Open mike 27/05/2021

Written By: - Date published: 7:22 am, May 27th, 2021 - 90 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

90 comments on “Open mike 27/05/2021 ”

  1. UncookedSelachimorpha 1

    This is fascinating! A German study found richer people think they are relatively less rich than they are, while poorer people think they are richer than they are. Leading all of society to grossly underestimate the true extent of inequality that exists.

    German voters’ view of personal wealth causes problems for the left

    The graphic is especially good.

    Can't help thinking exactly the same thing is happening in NZ, be interesting to do the same survey in more countries.

    • Tricledrown 1.1
      1. That's how Capitalism works keep making people feel they need more junk to fulfill people's lives keeping up with the Jones's you must have a better cars houses clothing appliances etc.nothing material will ever satisfy that need for there will always be something better brighter coming that will make the previous model redundant keeping up demand and production.
  2. Ad 2

    This Covid19 investigation is such a gift to international diplomacy.

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-covid-origin-investigation_n_60ae7d08e4b0d56a83f21510

    There's never been a better net to pull China into engaging with multilateral discourse on a more than purely mercantilist basis. Let the pressure pile on.

    • Anne 2.1

      Full marks to President Biden. That is how you handle as important a matter as the origins of a pandemic. Unlike Trump who politcised the vexing question for personal gain. Most important of all, it looks like it is going to be done in a transparent way which is to everyone's benefit.

      I sincerely hope the idiots who kept voting for Trump can see the error of their ways. Vain hope I know.

      • dv 2.1.1

        The US figure are stunning

        Gone from 300k infections per day when Trump was in power to 20k per day.
        And deaths from 3000 to 400 per day.

        https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

        • lprent 2.1.1.1

          The problem is that all infections cycle – they peak and then fall. They will frequently fall almost to disappearance and then flare up to a higher peak than previously as the disease find a previously socially excluded population or get a variation that is more infectious.

          The actual test of success of population immunity if you’re looking at epidemics and pandemics is if the next peak is significantly smaller than the previous peak. A false ‘its over’ is especially daft when going from winter to summer – with the lowered environmental infection rates.

          The last peak in the US was close to double the size of the earlier one. The US is in summer now – its infection rate is still higher than it was in the last low. I’d look to October/November to see if there really has been a actual reduction in pandemics waves.

          Only simpletons (like Ben Thomas or Mike Hosking) would think that a Northern Hemisphere moving into summer has beaten off the pandemic.

      • Rosemary McDonald 2.1.2

        That is how you handle as important a matter as the origins of a pandemic.

        But! But!

        The first conclusion was the correct conclusion. That is: the source was a Wuhan Wet Market where the virus jumped from an animal to a human.

        https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-25-05-2021/#comment-1794752

        What was a nutbar conspiracy theory on a Tuesday is a laudable initiative on Thursday.

        Whew! It's so hard to keep up.

        • mauī 2.1.2.1

          Yeah, can't wait for the centre-left to start calling Biden a raving conspiracy theorist…

        • Anne 2.1.2.2

          Manipulating/misconstruing what other people say to give a wrong impression of their reflections and then trying to blindside with pseudo science seems to be a trademark of yours.

          I scroll over the top of your diatribes Rosemary because I can't be bothered with vaccine denial and immature pettiness.

          Have a nice night.

      • Tricledrown 2.1.3

        People who vote for Trump don't think for themselves they are cult followers reason logic and truth don't register.

        Racism and personal inadequacies are the main driver for Trumpist blind faith.

        Trump dog whistles and his cultists bark as in barking mad like Trump.

        Who baffles people with his BS like any cult leader.

        White people losing their high waged jobs to China ,Mexico etc is how Trump rallies his followers .

  3. greywarshark 3

    This is an interesting example of how decision making can be obfuscated and weakened by deliberate process. And that one must understand the background politics to see the purpose, and be skilled at appeasing the doubts and dislikes to get real progress on the matter in hand.

    From Slavoj Zizek's book 'In Defence of Lost Causes' which title appeals to me in our era.

    'The 2005 French and Dutch "nos" to the project of the European Constitution were clear-cut cases of what in "French theory" is referred to as a floating signifier: a"no" of confused, inconsistent, overdetermined meanings, a kind of container in which the defense of workers' rights coexists with racism, in which the blind reaction to a perceived threat and fear of change coexist with vague utopian hopes.

    We are told that the French "no" was really a "no" to many other things: to Anglo-Saxon neoliberalism, to Chirac and his government, to the influx of immigrant workers from Poland who lower the wages of the French workers, and so on and so forth.

    The real struggle is going on now: namely the struggle for the meaning of this "no" – who will appropriate it? Who – if anyone – will translate it into a coherent alternative political vision? p.266

    I've broken it up into smaller paragraphs so one can follow the line of his points. What matters are getting in the way and stopping us from going to the heart of our conferences aimed at formulating policy to address our obvious but languishing problems, such as housing at affordable prices, and our inability to cope with the commodification of housing, one of our essential human needs.

    • Ad 3.1

      It's pretty clear Zizak can't see that the "overdetermined signifiers" he bewails are actually the right set of hooks to successfully pull very broad adherent bases. The incoherent "No" has been and remains precisely the recipe for a successful smashing of the traditional left across Europe and the UK, and also did pretty well in the US as well.

      Whereas the traditional left has kept pushing campaigns based around standard human needs, and rapidly failing to the point that globally only NZLabour remains in power or likely to get back to power.

      • Stuart Munro 3.1.1

        the traditional left has kept pushing campaigns based around standard human needs, and rapidly failing

        Only because of self-serving Quislings like Keir Starmer. Neoliberalism has wrecked the livelihoods of the mass of traditional left supporters – identity politics is no substitute for addressing that massive generational ripoff.

        Kirk's old vision: a job, a place to live, something to hope for, would sell pretty well in most of the countries hollowed out by the plague of far-right failed economists.

        • Ad 3.1.1.1

          Our current government didn't promise much of standard human needs in its first term, and promised even less in its second term manifesto (they are certainly more adventurous through 2020-21). Few would claim that the continued electoral failure of UK Labor after Tony Blair and Gordon Brown is down to any one leader.

          • Stuart Munro 3.1.1.1.1

            What they promise is a delicate dance with the media, and says little about either the quality of government or their intentions, other than surrendering public discourse to Murdoch's pathetic far-right hacks.

            Absent Covid and related crisies, Labour would still be running scared – but the crisis has demonstrated graphically, that neither the media nor the opposition have a ghost of a clue how to govern, how to manage a crisis, or how to run an economy. Leaves the field pretty open.

            It is Starmer et al that are the problem with British Labour – the rump of Blairism and its discredited third way presumptions. If a pathetic clown like Boris cannot be fought, much of the blame lies with the character of the opposition.

            • Ad 3.1.1.1.1.1

              If Starmer really was the issue, Corbyn should have won in a landslide. Neither did, so it's way more than character.

              The left have been granted the Covid-gift of narrating the necessity of the highly interventionist state for the common and egalitarian good. None of that is based on the usual Lefty policy positions: how left parties make good of it will determine their future existence.

              • Stuart Munro

                If Starmer were alone, he wouldn't have been able to sabotage Corbyn – but that's all he achieved.

                Labour faces multiple issues, not least of which is making some kind of accommodation with the SNP. But Starmer isn't facing those issues. It's going to be a long time in the wilderness – but the lesson is not the failure of foundational Labour values, only the danger of allowing quislings to supplant the core party roles. This can hardly be lost on NZ, where the damage done by the cabal who subsequently formed ACT, and their neoliberal colleagues, is still denying many of us the prosperity that competent governance would have delivered.

                • Tricledrown

                  The UK Labour party is broken Corbyn didn't have any charisma .

                  Starmer is not much better but where Labour is losing is in its heartland .Brexit played into the Tory hands by dividing the Northern working class labours base.The working classes of the UK have seen migrant labour keeping wages low and house prices high.

                  Brexit is the revenge that will push out cheap migrant labour.So working class people will continue to vote conservative.

                  What can Labour do ,their do nothing policy on Brexit didn't go down well.Labour had no options to offer these people so the outcome was inevitable.

                  Labour will struggle to get back support unless the economy continues in a downward spiral.

                  White English people had enough of wage destruction by former eastern block labour underming their income.Brexit has already had a chilling effect . Creating labour shortages not being filled by locals who don't want to do the dirty hard work .because the younger generations have had longterm unemployment live a much more sedentary lifestyle and don't want to move out of their social circles.

                  Many of the same reasons we rely on migrant labour in NZ.

                  • Stuart Munro

                    Corbyn didn't have any charisma

                    Orly? Or is that just a Tory story? Sure, they ruined him – but he could've done a lot of good for Britain – absent traitors like Starmer.

                    • gypsy

                      This article in the Guardian is brutal to Johnson and the Conservatives, but as part of an equally brutal take down of Corbyn, the author writes this:

                      "He is a man without any qualities required of a leader, mental agility, articulacy, strategy, good humour or charisma."

                      I can't disagree.

                    • Stuart Munro

                      @ Gypsy – We've seen a lot of these "false balance" stories in the media over the last few years.

                      Corbyn had charisma to burn – the spontaneous reaction at Glastonbury was not spin doctoring.

                      without any qualities required of a leader, mental agility, articulacy, strategy, good humour or charisma.

                      You could make the claim – but Britain just chose a cross between a polar bear and an unmade bed – Corbyn is still a better leader than Boris – an absence is a better leader than Boris. And Starmer for that matter – disloyalty is a disqualifier.

          • Sanctuary 3.1.1.1.2

            The decline and seemingly inevitable Pasokification of UK Labour is largely due to it's colonisation as an institution by a certain London based professional clique of liberal chancers who see the party organisation primarily in terms of a vehicle for personal advancement within the existing power structures in the UK. Radical change actually threatens this ambitious class of mangerialists because it potentially shifts the gravy train they want to stay on to another line and locomotive entirely, snatching away the reawards they feel they are entitled to.

            Calling them centrists is to be to generous as to motivation. They just want to get rich via capturing the machinery of major political party and parlaying that into connections that can get them plum jobs outside politics.

  4. greywarshark 4

    Who saw the Blood Super-Moon last night? The other customer in the kebab shop said it was due to happen about 11 pm. But I wanted to be in bed then, and I'm bloody sick of all that is happening on earth without looking at the sky for kicks.

    https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/blood-supermoon-over-new-zealand/

    • Graeme 4.1

      Got a good view of it down here. It was low enough in the sky that I could see it through a window. Quite convenient lying in a beanbag up in the loft in the warm.

      It wasn’t quite total here, but still quite spectacular. There was one about 20 years ago that went right through the middle of the umbra, the memory of the flash as the edge of the moon came out of the shadow will be vivid for the rest of my life. And the -15 frost that night, that one was high and had to go outside.

    • I saw it, Grey, but felt like asking for my money back! Hardly spectacular!

    • Muttonbird 4.3

      I had a go so you didn't have to:

  5. greywarshark 5

    Who'd have thunk it?

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/443444/mainfreight-director-says-shipping-companies-need-pulling-back-into-line

    Global transport company Mainfreight says international shipping companies are charging sky high premiums to carry freight, which is driving up the cost of imported goods.

    Mainfreight managing director Don Braid said the cost of shipping a 40-foot container of goods had been inflated by up as much as $8000 more than a standard contract price negotiated pre-Covid-19…

    Congestion at the Ports of Auckland was going on at every major port around the world, he added.

    Braid expected the situation would continue for at least 12 months, with one of its large United States-based customers preparing for the price gouging to last for perhaps four more years.

    It was more efficient to call up passing international ships than have our own line; that was the mantra.

    Incidentally all my smart family in Auckland think it is crazy to have Whangarei to be opened up to remove pressure on Auckland ports. This thinking is based on simple commonsense! Real examination of the situation indicates that thinking needs to go beyond simple. Yet decisions to vote in general elections are based on similar snap judgments. It seems to me that voters need to do a scratch test to demonstrate they know how to distinguish vital differences, between B and P for instance, (gosh they look alike).

    • RosieLee 5.1

      Opening up Whangarei and Northport will only happen if they get the friggin rail sorted. Does anyone seriously want all those container trucks on the road, all the way to and through Auckland?

  6. ghostwhowalksnz 6

    Interesting angle on both National and Labours Chinese MPs resigning within 11 days of each other last year

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/ardern-wont-confirm-deny-whether-security-concerns-behind-resignation-chinese-mps

    It comes as news website Politik says the two resignations were orchestrated by the offices of Ardern and former National leader Todd Muller over growing security concerns..

    Politik says it was because of growing concerns about the men's relationship with the Chinese government and that they resigned after security briefings to the two-party leaders.

    • Yes Ghost, we have been sold out to Chinese interests by both major parties for too long.

      Unfortunately, corruption in China is normalised and not even seen as wrong or bad by most people. And Chinese are nationalistic to a degree we could never understand (I guess being almost completely isolated until the last century and a half does that).

      I know this personally from my brief stint as a lecturer at Lincoln University (I quit after repeatedly being told not to address the almost universal cheating by Chinese students. The bs excuse was that it was culturally offensive to address this). Also as a former CA working for an extended period in Shanghai.

      Some relevant questions: why do Kiwirail persist in buying the Dog and Lemon 'DL' class locos, that perform worse than 45 year old US made 'DX' class locos, and have been off the rails for extended periods for major repairs (turbine replacement) and cab asbestos removal and severe cab rust? Or the container wagons that had such bad deck camber that containers could not be loaded, and the decks of which had to be machined flat in NZ?

      And thats just Kiwirail. So many similar proven examples of councils (e.g. CCC tiles for the Square that were not fit for purpose or Invercargills Chinese Christmas lights) and government departments and universities doing this (eg the treatment of Prof. Anne-marie Brady by University of Canterbury).

      We have been screwed by our 'leaders' who put personal advantage ahead of the national interest for decades now, and now the implications are becoming apparent.

      Thats my rant for the day over!

      • RedBaronCV 6.1.1

        Interesting points. I do think we are naive in our dealings with China and could take a bit of advice from some of our SE Asian neighbours who have been dealing with them for a long time. I always feel the main interest is in ripping us off and we could do with gently easing away and making common cause with other like minded smaller nations.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 6.1.1.1

          The Australians seem to be going 'ape' over chinese trade issues, now 60 minutes is calling us as New Xi-land. Its really the 5 Eyes thing where we didnt become their poodle

          They get so jingoistsic and of course we are easier to kick around than China

          • RedBaronCV 6.1.1.1.1

            The five eyes stuff may be the latest issue but there has now been a string of issues dating back over 20 or so years.

      • Patricia Bremner 6.1.2

        Perhaps why we are now going to "make our own" and are no longer bringing in huge numbers of overseas students.

        • Peter chch 6.1.2.1

          Yep, at long last. Hillside Workshops rebuild and then assembly of wagons. Good first step.

  7. greywarshark 7

    Quite a long piece on the case against Hardieboard going on which will be interesting as we watch the government neolibs puny ideas go naked; ie the ones about business being reliable, and the people and market scrutiny being enough to keep them good. Yes business knows better than government how to do things well and be good not like those lazy, slack, costly, limiting public servants and inspectors.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018797030/defective-or-incompetent-the-james-hardie-case

  8. Muttonbird 8

    National Party operative, Ben Thomas, is having a big cry about Kiwis being cautious about immigration at the moment.

    Ben might like to accept that Kiwis now are sick and tired of mismanaged immigration policy over the last 20 years. They are sick and tired of our infrastructure not keeping up with demand.

    Ben wants to open the tap again, presumably so the value of his houses continue to skyrocket.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/125250773/why-nzs-in-danger-of-throwing-away-its-covidfree-advantages

    • RedBaronCV 8.1

      It was an article with a lot of contradictions. Proud of our diaspora – not sure about that and I find it deeply worrying that we have several hundred thousand permanent resident visa's issued where the visa holder is not ordinarily resident here. But I bet we'd see them if they had welfare needs. Flights numbers from the red countries went down about 75% when it went to citizens only. Why didn't we do that sooner? It's a large financial risk to the ordinary taxpayer which needs to be controlled – cancel the visa's if people do not remain ordinarily resident here?

      But on another subject entirely – I'm no social scientist but we have remained covid free so far – what social strands led us as a community to be so effective? I see precious little interest or curiosity in that as a subject which we could utilise to better ourselves as a community in other ways?

      There are some obvious strands – clear information and a lot of feedback as to how we are doing, a bit of money to tide individuals over – but how do we harness this community pull together in other economic and social ways. Not with top down edicts I guess but there must be something there.

      • Descendant Of Smith 8.1.1

        "what social strands led us as a community to be so effective?

        One aspect that was very clear to me was the memory by Maori of the impact of the 1918 Spanish flu. While quite a few marae have monuments this was a time when oral history was much more useful than written history. Passed down memories of up to 60% of a localised population dying and much more resilient than needing to get a book out of the library or research on the internet.

        This set in motion a strong desire to not have history repeat – hence the road blocks, etc.

        The other aspects bought by Maori to the table, and more importantly enacted and implemented, were concepts like manakitanga and kotahitanga. Both the looking after others and we are all in this together.

        These concepts have always been anathematic to capitalism (you only need to read Hansard to hear politicians speaking of the evils of Maori communism) but in this case were perfectly suited to the crisis that befell the world.

        Maori excelled themselves during this crisis and while the media headlines were about road-blocks Maori were busy checking on the elderly and the disabled, making sure they had firewood, dropping off food parcels and to all those redneck bigots who say "well what about the treaty settlements”, they were spending good money on making sure their people as well as many non-Maori were supported through this time. Those skills in organising tangi and bigger events such as kapa haka festivals, etc honed so well over the years, came into good stead.

        These concepts and skills with slight variations cover the whole country – from large urban areas to small towns and villages.

        I certainly sense a growing confidence, in part as a result of responding to the pandemic so well, about handling their own affairs and being part of the story in New Zealand's future. COVID-19 was an opportunity to sat – we're here and we can do great things.

        From a non-Maori perspective there has been a run of crises – the Christchurch earthquakes, etc where people have come together – these almost a pre-cursor to this larger less localised crisis. The seeds were sown.

        Where this leads to will be interesting – do we build on that increased confidence that Maori have or do the same people who have been in charge for a while just get put back once the COVID-19 crisis is over.

        I'm hopeful that we don't revert – the change sweeping across the country to have Maori wards and therefore to have Maori at the decision making table will bring some challenges for incumbent councils around a whole range of things – environment, development, housing, sustainability, etc. The change from advisor functionality to voting at the table is a big jump forward.

        We need some strong social policy researchers to go around these communities and understand the response – it wasn't a capitalist response on the ground – while at a government level things such as increased benefits through the wage subsidy now that European workers would be laid off – was a typical capitalist response.

        • RedBaronCV 8.1.1.1

          There are some interesting threads there DOS. While there is a strong maori response there, has it also merged over into the way smaller and more remote communities operate and even into how larger community neighbours work.? The one thing we can say is that it really isn't a top down response.

          Looking at the first chch quake – the early Sunday morning one when most management is in bed. The initial response was interesting, early ferries out of Wellington where held back so that some trucks with essential gear comms and telco stuff IIRC could be loaded and sent south, Fonterra at Clandeboyne had washed out milk tankers and dispatched them filled with water by about 8.am, Line maintenance crews had checked lines out further south and where on the road to Chch around the same time and the airport and the main hospital where back in operation and on mains power by about 2pm. Does this also fit into the same social narrative.

    • lprent 8.2

      …Ben Thomas, is having a big cry about Kiwis being cautious about immigration at the moment.

      Basically he’ll have to wait until we hit 70+% vaccination rate. I not aware of any credible medical person who thinks that a rate lower than 70% is sufficient to protect a population from offshore infection. Most seem to be putting it higher than that.

      I can’t think of a reason for taking the risk of opening up the borders more than we are doing right now (and I have some trepidation about our current level). I certainly can’t see any reason as a population why we should do so.

      Not to mention this bit of stupidity..

      For a country that has long been proud of having the developed world’s second-largest diaspora (by percentage of population), after Ireland, the casual dismissal of New Zealanders seeking to come home from overseas, and the glee with which quarantine charging was embraced, was startling.

      Who are these stupid dickheads who’d be proud of that? I guess that some proportion of dumb and dumber live here – apparently Ben Thomas meets most of them.

    • Gabby 8.3

      To be fair, he might just want to pack them to the rafters with foreign tenants willing to pay far too much.

  9. Adrian 9

    Well I’m 71 and look like spending the entire winter out in the vineyard pruning as we are short of a few thousand mainly Pasifika workers and quite a few European work holiday kids. Say what you like about not needing them for all manner of reasons and I for one have long been a proponent, just to piss my Tory mates off, that a man should not own more vines than he can prune himself, but that was when I was a youthful 40 or 60. I have always felt good about how work done on my place by the few that I need from time to time has helped them to build homes and get clean reliable water for their extended families in places such as Vanuatu and Nuie and Samoa. Their wages put them in the top few per cent of earners where they come from, and incidentally they earn more than me on an hourly rate, and the 2 billion dollars of offshore earnings the wine industry earns pay for the computer you are using and the electric bike you have just bought and most importantly the billion dollars or so of Covid vaccine, which incidentally we are supplying to some of those places because they can’t afford it themselves.

    Mobile labour has been as old as time itself, the Pasifika are replacing the many who have moved to “ essential “ work such as baristas, make your own fucking coffee, Human Resources Personnel or as they were known in the old days, slave ship crew, and hairdressers, hairdressers?. Comb it your bloody self.

    That’s why we need imported labour, the old supply has moved to what really amounts to shit we can do for ourselves, because we either like to feel pampered or are too bloody lazy to do it ourselves.

    • Pete 9.1

      Do it ourselves? We need people to do our supermarket shopping for us, to gather goods for our week's cooking, to deliver food to our door so we don't have to cook…

    • Ad 9.2

      Maybe it's time you stumped up for mechanical harvesting, and obviated the need for under-paid foreign labour. If you are too small, pool together, or encourage your local subcontractor to invest:

      https://www.liveoakbank.com/wine-and-craft-beverage-resources/winery-and-vineyard-resources/vineyard-equipment-spotlight-mechanical-harvesters/

      Then you can confine your efforts to pruning.

      This government has recently asked the Productivity Commission for advice on immigration and productivity, specifically linking to the Covid impacts:

      https://www.productivity.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Terms-of-reference-v5.pdf?vid=3%20

      • Stuart Munro 9.2.1

        Better would be land reform – break up the corporate vineyards – small owners manage to manage their crops. It wasn't the peasant farmers that ruined the Roman economy, it was the huge Sicilian and Sardinian corporate slave operated grain farms. They wiped out the peasantry and then wondered why the legions had to be filled up with disloyal foreigners.

    • weka 9.3

      what's the hourly rate Adrian?

    • McFlock 9.4

      Pruners might be unskilled, but don't underestimate barista or hairdressers.

      How did you get your workers from the Pacific? Brokers? Why aren't there now brokers for NZ workers? What are the barriers to getting NZ workers?

      • Sabine 9.4.1

        Cause they are citizens and get a benefit from Winz, something a migrant would / will not get?

        I suggested some years ago to my then chronically unemployed son of my partner that he should do what the kids from overseas do, get a camper van, travel up and down the country, work the orchards and the vinyards and meet people.

        His answer? To hard, hours to long, no internet, and besides Winz will give him a benefit, and he really can't be arsed. His words.

        And that is what sums up much of the young kiwi generation to migrants. Entitled, spoiled beyond believe and with no ambition.

        • McFlock 9.4.1.1

          Don't blame him. If a job has "meeting people" as an incentive, the pay does not reflect the effort involved.

          If one mentions that there's an obscene amount of cash to be made, the number of people who can't be arsed drops dramatically. Sure, there's a balance so that the growers can actually make enough to keep going, but if the dole is competition for the income then the job is shit.

          There are other barriers. It's a big deal to relocate around the country for insecure employment. Sometimes you need to keep the flat you have, too, as well as pay for accommodation in the new place. If the job goes under, is there a new stand-down or fucking patronising seminar for the dole, or do you go straight back on it with no loss of income? Is there a clear path for some workers to do different seasonal jobs throughout the year, especially between industries?

          These are the questions the local industry associations should be asking and trying to solve, rather than whinging about a lack of imported labour. The current situation is an opportunity to improve methods without being temporarily undercut by the slower-thinking grower down the road.

          Importing labour because they're cheaper is just outsourcing our exploitation.

          • Sabine 9.4.1.1.1

            Well i do blame him. Simple as. If you skip school cauase you can't be bothered, never learn a single thing, than at some stage it is your fault. Simple as.

            The state owes no one anything as the 'state' is a construct we make up – we might discuss this again next time NZ is run by a different party led government. Same with a job. We are not owed one by anyone. It is up to us in life to muster some sort of survival skills and learn something. Cause if not, i think he will find life very hard.

            And i don't think his demands of wages will increase with the lack of any and all marketable skills.

            And that is why quite a few people in this country rather 'import' people to work with – and some abuse the system, and some don't (as is with every system) because you can't work with people who deep down don't want to work.

            And this is a global work force, as much as there is global trade, and Kiwi who want to make money, leave the country to be some 'job stealing migrant to some migrant importing cheap loader business' somewhere else. Go figure.

            • Anker 9.4.1.1.1.1

              Agree Sabine. Good on you for saying it

            • McFlock 9.4.1.1.1.2

              Extrapolating from one person to an entire system of labour is bold. Sure, some people might be happy to live on the dole. If they can manage it, good luck to them.

              But even if that were the case, we seem to have a problem with exporting doctors and nurses rather than fruit pickers. So this isn't an equal ebb and flow of labour, it's employers undervaluing the work they expect from their employees.

              We have a welfare state becaue "work or die" (i.e. no safety net) is exploitation. The biggest thing I've noticed about younger folk isn't an unwillingness to work, it's an unwillingness to be exploited.

              • Sabine

                Living is exploitation, if you don't feed, house and clothes your body chances are one dies quickly, in fact where it not for mother most of us would not survive birth.

                Society is what we make it. You do absolutly not have to work until you die, you can work less, work smarter, or do with less….choices.

                As for his unwillingness to be part of the system, i say hunger is a good teacher.

                • McFlock

                  As for living being exploitation, setting my own constraints is not exploitation. Employment with no social safety net enables my employer to set restrictive constraints well outside of my control. That is exploitation.

                  Hunger is not a great teacher. Just because I can remember verses of John Masefield from the teachers that regularly beat us with a strap doesn't mean I have a love for poetry. It means they beat it into me. The teachers who never hurt me, however, had a chance to build enthusiasm for a subject.

                  What's the kid doing now? Did his "chronic unemployment" hurt him in the long run?

                  • Sabine

                    yes. it actually did.

                    He is now an adult in his thirties with a good knowledge in gaming but no other marketable skills.

                    In saying that, if i had a choice, i would put him on the bum benefit, for life, enough to keep him in a room, warm, clothed and fed. Just simply to keep him of the unemployment record. He is not unemployed – for that he would have had to be employed in the first place. He expect "society" to care for him. That is two different things.

                    • McFlock

                      Still unemployed then?

                      If so he's not a typical case. Some people take longer to get into the swing of things than others. Most turn out pretty good, rather than 10-15 years unemployed.

          • Stuart Munro 9.4.1.1.2

            Did a spell of picking in the early nineties between deepsea trips – MAF didn't pay observers when we were on shore, we were just another group of casualized civil servants. Quite hard work, and I was fit as hell back then. Six weeks of work and the diff went on my car – basically didn't make a cent after fixing it. The value proposition is pretty broken.

            • McFlock 9.4.1.1.2.1

              Tried fruit thinning in the mid-nineties.

              Just couldn't get it right – always too much or too little. That job definitely needed a skillset I didn't have. I suspect pruning would be similar.

              So in one way I can understand growers wanting the workers they've previously used, but turning their back on the local employment market and allowing the local pool of workers to turn brackish has resulted in dumped product.

          • Descendant Of Smith 9.4.1.1.3

            Then there's the fact they have spent the last twenty years or so telling NZer's they are useless, the corruption in the industry with not paying PAYE etc and lots of pay in cash, lack of things like toilet facilities over the years, the large expansions into areas with few workers, and issues extending of slavery etc over in Hawkes Bay.

            There has been warnings and indeed specific pandemic planning about the possibilty of what has occurred – I'd be interested if they gave any thought to it or had any plans in place in the event of a pandemic. Things like building a reliable local workforce, looking after workers when they got there, etc.

        • Foreign waka 9.4.1.2

          Sabine, 9.4.1
          True, absolutely true. I have seen both in the same jobs. The productivity of foreign workers was very much higher that of a kiwi. There are benefits but also traps to be aware of. Many foreign workers know that the job will be for a year or maybe a bit more before they move to better shores. So they work very hard and are most of all very dependable. Downside is that you cannot maintain such high octane performance over time without burning out. Not to mentions that the effort is in most cases rewarded with just more work but never higher hourly rates. This is turn corrodes the work conditions that have been bitterly fought for over generations. Many low paying jobs are maintained by having foreign labor rotating in that way.

          However, my observation is that kiwis are often lacking motivation. They have been thought that you can be anything. Problem is, most on a benefit decided to be a lazy couch potato. It was on offer so they take it. I think some pressure needs to be applied to make payment lasting longer than say 6 months conditional on participation in offers such as back to school, training or seasonal work that has to be taken up. This also means that WINZ has to get off their rubberstamping something something and actually be proactive with assisting people. Its working in other countries.

          • Sabine 9.4.1.2.1

            With every system, some abuse it some don't. I have also heard lovely stories of long lasting friendships that came about someone doing a few weeks worth of work somewhere in rural NZ while backpacking. Still coming back years later to that same place.

            I agree that a child should either be in school or in training. No if and whens and whys. This is not about value of hard work, or capitalism, or exploitation, this is simply making sure that a young person has enough skills to at least participate in society, while here it seems ok to just write them off, to the point where they themselves may not even care anymore. And NZ has some great 'unorthodox training' places i might add.

            I personally believe that benefits should be a. higher – 450 pw (25 grand per year tax free) , b. easier accessible – open offices again, walk in, c. irrespective of partnership status. Once you are on a benefit, it is hard enough.

            But for a child i would stipulate by law that the kid is either in a school or in an apprenticeship. It is so hard to follow up on that learning if you are an adult. And if a child is not in one of them then something needs to be done. Because we are going to have some fairly uneducated young adults coming at us.

    • Treetop 9.5

      Where do the Pasifika and European people you would employ stay?

      • Sabine 9.5.1

        Exactly where the Kiwi 'orchard workers' would stay. Either in Orchard accom, or in their travel van, or in their own house if they live near by. Unelss that is of course not good enough.

        IT does actually not matter, what matters is that work needs to be done, and yet kiwis seem to not want to do the job. And that with a min wage of 20 per hour. So maybe its not the accommodation, or the wages, maybe its the 'jobs' in so far as they are hard, dirty, and demanding. And that often these jobs are seasonally and not where people actually live.

        • Treetop 9.5.1.1

          A warm bed and a hot shower after a hard days work and a cooked meal and some lap tops with free internet and $5 – $10 above the minimum wage, were I age 20 – 25 I would do it.

          I packed apples for a season when I was 18.

          On education: when age 40 I went and did 3 level 5-7 diplomas. I hated college, I turned up for the first class on a Friday in the then 5th form and wagged the rest of the day. I dropped out mid year.

          • Sabine 9.5.1.1.1

            I have a lady stop at mine on her way to Te Puke. She is retired, and is currently working the sorting sheds. She can't get over the money she makes. And she jokes a lot about the young ones. They come, stay a week, get paid and are not seen again. Lol. To be honest if i were in dire needs, i would work there. You can get the job pretty much on the spot, pay is weekly, live in the van. The thing is it is a walk on walk of job, and that also needs to be taken into account. But all things considered it is a job.

            • Foreign waka 9.5.1.1.1.1

              Attitude, willingness and not wanting to be in someone else's pocket…. old teachings, long forgotten.

              • Treetop

                Being the best version of yourself. Waking up at 60 and realising your life has not been lived in some areas due to unwise decisions or not putting yourself first with some things can hurt and be a cause of regret.

                • Sabine

                  But is that not true for all of us? No matter how well we lived our lifes and / or how much we believe to have missed. At some stage must come the acceptance that the things we do come of the knowledge and maturity at the times we do them.

                  And maybe being kind to ourself is the key to not regretting so much.

                • Foreign Waka

                  Yes, but the responsibility lays squarely at your feet and is not someone else's to take care of. Whether financially or "being happy" is your doing and yours alone.

                  • Descendant Of Smith

                    This notion that you control your own destiny is just so much bull-shit. Luck, mentors, arseholes, circumstances, illness, accidents, the family you come from, how well off they are, political direction, legislation, genetics, technology, racism and many, many other things that play a part.

                    It's akin to Thatcher's "there is no community".

                    Of course we should help and support others and create an environment where people can flourish. The sucking in of the working class by capitalists into thinking they are middle class has a lot to answer for.

                    Four generations in NZ to move from poverty to approach the mean income. Most people in NZ have any real conception of how well off the rich are and how poor they are in real terms – though COVID-19 woke a few up.

                    "Most of us, especially in developed nations, expect to grow up to earn more than our parents. But as a new in-depth report by the OECD shows, this is becoming less likely. In fact, things have been trending this way for decades.

                    As a consequence, social mobility across nations, and generations, has stalled."

                    https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/08/moving-up-the-income-ladder-takes-generations-how-many-depends-on-where-you-live/

      • greywarshark 9.5.2

        It's simplistic to say that because someone who skips school and then doesn't do well in life, well that is their own fault. That ignores the variety of circumstances and what there is to motivate all that otherwise boring studying and conforming. Sometimes I wonder why I come on this blog. I hope to learn something new and factual and hear people's experiences but sometimes it is just the same old cant and prejudice and self-involved waffle. But I am motivated by meeting the minds of some remarkable people.

        • Foreign waka 9.5.2.1

          Its a very mean world out there greywarshark. As a parent you want your kid to survive, being able to stand on their own two feet. To learn and create a means to make their way. This in turn creates a strong community. I think values that have served for a very long time are being eroded and instead a cult of ego is fostered. The lesson I have learned looking back is that, the trend of children being brought up under an anti authoritarian model has actually in so many cases lead to non authoritarian behaviour. There is a need to have expectations in terms of a code of conduct and ethics.
          I may add that I reflect with experience of people, environments, poverty, illness without any dole or acc etc…

          • greywarshark 9.5.2.1.1

            edit
            Good thoughts Foreign Waka. But you are still thinking of children and people conforming to ways that you expect. To live together we do indeed need to conform to certain behaviours that benefit us all. But the ways we adopt need to enable people to live a life that is meaningful and possible for them. There are too many middle class people who seem basically materialistic and judge everything on the basis of having a home that could appear in House and Garden, a good education that enables them to enjoy the finer things of life and find a niche for themselves that brings in enough credits (money) to fit in with whoever is regarded as 'the right crowd' (probably displaying the most materialistic success).

            Community and other people's needs and wants do not enter into their minds much as being part of their living. If they can't 'make it' on their own after being given a helping hand here and there, well that's their fault. They are judged for not being materially successful and if they break the law they do so in ways that are not tolerated by the wealthy who have their own rules.

            So tight bums sit on their piles of money and look down on all the unfortunates and repeat little homilies about them being lazy etc. If we promote good behaviour, fair behaviour, putting something into the community when you take it out, sharing some of your excess to help others improve themselves, then we would have a nicer society where people were motivated to be kind or at least tolerant of each other, and limit their excessive behaviour however that was displayed. And a little time and money helping others, would bring good profit in many ways, and not just when there is an emergency, which wouldinclude the people down the road (the wealthy often like to help others struggling overseas because they don't give a damn about those around them).

            Encourage people to find something they enjoy doing and become skilled in. Enable them to work at something that the society wants, if not full-time, make up the needed income from government reserves. Just keep people embedded in society, creatively working, so no time for the destructive. We are so mean in all ways, and if we don't like what we see now, it is actually a reflection of what is in our shrivelled fault-finding little dried peas we call hearts.

        • Cinder 9.5.2.2

          Greywarshark, I couldn't agree more.

          This "Arbeit macht frei" baloney above makes me sick, Along with the comments about the "Society" "We" make.

          Honestly, I would expect to hear this sort of stuff on Kiwiblog or from the shade of Margaret Thatcher.

          Seeing as how Sabine want's to use 'anecdata" to score points about the unemployed and the labour market, how about I tell you my experience of being unemployed:

          Worked in a VERY specialized field in this country for nearly 20 years.

          Shifted cities to take up a new role.

          A little over a year later, myself and a dozen others were made redundant when the company was sold to an offshore entity – They moved to contracting out / short term / casualising the workforce. No spots for me.

          Unemployed for nearly four years, applying for all sorts of work that was 'beneath me" – data entry, telemarketing, all sorts… More than a dozen applications a week, every week, except over Xmas when the jobs dried up

          I was lucky if I received a rejection letter let alone an interview – most employers had no understanding of what I did in my previous roles. The fact I was in my 40's and had "manager" in my previous roles seemed to be a problem.

          WINZ tried to "assist me" into employment. This was what happened, I am "Tom".

          https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2016/11/major-recruitment-company-accused-of-exploiting-jobless.html

          That was me being 'unwilling to be part of the system". The labour market is radically different to how it was a decade ago.

          Honestly, A few weeks ago people who used to regularly comment here talked about how it was now a personal soapbox for a half dozen professional gripers who believe they know it all. They are so self obsessed, and so busy yelling pathetic sophistry, that they have forgotten how to listen.

          Yes Sabine, they were talking about you and some others in particular.

          Last week you were told you were mistaken about the "National raised benefits by $25 / week" lie. You couldn't even acknowledge you were wrong.

          As for your "walk in / walk off" job at the sorting sheds – Sounds pretty fucking dodgy. Got a contract for me to sign so I'm protected? Got the paperwork so I can be sure you're paying PAYE tax to contribute to "Society"? Are you sorting out the paperwork for the student loan? Child Support? Fines? ACC levy?

          Don't bother replying, just add me to the legion of others who can't be bothered with this place anymore.

          Honestly, The Standard is turning into a bourgeois Boomer reckons Soapbox.

          For shame…

          • Foreign Waka 9.5.2.2.1

            Cinder, I am sorry to hear what you go through. I have no solution to offer other than demand all the assistance (financially) that you can get from WINZ and if there are unlawful going on's, try the community law center. webpage below.

            https://communitylaw.org.nz/free-legal-help/

            i.e. when you use the site you should find at the bottom of the page a drop field to choose location. Once you are where you choose, go to the bottom of the page and you find details like below (example only)

            Unit 9, Shop 27
            Bader Drive
            Māngere

            M

            PO Box 43-201

            P(09) 275 4310

            E reception@mangerelaw.org.nz

            • Cinder 9.5.2.2.1.1

              Kia Ora Foreign Weka.

              Thank you for the kind words and offer of support.

              That event was actually nearly 5 years ago, I do have a job now thank goodness.

              As I stated, it was to give the willfully unenlightened "reckons" above some idea of the labour market. But exploiters gonna exploit right?

          • greywarshark 9.5.2.2.2

            edot
            Cinder – That was good for you to get off your chest and for us to hear. I might weep at the way that people go on here, and they are genuinely trying to see through the fog, but it is quite a task for anyone to develop long sight. It's only through study social policy, doing some mind work for mental health, reading some citizen philosophers and thinking and getting back that I have opened my rusty door to understanding.

            People are so comfortable with what they have achieved, for all their life little pieces of information have cropped up about the western world achieving such a high standard of living while other areas so low. And we have given donations to charities and felt we have done our bit. Now that we are trans-global, free marketing and have our country legally invaded and see our own standards fall to those once read about we get an inkling of what life is when the finance system fails you and the paring knife of efficiency falls on you.

            We have heard the lies about the lies of leaders, politicians, wealthy businesspeople trading with tokens which is what our carefully nurtured international money system is. The smart people are desperately buying our houses which remain standing as a physical asset as the tide of local and international finance rises and falls. But people have lost touch with what life is about, they can't bring themselves to make the slightest change that seems obvious, ie euthanasia for terminally ill sufferers, and cannabis use in contained ways. People just want to have more toys, more technology, shape what is available to suit the wealthy ie housing for the happy retired, and goodies for the wannabes, and the anomic tech-mad individualists.

            I think the answer for those who want to face the future and hold onto good from the past is to form a movement of people who care about people and want all to have the ability to make a reasonable living and be secure and know and like most others, and be busy doing good stuff, and have time for enjoyment.

            We might need a local sub-currency properly run on economic principles (this is essential) and be prepared to fight in some way to maintain the group against detractors. You might take an interest in what Robert Guyton does and his group, they are 'doing' people with a good heart who are food growers and practical, and the tiny house builders, and the many creatives around the rohe. You might get creative with your own skills, do a sideways shift from the predator businesses and people you work amongst, and find a place where you are respected, liked, and enjoy a different cadence to your life. Climate change is happening, and a large group in NZ are unable to rethink how to live, are caught up by the present and are stuck there like a display of pretty butterflies.

            Footnote – I see that you have another job but your story may repeat. There are others who will have been through what you have experienced. Think about what I have said. It may have legs in the future!

    • Sabine 10.1

      Well i guess that was to be expected.

    • Treetop 10.2

      See which state in Australia or region in NZ is next to have a lockdown. There are too many exposure sites and the contact tracing is a hit and miss. It has taken two weeks for the situation to occur in Melbourne.

      The 5,000 in NZ from Melbourne recently and air travel from other Australian states to NZ see what the situation is in a week or two.

      • Foreign waka 10.2.1

        Well, get ready for level 3….

        • Treetop 10.2.1.1

          As negative as I can be about the potential of Covid being in the NZ community at any time. The reality is that when Covid is in the community it impacts in many ways.

          • Foreign Waka 10.2.1.1.1

            Indeed and everybody is reacting differently. I am one of those essential workers who work as if there is no tomorrow for a basic hrl. rate. Not so lucky being one of those who got to sit at home doing very very little (video conference in pj's anyone) that's being called "work from home".

            • greywarshark 10.2.1.1.1.1

              Kapai Kia ora Foreign Waka.
              And that is whether you are Maori or not. We all need to face our present which is integrating with Maori ideas more, and treasuring our workers especially in the border and health fields.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    6 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    7 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    8 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    9 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    11 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    12 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    14 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    17 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T09:21:20+00:00