Open mike 27/02/2025

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 27th, 2025 - 69 comments
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Open 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 27/02/2025 ”

  1. thinker 1
    27 February 2025 at 7:15 am

    I read a RNZ article about Peters talks with China including both the lack of notification about the test firing and the Cook Islands deal behind our back.

    Then I read an article where Chris Hipkins said Luxon needs to go there.

    I know what Hipkins means but this time I didn't agree with him. Peters was the better man for the job.

    Can you imagine it? "Look, what I will say is you had a right to be there and the air traffic controllers have already spoken about it so I'm not going to add anything further. The important message for China and New Zealand right now is growth, growth, growth. China's wealthy, I'm sorted, I get that".

    I think the message Hipkins should be giving is that Luxon probably wasn't up to the task.

    Reply
    • Tiger Mountain 1.1
      27 February 2025 at 7:42 am

      Well what I can tell you, is that our shiny domed nonce PM talks like a flow diagram stuck on repeat-no way out of Mr Luxon’s repetitive meaninglessness.

      Winston can hold a reasonable conversation at least, though the Chinese that he knows from over the years will likely soon have lined him up over a whiskey or two.

      Reply
      • Mac1 1.1.1
        27 February 2025 at 10:14 am

        And that man on RNZ after 5 pm yesterday being interviewed on school lunches- you could almost see his smile over the radio waves as he dodged, obfuscated and waffled to the interviewer's voiced frustration.

        Reply
  2. Morrissey 2
    27 February 2025 at 7:58 am

    talks like a flow diagram stuck on repeat

    Brilliant! smiley You should apply for a job at Daisycutter Sports Inc. yes

    Reply
  3. ianmac 3
    27 February 2025 at 8:17 am

    Last night I read/watched on You Tube that a Temporary Court Order had not been obeyed by the Musk/Trump team. It was an order to suspend the blocking of Aid and was issued 13 days ago. The Trump lawyer was unable to produce any evidence of the restarting of the Aid so they Musk Team lawyer had until midnight to prove compliance. 10 minutes later the Aid program was restarted.

    Not a word on RNZ. Pretty huge?

    Reply
  4. ianmac 4
    27 February 2025 at 8:23 am

    It was also reported that Musk was not the main driver of the suspension of the state servants but a woman was the boss. RNZ did report that Musk said today that the reply/resign email wasn't really a reply resign notice at all. It was just a test to see if employees were living people on the payroll.

    Weird?
    Can’t provide a link but if true will become well canvassed soon.

    Reply
    • weka 4.1
      27 February 2025 at 9:55 am

      it's the utter destruction of convention, which opens the door for authoritarianism. We have laws, but we also have conventions on how things are done. When you wholesale destroy those, you can basically rewrite how society functions. It's very dangerous.

      Musk is generally incompetent but has a lot of competence in wielding power. He's butt covering now because he fucked up. But the fucking up doesn't matter because he can cover his butt and carry on with what he is doing.

      There was some good resistance, whereby people organised and emailed pisstake emails to the address he provided. I expect the receiver was overwhelmed. Good job people.

      Reply
  5. lprent 5
    27 February 2025 at 8:51 am

    The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US nonprofit research group has published their backgrounder of the past year about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "Russia Has Failed to Break Ukraine"

    Highly detailed and highlights just how little return that the Russian Federation has been making from their investments of soldiers and equipment. The executive summary of a very long document is:-

    Russia dedicated staggering amounts of manpower and equipment to several major offensive efforts in Ukraine in 2024, intending to degrade Ukrainian defenses and seize the remainder of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. These Russian efforts included major operations in the Kharkiv-Luhansk Oblast area, Avdiivka, Chasiv Yar, northern Kharkiv Oblast, Toretsk, Marinka-Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, and Vuhledar-Velyka Novosilka. Russia has achieved relatively faster gains in 2024 than throughout most of the war after the initial invasion and developed a blueprint for conducting slow, tactical envelopments to achieve these advances, but Russian forces have failed to restore the operational maneuver necessary to achieve operationally significant gains rapidly. Russia has thus paid an exorbitant price in manpower and equipment losses that Russia cannot sustain in the medium term for very limited gains.

    Russian losses in massive efforts that have failed to break Ukrainian lines or even drive them back very far are exacerbating challenges that Russia will face in sustaining the war effort through 2025 and 2026, as ISW's Christina Harward has recently reported.[1] Russia likely cannot sustain continued efforts along these lines indefinitely without a major mobilization effort that Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far refused to order. Ukraine, on the other hand, has shown its ability to fight off massive and determined Russian offensive efforts even during periods of restricted Western aid. The effective failure of these major and costly Russian offensive operations highlights the opportunities Ukraine has to inflict more serious battlefield defeats on Russia that could compel Putin to rethink his approach to the war and to negotiations if the United States and the West continue to provide essential support.

    I bolded the most interesting finding. You'd have to look at the detail to see why. But the gains have been extremely pitiful considering that throughout the last year there were periods that ammunition, particularly artillery shells, was in very short supply. Yet the Russian Federation forces were simply unable to substantially exploit that. Yet that was clearly the intent of the strategy.

    Russian forces seized the theater-wide initiative following the culmination of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in late 2023 and held it throughout 2024. Russian forces began several offensive operations with the intent of breaking Ukraine: a renewed offensive on the Kharkiv-Luhansk axis in Winter 2023-2024 and September 2024, several efforts in eastern Ukraine, and an offensive across the international border in northern Kharkiv Oblast in May 2024. Russian forces have been conducting these operations in an effort to achieve the Kremlin's long-held operational goal of seizing the remainder of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by the end of 2024 and to exhaust Ukraine's defensive capabilities.[2] Russian forces significantly increased their rate of advance, particularly in Fall-Winter 2024 when Russian forces advanced at least 1,103 square kilometers between September 1 and November 14 compared to seizing 387 square kilometers in the entirety of 2023 due to Ukrainian counteroffensives.[3] Russian forces utilized astounding numbers of personnel and equipment to achieve these gains but still failed to make operationally significant gains proportionate to the costs in combat power, resources, time, and casualties. Russian forces' main achievements in 2024 were the seizures of Avdiivka, Selydove, Vuhledar, and Kurakhove, but no amount of Kremlin rhetoric attempting to paint these as significant victories will change the fact that these are mid-size settlements, the largest of which had a pre-war population of just over 31,000 people.[4]

    The assessed casualty rates, especially on the Russian side are heart-wrenching to read. At the end of the document is this assessment.

    The last year of the war has been a gloomy one for Ukraine, which has been forced to stand on the defensive and absorb continuous and intensive Russian offensive operations as well as increasingly effective Russian drone and missile strikes on critical infrastructure. But the gloom has obscured an important reality: The Kremlin threw everything it had at breaking Ukraine in 2024 and failed. Ukrainian forces held in the face of Russian assaults conducted with a shocking disregard for losses in men and equipment and despite shortages imposed by delays in the provision of Western equipment. The front line remains fragile, and Russian forces can continue their pressure for many months to come. The end of US and Western support could lead to a relatively rapid collapse of Ukraine's defense. But the key lessons from 2024 are that Ukraine can withstand enormous Russian pressures, on the one hand, and that the Kremlin has not figured out how to convert its overall numerical advantages into decisive battlefield gains. These lessons should guide Western thinking about the war and Ukraine's prospects throughout any negotiations. They should above all guide thinking about the prospects of developing a post-war Ukrainian military into a force that can deter future Russian aggression with reasonable levels of Western support and commitment.

    Which mostly makes the problem about closing this war so problematic. Russia has , since the 90s, consistently shown that their security guarantees aren't worth the paper that they are written on. In particular with Ukraine – see Budapest Memorandum. The US has been alarmingly inconsistent in living up to their undertakings about security guarantees. Especially after out of uniform Spetnaz invaded Crimea in 2014 to overthrow the local government, and to hold a fake 'referendum'.

    This has been the driving force for nations exposed to Putin's creative reinterpretations of Russian agreements to actively push to join the collective security agreements of Europe. Right up to the Russia's neighbours Sweden and Finland recently joining.

    Personally, I think that Ukraine entering NATO is the only security guarantee that is ultimately viable. However Ukraine still has a long way to go before their forces are inter-operable with NATO.

    Reply
    • aj 5.1
      27 February 2025 at 10:52 am

      The "Political stance and influence" section in your wiki link for the IWS more or less confirms them as a mouthpiece for the MIC in the US.

      Axe to grind.

      Reply
    • Phillip ure 5.2
      27 February 2025 at 3:08 pm

      American miners on the ground extracting the minerals will achieve a similar outcome to joining NATO…

      Reply
    • Bearded Git 5.3
      27 February 2025 at 10:52 pm

      But the 20 per cent of mostly Russian speaking Ukraine has become embedded as Russian territory and that will become a peace settlement that Putin will declare a victory.

      Then the west will start buying Russian gas again.

      Reply
  6. Incognito 6
    27 February 2025 at 8:53 am

    "You know if you can find a really good public school, then it's probably just as good as a private school, but I would say probably the public system is more variable," said Dr Michael Johnson from public policy think tank, New Zealand Initiative.

    "You need at least a reasonably orderly environment for learning to take place well, and if the school is chaotic, then that's not good."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/543122/are-private-schools-better-than-public-schools-in-new-zealand

    I resisted [temptation] adding emphasis to this quote – this clearly is an unbiased objective expert opinion. The context is that he’s the Chair of the Government’s Ministerial Advisory Group to review the primary school English, maths and statistics curricula in New Zealand.

    The dilemma that underpinned the RNZ piece is a nice illustration of the crucial difference between equality and equity.

    Reply
    • AB 6.1
      27 February 2025 at 10:14 am

      One has to ask the question – why should wealthy parents be able to buy an advantage for their children over the children of non-wealthy parents? It appears to violate even the very uncontroversial and universally endorsed principle of equality of opportunity. No need really to even get into the complexities of the equality-equity or opportunity-outcomes distinctions.

      Reply
      • Belladonna 6.1.1
        27 February 2025 at 11:34 am

        One has to ask the question – why should wealthy parents be able to buy an advantage for their children over the children of non-wealthy parents?

        This is exactly what they've been able to do for decades in the State schooling system. Paying inflated property prices as a proxy for private school fees.

        IIRC, the price difference between a house just inside the 'Grammar zone' in Auckland, and just outside, is around $500K.

        https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/steroids-for-house-prices-do-auckland-buyers-still-care-about-double-grammar-zone-44646

        Reply
        • AB 6.1.1.1
          27 February 2025 at 11:55 am

          That's right. The state system contains the same injustice, but charitably we could maybe see it more as a 'bug' than the intentional design feature it is with private schooling.

          Reply
          • Belladonna 6.1.1.1.1
            27 February 2025 at 11:59 am

            Difficult to see it as a bug. When the zone system (which is at the core of state schooling) perpetuates it.

            Reply
            • AB 6.1.1.1.1.1
              27 February 2025 at 1:04 pm

              To be sure it is a bug that many/most any politicians are happy to see continue. But it's possible to imagine a state schooling system that does not allow capture of school boards by local professional elites who leverage the zoning system to create their enclaves of privilege

              Reply
              • Belladonna …
                27 February 2025 at 1:30 pm

                Well, you can envisage it – but the reality has yet to eventuate.

                And, the reality is that NZ as a society is unwilling to fund education to the level of (for example) Finland.
                Although growing gaps in achievement are increasing in Finland as well. It may be that their relative educational success had more to do with being a relatively similar (as in non-diverse) society.

                https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2022/09/finland-s-right-to-learn-programme_58de2f6c/65eff23e-en.pdf

                Note that the zone system is heavily defended by parents…. who are the ones putting pressure on politicians.

                Reply
                • Descendant Of Smith …
                  27 February 2025 at 1:52 pm

                  When there briefly wasn't a zone system local kids were unable to go to their local school e.g. state housing tenants in areas like Epsom. (If there are any left due to selling off state properties).

                  It also makes it much harder to plan where schools should be as population data would not be of as much use and the removal of it would exacerbate white flight.

                  Every child should have the right to go to their local school.

                  Reply
                  • AB …
                    27 February 2025 at 5:04 pm

                    Yes – a zoning system is pragmatic in terms of ensuring easy access locally. Something to be explored would be capping the private donations or endowments that can be made to individual state schools by localised enclaves of wealth. If a parent or organisation expresses a wish to altruistically donate money to improve the education of children they could certainly do that, but they would have to express that noble altruism by making the donation to ALL children, not just their own.

                    Reply
    • tWig 6.2
      27 February 2025 at 7:13 pm

      Have to ask why the NZ Initiative (previously the Business Roundtable) has its claws deep in the government's educational reforms? Eg. Barbara Oakley is an overseas educator and NZI fellow brought in to to NZ schools.

      Reply
  7. Incognito 7
    27 February 2025 at 9:02 am

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/543145/hawke-s-bay-man-absolutely-flabbergasted-after-being-trespassed-from-supermarket-after-raising-safety-concern

    His ‘crime’: raising concerns about trollies blocking the fire exit, taking some photos, and showing these to the Manager and nobody else.

    This bodes well for citizen’s arrests or perhaps that’ll be rewarded with free shopping for a year because the shoe was on another culprit’s foot.

    Reply
    • Mac1 7.1
      27 February 2025 at 10:05 am

      'taking some photos;' Well, the supermarkets are well aware of what happens to photos, aren't they?

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360590442/foodstuffs-confirms-security-staff-leaked-golriz-ghahraman-photo-amid-new-privacy-breach

      Reply
      • Incognito 7.1.1
        27 February 2025 at 1:19 pm

        Can you please elaborate on what is your point? As it stands, I think the comparison is flawed and false equivalence, but I’m probably reading you wrong here 🙂

        Reply
        • Mac1 7.1.1.1
          27 February 2025 at 3:26 pm

          I wondered if I were too abbreviated.

          The taking of photos by the member of the public with a safety concern did not appeal to the store people.

          The taking of photos of the public by the store people for security reasons was OK for them.

          The assurance given by the public member was that the photos were just for the manager to see what the concern was.

          The supermarket, whose security employee gave photos of a member of the public, former MP Golriz Ghahraman, to the media, also was giving assurances that these were for restricted use- police etc.

          The comparison shows an ethical double standard on the part of the supermarket. Alright for us, not alright fot you.

          Reply
    • Obtrectator 7.2
      27 February 2025 at 1:21 pm

      The guy escalated too soon. A quiet word with the manager – no brandishing of photos – would have been the best initial approach. On the next, still no photos; just say something like "some of your staff seem a bit concerned as well". Gently does it.

      BTW, it's "trolleys", whatever RNZ's site might say to the contrary.

      Reply
      • Macro 7.2.1
        27 February 2025 at 2:26 pm

        This is a matter of Public Safety. What the supermarket was/is doing is illegal. The owners responsibilities in this matter are quite clear:

        Maintaining a means of escape

        Building owners must maintain the means of escape from fire for the building. This means:

        • Exits must be kept clear of obstacles at all times.
        • Exit doors must not be locked, barred, or blocked – there can be a management system in place where doors need to be locked due to people being under care or supervision.
        • Smoke-control and fire-stop doors must not be kept open (unless done so in a way that complies with the building code).
        • Stairwells and passageways must not be used for storage or accumulation of waste.

        Storing your stock

        • Clear all stock away from escape routes.

        Act within the law

        There are offences and penalties for not complying with requirements under the Regulations.

        Adhering to these regulations is in the interests of the safety of everyone who uses your building.

        Reply
  8. Hunter Thompson II 8
    27 February 2025 at 9:28 am

    Chris Penk announced a revamp of the Public Works Act recently. Matters he spoke of included removing barriers and refining the role of the Environment Court.

    Combine that with the new Fast-track Approvals Act and plans to gut the Resource Management Act and it would appear to add up to a pro-development, anti-environment package.

    Politicians are not the masters of the universe. They just like to think they are.

    Reply
    • Kay 8.1
      27 February 2025 at 10:00 am

      Unfortunately we, the citizens, have been dragged into this masters of the universe/sociopathy/narcissism by virtue of the idea of 'democracy' where we allegedly decide on the policies and general direction we agree with.

      Until there are very real, tangible consequence for governments who break pre-election promises-without good reason- and decide to do really stupid things that will affect the citizens and environment, eg the tobacco subsidies that surprised everyone, the winners will always take advantage of their power.

      Reply
    • Bearded Git 8.2
      27 February 2025 at 10:55 pm

      It's not just pro development, it is open slather development that will stuff our landscapes.

      This needs to be a one term government.

      Reply
  9. Kay 9
    27 February 2025 at 10:07 am

    Oh wonderful. Another round of submissions and Select Committee thanks to David and co. 4 year parliamentary term.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/543151/watch-live-four-year-parliamentary-term-legislation-to-be-introduced-would-go-to-referendum

    Reply
    • AB 9.1
      27 February 2025 at 10:18 am

      Bad governments are very unwise to suggest policies that sound like they would like to prolong their own lives.

      Or more accurately, prolong the life of a future government that might be as bad as they are.

      Reply
    • tc 9.2
      27 February 2025 at 11:31 am

      Flooding the zone

      Reply
    • Belladonna 9.3
      27 February 2025 at 11:37 am

      As a Centrist, the suggestion of an extended parliamentary term always amuses me. The supporters of the current government think it's an excellent idea; the supporters of the opposition think it's a dreadful one. This applies no matter which government is in power.

      Note: all politicians think it's a great idea (but are reluctant to come out and say so, least they appear self-serving).

      Reply
      • Obtrectator 9.3.1
        27 February 2025 at 1:25 pm

        Mirror-image of the situation in the UK re proportional representation. Incumbent governments won't touch it in case they never get back with an overall majority on their own. Opposition's all for it, of course …. until they become the government.

        Reply
        • Belladonna 9.3.1.1
          27 February 2025 at 1:48 pm

          It does seem to require a particular set of circumstance for governments to enact proportional representation. In NZ it seemed to be driven by a huge wave of popular unhappiness with a succession of governments which were elected by a minority of voters; combined with a popular backlash against the excesses of the 4th Labour government – which appeared to show the need for something other than an elected dictatorship.

          Reply
      • bwaghorn 9.3.2
        27 February 2025 at 4:32 pm

        Can't stand this government but I'm on the 4 year camp, the reporters are already talking about next year's elections it's never ending, also I'm sure a large chunk of nzs negative vibe is driven by parties endlessly having to tell us how bad things are in order to get elected ,

        Reply
  10. Drowsy M. Kram 10
    27 February 2025 at 11:19 am

    The (re)animated ‘mother’ of 'The Mother of all Budgets' [–> Ruthanasia], ACT party advocate Ruth Richardson, criticises ‘Treaty overreach’.

    Ruth’s critique makes me wonder if she secretly wants to be rid of te tiriti altogether.

    Treaty principles bill hearings, day 10: Ruth Richardson criticises ‘Treaty overreach’ [27 Feb 2025]
    An animated Richardson, former National MP and minister of finance, was the first to speak after the lunch break, with her submission supporting the bill. She said that in her time in parliament, economic health was the nation’s most pressing issue, but now “there’s a new rival on the block – it’s the culture, stupid”.

    Richardson said it was now necessary for parliament to “address and correct Treaty overreach” that had become “wayward and wrong” – though some of these overreaches had already been corrected, such as the now defunct Māori Health Authority.

    Reply
  11. satty 11
    27 February 2025 at 11:23 am

    This should be front page on all major NZ news websites:

    Is Productivity Low in NZ not because of the Government but because our Big Business CEO's and Corporate Boards are so Utterly Useless?

    Here the leading paragraph:

    On 24 February 2020, the day before the pandemic blew up across the globe, the NZX 50 index of our stock market, being the companies with the largest share market capitalization, was 12,073. Over five years later, it sits at almost the same level, at 12,350. That amounts to a rise of 0.15% per annum – next to nothing – and after adjusting for inflation, a huge drop. Meanwhile the Dow Jones of America's Biggest Stocks is up around 70%. So it turns out that NZ Big Business Incorporated, after being handed $20 billion of taxpayer money during the pandemic years – and in the case of Air NZ having your entire business underwritten by the government – not to mention having huge monopoly and oligopoly powers – can't make a buck.

    Reply
    • Incognito 11.1
      27 February 2025 at 1:15 pm

      What I’m telling you is that this means NZ stock is a bargain for smart cashed-up investors with deep pockets, and for good measure, and to show our world-renowned Kiwi kindness and hospitality, we throw in a NZ passport for free – everything must go and we’re open for sale out business.

      Reply
    • KJT 11.2
      27 February 2025 at 6:29 pm

      Pretty much.

      You only have to read a few days of Linkdin, to realise too many of our, so called, "managers" are in Trumpian/Truss level, la-la land.

      Luxon seizing on any short term pump priming, long term costly, sugar rush fixes to cover up for the Coalition of Cockups economic ineptitude, is only the tip of the iceberg.

      Reply
    • AB 12.1
      27 February 2025 at 12:06 pm

      Not providing your citizens with any pharmaceutical protection against Covid when it is available is gerontocide. So probably a crime against humanity that the ICJ should investigate – oh wait…

      Reply
  14. Drowsy M. Kram 14
    27 February 2025 at 12:54 pm

    All those who still have a job at Kāinga Ora take one step forward – not so fast…

    Kāinga Ora tells staff to stay 'positive' as axe hangs over jobs [26 Feb 2025]
    … the “Reset, Resize, Renew” programme …

    “Make a choice! Things happen but it is your response that determines if the outcome is ultimately positive or negative.”

    A section detailing “above the line” thinking and behaviour included “hope”, “see possibilities” and “find better ways”.

    “Below the line” thinking and behaviour included “victim”, “find fault” and “stay stuck”.

    SHRINK Shrink shrink? A small price to pay for massive tax relief – landLords will love it.

    Government releases the independent review of Kāinga Ora
    Today (20 May [2024]) the [CoC] Government released the independent review into Kāinga Ora carried out by Sir Bill English…

    Reply
    • AB 14.1
      27 February 2025 at 1:16 pm

      Things happen but it is your response that determines if the outcome is ultimately positive or negative

      This sort of vicious and dishonest psychobabble should be a lynching offence – or perhaps just ritual humiliation and the throwing of rotten fruit if we want to keep it civilised.

      Reply
      • Obtrectator 14.1.1
        27 February 2025 at 1:39 pm

        That sort of crap was going on nearly 40 years ago, when public service chiefs were falling over themselves to show how eager they were to co-operate with RD's "razor gang". I well remember a slide presentation by our IT boss, full of diagrammatic tosh about how things were going to be organised from then on, accompanied by commentary saying how we were expected to demonstrate commitment to the new regime, with an implied "or else". Did he really know what he was talking about? Reckon not. A few weeks later I was subjected to a constructive dismissal for allegedly failing to achieve some deadline or other to the requisite standard – essentially because the silly sod hadn't given me a proper project spec or set of KPIs in the first place.

        Reply
    • bwaghorn 14.2
      27 February 2025 at 4:35 pm

      I've been laid off twice (fuck you fletchers) both times it was a 6 month guessing game of will it be us or them , and staying loyal for reasons I can't explain. Pure cruelty.

      Reply
    • Mike the Lefty 14.3
      27 February 2025 at 5:25 pm

      Stay positive people! Just like the economy is moving!

      Reply
  15. Ad 15
    27 February 2025 at 1:32 pm

    The President of the United States has had a vision for Gaza, and it is a thing of commercial awesomeness if not particularly PC:

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360595581/trump-unveils-bearded-belly-dancers-vision-gaza

    Trump is quite something in injecting schlocky horror just to make sure people reel back and start forming the plan that might happen. I'm not saying there's a logic to him, just a consequence.

    Otherwise they will all get the kind of commercial outrage that Zelynsky has just been forced to sigh up to.

    Reply
    • Mike the Lefty 15.1
      27 February 2025 at 5:29 pm

      Zelensky has realised that it is not just a bad dream and that the nightmare is real and he may have to settle for what little he can get whilst Trump and Putin play Risk for real.

      Reply
      • tWig 15.1.1
        27 February 2025 at 7:18 pm

        Zelenskyy strikes me as an intelligent pragmatist. The US general dealing with his 'peace talks' team was full of praise. They sound well-prepared and nimble.

        Reply
        • Mike the Lefty 15.1.1.1
          27 February 2025 at 8:44 pm

          It all reminds me when I was studying European history how in the 18th century alliances could change so quickly. One's allies might suddenly become one's enemies if a key figure died or was defeated in battle.

          Dictators pouring over maps and condemning thousands of people to a fate they didn't deserve.

          Such is the progress of humankind.

          Reply
  16. SPC 16
    27 February 2025 at 1:51 pm

    POTUS 47 abuses the power of the office, once again.

    https://bsky.app/profile/nytimes.com/post/3lj4ndc4ksk2e

    Reply
  17. weka 17
    27 February 2025 at 2:23 pm

    Post about the Greens' state of the planet speeches and plans for a Green Budget

    https://thestandard.org.nz/the-greens-plan-for-a-green-budget/

    Reply
  18. joe90 18
    27 February 2025 at 3:36 pm

    thread

    Tymofiy Mylovanov

    ‪@mylovanov.bsky.social‬

    BREAKING: Ukrainian cabinet approves the draft of the minerals deal with the U.S. This is the deal: 1. A fund. Joint ownership US-Ukraine. No more 100% US financial control 2. Shares of ownership take into account relative contributions 1/

    https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4mvuxvyk4cp2xvpl2lz73x6g/post/3lj454ndxyc2h?

    https://archive.li/rWQq1

    Reply
  19. tWig 19
    27 February 2025 at 4:04 pm

    For that cycling debate: Mountain Tui does a good financial analysis.

    Cycleways planned projects cost less than 1% of GDP.

    'And yet this government is betting a lot on what is truly expensive. It’s fast tracking housing developments, for example – In Auckland, 7 of 8 property developments are located in greenfield areas – contradicting Auckland’s own Unitary Plan which limits greenfield developments because of cost, car dependency and congestion.’

    'The central government is ignoring 3 Waters and handing that "ticking time bomb" off to Councils. That “bomb” costs ~44% of NZ’s GDP now – and is probably growing. And it’s rate payers that are going to cop it – which is why this government is distancing itself rapidly.'

    Reply
    • tWig 19.1
      27 February 2025 at 4:19 pm

      Big Hairy News and Craig Rennie rip apart (from 15 min) a release from two government Ministers based not on police statistics, but on a tweet from Charted Daily, which posts data that supports the government narrative.

      Reply
      • tWig 19.1.1
        27 February 2025 at 7:50 pm

        The Herald unpacks this issue, depends on the data you look at. The 2024 annual crime victim survey which asks a x-section of NZ their experience of crime shows no change from 2018.

        'The statistics in the social media post [trumpeted by the government] are not from the survey – which includes unreported crime – but from police victimisation statistics. Police record a victimisation regardless of whether it proceeds to an investigation, prosecution or conviction.'

        'Luxon talked about the reduction in the number of ram raids, although he did not say that these have been declining since August 2022, well before his party took office.'

        Reply
  20. Joe90 20
    27 February 2025 at 4:44 pm

    Somewhere, Hunter Biden is absolutely filthy that he didn't demand higher board fees.

    /

    Reply
  21. Joe90 21
    27 February 2025 at 5:36 pm

    No one could have seen this coming!

    /

    Donald Trump’s assault on the US federal government and the world’s interlinked manufacturing system have together reached an economic tipping point.

    “It seems almost unavoidable that we are headed for a deep, deep recession,” said Jesse Rothstein, Berkeley professor and former chief economist at the US labour department.

    Once the pace of job losses crosses a critical line, the multiplier effects can snowball suddenly.

    Prof Rothstein said monthly non-farm payrolls – the barometer of US economic health watched closely by markets – could turn viciously negative by late spring, contracting at rates surpassed only during the worst months of Covid and the Lehman crisis in 2008.

    “I think we’re going to see historically large drops. Losses of 400,000 a month are not implausible because people are getting nervous out there.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/02/25/economists-starting-worry-serious-trump-recession/

    https://archive.li/w0YA9

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  22. Stephen D 22
    27 February 2025 at 7:15 pm

    If any regular minister had overseen a fiasco as bad as the school lunch program, they’d be gone. Basically, Seymour is totally bullet proof. Heaven knows what havoc he will wreak until the 2026 election.

    Reply
    • Bearded Git 22.1
      27 February 2025 at 11:00 pm

      It's good though because the meals fiasco will drag on to the election and we will all know who's fault it is….

      Reply

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