Open mike 27/04/2020

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 27th, 2020 - 192 comments
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192 comments on “Open mike 27/04/2020 ”

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  1. Janice 1
    27 April 2020 at 8:30 am

    So Auckland has a water crisis again. After the 1994 water shortage, we were told that the only thing to prevent this happening again was to set up a water treatment plant to take water from the Waikato River. I can't remember, but I assume that there was an increase/surcharge on the rates to cover the cost of this. If this plant is still working why is Auckland facing water restrictions again? As far as I am aware the Waikato River hasn't run dry. If the plant is not still working, why not? Was it transferred to Watercare as part of Rodney's super shitty?

    • JanM 1.1
      27 April 2020 at 8:48 am

      They have been taking the maximum allowable from the Waikato for several months now and the dams are still below 50 per cent.
      You'd better start doing rain dances and stop taking 30 minute showers!

    • Cinny 1.2
      27 April 2020 at 9:10 am

      Maybe a desalination plant could be part of Auckland's future?

      • Wayne 1.2.1
        27 April 2020 at 9:16 am

        Or just a second pipeline from the Waikato. I understand the current pipeline takes less than 2% of the river flow. New Zealand has zero need for a hugely energy intensive process like desalination.

        • KJT 1.2.1.1
          27 April 2020 at 9:32 am

          True. Desalinisation is both energy intensive and expensive.

          More storage and maybe a second pipeline.

          Whangarei to has water shortages, after no significant rain for months.

          Pleased we are no longer on tank, with 9 in the house at present.

          May be a new norm with AGW?

          • Adrian 1.2.1.1.1
            27 April 2020 at 10:08 am

            Probably not, this has been a quiet SW Pacific cyclone season, pretty much only one significant one so far. The reason is that all three main drivers of our, and Australias , weather, El Nino/La Nina, the Indian Ocean Dipole and the Southern Annual Mode have been in modes that are least conducive to rain in NZ.

            Australia's Bureau of Meteorology have very good maps and descriptions.

            There have been ex tropical storms coming down from the tropics but they have passed to the East of the North Island because they have been pushed east by the predominant SouWesterly wind pattern and the highs following them.

            The SWesters have also made this summer surprisingly cooler than normal, it hasn't felt like it because the sun has been shining.

            Careful what you wish for, the dams are only full when it pisses with rain all summer.

    • Carolyn_Nth 1.3
      27 April 2020 at 9:21 am

      I always conserve water, because in Auckland, water usage costs.

      It may only be the wealthy who can afford to over-use it & thus can make cut backs.

      • Cinny 1.3.1
        27 April 2020 at 9:32 am

        True, that slipped my mind, we are on an excellent bore here, if we had to pay for water I'd be watching our use like a hawk.

    • Andre 1.4
      27 April 2020 at 11:10 am

      I've got tickling in the back of my head that Watercare has things underway to take more water from the Waikato, particularly at high flow periods, so the dams can be used more for storage against long dry spells.

      I've had a quick look online, but nothing particularly recent popped up. The article linked below appears to be from 2016, but has a good summary of the things I vaguely recall.

      https://www.waternz.org.nz/Story?Action=View&Story_id=141

      note that the proposed maximum take of 350 million litres per day works out 4 cubic metres per second, the mean annual discharge of the Waikato is 350 cubic metres/second. AFAIK Karapiro has an operating consent condition of a minimum discharge of 140 cubic metres/second except in extreme conditions when it may go as low as 80.

  2. Blazer 2
    27 April 2020 at 8:57 am

    Lifes a lottery of luck….'an ounce of luck is worth a ton of judgement'!

    When I see the push for Nationals new wunderkind Sir Christopher Luxon based on his business prowess I look at the present situation at Air NZ.

    The new C.E.O is eminently qualified to follow on from Luxon and his 2 predecessors.

    Like John Howard as aussie P.M,they also reaped the benefits of boom years fuelled by the rampant rise and rise of the FIRE economy.

    Foran has the challenge of dealing with C19 and its deep impact , a monumental task.

    John Key has pulled the pin on his directorship at Air NZ,what timing!

    He is happy to endorse Luxon's economic credentials.

    How 'lucky' can you get!

    • JanM 2.1
      27 April 2020 at 9:36 am

      Oh won't it be fun when we are ruled by a 'christian' conservative with a reputation as a bully! I hope by that time I'm too old to care!!

    • Treetop 2.2
      27 April 2020 at 9:55 am

      When did Key pull the pin?

      Was his term up?

    • Muttonbird 2.3
      27 April 2020 at 10:53 am

      Fifth or sixth day straight John Key has been on the front page casting a shadow over National Party leadership.

      Simon should be feeling ill but I expect he is too stupid.

  3. ScottGN 3
    27 April 2020 at 9:30 am

    Interesting that, as far as I can tell, Stuff hasn’t published this piece by its own Political Editor in its NZ papers.

    https://www.theage.com.au/world/oceania/saint-jacinda-ardern-s-lockdown-has-not-silenced-her-critics-20200424-p54n37.html

    • KJT 3.1
      27 April 2020 at 9:41 am

      The memo must have gone out to all the right wing propaganda outfits.

      "Use the Communism, dog whistle"

      "The only shops open are supermarkets, for which there are often Soviet-style queues".

      Someone should tell them, the Soviet Union, which was a totalitarian dictatorship, anyway, not communist, has been replaced by a gangster run "free market" capitalist hellhole, decades ago.

      • Foreign waka 3.1.1
        27 April 2020 at 10:03 am

        Hi KJT, I hope you keep well.

        In the 70's the then still existing Soviet Union had an odd supply system. From the other side of the iron curtain we were smug and laughing about the supply of certain product one week and another product group the next. Huge cues in front of the doors, hoarding as no one knew when they will get i.e.washing powder again.

        Yes, we were smug because we had no such problems. It showed us however, that all those issues are man made and revolve around profit, status and power. (Must sound familiar to the US right now)

        Whilst we in NZ are getting a wider range of goods, many times staples such as bread is completely sold out by 8am. Long cues, often 2-3 rows deep means that there is up to 1.5 hrs wait until you can get into the store. Since it is the only shop open you have no other choice.

        I cannot see for the life of it why bakeries, vege shops and other food stores are not allowed to open. If social distancing is maintained, there should be no issues. But then again, issues are man made and revolve around profit, status and power.

        • Sacha 3.1.1.1
          27 April 2020 at 10:44 am

          Not just about customer numbers. Restricting food sales to only supermarkets was also about keeping supply chain workers to a minimum.

          Supermarkets got a massive market advantage in exchange. Let's see how they honour that over coming weeks and months as many of those smaller retailers and suppliers shift to online sales or go bust.

        • KJT 3.1.1.2
          27 April 2020 at 4:57 pm

          Hi. Same.

          I understand the need to keep shopping outlets to a minimum. And delivery chains.

          Supermarkets made sense.

          Not good for small businesses still having to pay overheads and leases. Though.

          A lot that have managed to keep going, the pent up demand may make up for it.

          Our small family business, has at least two months prebooked, as soon as we get to level two.

          Very pleased our local butcher was still able to deliver at level four.

          Supermarkets were handed a huge advantage. Let’s hope they return it to local communities, with living wages.

        • Paddington 3.1.1.3
          27 April 2020 at 7:06 pm

          I agree with you totally about bakeries etc. But those decisions are symptomatic of the way we have approached Covid. The severity of the lockdown imposed on NZ has achieved no more favorable health outcomes than Australia (who have implemented a far less proscriptive policy). Yet for that comparable similarity in results, we have done far more damage to our economy. The OECD estimate that we will experience one the largest economic contractions in the world, at 30%, whereas the Australian economy is forecast to decline by 22%.

          • Poission 3.1.1.3.1
            27 April 2020 at 7:53 pm

            That is also problematic in the way they use say GDP as a metric for contraction/expansion.If a substantial part of the population stays home an obeys the rules,retail says contracts as does tourism and travel.However car accidents also decrease so there are fewer fatalities, accident victims,and insurance claims.Fewer accidents also mean smaller payouts to health care providers,less work for panel beaters (and less wear and tear on vehicles) which decreases gdp,but increases for some their wellbeing and also spending.

            There is also a decrease in crime of certain types,meaning less work for lawyers,police,prisons etc.medical centres have also seen decreases in patients,also suggesting a gdp metric constraint.

            • Paddington 3.1.1.3.1.1
              27 April 2020 at 8:16 pm

              Those 'constraints' apply equally in both countries, no?

              • Poission …
                27 April 2020 at 8:43 pm

                You would presume so.Hence the NAB results are telling with a halving of profits for the 6 months ending march 2.6 billion 2019/ 1.3 billion 2020.

                Credit impairment charge (1,161b) Group.

                The NZ banking (bnz) was however an increase in profit 562m2020 from 2019 532.There was also an increase in tax paid by the BNZ of 13 million and a Credit impairment charge decrease of 2 million.

                https://www.nab.com.au/content/dam/nabrwd/documents/reports/corporate/2020-half-year-results-announcement.pdf

                The BNZ profit may have been larger,however in march NZ decided to pay off 500 million on interest bearing credit card debt (in total)

                • Paddington …
                  27 April 2020 at 10:12 pm

                  I'm not sure that any of that makes GDP invalid as a measure of economic activity. Sure there are limitations, but it is is still the standard measure for economic growth and contraction.

          • KJT 3.1.1.3.2
            27 April 2020 at 8:06 pm

            Friends in Aussie tell me they wish they had the certainty for their businesses we have in New Zealand. They had to open, because everyone else did, customers are to frightened to come and they don't have any Government help. I think the forecasts about Aussie are optimistic. And it varies State by state, in some things they have had a tighter lockdown than us.

            • Paddington 3.1.1.3.2.1
              27 April 2020 at 8:17 pm

              In virtually everything, they don't. And their Covid data is skewed by the fact that they had to deal with all the cruise ships. Less restriction, similar results. Australia has got this about right. We haven't. More and more commentators are starting to realise this.

              • In Vino …
                27 April 2020 at 9:25 pm

                More wishful thinking presented as fact by him who knows it all.
                It will be quite a while before all this pans out and such verdicts can be made. You risk making a big Charlie of yourself at this early stage.

                • Paddington …
                  27 April 2020 at 10:03 pm

                  I'm using data as it stands now. Things can change, but as it currently stands, Australia has outplayed us.

                  • Incognito …
                    27 April 2020 at 10:29 pm

                    Didn’t know it was a competition. Cricket or rugby, this time?

                  • Alice Tectonite …
                    28 April 2020 at 7:04 am

                    What data? Data source? Measures used for comparison?

                  • Tricledrown …
                    28 April 2020 at 7:34 am

                    Paddington so they should as Australia spends 1/3 more than us per head of population on healthcare.plus Australias private health sector is much bigger than ours.

                    But for all of that NZ has much less cases in Intensive care or hospital.

                    There are no winners in this pandemic

                    • Alice Tectonite …
                      28 April 2020 at 7:59 am

                      NZ also has fewer confirmed cases per head and has done more tests per head.

                      Overall both countries have done not too badly when compared to US, Europe, etc. Considerable variation within both countries too (e.g. NSW, TAS higher than other states/territories, differences between North and South Islands).

                    • Paddington …
                      28 April 2020 at 9:18 am

                      If we have far less cases in the hospital system, then historical health spending may not be so much of a factor. The issue I'm addressing here is the merits of the comparative approaches. Australia seem to have at the worst equal health outcomes, and their econmy is forecast to contract considerably less.

                    • Tricledrown …
                      28 April 2020 at 9:33 am

                      Paddington show us your evidence reading Australian newspapers shows up your pathetic fearmongering.

                      Because Australia has a much better public and private health sector they have 7,000 contact tracers we have 200 going up to 400+.

                      Because Australia has 7,000 contact tracers they have been able to contain the corona virus under less restrictive lockdown. Years of health spending cuts under National has weakened our response lucky we have had a tougher lockdown so our health systems can cope.

              • KJT …
                27 April 2020 at 9:37 pm

                What happened to Sweden, you were all talking about a few weeks ago?

                Too embarrassing to remember, now?

                • Paddington …
                  27 April 2020 at 10:06 pm

                  Sweden? When was I talking about Sweden? There is a lot to admire about the way we’ve handled Covid. But I'm increasingly hearing people far more qualified than you and I doing the job the media should be doing asking the tough questions. Given the damage the government has done to the economy repsonding to Covid, I sincerely hope they've got it right.

                  • KJT …
                    27 April 2020 at 10:10 pm

                    The damage the virus has done to the economy.

                    Not, The Government.

                    Except in your fantasy world.

                    • Paddington …
                      27 April 2020 at 10:19 pm

                      If the Government has got the response wrong (even by degrees), then yes the government has damaged the economy. There is an increasing number of qualified voices expressing exactly the same doubts I am, including people such as Sir Ray Avery, Ian Harrison and Dr Peter Collignon.

                    • McFlock …
                      27 April 2020 at 10:46 pm

                      To be fair, one of those is pretty close to his lane.

                      But his argument in the media doesn't seem to think confidence intervals exist. Not sure the Aussies count probables, either.

                    • Alice Tectonite []
                      28 April 2020 at 7:11 am

                      @McFlock

                      Aus data is lab confirmed only, no probables. Amazing how many people who should know better include probable cases in their comparisons, almost like they want to make NZ look bad.

                    • KJT …
                      28 April 2020 at 8:58 am

                      Trotting out "experts" who like to pontificate on things way outside their area, along with fudging statistics, seems to be a frequent, thing, with our right wing.

                      Too difficult to get someone, who actually has expertise in the particular area, to agree with them?

                      It's almost as though they don't like, facts!

                    • Paddington …
                      28 April 2020 at 9:15 am

                      "Trotting out "experts" who like to pontificate on things way outside their area…"

                      Did you even look at who these people are?

                      Ray Avery is a Pharmaceutical scientist. You can read his concerns here https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2004/S00122/the-statisticians-that-killed-new-zealand.htm.

                      Ian Harrison is a (former) RB economist. In this paper http://www.tailrisk.co.nz/documents/Corona.pdf he severely criticises the modelling used by the government to support the severity of the lockdown.

                      These are qualified voices expressing genuine concerns that we could have gone about this with far less social and economic damage.

                    • KJT …
                      28 April 2020 at 9:17 am

                      Yes. I know who they are.

                      And recalled some of their "pronouncements, in the past.

                    • Paddington …
                      28 April 2020 at 9:31 am

                      "Yes. I know who they are. "

                      And yet you accused them of pontificating " on things way outside their area, along with fudging statistics…"

                      Care to retract now that you acrually know who they are?

                    • Tricledrown …
                      28 April 2020 at 9:38 am

                      Paddington if the government hadn't made the tough lockdown call you would be blaming the government for the death toll much larger economic downturn and the no doubt elongated lockdown.

                    • McFlock …
                      28 April 2020 at 9:50 am

                      @Alice interesting – when I used NZ probables vs Aus numbers, Aus squeaks under the bar.

                      When I used NZ confirmed vs Aus numbers, it's the other way around.

                      Far be it for me to accuse Paddington's experts of fudging the numbers, though. Either way both countries are largely equivalent in cases so far.

          • pat 3.1.1.3.3
            27 April 2020 at 8:49 pm

            "Variations in the impact effect across economies reflect differences in the composition of output. Many countries in which tourism is relatively important could potentially be affected more severely by shutdowns and limitations on travel. At the other extreme, countries with relatively sizeable agricultural and mining sectors, including oil production, may experience smaller initial effects from containment measures, although output will be subsequently hit by reduced global commodity demand. "

            https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/oecd-updates-g20-summit-on-outlook-for-global-economy.htm

            Tourism 3%Australian GDP and 6% NZ GDP for starters.

            • Paddington 3.1.1.3.3.1
              27 April 2020 at 10:09 pm

              And Australia rely on exports of minerals, for example, which will be hit hard by a global economic slowdown. While NZ farmers will most likely save our economy from more serious problems as we become even more a foodbowl for the world. And yet despite these two factors, 30% still trumps 22%.

              • pat …
                27 April 2020 at 10:32 pm

                read the commentary again.

                • Paddington …
                  28 April 2020 at 9:08 am

                  I read it right the first time. It's why I specifically mentioned minerals and food exports. Mineral exports are more closely linked to economic activity than food. People have to eat.

                  • pat …
                    28 April 2020 at 11:29 am

                    "Variations in the impact effect across economies reflect differences in the composition of output.

                    Not extent of lockdown provision

                    "..may experience smaller initial effects from containment measures, although output will be subsequently hit by reduced global commodity demand. "

                    The initial impact does not reflect the longer term and in the longer term is not a result of local actions.

                    The takeout is what minor differences there may be between Australia and NZ responses is largely immaterial to the economic impact.

                    • Paddington …
                      28 April 2020 at 2:19 pm

                      You missed this from your own source:

                      “Mr Gurría stressed that the implications for annual GDP growth will ultimately depend on many factors, including the magnitude and duration of national shutdowns…”

                      Did you not see that bit?

                      …or this bit…

                      “The impact effect of business closures could result in reductions of 15% or more in the level of output throughout the advanced economies and major emerging-market economies. ”

                      The extent of business closures is tied to the nature of each lockdown.

                      The takeout is that the differences in the lockdowns does have a significant impact on the forecast economic fortunes of the respective countries.

                    • Poission …
                      28 April 2020 at 2:26 pm

                      The markets are also affected by what the customers think,being their own decision makers they have their own ability to manage their own risks.

                      https://twitter.com/NumbersMuncher/status/1253304174537818114

                    • pat …
                      28 April 2020 at 2:33 pm

                      Indeed i did…now would you like to note the difference in "magnitude and duration" of the Australian and NZ responses….they are marginal at best, to date….as is the impact.

                    • Paddington …
                      28 April 2020 at 5:30 pm

                      "they are marginal at best, to date "

                      Rubbish. I run businesses on both sides of the tasman – I know there are considerable differences. Australians have been able to visit family, schools are open, they can buy food from butchers and greengrocers, get haircuts, public transport operates at a far higher level, weddings and funerals have continued, and businesses have been able to operate (eg restaurants and cafes have been able to operate takeaways). I could go on, but the differences are considerable.

                    • pat …
                      28 April 2020 at 6:08 pm

                      The difference is negligible…if you run businesses on both sides of the Tasman you will soon discover that fact…when a model running on the edge goes in to a declining spiral it dosnt matter whether that decline is 22 or 28%…youre buggered either way.

              • KJT …
                28 April 2020 at 9:15 am

                Why don't you just have the guts to say it outright, instead of pussyfooting around.

                What you really wanted.

                "We should have accepted the collateral damage. What is the deaths of a few old people compared to my bank balance. But, make sure you vote for me before you die. "

                • Paddington …
                  28 April 2020 at 11:01 am

                  Australia, as at end March, had more Covid cases in the 20-29 age group than the 60-65 age group, despite the cruise ships. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/31/australians-in-their-20s-have-more-confirmed-cases-of-coronavirus-than-any-other-age-group). That makes a nonsense of your already silly comment.

                  Australia has had a less severe lockdown, have much the same health results (and less deaths per capita, which again makes your comment look silly), and are likely to have far less severe economic problems.

                  To quote William F Buckley “put that in your pipe and smoke it”.

                  • KJT …
                    28 April 2020 at 11:15 am

                    And as someone said. "Counting your chickens".

                    We’ve already shown you are bullshitting.

                    • Paddington …
                      28 April 2020 at 2:06 pm

                      I've already shown you can't read statistics. And it was you who raised the spectre of 'deaths', when Aus have less deaths per capita than we do.

                    • KJT …
                      28 April 2020 at 2:36 pm

                      You’ve shown nothing, except you are prepared to quibble about the size of the parachute, before we even reach the ground.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      28 April 2020 at 3:18 pm

                      Less than 3 months after Aussie and NZ had their first cases of Covid-19, Paddington determinedly makes the case for Australia's response to Covid-19 likely causing "far less severe economic problems". That may be correct, but surely it's too early to tell. Tbh, I don't get the obsession with comparing NZ and Aussie – apparently the National party once campaigned on closing the income gap between the two countries.

                      https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1007/S00446/wage-gap-with-australia-blows-out-over-50.htm

                      It must be mystifying and frustrating to some that a large majority of NZers seem quite OK with the NZ government’s and public service’s responses to the Covid-19 challenge.

                      Cox’s analysis shows that New Zealand’s lockdown had been far more successful than Australia’s.
                      “Our lockdown was more effective and we certainly couldn’t have gone another week before we did that. That would have been a mess, otherwise.”
                      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12327959

                    • Paddington …
                      29 April 2020 at 1:50 pm

                      ""We knew Scotty from marketing was going to stuff it up…"

                      Well you won't be listening to them again eh?

                  • Paddington …
                    28 April 2020 at 5:32 pm

                    "Tbh, I don't get the obsession with comparing NZ and Aussie…"

                    If we are to measure the governments performance (and let's face it the media aren't), we need a viable comparison. Australia is the best we have.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      28 April 2020 at 7:06 pm

                      An international comparison is not always essential for measuring government performance. Sure, it may help in some cases, but it's clear that the vast majority of voting NZers think the government's response to Covid-19 has been pretty good so far. How many of those NZers compared NZ and Australia when forming their opinions? [Hint: This is a trick question wink]

                      Look, I get why some people might seek to characterise the NZ government’s Covid-19 response as sub-optimal, and of course it was. But that’s hardly surprising, given what they were faced with. And I think that most of the NZ public get that, and understand that their government acted in good faith and with the immediate health of all NZers as the first priority.

                    • KJT …
                      28 April 2020 at 9:14 pm

                      Comment from someone I know in WA.

                      "We knew Scotty from marketing was going to stuff it up, so we started social distancing, and keeping away from pubs and restaurants, ourselves".

                    • Paddington …
                      29 April 2020 at 1:53 pm

                      "And I think that most of the NZ public get that, and understand that their government acted in good faith…"

                      I have no doubt they did. I like our PM. But based on what we know today, we have been outplayed by Aus.

                      "An international comparison is not always essential for measuring government performance."

                      Yes but it is one of a very few measures we have. How else do we judge whether or not the measures taken were correct?

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      29 April 2020 at 2:53 pm

                      IMHO not everything has to be seen as a competition. Yes, the NZ government's early phase response to the Covid-19 pandemic may have been (much) better than most, and (slightly) worse than a few, depending on what metrics you chose for a comparison, but that's less important to me than knowing the response was considered and effective in keeping most NZers safe. The government's response, and that of NZers, seems to have achieved that goal. Hooray!

                      Of course there are many people who are preoccupied with who/what is ‘the best‘, and whether one country has ‘outplayed‘ another (an odd lens for examining a pandemic response?), but it simply doesn't interest me that much smiley

                    • Paddington …
                      29 April 2020 at 4:02 pm

                      "but it simply doesn't interest me that much"

                      It interest me for two reasons.

                      1. If we've got it right, we have buggered the economy for good reason.

                      2. If we've got it wrong, we've buggered the economy unnecessarily.

                      We live in depend upon a global economy. That isn't going to chnage. We simply have to compete internationally. It's a fact of life.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      29 April 2020 at 5:04 pm

                      Phrases like "we've buggered the economy unnecessarily" seem hyperbolic; out of touch with reality even. Certainly many individuals and businesses (small and large) in both NZ and Australia will be "buggered" financially/economically, and both the NZ and Australian economies will take a big hit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

                      The international tourism and international tertiary education 'industries' are effectively 'buggered' in both countries, and some commodity export industries will be doing it hard (don't know anything about this other than what I read), although if (and it's a big ‘if‘) trans-Tasman travel 'takes off' again then this might benefit NZ more than Aussie.

                      Tbh, don't really understand how any differences between the NZ and Australian government Covid-19 responses will influence the extent to which global trade activities in each country will be 'buggered', but I'm happy to be schooled on this.

                      IMHO it's too early to tell if any government's response to Covid-19 has "buggered the economy unnecessarily" (although you could perhaps make that case for countries that were slow to respond and/or responded 'weakly'), but with only two new Covid-19 cases in NZ today, and business activity starting to ramp up (with more to come in a week and a half), it could be worse.

                      https://covid19.govt.nz/businesses-and-employees/businesses-and-services/doing-business-at-alert-level-3/

                      I'm doing my bit – Indian takeaways tonight smiley

                      One last point – I doubt it will be possible to accurately determine how many more NZers would have died from Covid-19 infection if the NZ government had adopted the Australian response measures. Maybe it would have made no difference, but nobody knows. So your comments begin to read like a beat-up, but I do admire your determination – are you missing TV sports entertainment?

                    • Paddington …
                      30 April 2020 at 12:03 am

                      "… but I do admire your determination – are you missing TV sports entertainment? "

                      That and missing getting out the boat I only bought a few weeks before the lockdown! Maybe I'm just getting grumpy. Hope you enjoyed your indian!

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      30 April 2020 at 12:18 am

                      Yes thanks, and two more to go – they're worth supporting so win-win.

                      Hope you'll be able to take your boat out on the water once NZ goes to level 2.

    • JanM 3.2
      27 April 2020 at 9:43 am

      Probably not a good idea now tbey've got the begging bowl out!

    • Gabby 3.3
      27 April 2020 at 11:02 am

      'Police state'? I guess the fkwt smuggled his article out of the gulag secreted in his reckon hole.

      • I Feel Love 3.3.1
        27 April 2020 at 11:14 am

        And forgetting to mention the Soviet style queues of media outlets receiving their bail outs. But yeah, "police state" FFS, basically negates the whole article really. In Aus there was a story about the cops walking into a funeral to make sure everyone was keeping their distance, "we don't know how lucky we are".

      • McFlock 3.3.2
        27 April 2020 at 5:09 pm

        "reckon hole" lol

    • Muttonbird 3.4
      27 April 2020 at 11:30 am

      Luke Malpass is a wrong-un, and Thomas Coughlan took over from the National Party embedded Stacey Kirk.

    • Incognito 3.5
      27 April 2020 at 11:59 am

      Whenever is a checkpoint a roadblock?

      When it suits your narrative.

    • AB 3.6
      27 April 2020 at 4:06 pm

      Alan Jones's statement a few months ago that he was "sick of that woman" suggests that there's a cohort of aging, conservative Aussie blokes who are up for a bit of Ardern-bashing. So the story might play better there than here.

      • Sacha 3.6.1
        27 April 2020 at 5:21 pm

        They may have regained some froth by getting rid of Raelene Castle, the limp old codgers.

        • I Feel Love 3.6.1.1
          27 April 2020 at 6:24 pm

          I've also noticed the absence of the RW lines "she's a weak leader". Actually I've noticed the lack of RWs.

        • Blazer 3.6.1.2
          27 April 2020 at 7:39 pm

          Forget her gender Castle was hopeless.

          She made a complete mess of the Folau incident.

          • woodart 3.6.1.2.1
            28 April 2020 at 12:35 am

            yeah, imagine taking the word of a christian, who promises not to be a bad boy(again)

  4. Cinny 4
    27 April 2020 at 9:37 am

    Agent orange is not holding a whitehouse briefing for the second day in a row.

    But dang… he's raging on the twitter.

    • Morrissey 4.1
      27 April 2020 at 9:42 am

      Trump and his regime of criminals are a horror show. Unfortunately, over the last three and a half years the Democratic Party and its media megaphones have squandered all their credibility by chasing a chimera.

      https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1254125897021562881

      • Gabby 4.1.1
        27 April 2020 at 10:22 am

        No coordination = Pooty said 'leave it all to me.'

      • The Unliving 4.1.2
        27 April 2020 at 12:48 pm

        Yet less than a week ago we had this from the US Senate: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/21/senate-intel-report-confirms-russia-aimed-to-help-trump-in-2016-198171

        For that tweet to state that the whole thing was a "complete scam" on the basis of a transcript of a *single* meeting between the FBI and George Papadopoulos (who went to jail for lying to the FBI) is ridiculous.

        • Andre 4.1.2.1
          27 April 2020 at 12:57 pm

          Well, yes. But by god, the mozzie has made up his mind and he's going to repost here all the internet kooks and cranks he can find that fit his preconception until the end of time. Big picture view of all the evidence be damned!

          • Morrissey 4.1.2.1.1
            27 April 2020 at 7:18 pm

            all the internet kooks and cranks….

            The Clinton campaign's absurd and now almost abandoned conspiracy theory that Donald Trump is the tool of a vast, masterful Russian conspiracy involving "Russian bots" manipulating millions of gullible Americans—"Russiagate"—has been dismissed by, amongst others: Noam Chomsky, Daniel Ellsberg, Glenn Greenwald, Jeremy Scahill, Aaron Maté, Matt Taibbi, Jonathan Cook, John Pilger, Nicky Hager, Norman Finkelstein, Chris Hedges…

            Which of those commentators would you call "kooks" and which would you call "cranks"?

            https://fair.org/home/tips-for-a-post-mueller-media-from-nine-russiagate-skeptics/

            https://www.truthdig.com/articles/matt-taibbi-and-aaron-mate-on-how-russiagate-helped-trump/

            • Andre 4.1.2.1.1.1
              27 April 2020 at 7:30 pm

              Apologies. I forgot to include the category 'useful idiots'.

              Just outta curiosity, what opinions has Nicky Hager expressed about russian shitfuckery in the 2016 debacle of an election in the US? If he actually said anything at all, I missed it.

              • Morrissey …
                27 April 2020 at 7:36 pm

                "Useful idiots", are they? That Stalinist chestnut may not be quite as colourful as the epithets you dream up to ridicule Trump, but it's about as convincing.

                I'm amused to see you doubling down on your "Russian shitfuckery" claims.

                • Andre …
                  27 April 2020 at 7:41 pm

                  Go on, tell us what Nicky Hager had to say. He's the only one of your list whose opinions I still value.

                  • Morrissey …
                    27 April 2020 at 7:44 pm

                    If you don't value the opinions of the most respected intellectuals and journalists in the United States, Israel, and Australia, I don't believe your claim that you "value" the opinions of Nicky Hager.

                    • Andre …
                      27 April 2020 at 7:50 pm

                      You're avoiding backing up your implication that Hager has expressed an opinion that there is some kind kind of conspiracy or hoax involved in the reporting of russian election interference.

              • Sacha …
                27 April 2020 at 7:47 pm

                You didn't miss anything. Expect a blustery breeze from Northcote to continue.

    • Nic the NZer 4.2
      27 April 2020 at 9:51 am

      I heard there was significant complaint building that all the major networks were running Trumps briefings in full. They have no need to run his briefings in full, even if they are mentioned, as c-span does it anyway.

      Don't know what was going on there, but I am glad the administration pulled the plug on the briefings, as Trumps perspective on anything was impacting how people reported issues relating to treatment of the virus.

      • Morrissey 4.2.1
        27 April 2020 at 9:56 am

        The major networks have little credibility.

      • Foreign waka 4.2.2
        27 April 2020 at 10:14 am

        I think there were actually a lot of people inquiring about injecting and/ or swallowing of disinfectant. If I understand this correctly already one person died. This is a debacle for the camp Trump. I suspect that the possibility of lawsuits for wrongful deaths can be an issue.

        • Sacha 4.2.2.1
          27 April 2020 at 11:08 am

          He made the mistake of lying about something most of the public can tell is wrong. Naturally some of them needed to try it for themselves. Gawd bless amurca.

      • Treetop 4.2.3
        27 April 2020 at 10:57 am

        Trump needs to wake up and start delivering free Covid-19 testing and affordable universal health care as this is needed. I get the impression that doctors need to be an accountant when it comes to delivering health care due to the questions of costs they are asked by health consumers during a consult.

        Just what does Trump think when he says Covid-19 testing is free and there are hidden charges. I cannot think of another issue which is more serious and that it can affect anyone. Trump's management is poor, he has not grasped how important testing is, if he had there would be long lines of people in every state where testing is being carried out.

  5. Morrissey 5
    27 April 2020 at 10:12 am

    Oh NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O! That zombie Larry Summers is back. no

    https://twitter.com/zei_squirrel/status/1254248937130786818

  6. Peter 6
    27 April 2020 at 10:25 am

    An observation on the announcement of Level Four ending and a media hack looking for any angle to turn it into a controversy.

    Mondayisation is sort of strange now.

    I learned last week that there are no such things as 'business days.' They always used to be a thing. They aren't any more because there are people working every day. Mike Hosking told me that. He's always good for information.

    All days apparently are ordinary days, they're working days, they're all business days. It's just that they have different names. One is called Tuesday, one is called Friday … The working week is Sunday to Saturday, or Thursday to Wednesday or whatever.

    A bit weird to tune in this morning to hear Hosking, (he's good for information, I learn so much from him) to find however he's not working today. Apparently in his house it's not an ordinary day, a business day. That's the sort of life experience that sees him getting the call to tell us what's what and define it for us I suppose. He'd know.

    • weka 6.1
      27 April 2020 at 10:54 am

      he did seem confused the other week, where he works on weekends but doesn't work on weekends.

      • Peter 6.1.1
        27 April 2020 at 11:19 am

        A part of that which struck a chord in our house was how his working in the weekend fits into the persistent narrative heard from his supporters over years.

        A teacher lives in our house. One of those one working "9.00 'til 3.00 and has half the year off" people.

        By the same logic Hosking works from 6.00 'til 9.00am. He has the same sort of 'time away' as teachers. (Not getting at him for being at home in school holidays.)

        I guess when you're an expert on how the world should be you only need a short time to dispense your genius. Including telling teachers they need to get into the 'real world.'

    • Foreign waka 6.2
      27 April 2020 at 12:14 pm

      Hi Peter
      Thank you for a good laugh today 🙂

  7. RedLogix 7
    27 April 2020 at 10:59 am

    In other news, while the rest of the world is consumed with COVID news, the CCP has been busy:

    This is the reckoning we had to have. The rise of China was never going to be risk-free.

    The coronavirus crisis has revealed what should have been plainly obvious: China and the West have been on a collision course.

    While China has been on the march, the West has been asleep — seduced by China's wealth and deluded into thinking that the Communist Party would either collapse, or abandon everything it stands for and embrace liberal democracy.

    I don't fully agree with all of Stan Grant's pre-suppositions here; personally I think there are good reasons to think the CCP faces bigger risks than he allows for. But he makes his case well and it's worth a read.

  8. Reality 8
    27 April 2020 at 11:07 am

    Peter, I like your irony! Mike Hosking seems to blurt out anything whether it is logic or not. Hope he doesn’t start swigging from a bottle of disinfectant. After all a highly respected and intelligent and sane leader thinks it’s worth considering.

  9. Muttonbird 9
    27 April 2020 at 11:26 am

    Article here describes the dangers of placing the economy over people's health and safety.

    RW government in Lombardy refused to lockdown industry. Result? 14,000 dead.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12327725

    • Carolyn_Nth 9.1
      27 April 2020 at 11:45 am

      Same AP article on Stuff.

      And the take home for me is that it indicates why it was good that NZ closed borders and went to lock down when it did.

      Like Lombardy, NZ did not have the capability to deal with such a pandemic because of cut backs to our public health system under neoliberalism. We did not have the capacity in hospitals, the resources, PPEs, etc., or the capability to do the amount of testing and track and tracing required to deal with the pandemic. Aussie had some better resources in place.

      The lock down brought breathing space to build up these capabilities. A couple of weeks before lock down, NZ was sending swabs to Aussie for C-19 testing. Now, NZ is doing a higher proportion of testing per 1 million of population than Aussie – and we have confirmed more cases.

      • Adrian 9.1.1
        27 April 2020 at 12:07 pm

        We had about 30% spare capacity in ICUs in normal times, should we have had 10 times as much? Especially when very good medical and governance reactions meant that ICUs have had considerably more spare capacity for the last 4 weeks. Each bed requires a lot of staff for cover even on 12 hour shifts.

        And it is not just equipment needed, can the system afford huge numbers of highly trained intensive care nurses sitting around waiting for the air raid siren to go off every 100 years or so or to be fair every 20 to 50?

        Remember Chch brilliantly managed over 100 unfortunate people last year at no notice.

        • Carolyn_Nth 9.1.1.1
          27 April 2020 at 2:07 pm

          We did not know what we were dealing with and we have learned a lot in a month. there is still much more to learn about this virus. And yes, we did need to free up that ICU space.

          Going relatively early meant that this only happened for a bit over 4 weeks. In places where they put in lock downs at a relatively late time, when the C-19 horse had already bolted, the health system has become so overloaded they can't cope.

          Now, going into Level 3, Bloomfield has said there will be more non-C-19 hospital appointments issued, plus the cancer teams have worked out a strategy for seeing those who need urgent attention. In the UK, they dithered, and there is still not attention given to those who require urgent non-C-19 screening or attention.

          I am someone who has a non-Covid hospital appointment with a specialist tomorrow. This is for a possible growth in my throat. The GP referred me for this last Tuesday and she told me I would get an appointment in 3-4 weeks. She probably was going by the usual time period in the public health system. That is a couple of weeks shorter than the lock down.

          The relatively early lockdown has bought time for the health system to build up safe procedures, systems and resources. So, for instance, I've been told not to go into the department before 5 minutes before my appointment time. This is to keep the number of people waiting there to a minimum.

          I am very happy with the early lock down, and how it's been managed.

          • Macro 9.1.1.1.1
            27 April 2020 at 2:18 pm

            Wishing you all the best for a positive outcome tomorrow Carolyn.

            • Carolyn_Nth 9.1.1.1.1.1
              27 April 2020 at 2:44 pm

              Thanks, Macro. It's concerning that they are treating my case with urgency.

              However, it'll be better in the long run if it is a growth.

              • Macro …
                27 April 2020 at 2:52 pm

                it'll be better in the long run if it is a growth.

                Yes indeed. And if it is not, you will be able to rest easier as well. 🙏

                • Carolyn_Nth …
                  28 April 2020 at 4:29 pm

                  You were right, Macro. It's nothing to worry about, will go away eventually…. and I will definitely rest easier.

                  The hospital experience under level 3 was interesting.

                  Spaces marked on the floor to keep people at a distance from each other. Security at entrance checking your entrance. Got directed to a guy at a desk near the entrance, and showed him a printout of my appointment letter. he rang upstairs to check if they are expecting me, then told to go up in the lift.

                  In the waiting area, only one seat in a row is to be occupied. As I left the specialist's room, I used one of the hand sanitiser dispensers on the wall to clean my hands.

                  • Macro …
                    28 April 2020 at 9:11 pm

                    I'm pleased to hear that Carolyn.

                    Interesting how well the hospitals are coping. I had to visit the medical centre here the other day to pick up a prescription – You have to ring up first and they will prepare it and you can pick it up at a given time. They drop the parcel down onto a table for you to pick up – there is a flexible screen so the pharmacists are fully protected – and off you go. All works superbly – no waiting around.

    • Poission 9.2
      27 April 2020 at 11:50 am

      Nothing unusual from a historical perspective.

      https://twitter.com/StearnsLab/status/1254170977103044608

    • Stunned Mullet 9.3
      27 April 2020 at 11:59 am

      RW government in Lombardy refused to lockdown industry. Result? 14,000 dead.

      That's your only takeout from that article ?

    • Mpk 9.4
      27 April 2020 at 12:59 pm

      And heres a good article comparing the results from the neighbouring state of Veneto where the threat was recognised and immediate action taken. Pretty much gives the difference between she'll be right individualism and the active measures that can only be initiated by collections of individuals acting with the best interests of mutual aid.

      https://consortiumnews.com/2020/04/24/covid-19-lessons-from-lombardy/

  10. Morrissey 10
    27 April 2020 at 12:01 pm

    Whistleblowers for Assange

    "Justice for Julian Assange in USA? In a court in E Virginia where the jury is selected from a popn. where 85% of the popn. works for the CIA, NSA, DOD, DOS … In a court where nobody has ever been acquitted! Gonna get a fair trial?"

    —NILS MELZER, Nils Melzer, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

  11. Janet 11
    27 April 2020 at 12:12 pm

    A premium article in The Herald

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12323535

    “Costco Wholesale is the world's second-largest retailer after Walmart and it said last winter that it would be open here next year, selling 20-30 per cent cheaper than elsewhere.”

    “Overseas Investment Office has cleared the application for Costco to buy the land from NZ Retail Property Group.”

    Does NZ really need this ?

    20-30 % Cheaper . Why ? Not NZ made for sure.

    • Sacha 11.1
      27 April 2020 at 12:30 pm

      Low-wage economies attract discount retailers.

    • Paddington 11.2
      27 April 2020 at 7:13 pm

      FYI there is a major NZ supplier of manuka honey selling product to CostCo in Australia. If the NZ product is competitive, CostCo will carry it.

  12. Grumpy 12
    27 April 2020 at 1:44 pm

    Hate to be a bit picky but how come using today’s MoH figures we appear to have MORE people recovered than have been confirmed with the disease?

    How can one recover from a disease when it was never confirmed they had it?

    • Andre 12.1
      27 April 2020 at 1:55 pm

      We include probable cases in our total case counts, which makes our case numbers significantly higher than equivalent places (such as Oz) that don't include them.

      Probable cases are in two categories. There are those with the symptoms, but have returned a negative test. I'll guess these are being included because of the known high percentage of false negatives from the test. There are also those with symptoms that are known close contacts of confirmed cases who haven't been tested.

      Some of the probable cases end up getting moved out of the total case count. Dunno exactly what the criteria, but an example of that happened today. Today 5 new cases were announced (4 probable 1 confirmed), but 6 probables were reclassified as not a case, resulting in our total case count decreasing by one.

      Note – 27 April: There are five new cases today, one confirmed and four probable cases. Six cases that were probable yesterday have been reclassified as under investigation or not a case following discussion with MOH. This results in a net decrease in total cases by one.

      About the data:

      • Source: This is provisional information taken daily at 9am from a live database, EpiSurv (ESR) and is likely to change as more details are provided about individual cases.
      • Confirmed cases are people that have had a positive laboratory test. For more details please refer to Case definition of COVID-19 infection.
      • A probable case is one without a positive laboratory result, but which is treated like a confirmed case based on its exposure history and clinical symptoms.
      • Recovered cases are people who had the virus, are at least 10 days since onset and have not exhibited symptoms for 48 hours, and have been cleared by the health professional responsible for their monitoring.

      https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases

  13. Graeme 13
    27 April 2020 at 2:14 pm

    WTF

    Police are investigating a major break-in at a South Auckland car rental yard where almost 100 vehicles were stolen on Friday night.

    Inspector Matt Srhoj, Counties Manukau West Area Commander, told the Herald it is believed around 100 vehicles, registered to Jucy Rentals, were stolen from the company's Mangere yard.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/almost-100-stolen-rental-company-one-night

    Now you don't just pull that sort of thing stumbling home after a few quiets. Someone thought about that for a while.

    Insurance job????

    Repo????

  14. Jake 14
    27 April 2020 at 2:36 pm

    "But, do we want international tourism as it was?"

    YES,… because: It was all a HOAX.

    The Covid-19 HOAX can be seen in the way Covid-19 spread.

    It spread to the whole world but jumped over the major Chinese cities.

    You know Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, etc. On March 16, more than 3 weeks after the lockdown,

    Beijing Municipality had 442 confirmed cases of Covid-19 (population 20 million),
    Shanghai Municipality had 353 confirmed cases of Covid-19 (population 23 million),
    Guangdong Province had 1,357 confirmed cases of Covid-19 (population 104 million),
    Hong Kong Region had 141 confirmed cases of Covid-19 (population 7 million).

    Get that… it didn't appreciably spread (before or after the Chinese lockdown) to any of the major Chinese cities.

    But it massively spread (before the Chinese lockdown) to Iran and Italy.

    How's that?

    Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province.

    The Washington Post reported that 5 million people left Wuhan between January 10, i.e., the start of the Chinese New Year travel rush, and the lockdown.<0>

    Get that… five million leave Wuhan for elsewhere, but do not appreciably spread the disease.

    How's that?

    And what about Africa?

    As of April 16, there were only 16,500 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in all of Africa.

    Get that… only 16,500 cases in all of Africa.
    Africa, which has seen massive Chinese investment accompanied by over a million Chinese workers.

    How's that?

    http://www.preearth.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1184

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

    [You look like you might be new here. Have a read of the About and Policy so that you get a sense of how things work here. There is an expectation that people will be able to back up claims and argue their points – weka]

    [some bold removed – weka]

    [permanent ban for spamming the site with covid conspiracy theories. Commenting here is a privilege and there are boundaries on acceptable behaviour. Spamming is viewed very dimly – weka]

    • weka 14.1
      27 April 2020 at 3:05 pm

      mod note for you above. Please lay off the excessive use of bold to please, it looks shouty and makes it harder to moderate.

    • greywarshark 14.2
      27 April 2020 at 5:06 pm

      Jake Has just found out about Covid-19. He/she is shocked at the blatantly naive way that the country is showing its credulous infantile and foolish beliefs in the obviously fraudulent scientific studies that are being produced to destabilise the World! Thank you Jake you are onto it now you have woken up after your coma, and your mind is clear. But I think that you have stretched your mind too far, and like a degraded rubber band pushed to the limit, it has snapped. /sarc

    • AB 15.1
      27 April 2020 at 3:52 pm

      It's hilarious of course, but I'm worried that you are denying these people 'agency' by calling them dumb. Say – like a Bernie bro claiming that a Biden supporter had made a mistake (or had been unduly influenced) in thinking Biden was more electable. Which we are told is an atrocious denial of the 'agency' of the Biden supporter. I guess one person's agency is another's stupidity, and vice versa?

      • Morrissey 15.1.1
        27 April 2020 at 4:00 pm

        Those people are dumb. They're batshit stupid. Trouble is, when someone like Daniel Dale says it, it carries no authority, because he works for an organisation that is donkey-deep in the most foolish conspiracy theory of the last fifty years.

      • Anne 15.1.2
        27 April 2020 at 4:24 pm

        I'm worried that you are denying these people 'agency' by calling them dumb.

        They are ignorant and poorly educated which in my book comes to much the same thing as stupidity. Talking such unadulterated rubbish gives them no agency at all.

      • Gabby 15.1.3
        27 April 2020 at 7:28 pm

        They've got dumb agency though, that's the best agency.

    • bill 15.2
      27 April 2020 at 4:32 pm

      The dumbest people on the planet.

      Given how atrocious so-called news is, it's no surprise that people cast around armed with their tribal bias ready to latch onto more or less 'anything' that might reinforce their sense of knowing.

      With these two women it's a conspiracy no less grounded in reality than the three years of Russia Hoax that many embraced.

      It's all fucking fcked.

  16. Morrissey 16
    27 April 2020 at 3:56 pm

    People like Daniel Dale spend their time tweeting about how they are "just staring at" such idiocy. It's a pity that his Olympian contempt for these particular fools doesn't extend to the people who have been pushing similarly deluded nonsense about Russian masterminds controlling that puppet Trump for the last three years.

    Oh, that's right: he's a CNN correspondent. I note that his Twitter feed is full of contributions by such thoughtful and responsible people as David Frum, William Kristol, and Rick Wilson. So at least a few sniffy Republican Party factionalists think he's a smart commentator.

    https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1250544882181177345

  17. Sacha 17
    27 April 2020 at 5:38 pm

    Covid tracing app for NZ in 2 weeks, privacy watchdog reassured about it https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/415214/covid-19-new-zealand-contact-tracing-app-due-within-two-weeks

    Privacy Commissioner John Edwards said he was confident the government had followed a robust process to ensure that data collected by the app will be used appropriately.

    He said he has been working with the Ministry of Health on the project and his office will be keeping an eye on how the data is collected and used.

    • Scumbag Andy 17.1
      27 April 2020 at 7:19 pm

      Two weeks ago I had reason to contact the police using the non emergency system for a covid related matter – someone I didn't know needed checking up on. A few days later I got an enquiry on the matter from a market research company that has clients all across government services. The email used information I had not given them, and that could only have come from the police. Not only was what they used illegal to use, someone had really gone to some trouble to dig it out, but was too fucking dumb to realise I would notice.

      The moral of the story is if you think any of this stuff is managed by responsible trained staff, or legal, you're in for a surprise.

      • Sacha 17.1.1
        27 April 2020 at 7:36 pm

        I would not trust the police with it – not enough ethics in their training or culture.

  18. ianmac 18
    27 April 2020 at 5:50 pm

    Salman Rushdie published a novel in 2019 called "Quichotte."

    I like the line where his character declared that the country (USA) was in a state of "Errorism". How apt.

  19. I Feel Love 19
    27 April 2020 at 7:15 pm

    Well howabout that, modelling from a month ago predicted 20 deaths, and here we are at 19… of course I'm not suggesting there won't be more I just found these https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/new-zealand-coronavirus-deaths-during-lockdown-could-be-just-20-modelling-suggests curiously accurate…

    • Anne 21.1
      27 April 2020 at 8:25 pm

      I sense a bit of pot and kettle there.

    • ScottGN 21.2
      27 April 2020 at 8:26 pm

      Undoubtedly the Nats have internal problems and no doubt amplified by Bridges’ clumsy handling of the whole Covid crisis. But this is got to be one of Tova’s specialty beat-ups that she periodically likes to float out there.

      • Fireblade 21.2.1
        27 April 2020 at 9:11 pm

        Simon's problem is that accusations of weak leadership and poor judgement aren't going away. He's now a liability for the National Party, not an asset.

    • Cinny 21.3
      27 April 2020 at 9:05 pm

      Maybe Dr. custard is a little bit worried about his seat with the election coming up…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

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

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

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

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 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
    22 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
    24 hours 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

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