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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  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    20 hours ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    21 hours ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    21 hours ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    23 hours ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    1 day ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    3 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    3 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    4 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    5 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    6 days ago
  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago
  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    6 days ago
  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Auckland faces 25% water inflation shock
    Three Waters became a focus of anti-Government protests under Labour, but its dumping by the new Government hasn’t solved councils’ funding problems and will eventually hit the back pockets of everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 8:06 am today are:The Government ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Small accomplishments and large ironies
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VII
    In order to catch up to the actual progress of the D&D campaign, I present you with another couple of sessions. These were actually held back to back, on a Monday and Tuesday evening. Session XV Alas, Goatslayer had another lycanthropic transformation… though this time, he ran off into the ...
    6 days ago
  • Accelerating the Growth Rate?
    There is a constant theme from the economic commentariat that New Zealand needs to lift its economic growth rate, coupled with policies which they are certain will attain that objective. Their prescriptions are usually characterised by two features. First, they tend to be in their advocate’s self-interest. Second, they are ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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