Open mike 27/06/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 27th, 2021 - 64 comments
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64 comments on “Open mike 27/06/2021 ”

  1. Adrian Thornton 1

    So it turns out Americans rightly have little trust in any of their MSM news outlets..not just FOX but also including all Liberal media….5 years of 'Russiagate', endless 'Trumpisim', misleading Covid information will do that I guess…the rest of the world are not far behind their our 'non' trust in their own local MSM.

    "According to a study, the United States has the lowest level of trust in the media among all countries surveyed – 29% and remains one of the few countries that hasn’t seen an increase in trust in recent years."

    This sort of thing adds fire to the fuel…

    Judge Finds Rachel Maddow Hyperbolic and Unreliable

    https://www.outkick.com/rachel-maddow-tucker-judge/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzJ3tnpVGEg

    • Pete 1.1

      Ignoring the rest of history, consider from 2015 onwards. Would there be a reason for the United States having the lowest level of trust in the media among all countries surveyed?

      (Past the media itself shooting itself in the feet in various ways.)

      Could a would-be leader of the country, then leader of the country roundly, loudly, universally telling 330 million daily that the media is 'fakenews' have any impact on the stats?

      • Adrian Thornton 1.1.1

        aahh..always back to Trump, you de realize that pretty soon bring soon bringing Trump in a debate will be like bringing up Hitler/Nazi's..ie you instantly lose.

        • Incognito 1.1.1.1

          yes

        • Adrian Thornton 1.1.1.2

          Man I gotta stop talking to mates and writing at the same time as I obviously can't multitask..that didn't read too good, but you get my drift.

        • Pete 1.1.1.3

          I only became aware of and got used to hearing the expression "fake news" in recent years. I watched many live press conferences from the US and the expression was ubiquitous.

          Trump seemed to want to be the larger than life character. His supporters wanted him to be that. His presence, words and ways of seeing things were pervasive.

          If reflecting that reality means "you instantly lose" what does it take to win? Make stuff up? i.e. play the game the media is accused of playing and be deemed to be untrustworthy?

          • Adrian Thornton 1.1.1.3.1

            "I only became aware of and got used to hearing the expression "fake news" in recent years."..are you serious..what the fuck was "weapons of mass destruction'? a bit of "fake news" that did more damage to the world by a fucking thousand country miles compared to anything Trump did.. you must either have a very short memory or operate in some sort of hermetically sealed bubble or something my friend..

            • McFlock 1.1.1.3.1.1

              You are confusing the knowledge of some news being inaccurate (or an accurate reporting of falsified information) with the expression "fake news" that in recent years has gained popularity as a way to assign doubt upon true information reported correctly.

              WMDs were lies reported truthfully.

              Hundreds of thousands of dead americans were facts truthfully reported, the reporting then called "fake news" by the abject failure of a shitstain-in-chief.

              • Adrian Thornton

                "WMDs were lies reported truthfully" …are you fucking kidding?, 36 million people around the world protested against that war at the time because they knew that the lies of WMD, that pretty much all MSM in the west spewed out verbatim straight from the Whitehouse with no counter narrative allowed was fake news..exactly as those very same 'news' sources do today when it comes to willingly and unquestioningly enabling western regime change wars and interventions, again with no counter narratives allowed…which is one of the reasons why there is so little trust in the MSM, excepting the usual suspects of course, who seem to swallow whatever is feed to them.

                "In an investigation of the news coverage of Colin Powell's 2003 U.N. address, rhetorical scholar John Oddo found that mainstream journalists "strengthened Powell's credibility, predisposed audiences to respond favorably to his discourse, and subtly altered his claims to make them seem more certain and warranted."[19] In 2003, a study released by Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting stated the network news disproportionately focused on pro-war sources and left out many anti-war sources. According to the study, 64% of total sources were in favor of the Iraq War while total anti-war sources made up 10% of the media (only 3% of US sources were anti-war). The study stated that "viewers were more than six times as likely to see a pro-war source as one who was anti-war; with U.S. guests alone, the ratio increases to 25 to 1."[20]"

                • McFlock

                  The information was reported accurately. The information, however, was a lie.

                  As opposed to the much more recent leitmotif "fake news", which most often seems to refer to inconvenient facts being reported truthfully.

                  • Adrian Thornton

                    No the information was not reported accurately.

                    If it were, then the consumer of the event concerning that piece of "information" would have been also exposed to other information that opposed that narrative, thereby making that original "information" complete (by allowing citizens to view both sides of the story, and with ALL the information, being able to construct an informed opinion) however as MSM did not do this, that "information" you keep on insisting was accurately reported, was in fact incomplete, hence not accurately reported..in other words fake news.

                    In Iraq Crisis, Networks Are Megaphones for Official Views

                    https://fair.org/take-action/action-alerts/in-iraq-crisis-networks-are-megaphones-for-official-views/

                    • McFlock

                      that "information" you keep on insisting was accurately reported, was in fact incomplete, hence not accurately reported..in other words fake news.

                      Not everyone with an opinion has an opinion based on direct knowledge. The US sec'y of state presenting intel (that turns out to have been fabricated) will obviously get more air time than any "anti-war organisation". Why? Because not only was he in a position to receive privileged information, he was in a position to act on it.

                      In a world with practically infinite amounts of information, no news organisation can present "ALL" the information. That's why they have editors.

                      Do you think the majority of mainstream media were attempting to provide the truth of the situation as they saw it based on the information they had to hand?

                      Do you think they were deliberately trying to mislead their audience as to the actual truth of the situation as they knew it?

                    • Adrian Thornton

                      @ McFlock, " Do you think the majority of mainstream media were attempting to provide the truth of the situation as they saw it based on the information they had to hand? "…no

                      “In a world with practically infinite amounts of information, no news organisation can present “ALL” the information. That’s why they have editors.”..they didn’t present ANY other counter information, that is the fucking point!

                      On the US media nightly news stories about Iraq (1/30/03–2/12/03)

                      "More than two-thirds (267 out of 393) of the guests featured were from the United States. Of the U.S. guests, a striking 75 percent (199) were either current or former government or military officials. Only one of the official U.S. sources—Sen. Edward Kennedy (D.-Mass.)—expressed skepticism or opposition to the war. Even this was couched in vague terms: “Once we get in there how are we going to get out, what’s the loss for American troops are going to be, how long we’re going to be stationed there, what’s the cost is going to be,” said Kennedy on NBC Nightly News (2/5/03)."

                      Only a complete idiot could still believe that the US media acted in good faith leading into the Iraq war…don't tell me you are one of them?

                      https://fair.org/take-action/action-alerts/in-iraq-crisis-networks-are-megaphones-for-official-views/

                      I know it is in your nature to defend all forms Western imperialism, and this time it seems the media that the entire world knows actually encouraged it (many have since apologized for their lack of integrity in this matter) , but come on man have a bit of self respect

                    • McFlock

                      Your claim has gone from 10% of MSM sources being opposed to the war to "they didn’t present ANY other counter information".

                      This is your inability to coherently communicate the stories behind historical facts with the benefit of hindsight. Yet you pillory the MSM for similar errors on reporting events as they happened, with sources who were deliberately fabricating evidence.

                      If they were deliberately lying, what are you doing when you change your claims like that?

  2. Robert Guyton 2

    Danyl's column is a very interesting read:

    "It’s hard to build a good cabal, though. You need a group of politicians and operatives who trust, like and complement each other. Simon Bridges’ cabal had Jami-Lee Ross in it and (Jerry Seinfeld voice) that was a bad cabal! A terrible cabal! David Cunliffe’s cabal had David Cunliffe in it: also a poor choice. So leadership is still key. A good leader builds a good cabal around them."

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/08-06-2021/what-if-nationals-problem-isnt-the-leadership-but-the-cabal/

  3. Sanctuary 3

    So has our media learnt a thing from covid?

    It is almost like a ritual now the usual grab bag of nonsense from our main newspapers. They spent months and months snivelling and whining and screaming on behalf of one their main advertisers in the tourism sector to open the borders. When there is a covid scare they proceed to spend the first 24 hours offering 20/20 hindsight as news and publishing reckons from know nothings and lots of anecdotal screeching about shambolic testing centres and demands for accountability because you know, you should have a magic wand which can instantly conjure up staff and resources followed by more reckons and choleric language expressing anger and disbelief from "…Devastated travellers (who) voice heartbreak and frustration at the travel bubble pause…" despite the fact you'd have to be Stevie Wonder not to have seen it coming this time and the government making it absolutely clear you travel at your own risk.

    Our media is run by unethical idiots incapable of learning anything.

    • Yes, if the media were ethical, they would be screwing this government and Bloomfields pathetic handling of the vaccine rollout.

      • Last place amongst OECD
      • 120th place in the world

      'We are at the head of the queue'. I guess Hipkins meant we are at the head of the queue for worst OECD performance.

      But hell, lets fiddle with cycle bridges for a tiny number of middle class North Shore residents whilst NZ burns.

      https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/new-zealand-slumps-120th-in-world-covid-19-vaccination-rates

      [You never responded to the Moderation note and withdrew or apologised. I will take you out of Pre-Moderation, since it has been almost one month now, but with the assumption that you haven’t learned a thing and have not changed your ways of commenting on this site – Incognito]

      • Incognito 3.1.1

        See my note to you.

        • Peter ChCh 3.1.1.1

          To be honest, I never saw the note (don't look on here every day!).

          And no. No way will I apologise to that stalker. If thats a ban, so be it.
          And as for ‘withdrawing’, I really would have to go back to see the chain of conversation.

          But yes, from now on I will reference any claim I make (but please also apply same standard to others)

          • Incognito 3.1.1.1.1

            That’s disappointing, in more than one way. Better we draw a line under it and turn to a fresh sheet, yes?

            • Peter ChCh 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Sounds great Incognito. New start and thank you for your very reasonable moderation.

              For the record, I think the withdrawal was because I did not provide a reference. If so, I withdraw that and as I say, will always reference in future.

              Cheers

              • Louis

                So that can be taken as a form of an apology and btw I am not a stalker. It is good that from now on you will provide a link to back up your claims.

          • weka 3.1.1.1.2

            "To be honest, I never saw the note (don't look on here every day!)."

            Can you see the Replies list tab? Top right on both computer and mobile desktop version. If you click on that you will see all replies to your comments in reverse chronological order. This is the place to look and see if you've been moderated. We recommend people do this each time they visit, as a courtesy to debate culture and seeing who has replied, and to lessen moderator grumpiness at having to chase people up.

      • Muttonbird 3.1.2

        Why are you so keen for our vaccination rate to be that of the rest world? Would you also like our Covid-19 response to be that of the rest of the world?

        Our main defence is working well and will continue to work well until the population is vaccinated to an acceptable level.

        There is no rush. Rushing the relaxation of restrictions leads to disaster with respect to Coronavirus.

        • Peter chch 3.1.2.1

          Well clearly the government was keen on rushing it (as you put it), why else did Hipkins knowingly mislead us by saying we were at the front of the queue?

          No country can isolate itself forever. The strategy was elimination until a vaccine became available. Then achieve herd immunity by vaccine. That strategy is failing on the second step.

          Our response to Covid reflected our isolation, our dispersed population and other unique factors. These steps were appropriate for NZ, but hardly available to most of the rest of the world.

      • Louis 3.1.3

        "Jacinda Ardern said "no, no" when asked on Breakfast about New Zealand being ranked120th last in the OECD, as of June 15.

        She said such rankings largely measure first doses and the country was employing a "different strategy" in its vaccine rollout.

        While other countries were pausing second doses in the face of outbreaks, Ardern said New Zealand is "fully vaccinating as we go". This meant the country was ahead of Japan and Australia in terms of its population"

        https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/pm-rejects-nz-ranking-last-in-oecd-covid-vaccination-rates

        • Peter chch 3.1.3.1

          Although Japan and Australia are not exactly an example of what to aspire to (and don't get me started on the Olympics – unbelievable stupidity on Japans part).

          I am aware Ardern said that. Sounds like spin to me, but maybe I am overly cynical. I am in no way a conspiracy theorist, but that cycle bridge seems like a blatant attempt at deflecting at a time of increasing dissatisfaction about vaccination.

          Great article by Fran O'Sullivan (unfortunately paywalled)

        • Matiri 3.1.3.2

          I live in a rural community of 1000 people spread throughout several river valleys, our DHB is Nelson Marlborough. So far, 900 vaccs have been given, 300 people are fully vaccinated including myself. Our health centre has been at the forefront of our DHBs efforts with two of our nurse practitioners running pop up vaccination clinics around the region.

          We only hear the 'bad' news from media reports.

    • Jester 3.2

      I don't believe half the stuff on NZ Herald and Stuff web sites. The news outlets should be independent and actually research and report the news.

      Items like this do not give me much faith in them.

      Government housing developer paying $25,000 a month for 'secret' sponsored media stories without disclaimer | Stuff.co.nz

  4. Adrian Thornton 4

    Breaking News…

    Key witness in Assange case admits to lies in indictment

    " major witness in the United States’ Department of Justice case against Julian Assange has admitted to fabricating key accusations in the indictment against the Wikileaks founder. The witness, who has a documented history with sociopathy and has received several convictions for sexual abuse of minors and wide-ranging financial fraud, made the admission in a newly published interview in Stundin where he also confessed to having continued his crime spree whilst working with the Department of Justice and FBI and receiving a promise of immunity from prosecution."

    https://stundin.is/grein/13627/key-witness-in-assange-case-admits-to-lies-in-indictment/

    • greywarshark 4.1

      Will this help Assange? Will it mean that Australia can reach out to one of its illustrious sons in need?

      • Adrian Thornton 4.1.1

        Australia is an unquestioning ally to the USA, so I wouldn't hold my breath on that happening….I will be extremely surprised if this gets a mention on most MSM outlets including our own RNZ, who sadly remain as silent as the rest of them.

  5. greywarshark 5

    Can I see my long discussion on hate speech and Kris Faafoi transferred here? I thought it made some points but have i somehow vanished it? Or was it too pointed and bruising?

    • Incognito 5.1

      It was caught by the Auto-Moderation filter because you had not correctly removed the many hyperlinks and left too many of the square brackets, inadvertently.

      It was missing a source-link to Wikipedia.

      It was poorly formatted and hard to see what was quoted text and what your own words were.

      It was a shambles and I trashed it.

      • Ad 5.1.1

        OK Burn of the Day

      • greywarshark 5.1.2

        Thanks for advising incognito, and it seems that formatting etc may be another barrier to free speech.

        • Incognito 5.1.2.1

          You’re welcome.

          You’re also welcome to re-post, after some TLC.

          If you don’t want to draw attention to your comment and don’t want to waste time of grumpy Moderators then you know what to do to avoid Auto-Moderation.

          The choice is yours; there’s no free speech impediment, just following this site’s simple rules!

  6. Forget now 6

    Not good, but not too bad yet. Feeling a bit anxious about attending a large public gathering last night – not many masks in the Dunedin throng. Still, have to wait and see – sympathies to those in Wellington, the lurking uncertainty can be worse than a known problem.

    The partner of the Sydney man (case A) who travelled to Wellington has tested positive for Covid-19… "That shows that case A was able to transmit the virus, and it suggests that case A was infectious towards the end of their stay in New Zealand. Those two people were isolated from each other on return to Australia, given Case A's positive test result at that point."…

    test results have been encouraging, but they received a "potential indeterminate" result in Masterton. It may be a false-positive.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/445625/covid-19-alert-level-2-extended-for-wellington-no-new-community-cases

    • McFlock 6.1

      Had to move through the winter thingee crowd to get to another venue. Felt bloody weird – took me a while to realise it was the biggest crowd I'd been in for a couple of years.

    • I Feel Love 6.2

      Were you wearing a mask Forget Now? Was a great night nonetheless.

      • Forget now 6.2.1

        I was wearing a mask (though not while trudging to Moray Place, only when within arms reach of other people), but only saw two others. I was hoping that it'd be rescheduled to next weekend. Not saying that it wasn't fantastic, especially seeing my own kids walking by with the lanterns we'd made together (I'd been in the procession with them previously, and you don't really get to see much from there), just reckless.

        https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/crowds-awe-midwinter-spectacle

    • alwyn 6.3

      "That shows that case A was able to transmit the virus,"

      Alternatively, and more cheerfully, they both picked it up in Sydney before they came and the partner was just slower in showing symptoms. Perhaps I am too optimistic though.

  7. greywarshark 7

    There is a revealing and uncomfortable piece from Neale Jones in the Spinoff that is important because Jones is CEO of the PR/Lobbying firm, Capital Government Relations. He also has been Chief-of-Staff for both Andrew Little and Jacinda Ardern. Chris Trotter finds it disturbing for NZrs hopeful of many things from Labour and a return to a satisfactory level of democracy. https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2021/06/democratic-socialism-from-ground-up-not.html

    Neale calls certain people 'anoraks' which Wikipedia says is used to mean:

    "Anorak" is a British slang term which refers to a person who has a very strong interest, perhaps obsessive, in niche subjects. This interest may be unacknowledged or not understood by the general public
    or
    a person who is extremely enthusiastic about and interested in something that other people find boring.., An anorak is basically a pretty decent insult. … The use of the word often fills the "insulter" with a delectable sense of satisfaction and achievement.

    Trotter's response –
    And, just in case you missed it, note the use of the word “anoraks”. Clearly, any citizen who takes an interest in the life of their city is some sort of sad obsessive; someone urgently in need of getting a life. Isn’t it great to know how Labour’s movers-and-shakers view the active citizen?

    It is all centred on housing. And wanting to get rid of all the old and build new apartments. And end up looking Stalinesk or palatial – because that is what the architects usually give us. I remember reading that this is what China has done. We can learn much from looking at the rest of the world.

    • RedBaronCV 7.1

      A lot of the discussion on these housing changes was based on some very high future population estimates. Don't know if he had a hand in them but yes there are a lot of people in Wellington – regardless of the decision- who are pretty upset about how the process played out. And considering the greens get over 10% of their total vote from the 2 main Wellington electorates and labour also do very well I'd say the show is not yet over.

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    “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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days 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
    4 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
    6 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
    7 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
    20 hours 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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. ...
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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