Open mike 27/01/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 27th, 2013 - 63 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step right up to the mike…

63 comments on “Open mike 27/01/2013 ”

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  1. xtasy 1
    27 January 2013 at 7:29 am

    Today is da day, so to say, the day of cutting the air and future focus.

    I hate those last two words, sorry, they send a chill down my spine, as that was Bennett’s recipe to deal to us WINZ “bludgers”, was it not???

    Anyway, today is SHEARER DAY, it is the day of make or break again, once again. We had one late November last year, where all was good, until the Cunliffe slashing took place, but, aye, it was the hyped up housing speech.

    Now I am looking forward now, I want to hear and smile, to learn and yearn, to love and hate, whatever, I want to hear bloody Shearer speak the speech for the nation.

    This is going to be it, to be interesting, that stuff late last year was so staged and over-exercised, I want to hear and see what our great friend Mike Smith has been telling us. Shearer is all good, a real success, will win 2014, and he is a HOT shot of sorts.

    I am waiting and hearing and listening. Let us wait and see and discuss later today. I had a night through, unusual, but I get this, to work on real BIG projects I cannot divulge on. It is done, in the pipeline, I will watch the space, and once something comes of it, I may share it here, at least in bits.

    Do not fall for all this hype crap and stay real and honest, folks, we are all in it together, even with JK bastard. We are “humane”, and even the wrongdoers will not be thrown off the life boats here. I wonder if they would treat us the same. Good night, good morning or good day, whatever. Take care and enjoy!

    • James 1.2
      27 January 2013 at 1:36 pm

      I tried to find on the Labour website anything to do with Shearer making his speech at Wainuiomata today given all the Labour emails go to Spam in my inbox, but I couldn’t find anything on their website. I wanted to know what time, where etc. It’s probably in my emails, but if I were someone who didn’t receive emails and heard Shearer was giving a speech in Wainuiomata and wanted to see if Cpt Mumblefuck really mumbles fuck, I’d like to know where to go…

      Another example of the “closed shop” that is the once great New Zealand Labour Party.

      btw: When going into their website it’s got “Nationals Departure Lounge” right at the top in much bigger font than the Labour logo, wtf? Bad web design and editing principles.

      • veutoviper 1.2.1
        27 January 2013 at 1:42 pm

        Sherarer’s speech is happening right now presumably as it was scheduled for 1.30pm in the Summer School programme.

  2. Dv 2
    27 January 2013 at 7:47 am

    This is not good.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8228299/World-asks-is-NZ-milk-safe-to-drink

    The Washington Post, running a story from the Bloomberg wire service, said Fonterra and the Government were facing a “milk scare”.

    That panic was sparked by a Wall Street Journal article which labelled DCD a “toxic” substance that could cause damage to New Zealand’s $10 billion dairy industry. Farmers apply DCD to pastures to prevent the fertiliser byproduct nitrate from getting into rivers and lakes.

    On Friday, dairy company Fonterra announced that it had found low levels of the fertiliser aid dicyandiamide (DCD) in dairy products. The tests were undertaken in September, two months before the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) was alerted.

    That delay has caused Labour’s trade spokesman, Clayton Cosgrove, to question whether such a decision could cause more widespread damage.

    • Colonial Weka 2.1
      27 January 2013 at 10:32 am

      This is good. Industrial dairy is not only not sustainable, it is causing massive damage to the land in NZ. Bout time the spotlight was on those destructive practices.

      It is possible for us to make a living without fucking the environment we are part of and are dependent on.

      • rosy 2.1.1
        27 January 2013 at 10:41 am

        Industrial dairy is not only not sustainable, it is causing massive damage to the land in NZ.

        And is set to do more damage with the massive government input into irrigation and water storage schemes
        From a press release from Forest & Bird :

        Forest & Bird says the private industrial irrigation schemes that the Government plans to spend $400 million of taxpayer’s money on over the next four years will leave this country worse off, not better.

        The Government announced this week that a new Crown-owned company will allocate the first $80m in this year’s budget, as part of its plan to subsidise large scale irrigation schemes.

        “If these private schemes really make financial sense, then the agricultural sector would not need such significant taxpayer subsidies,” says Forest & Bird Advocacy Manager Kevin Hackwell.

        “As taxpayers are already paying huge amounts for cleaning up waterways that have been degraded by poorly managed agricultural intensification, New Zealanders will not want to subsidise any new schemes, which will spoil even more rivers.

        • Rosie 2.1.1.1
          27 January 2013 at 11:25 am

          Hi Rosy and Hi Colonial Weka. I see the discussion around the recent National Govt irrigation funding announcement is going on today as well. I have copied my reply to you at yesterdays Open Mike, here:

          “It’s all a bit cloak and dagger to me. It’s also rolling over the conutry’s democracy, if it’s Canterbury”.

          Exactly. The sacking of the elected representatives of ECAN was a breath taking act of tyranny, with the intention of blocking attempts from concerned parties who wish to take the matter of irrigation to the environment court. The documents obtained by The Press under the OIA spell out clearly the intention of the govt to “suspend democracy” in favour of economic growth for the Canterbury region: (And for whose benefit really?)

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7874996/Race-to-irrigate-behind-ECan-move

          John Minto’s view:

          http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog/24/07.htm

          So water storage plans aside for Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and Nelson Tasman (thanks for actually reading the pdf’s on the nat site!) One of the big issues around the announcemment of the $80 million funding for irrigation is the removal of the democratic process. It’s just not any old irrigation scheme.
          Secondly, as you mentioned, is the issue of the environment. The expansion of dairying in Canterbury surely can’t be a sustainable move and one that the environment won’t be able to support long term. Climate change experts predict that dry regions of NZ (eg Canterbury) will continue to get drier and experience more droughts where as wetter areas (eg, west coast) will continue to get wetter and experience more floods. We had an example of this over Xmas/NY with floods in the west coast and ultra hot dry and windy conditions over the other side of the alps that contributed to scrub fires
 And of course I agree with you in regard to the issue of industrial farming and it’s intensification. Just how much can you force out of an animal and out of the land that supports that animal?
          The burden on the environment will be too much.
          Oh for a govt with a vision!

      • Foreign Waka 2.1.2
        27 January 2013 at 11:30 am

        Comment from the article: It is not melamine, its not as poisonous. Hallelujah!

    • David H 2.2
      27 January 2013 at 4:51 pm

      Now Key will shit bricks if his beloved farming sector starts to slow down. There goes his fictitious surplus even further out of reach

  3. RH 3
    27 January 2013 at 8:29 am

    Even water is toxic taken in large amounts…

  4. kiwicommie 4
    27 January 2013 at 8:43 am

    This NZ Herald article was malicious and disgusting: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10861651
    “So, why should we attempt to “cure” child poverty, given that the disease does not really exist and even if it did, we do not care? Perhaps we should abolish the Children’s Commission.”
    The last time I visit their site, Grant should get a room with Ann Coulter. I’d rather a better sleep, than read the herald. Maybe the families in poverty can sue for libel, he claims they don’t exist.

  5. KJT 5
    27 January 2013 at 10:08 am

    Just for Jenny.

    http://www.greens.org.nz/speeches/state-planet-speech-2013

    One of a Green co-leaders major speeches.

    Ignoring AGW?

    • Jenny 5.1
      27 January 2013 at 10:30 am

      Just for Jenny.

      KJT

      Thank you for the compliment.

      I will continue to hold their feet to the fire until they stop trying to play down climate change and agree to make it an election issue in 2014.

      Let us not see a repeat of the shameful US presidential election in this country where all sides have an unspoken gentleman’s agreement not to discuss this issue.

      • QoT 5.1.1
        27 January 2013 at 12:13 pm

        I will continue to hold their feet to the fire

        Yes, I’m sure it’s your constant dominating of Standard Open Mike threads that’s forced Turei to mention climate change despite the will of her political masters. 🙄

        • Jenny 5.1.1.1
          27 January 2013 at 1:38 pm

          Turei is is a political leader in her own right. Responsible for her own decisions and policy statements. Good, or ill.

          She (hopefully) is not beholden to the male political masters you cynically allude to.

          I will do my, admitted little, best to ask her and other Green leaders to take on board my reservations about their political direction. (Even despite threats from you to expunge my comments.)

  6. geoff 6
    27 January 2013 at 10:29 am

    This looks interesting:
    http://lhp.org.nz/?p=542

  7. ak 7
    27 January 2013 at 10:42 am

    XSector 868873 year of glorious Viper report from Madam Luicheng in all briefness: Operation D&C~DC proceeding in lagging measure to neutralise opposition to standard infiltration and acquisiton of bounteous resource. DC target resisted temptation and to be replaced with other willing tool Deluded Independent Commentators. Proceeding. Sub-operation DCD early release in current season.
    Sector Summary: D&C most absolute effectiveness measure in progressive fields over all time, to continue. DC D&C role vacancy filled easily by standard DICs as DCD plan devalues target. Key snake figurehead held firmly in position by own propaganda units. Largest socialist resource operation now corporatised and open to normal acquisitions. Year of Viper Snake’s Grass acquisition target progressing to plan.

  8. Jenny 8
    27 January 2013 at 11:05 am

    ‘

    The history of the Nobel prize in economics has been revealed.

    In recognition of this auspicious event. Along with the New Years Honours list I think we should create a high profile New Zealand version. By which this country can identify the recipients and accord them the proper recognition they deserve.

    In no particular order, I would like to forward my list of innaugral nominees, they are: Roger Douglas, Don Brash, Ruth Richardson, Bill English, Steven Joyce, David Parker.

  9. PlanetOrphan 9
    27 January 2013 at 11:37 am

    Individual Employment Contracts and the impact on company formations over the last 20 years.
    (A really hard figure to calculate, because of the “Self-Employed-Contractor”)
    Do individual employment contracts really help Aoteoroa ?

    • James 9.1
      27 January 2013 at 1:40 pm

      Self Employed Contractor won’t be Employment contracts. They’re contractual matters.

      Individual employment contracts are the worst thing given the “requirement” to not “discuss your pay level with your colleagues”

      I’d rather see group contracts for departments/divisions of MNCs and other large corporations. So somewhere like the Warehouse will have “Stockroom employment agreements” and “front of house employment agreements” “supervisor employment agreements” that are standard and contain the paybands in writing in the agreement to show what people on that agreement can earn up to.

      But given the militant attitude of employers against unions, unlikely to happen unless legislated.

      • PlanetOrphan 9.1.1
        28 January 2013 at 5:23 pm

        At the cost of job security, seems to be one of the missing pieces of policies at the moment.

        School leavers need the support of collective bargaining let alone the rest of the work force.

  10. rosy 10
    27 January 2013 at 12:14 pm

    Lesson for today… Know your place, and it’s not in the boardrooms or the bars.

    Davos – apparently the elite of the elite companies that attend would rather send only four male delegates rather than the five executives that they’re entitled to send if that fifth person must be a female executive.

    And in other news – women are being blamed for their own rapes again. This time by the Absolutely Fabulous Joanna Lumley. Sure, people behave badly, but hey women don’t rape themselves.

    • QoT 10.1
      27 January 2013 at 1:27 pm

      A great comment I saw on Facebook today: the big framing problem* with approaching rape prevention in terms of “here’s what you, as a woman, should do to avoid being raped” is that it all boils down to “make sure someone else gets raped instead of you.”

      *The other big problems falling under the “also this approach has never actually addressed the realities of rape and relies on stranger-in-a-dark-alley myths” heading

      • Colonial Weka 10.1.1
        27 January 2013 at 9:04 pm

        QFT. Although the people that think that women cause rape by how they dress etc, presumably also believe that the man wouldn’t have raped at all if he hadn’t been made to at that time (eg by being exposed to a woman in a short skirt).

        • rosy 10.1.1.1
          27 January 2013 at 10:36 pm

          presumably also believe that the man wouldn’t have raped at all if he hadn’t been made to at that time

          The trouble with that line is all the kids, old ladies and housewives cleaning windows* that get raped.

          *Years a go a woman was at home cleaning the windows one morning. A man spotted her, found the door unlocked and went in and raped her. The police were reported as saying women should protect themselves by locking their doors when home alone. Really made me think about where the blame was being laid, that one.

          • Colonial Weka 10.1.1.1.1
            27 January 2013 at 10:40 pm

            Ah, but those women get raped by real rapists, unlike women in short skirts, who provoke otherwise decent men into raping them by showing too much leg. Or something.

            I guess the point I am trying to make is that people will believe whatever, if it means they don’t have to think about the men they know and care about being rapists.

            • rosy 10.1.1.1.1.1
              27 January 2013 at 10:56 pm

              Like you don’t want to think about that if you want to prevent rape, best to keep the men at home with the door locked (as long as you haven’t left any old ladies, or kids with them) and go out yourself kind of thing?

              At this point I’d like to express my appreciation for all the caring, kind and thoughtful men I know who would never treat women badly.

              • Colonial Viper …
                27 January 2013 at 11:22 pm

                Every human being needs to maintain adequate self protection skills. This includes the ability to assess, mitigate, and use strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

                Maintaining appropriate situational awareness at all times is crucial in being able to perform these tasks adequately, especially in environments where you may have relatively low degrees of control or initiative. The last thing you want to do is find yourself in a situation with low situational awareness combined with low degrees of control combined with an inability to assert the initiative.

                Whatever other cultural, moral or philosophical overlays may be placed in the frame, these are the very basics for maximising self protection and survival. “Blame”, “judgement” etc. are exercises for the idle commentariat and media in their leisure time, but completely irrelevant in the critical moments which actually count.

                • rosy …
                  27 January 2013 at 11:33 pm

                  Yes, you have to protect yourself. But why? Does a shopkeeper get robbed because there is no protection against just anyone walking through the door? It’s the thief’s fault, not the shopkeepers. Same process for most opportunistic crime imo.

                  The situation I described with the window-cleaning rape was not and ‘exercises for the idle commentariat and media in their leisure time’ it was totally relevant being, at the time, a stay at home young mother with the kids at kindergarten. It made me think very much about my situational awareness. And then get angry that I might have to change my innocent behaviour to take into account some very nasty behaviour of others. That’s not a good way for society to be.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    27 January 2013 at 11:41 pm

                    Yeah agree its not a good way for society to be. A pervasive sense of insecurity and fear is destructive to communities.

                    Does a shopkeeper get robbed because there is no protection against just anyone walking through the door?

                    Shopkeepers tend to minimise how much cash they have on hand, ensure that they don’t hold cash on the premises over weekends and over nights, can install security cameras and alarms, and the better ones ensure that their staff are trained in how to handle situations like robberies etc. to minimise the risk of harm.

                    It’s the thief’s fault, not the shopkeepers. Same process for most opportunistic crime imo.

                    As I suggested, blame can get assigned any time after the critical moments have been appropriately handled.

                    • rosy …
                      28 January 2013 at 12:04 am

                      You’re heading toward making QoT’s point that what you’re doing is protecting yourself, so the opportunist will pick on someone not as ‘situationally aware’.

                      Like maybe an old lady living alone who forgot to lock up properly and with a few dollars on the sideboard. Situational awareness doesn’t prevent the crime, just diverts it. Changing the situations, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of potential criminals prevents crime.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      28 January 2013 at 12:18 am

                      The problem is that you and I don’t have all that much control over other peoples beliefs, attitudes and behaviours, but we have a fair bit over our own.

                    • rosy …
                      28 January 2013 at 12:29 am

                      “The problem is that you and I don’t have all that much control over other peoples beliefs, attitudes and behaviours…”

                      No we don’t, not in an individual sense, but in a societal sense it’s possible to reduce the risk. Hence a strong belief in social justice, poverty reduction and all of those other things that lefties fight for.

                      I think the main difference in our opinions on personal safety is that you’re talking from a position of someone who has a strong belief in your own ability to protect yourself from crime – and I’m pleased that you do have that confidence.

                      I’m coming from a position where I think I cannot protect myself from crime and my personal safety is often at some risk… unless I provide some sort of physical or virtual barricade (like the way I dress, not being visibly alone, the times I travel or am out on the street etc, etc.), which is not something I’m happy to do – not even close.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      28 January 2013 at 12:39 am

                      Your points are good ones rosy. Self belief is not always that easy to cultivate or keep on hand, and I understand that I can’t speak to the particular environments and situations around your own locality and day to day life.

                    • rosy …
                      28 January 2013 at 1:28 am

                      “Your points are good ones rosy.”
                      Thanks CV

                      “I understand that I can’t speak to the particular environments and situations around your own locality and day to day life.”

                      I guess it’s not particular environments and situations, it’s any environment where the onus is on innocent person to keep safe rather than on people generally not to do bad stuff and creating a society that understands that personal freedom doesn’t mean infringing against someone else.

                    • locus …
                      28 January 2013 at 2:26 am

                      Yes CV you’re right 
.. goes without saying that risk awareness is essential, but is it reasonable to expect children, elderly, people under the influence of alcohol, etc. to be fully risk aware, and then also have the ability to deal with “critical moments”?

                      Managing risk… well you can do this by:
                      1 – Removing the risk. This is the right way to go, and IMO a good way to ‘remove’ the risk is for society as a whole to challenge every type of justification or excuse for men exploiting their power over others to satisfy their sexual appetite. In other words, repudiate any argument that suggests the rape victim was in part responsible for the crime. Alternatively you could lock up every would-be rapist
 which is plain nonsense.

                      2 – Avoiding the risk. For example by not being visible if you’re a vulnerable person (e.g child, woman alone, elderly person), by always locking doors, or only going out if you have a ‘protector’ with you. All clearly unacceptable strategies in a civilised society.

                      3 – Reducing the likelihood by tackling the immediate conditions which make it easier for a rapist to get away with it. So more street lights, Police, cameras, Big Brother? Not the kind of society I want to live in.

                      4 – Mitigating the risk e.g. by everyone being able to “maintain adequate self protection skills” and “assert the initiative.” In a world with more criminals and criminality, your advice CV seems to make sense. But is it realistic to expect the vulnerable to hold their own in those ‘critical moments’.

                      So let’s not focus on risk mitigation as this may seriously distract attention from the critical job, which is to tackle the societal causes of crime.

                      ‘Fighting for survival’ must be more about destroying neoliberal, individualistic and randian ideologies, than teaching our children to constantly look over their shoulders.

  11. benghazi 11
    27 January 2013 at 12:25 pm

    I wonder what the women’s caucus thinks of the likely demotion of both Nanaia Mahuta and Maryan Street from the front bench?

    Vernon Small’s piece in the Sunday Star Times today sets out some ideas for the reshuffled front bench. As Vernon is usually spoonfed his intelligence from the Leader’s Office, this reflects their current thinking.

    Word is that Shane Jones will come through the A-G report fine just in time to be appointed Economic Development spokesperson.

  12. Beanie 12
    27 January 2013 at 1:10 pm

    Milk = overseas earnings = money for taxes = money to fund health and education and benefits

    Mining = taxes = ?

    mmmmm

  13. Logie97 13
    27 January 2013 at 1:30 pm

    Populist policy-on-the-hoof wins out again. On the surface it looks like
    an arbitrary date of Jan 1 2000 apparently defines the condition and safety of your motor vehicle.

    There are vehicles that have been wonderfully maintained, serviced and WOF’d that were registered well before 2000. On the other hand there are vehicles that are 5, 6 and 7 years old that you would be very wary of getting into.

    “Changes to WoF system aim to save $159m annually”
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10861731

    • Bill 13.1
      27 January 2013 at 2:01 pm

      So companies that buy for their car fleets save a fuck of a lot of money, and (Tui) rental costs come down accordingly. Meanwhile, what they should be concentrating on is emmssion standards. All new cars should be no more than 100g carbon/km.

    • fenderviper 13.2
      27 January 2013 at 2:17 pm

      Another saving for the more affluent who own the newest vehicles.

      Another 2000 jobs lost (according to MTA)

      More Pike River type policy that will result in a rise in road deaths.

  14. clashman 14
    27 January 2013 at 3:19 pm

    Whats the bet the cost of a wof rises considerably to compensate for the lower volumes.
    So the only people saving money here, will be those able to afford new cars regularly and large businesses with leased fleets .
    Those lower down the ladder will face increased costs as they will still require 6 monthly wofs which will undoubtedly increase in price.
    Basically another kick in the guts for the poor. Thanks National, you fucking devious pricks.

    Whoops -meant to be a reply to 13

    • fenderviper 14.1
      27 January 2013 at 10:47 pm

      You are probably correct clashman, that would be the Nact way to “ballance” the ledger.

      Would sleepy hobbits wake up over such a tactic I wonder, or would they mobilise themselves for a protest similar to the French truck drivers(?)

  15. ScottGN 15
    27 January 2013 at 6:52 pm

    I wonder if the Tourism Minister has noticed that Queenstown’s pretty busy this weekend with lots of Australians visiting and that’s due to the fact that Australia Day is a mondayised public holiday?

  16. joe90 16
    27 January 2013 at 7:29 pm

    The trailer for The Revisionaries, a documentary about the hijacking of US public school syllabuses by the religious right.

    • Rhinoviper 17.1
      27 January 2013 at 9:02 pm

      The very essence of Dredd is that he is closeted – closeted even as a human. Revealing that he is gay or straight or having any overt sexuality would be like him taking his helmet off and that is unthinkable! Drokk!

      • CV - Real Labour 17.1.1
        27 January 2013 at 9:07 pm

        lol, just point me to the perp, citizen

        • Rhinoviper 17.1.1.1
          27 January 2013 at 9:19 pm

          From the article:
          “I’d rather a story be provocative than just, ‘and they have a fight’.

          OK, maybe. It could be fun to suggest all sorts of things about Dredd and never confirm any of them. If is essence is repression, lets suggest that he might be repressing everything. Next issue: Dredd collects stamps! Maybe or maybe not. Following issue: Dredd makes ships in bottles. Maybe or maybe not. Next issue after that: Dredd is a Morris dancer. Maybe or maybe not…

        • Rhinoviper 17.1.1.2
          27 January 2013 at 9:27 pm

          FWIW, my editor has worked with a lot of the 2000AD writers and has a clue on why he’s been so popular. The writers generally hated him, or rather what he represented, so they tried to show how awful he was… but because the strip has always been satire, any attempt to depict him as awful has only strengthened the satire, so in the end, they all loved Dredd the character and made him better.

        • Descendant Of Sssmith 17.1.1.3
          27 January 2013 at 9:32 pm

          It’s only a surprise to those who don’t read Judge Dredd.

          Here’s an example of pregnant men in #300.

          http://calamity-coyote.blogspot.co.nz/2010/08/reason-1457-why-judge-dredd-is-awesome.html

          and this episode has been known about for some time. We were discussing it months ago.

          http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/29/and-finally-a-very-gay-judge-dredd/

          Non-comic fans are all outraged as are what seems to be mainly US media.

          I think it’s pretty cool and entirely consistent with the Dredd universe.

          • Rhinoviper 17.1.1.3.1
            27 January 2013 at 9:50 pm

            Oh I’m cool with Dredd being gay, I’m just not cool with him not being repressed about… everything.

  18. the Al1en 18
    27 January 2013 at 10:00 pm

    I’ve always thought Dredd’s man servant droid Walter was an pictorial euphemism.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te PokapĆ« Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kƍrero, he kƍrero, he kƍrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kƍrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

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