of a program from a RW journalist defending inequality as a necessary part of a healthy society?

    • Morrissey 4.2
      26 August 2015 at 9:16 am

      The MSM are biased Right Wing imbeciles

      That’s a fair description of Leighton Smith, Larry “Lackwit” Williams, Paul “Kill Them ALL” Henry and Mike “Contra” Hosking. But the rest of them, including Hosking’s catamite Jack Tame, are not so much right wing imbeciles as they are semi-conscious cogs in a machine of propaganda. These slaves often reveal that they are unhappy at having to read the drivel they are given, or—as has been so painfully obvious with Toni Street, Janika Ter Ellen and Perlina Lau—to play the part of simpering offsider to the alpha male.

      So tell me. What do you think should be done about it?

      They should be confronted whenever they reflexively parrot official lies. Glenn Greenwald does this all the time. Here he is schooling a state servant:

      And so does John Pilger, who in 2008 tried to school an appallingly glib, misinformed and clueless Jim Mora….

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/1361626/feature-interview-john-pilger

      • The lost sheep 4.2.1
        26 August 2015 at 11:03 am

        Confronting the media (as occurs at present) is the only measure that needs to be taken Morrissey?

        You don’t see any other changes needed to the current situation?

        • Morrissey 4.2.1.1
          26 August 2015 at 11:12 am

          No, of course it’s not the only thing. But it’s still very important, and it’s a shame that every journalist and activist doesn’t confront the likes of Stephen Sackur or Kirsty Wark or Jim Mora. The media are a de facto arm of government, and they play a crucial role in trivializing public discourse, promoting numbskulls like Hosking, Henry, Leighton Smith and Larry Williams and in largely excluding voices such as Greenwald and, in this country, Gordon Campbell, Jon Stevenson and Nicky Hager.

          • The lost sheep 4.2.1.1.1
            26 August 2015 at 11:34 am

            “No, of course it’s not the only thing.”
            What other things do you see as being necessary?

            After reading many many posts from you on the topic of the media, I’m genuinely interested to know what changes you think would improve the situation.
            But I get the distinct feeling this is a topic that some here don’t want to see freely discussed!

            • Morrissey 4.2.1.1.1.1
              26 August 2015 at 11:46 am

              Sorry Sheep, but I’m just on my way out so I can’t write a decent reply to your excellent points. I’ll return to it, perhaps tomorrow.

              But for now, my short answer is this: we need a constitutionally guaranteed free press, and we need to prevent politicians interfering with and controlling the media. It’s not an accident that a National Party stooge has been installed at Maori TV and almost immediately all its best journalists have exited the station, that John Campbell has been replaced by that embarrassing gruesome twosome, that Q+A and The Nation are not worth watching, that we see—and worse, hear—Paul Henry and Mike Hosking every morning and night, but rarely if ever see or hear from smart, informed commentators.

              But more later, my friend.

        • Stuart Munro 4.2.1.2
          27 August 2015 at 1:33 am

          A serious public interest blended news service could be established. Get real journalistic talent to moderate and design it – Gordon Campbell, Kim Hill, the academic journalism schools and maybe a constitutional or commercial lawyer. The BBC is the original model, having spawned both Radio NZ and Al Jazeera. A real tech head might have an idea or two too.

    • AmaKiwi 4.3
      26 August 2015 at 9:22 am

      “The MSM are biased Right Wing imbeciles.”

      We wish they were imbeciles because they would be ineffective. The sad truth is they are damn clever.

      • Morrissey 4.3.1
        26 August 2015 at 9:42 am

        I appreciate your point, AmaKiwi. However, I urge you to watch the clip I posted of Glenn Greenwald confronting that pathetic state servant. Which one is clever, and which one is embarrassingly out of his depth?

        The right wing has power and dominates the media, which operate effectively as the propaganda arm of the state. That applies in this country as much as it does in Britain or Australia or Canada or Qatar. But that doesn’t mean they are clever, it just means they hold power. As the late Bruce Jesson used to point out, the Business Round Table always got treated with respect, not because their publications were any good—they were in fact intellectually barren—but because they emanated from a powerful lobby that would not be ignored.

        I guess we need to be much more careful about the way we hurl around epithets. Stephen Sackur is not an imbecile. Indeed, sometimes even our own Paul Henry and Mike Hosking are capable of rising above the level of moral imbecile and performing the role of decent journalist.

        I’ve been one of the worst offenders probably, and I’ve tried recently to tone down my language when talking about these people. Real journalists—as opposed to stenographers and robots like Simon Dallow—and progressive thinkers don’t need to label them with pejorative terms like “toady” and “lackey” and “imbecile”; far better to patiently, politely and persistently confront them when they lapse into lazy recital of official lies. John Pilger, Glenn Greenwald, Nicky Hager, Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein consistently confront hapless recyclers of official cant; there’s no reason we can’t do the same. A good start would be to protest every time you hear a broadcaster call Garth The Knife McVicar a “victim’s rights advocate.”

        • Draco T Bastard 4.3.1.1
          26 August 2015 at 11:28 am

          The right wing has power and dominates the media, which operate effectively as the propaganda arm of the state.

          No they don’t. They operate as the propaganda arm of the corporations and attack the state.

          • Morrissey 4.3.1.1.1
            26 August 2015 at 11:37 am

            No, that’s not quite right. Take the case of New Zealand for instance: the state (i.e. the Key regime) utilized the media—from snarling attack dogs such as Whaleoil and Mike Hosking to hapless churnalists like Greg Boyed at TVNZ—to attack the democratic, civil institutions of the state, like the independent judiciary and hospitals and schools and the right of citizens to privacy.

            The state—-i.e. the regime in power—-is effectively at war with its people. The corporate media play a crucial part in that power struggle.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.3.1.1.1.1
              26 August 2015 at 2:28 pm

              The state—-i.e. the regime in power—-is effectively at war with its people.

              Although the regime in power is, as you say, at war with the people the regime in power is not the state. The ‘state’ is the people.

              That ‘regime’ is the political arm of the corporations as Labour used to be the political arm of the unions (but is now the other political arm of the corporations).

        • AmaKiwi 4.3.1.2
          26 August 2015 at 2:42 pm

          @ Morrissey

          Past geniuses of propaganda include Goebels, Napoleon, Caesar, and a thousand others. Try to find ways to refute them. It’s all the opposition can ever do.

          • Colonial Viper 4.3.1.2.1
            26 August 2015 at 2:49 pm

            Freud and Edward Bernays – the Americans really perfected the art of modern mass propaganda in the 1910’s, then turned it to commercial use on Madison Avenue in the 1920’s.

            Goebbels was an avid student of Bernay’s 1928 book “Propaganda.”

            • greywarshark 4.3.1.2.1.1
              26 August 2015 at 4:44 pm

              That’s a little nest of information that everybody should keep handy. Pavlov too pehaps – all very important once it had been found how plastic human minds and beliefs can be. Scientology too. And the cults of the 1980s and the deprogramming methods used to try and break new beliefs.
              edited

        • Rodel 4.3.1.3
          26 August 2015 at 9:39 pm

          “Morrisey-“sometimes even our own Paul Henry and Mike Hosking are capable of rising above the level of moral imbecile and performing the role of decent journalist.”
          I wait with bated breath.

    • tracey 4.4
      26 August 2015 at 9:26 am

      nothing. We must all just go back to sleep

  5. Ben 5
    26 August 2015 at 8:22 am

    Looks like the Herald DigiPoll has pretty much confirmed the recent Roy Morgan results. Nats still up at 50.5%, Lab/Greens split has changed (breathing space for Little..?), but still weak on the left.

    • Undecided 5.1
      26 August 2015 at 8:42 am

      I don’t know who the media person is for Labour but I’d be getting on the phone and asking for a please explain as to why Jacinda Ardern and not Andrew Little is shown in the article

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11502827

      • Olwyn 5.1.1
        26 August 2015 at 9:00 am

        I agree. It is meddlesome and offensive to put someone who is not Labour’s leader alongside Key to illustrate an article of that kind. Imagine the squawk if instead of Key they put Judith Collins to illustrate an article about a poll.

      • tracey 5.1.2
        26 August 2015 at 9:28 am

        Isn’t it obvious why?

        Little shouldn’t be leader.

        The machine rolls on.

        • Undecided 5.1.2.1
          26 August 2015 at 9:59 am

          Is that the msm or party insiders destabilising Andrew Little?

          • McFlock 5.1.2.1.1
            26 August 2015 at 12:49 pm

            I’d go for the dirty politics MSM.

            They’ve not had much luck with the “angry andy” line, so plan B is to build up a competitor and hope they make a tilt for the leadership.

            Robertson’s gone out of his way to show loyalty after the leadership election, so the next in line is Ardern. I suspect she has too much integrity to fall for that trap though.

            • Undecided 5.1.2.1.1.1
              26 August 2015 at 1:00 pm

              Well hopefully whoevers in charge of things like that gets on the phone sharpish and ensures Andrew Littles face is put out there

              • McFlock …
                26 August 2015 at 1:19 pm

                nah.

                That would just be portrayed as panic in the face of caucus discontent.

                If the herald want to keep building up individual loyal caucus members in the eyes of the electorate, winwin for labour.

                Such a shame for the tories that chris carter and shane joones are no longer in caucus, boohoo lol

                • Undecided …
                  26 August 2015 at 1:24 pm

                  Damned if you do damned if you don’t but I think Andrew Little needs to get his face out there more

          • Naturesong 5.1.2.1.2
            26 August 2015 at 1:27 pm

            Thats the point of the article

          • AmaKiwi 5.1.2.1.3
            26 August 2015 at 2:45 pm

            @ Undecided

            “Is that the msm or party insiders destabilising Andrew Little?”

            You can always count on the msm. I suspect 90% of the time they are just using party insiders.

      • James 5.1.3
        26 August 2015 at 9:44 am

        Perhaps its because they can read.

        The graphic says “preferred PM” – and the caption says “The rising popularity of Labour front bench MP Jacinda Ardern is evident in the latest Herald DigiPoll survey.”

      • Charles 5.1.4
        26 August 2015 at 11:05 am

        I think they must’ve taken this poll at around 4:20pm. Whoever thinks Helen is coming back to rule the roost, her popularity is up 1.6% from the last time they were asked. Also, here is picture of Jacinda. She woman. John man. Like? Random percentage. Tautology. Press send. Story done. Pick up pay check.

        It’s a hard-knock life for Audrey,
        It’s a hard-knock life for Audrey,
        doo do do
        be do be
        do doo doo
        doo be doo…

    • Draco T Bastard 5.2
      26 August 2015 at 12:07 pm

      Ah, now I know why the MSM have been talking up Adern’s popularity over the last couple of days – to put another spanner in the works of Labour.

    • tracey 6.1
      26 August 2015 at 9:32 am

      Stock markets are, as you know, cyclic. This is why it was STUPID of this government to stop putting money into Cullen Fund when stocks were low. The low time buy ups counteract the high times costs. Buy high and Low and it levels out over time.

      IF you are in Mutual Funds for the short game you need to balance your portfolio with more govt bonds, cash etc.

      Stock markets, imo, are the intellectual snobs of gambling. A kind of casino if you will.

      smoke and mirrors but those on the inside or with huge amounts to play with get advantages and to that extent the size of the Cullen Fund and some kiwisaver funds makes them like insiders.

    • les 6.2
      26 August 2015 at 11:43 am

      where can this be verified?…’New Zealand has about $ 122 billion of derivatives on its book (and yes all of them high risk gambling ones)’

  7. travellerev 7
    26 August 2015 at 9:36 am

    On Raglan radio in the next few minutes. <a href="http://www.raglanradio.com/Life stream from here

  8. The Chairman 8
    26 August 2015 at 9:50 am

    Planned Parenthood Defends Selling Fetuses To KFC?

    http://dailycurrant.com/2015/08/05/planned-parenthood-defends-selling-fetuses-to-kfc/

    New undercover footage shows Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, describing how Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of aborted fetuses, and admitting she uses partial-birth abortions to supply intact body parts.

    https://youtu.be/H4UjIM9B9KQ

    • McFlock 8.1
      26 August 2015 at 12:53 pm

      That does explain why KFC never tastes as good as it did when I was a kid lol

    • Lindsey 8.2
      26 August 2015 at 1:05 pm

      This attack on Planned Parenthood has been well discredited. They do not sell body parts. Women have the option of donating fetal tissue for medical research. All legal and above board. This is an edited video of a set up of similar style to the “Acorn” phony scandal which has also been discredited.

  9. Morrissey 9
    26 August 2015 at 10:36 am

    Open letter from the Flag Consideration Panel

    E ngā suckers.

    We want to thank everyone for the 10,292 designs you’ve suggested. Each of these was viewed by every Panel member—which gives the lie to the nasty allegations swirling around that this Panel is nothing but a sinecure for a bunch of nobodies who lacked the integrity to say no to putting their undistinguished names to a farcical vanity project for a frivolous and contemptible Prime Minister. We were, moreover, not impressed with the large number of “satirical” designs, such as the now infamous “laser Kiwi”, which were obviously intended to devalue this very serious process and to waste the Panel’s valuable time.

    In reviewing flag designs, first and foremost, we were guided by what an average attendance of four Kiwis—thank you to the tireless local National Party branches throughout the country!—across a range of communities told us when they shared what is special to them about New Zealand.

    The message was clear: you don’t really care. Many people wrote in saying: “Keep the Flag, change the Prime Minister”, but the Panel did not find that helpful. Others claimed that this panel was a collection of hand-picked dullards that have the aesthetic sense of a kick in the head, and the historic appreciation of a goldfish. Again, we did not appreciate this kind of feedback or find it helpful.

    In finalising the long list we invited a number of cultural (including tikanga), vexillology (the study of flags), art and design experts to talk to us. These experts really impressed the Flag Consideration Panel, as can be seen by their comments: “That was really interesting” (Sir Brian Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE); “Wow, just wow” (Beatrice Faumuina, ONZM); “That was so cool” (Julie Christie, ONZM) and “Really interesting” (Stephen Jones).

    As a Panel, we’ve been appointed by government to determine the 4 alternative flag designs in a neutral, non-expert and unbiased way. We are committed to doing that.

    We encourage you to make sure you are enrolled to vote so that you can take part in this nationally significant process. We certainly hope you show more enthusiasm than you did when you failed to come to our heavily advertised consultation meetings.

    Ngā mihi nui kia suckers.

    Regards,

    Flag Consideration Panel:

    Prof John Burrows (Chair), ONZM, QC
    Nicky Bell
    Peter Chin, CNZM
    Julie Christie, ONZM
    Rod Drury
    Kate De Goldi (Deputy Chair)
    Beatrice Faumuina, ONZM
    Lt Gen (Rtd) Rhys Jones, CNZM
    Stephen Jones
    Sir Brian Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE
    Malcolm Mulholland
    Hana O’Regan.

    https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/open-letter/

  10. The Chairman 10
    26 August 2015 at 11:18 am

    More staff earning $100,000-plus at Wellington City Council

    It is the first time the council has included the lowest pay rates alongside the highest in the annual report.

    However, the council’s lowest paid workers, such as cleaners, were contractors and therefore not included in the figures and not eligible for the $18.40 wage.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/71406973/more-staff-earning-100000plus-at-wellington-city-council

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1
      26 August 2015 at 12:10 pm

      Government should not be using contractors for routine tasks as it just adds costs to the budget.

      • maui 10.1.1
        26 August 2015 at 2:09 pm

        A bit late for that now. We’ve got entire companies contracted out to service water, drainage, parks, parking etc for Councils. A completely unsustainable model.

    • Tracey 10.2
      26 August 2015 at 12:18 pm

      and I s’pose the contracts are shrouded under commerical confidentially so we cant see them.

  11. weka 11
    26 August 2015 at 1:14 pm

    Seeing as how imbecile seems to be the word of the day, how about we look at what it means.

    imbecile |ˈɪmbɪsiːl|
    noun informal
    a stupid person.

    ORIGIN mid 16th cent. (as an adjective in the sense [physically weak] ): via French from Latin imbecillus, literally ‘without a supporting staff,’ from in- (expressing negation) + baculum ‘stick, staff.’ The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

    As with so many of our perjoratives they are derived from physical or other kind of disability and a time when putting people down for that was the norm.

    I kind of like the idea of an imbecile being someone who lacks the support for their argument, not least because that would include Morrissey for part of today’s debate 😉

    • Morrissey 11.1
      26 August 2015 at 1:24 pm

      Someone who supports Paul “Kill them ALL” Henry is ill advised in the extreme to lecture others about the use of pejorative language.

      • weka 11.1.1
        26 August 2015 at 3:57 pm

        I agree but seeing as how I don’t support Paul Henry, I fail to see what that has to do with anything. Your implication is boring and a dishonest way of debating. Up your game.

        Besides, I like a good pejorative, it’s all about how it gets used.

  12. AmaKiwi 12
    26 August 2015 at 2:54 pm

    NZ Herald: (Chinese) Stock Exchange Boss Kidnapped by Angry Investors.

    Is that why Tim Groser is always overseas?

  13. BR 13
    26 August 2015 at 3:09 pm

    PLEASE !

    These Facebook posts regarding ” Due Authority” and a ” NZ Constitution ” and the Flag and the TPPA and ‘Geoffery Palmers ‘ ( sic ) that are EVERYWHERE on facebook at the moment … seemingly sane people are ‘sharing’ and re-posting this garbage … (example below ) ..is there nobody who can HELP ?

    Talk about giving The Left a bad name …sigh

    Example :

    “”Hey, don’t mean to to freak y’all out (actually, yes I do!) but there’s a lot more to this NZ flag change malarkey than most people realise…

    I was open to changing the current NZ flag, but I also didn’t understand (like most people) the LEGAL significance of doing so…

    Why not change the flag?

    Here’s why not – its called ‘Due Authority’

    DUE AUTHORITY in a nation like NZ is represented on the NZ flag by the Union Jack and signifies that we are a constitutional monarchy.

    A change of flag means not only that we have taken a major step to removing the DUE AUTHORITY of the crown. It also means we take away the very power which enforces both the 1981 Bill of Rights Act (the closest thing NZ has to an entrenched Constitution) and the founding plank upon which the Treaty of Waitangi has meaning.

    It does not matter if you’re pro or anti monarchy but if you take away the DUE AUTHORITY of law (which includes our flag) you then open the gates of hell, or to be precise the means in which John Key can legally sign the TPPA (Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement). Currently if the matter was taken to court it would undoubtedly end up at the Supreme Court.

    The Privy Council is our former chief court and unlike the new US-styled NZ supreme Court, has its legal interpretation interpreted by Judges that are picked by the Law Lords of the Common Wealth.
    In the new system those Judges are picked by parliament – uh oh.

    At the moment it is likely that a legal challenge could be mounted against the TPPA, even if John does sign it, even with the Supreme Court Change, in that it breaches the 1981 Bill of Rights and the Crowns obligation to Iwi as set out in the Treaty of Waitangi.

    However, if the DUE AUTHORITY of the State can be removed then the TPPA can not only be signed but it then means that once signed the DUE AUTHORITY of the TPPA would supersede the power of any NZ laws already in place. Such as the 1981 Bill of Rights etc.””

    Please feel free to copy & paste or share… A lot of people don’t seek education but will take it when offered! ”

    ARRGGHHH !!!

    • James 13.1
      26 August 2015 at 3:40 pm

      Yep – its hilarious.

      Generally my friends are all “righties” and have not shared it on facebook – but have seen it posted in a number of other places.

      It makes me worry about people.

      I think it harms the anti – TPPA message as opposed to the left in general.

      • BR 13.1.1
        26 August 2015 at 4:54 pm

        Hmmm yes , that’s a good point ( Harms the anti-TPPA more ) .

        I try to refute this every time I see it but it’s a bit like proving the Easter Bunny isn’t real .
        “Prove it ‘s not true !” people demand … but where do I start ?
        ( This is a serious question by the way ! )

        Sigh

    • Ad 13.2
      26 August 2015 at 4:53 pm

      You sound like a constitutional expert.

      Could you show how removing the Union Jack affects the Bill of Rights Act?

      • BR 13.2.1
        26 August 2015 at 5:26 pm

        I don’t think it does .
        I’m appalled and angry at this misinformation and i’m asking for help in refuting it .

        • McFlock 13.2.1.1
          26 August 2015 at 9:00 pm

          all you can do is correct people when they bring out the nuttiness.
          but sadly the nuttiness will always exist.

  14. Ad 14
    26 August 2015 at 4:51 pm

    Interesting to see even the great Alpha Coal filing for bankruptcy, together with every other major coal miner in the US.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-gottesdiener/coal-dethroned_b_8038100.html

    Killed by cheap gas from fracking, this is the energy industry’s complete regime change.

    Huge and terrible foresight of what will happen to the Australian producers, let alone New Zealand’s little ones.

  15. Smilin 15
    26 August 2015 at 5:31 pm

    Someone should remind Key that it has been his responsibility for 6 years for the democratic governance of this country, and not to change the rules to suit a certain group in society at the detriment of others especially when it comes to the up keep of state housing so that the people who live here that have a limited ability to change countries or income at will deserve a standard of housing traditionally comparable to the first state houses built for the purpose of decent housing for all
    And his constant blaming of the previous Labour govt for the present situation in housing is such that he should be held in contempt by all NZers as he is a leader of a govt unfit to govern this country
    In short give the prick the boot

  16. Smilin 16
    26 August 2015 at 5:53 pm

    I dont hear any guns firing at the country apart from the ensuing take over of the country thru the TPPA “At the 11th hour ”
    Finlayson, you need a boot up your arrogant pseudo legal backside and be held for treason for action against the nations democracy

  17. North 17
    26 August 2015 at 7:41 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11503343

    The grossness of The Ponce Key knows no bounds…..this after seven years of holding the ultimate of power in New Zealand, this effete, variously whining/giggling little boy, STILL insisting he has no responsibility for ANY of it ???

    At the start it was coquettish, now it’s contempt, unabashed. Such a fraud !

  18. Gabby 18
    26 August 2015 at 7:50 pm

    Is Ponyboy saying the $700 million on income-related rents goes to Housing NZ?

  19. greywarshark 19
    26 August 2015 at 8:16 pm

    What it was like in Britain’s ‘welfare’ system in the 1980s when Sue Townsend was a mother needing money while she brought up her three very young children.
    http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/apr/13/adrian-mole-sue-townsend-welfare

    She died this year of a heart attack aged 68. The Guardian obituary is affectionate.
    http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/apr/11/sue-townsend-1946-2014

    Are you a John Clarke fan? I don’t know if everyone heard Jesse Mulligan on Radionz on Monday arvo having a good old chin wag with him.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201767742

    John has something in Ripcurl I think and has written about his mother Neva in the magazine for NZ writing Overland.
    https://overland.org.au/current-issue/

  20. North 20
    26 August 2015 at 8:48 pm

    “Mr Little: Did the state house he grew up in have mould and leaks, and is it okay for kids today to live in mouldy, leaky, cold state houses because of lack of maintenance?

    Mr Key: No, not from memory. Obviously, the house would have been much more modern back then, given it was so many decades ago. But also I will say that my mother took absolute pride in making sure that she kept the house clean, tidy, and ventilated.”

    Ummh……the small matter of the mould in that poor family’s home starting with an unremedied leak from the bathroom of an adjoining unit, you lying shithead.

    The Ponce Key mangles the meaning of our language again……Labour “passing the buck….” – to the man who’s been the prime minister for seven years ?????

    • whateva next? 20.1
      26 August 2015 at 9:10 pm

      “I will say that my mother took absolute pride in making sure that she kept the house clean, tidy, and ventilated.”
      I was disgusted by this retort in the election debate, and cannot believe he is still using this line. It reveals his level of detachment with real New Zealanders, and his utter contempt fao any less well off than himself, which is ironically “the vast majority of Nuzillanders”

    • greywarshark 20.2
      27 August 2015 at 9:35 am

      Well ventilated is a problem in winter, or anytime it is cold, and if you live in an area of poor people with young people looking for something to steal opening windows and ventilating may result in your goods being circulated as well as your air. Getting through open windows is well within the roaming, anomic youths’ area of expertise. Yesterday I heard on Radionz about a 90 year old woman who had been cleaned out of all her taonga some with special memories.

      Putting sliding window safety catches on at least one opening window per room would help. But it requires tools and some expertise and they cost at least $10 each. Would NZ Stateless Housing regard that as important to spend on? Would doing it yourself be regarded as defacing the house if some paint got chipped or a tool slipped and broke a window pane? Even paying for and trying DIY improvements like that could result in disadvantage.

      Open a window when it’s cold, and the house gets colder. If there is heating going, much of it might be lost in the draught created.

      The philosophy of National, Act and the RWs who lurk in the shadows of Labour Party: People in nice houses worth millions can have perfectly balanced heating or cooling organised, suitable for the weather. That is okay because they are exceptional people, and deserving of everything they want because they are so good, clever, hard working etc. The people who aren’t just have to suffer the indignities of begging to have reasonable housing and living conditions as would be expected in a modern, prosperous nation.

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    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
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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