Open mike 27/09/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 27th, 2013 - 119 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step right up to the mike…

119 comments on “Open mike 27/09/2013 ”

  1. Tracey 1

    ” In 24 hours, the world’s top scientists will release the most important report in decades: proving once and for all that climate change is a massive threat, but that government action now can stop catastrophe. It’s a global wake up call to save our planet, but big oil and dirty energy have a powerful bully who’s rallying to stop the truth from coming out.

    Rupert Murdoch owns hundreds of major media outlets including ultra conservative Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, and he’s using his media power to help his oil buddies stop governments acting to curb their profits. In the US alone, a shocking 80% of climate stories from Murdoch’s select papers mislead readers about global warming! Now he’s set his sights on this groundbreaking report, and his media empire will dominate the conversation unless people around the world stand together and drown him out.”

    • Rosie 1.1

      Hi Tracey. Is that quote from the Avaaz petition this is being circulated at the mo?

    • karol 1.2

      It’s on Occupy London’s FB page

      The Guardian on the report to be published Friday UK Time:

      What will it say?

      Early drafts indicate that scientists have revised upwards the certainty that human activities are driving the warming the world has experienced, from “very likely” or 90% confidence in 2007, to “extremely likely” or 95% confidence now. It will also include new projections for future sea level and temperature rises.

      • Rosie 1.2.1

        Thanks karol. I guess that the petition relating to Rupert Murdoch on Avaaz was organised by Occupy London, and their statement posted to that site. I can’t get the petition to load up at the moment but if anyone’s interested they can have a look here:

        http://avaaz.org/en/

        It will be interesting to see how the new climate report is reported in our media. I wouldn’t be holding my breath for any positive reaction from our Nat Govt.

  2. Saarbo 2

    Can someone explain what Damien Rogers is trying to say in this NZ Herald article.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11130583

    I think he is suggesting that Labour should have picked a dude who looks more like Steven Joyce for Chch East? Has he even looked at Poto William’s experience and credentials???

    I read the herald these days to have a bit of laugh, its a joke.

    • the stunning fact about that rogers..(and yes..that piece is particularly incoherent/dis-jointed..)

      ..is that he is a lecturer at massey university..

      ..in..brace yrslves..!..

      ..the subject of politics..

      ..whoar..!

      ..eh..?

      ..wot with robinson/edwards-the-younger..and now rogers..

      ..w.t.f. has happened in/to the political studies depts at our universities..?

      ..phillip ure..

      • Rogue Trooper 2.1.1

        ffs

      • Murray Olsen 2.1.2

        It seems that his degree in political studies means he can speak the same rubbish that you might hear in a heartland cossie club, but using really big words. It doesn’t seem to have brought any depth of analysis or insight.

  3. amirite 3

    I hate to be cynical but isn’t it cute that the Righties who most of the time like to berate the UN and their work, are very quiet now that their leader is bidding for a seat and going all Kumbaya on nuclear disarmament. At the same time some of them would be more than happy to build a few nuclear power stations if it was somewhere far far away from their own backyard.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9215842/Key-urges-action-on-nuclear-disarmament

    • given that nz is seen as a client-state of america..(five-eyes..?..anyone..?..)

      ..and that key is seen as a satrap of/for america..

      ..key has as much chance of getting nz on the security council..

      ..as our boat has of beating that yank boat..

      ..just more millions pissed up against a wall..

      ..in an attempt to try and make key look ‘relevant’..

      ..(he was much more suited as a suitor to ‘our’ queen..eh..?….and did he offer to clean out the corgi-bastkets..?

      ..and has all that forelock-tugging left him with even less hair..?..)

      ..phillip ure..

  4. Sanctuary 4

    the nasty tone of Dr Damien Rogers piece in the Herald is probably best explained by his being the partner of the recently de-employed Fran Mold.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8574408/Today-in-politics-Saturday-April-20

    Perhaps Dr. Rogers didn’t read the bit where Fran says she “did not leave Labour with any bitterness.” Or perhaps he did, and has decided to be bitter on her behalf.

    Rogers is an interesting guy – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10840247 – but his little attempted hatchet job on behalf of his partner has all the hallmarks of a bad loser trying to get even.

  5. Tracey 5

    Amrite

    I was thinking that. Maybe now he remembers the anti nuclear movement in the 80s he might remember the ab v springbok match in auckland in 1981.

    • karol 5.1

      John Key U-Turn to embrace nuclear disarmament, now that Obama pays it some lip service: from the Crosby Textor play book

      Issue management – choose an issue that will appeal to kiwis, as a diversion from the ones the left are focusing on and that are getting some traction with the general public.

      The third strand was “issue management”. They found Livingstone had support on environment, social services and other issues. So instead they ran a narrowly focussed campaign on the rising cost of living and public safety even where these were the result of forces beyond Livingstone’s control.

    • McFlock 6.1

      Just for those who don’t think whaleoil breaks any scoops

      Lusk is working for local body candidates, too? fascinating.

      • Kevin Welsh 6.1.1

        Lusk is doing a lot of work for a couple of groups in Hawkes Bay.

      • Puckish Rogue 6.1.2

        Somehow I doubt that Lusk would have advised him to send out texts like that…

        Oh by the way if anyone is interested in seeing in what the labour candidate sent to the (alleged) 15 yo go to the whaleoil link but I’d advise not to if you’re going to be eating sausages anytime soon…it might put you off

    • Murray Olsen 6.2

      That looks awfully like a setup. Paul Findlay is obviously a moron who belongs nowhere near public office, but I’m at least as worried about the sort of creep who would set someone up like this. Things are getting very, very dirty in the sewer of right wing politics.

  6. Puckish Rogue 7

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9217379/Key-tells-UN-it-needs-reform

    This is the John Key we need more of, more of this and less of the jokes (but don’t put them away entirely)

    • karol 7.1

      I do agree the UN has an undemocratic structure with the powerful in control via the security counil.

      But having a smaller country having a wee voice there, isn’t really going to change that – TINKERING.

      I do hate the whole veto thing.

      But John key on Syria… hmmm… more complex than his easy explanation – and who is he really speaking for there? Looks like he’s using his plea for a more democratic UN in the service of the US empire not being held to account – hypocrisy, much.

      • Puckish Rogue 7.1.1

        I was more referring to the way he was speaking, more prime ministerial

        • fender 7.1.1.1

          “…… more prime ministerial”

          Bit late for that now, we’ve seen the (lack of) substance of this fake many times over. Plus I think you are getting excited over something officials have coached him to deliver. But I suppose he could get a point for removing most of his usual condescension.

          By the way Puckish Rogue, are you the reincarnation of Winston Smith?

    • Clement Pinto 7.2

      I somehow felt that Key wasn’t being sincere. It seemed like a cunning speech to get votes from the smaller countries for the bid for UN security council seat. One of his quotes today could easily be changed to read something like this: “Its key organs, particularly my cabinet and its government ministries, have become hostage to National/ACT traditions and to the interests of the wealthy and most powerful” [Original :”Its key organs, particularly the Security Council, have become hostage to their own traditions and to the interests of the most powerful,” Key said.]

  7. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 9

    lprent,

    I keep getting a download request popping up every time I open ‘The Standard’ webpage from ‘a.sitemeter.com’. I do not know what ‘a.sitemeter’ is.

    I have an old browser (Internet Explorer 10) and this is occurring on a pc (not the mac, haven’t used that today so don’t know whether it is happening with that one or not)

    I don’t wish to waste your time, and this may be due to my having old software, and unrelated to your site, however I thought I had better alert you to this, just in case it is related with this site.

    I am only getting this occurring with this site.

  8. Clement Pinto 10

    THE QUEEN KEY ENCOUNTER POEM:

    ‘Pussy Key, Pussy Key, Where have you been?’
    ‘I’ve been to London to chat with the Queen!’

    ‘Pussy Key, Pussy Key, What did she say?’
    ‘She said, ‘Little boy, little boy, go away quick’,
    ‘Make those Chiefs of your Pacific
    vote me Hereditary4Eva and a Day!’

    ‘Pussy Key, Pussy Key, what did you say?’
    ‘I said, Yes Ma’am, Yes, Ma’am,
    ‘No sweat at all, Ma’am!’
    ‘It’s just so easy-peasy for such a Title Troty!’

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 10.1

      Good idea!

      International Finances are falling down,
      falling down, falling down,
      Our Financial scam is falling down
      What to do, Mr Key?

      Back it up with gold and silver,
      Gold and silver, gold and silver,
      Back it up with gold and silver
      Not on your Nelly!

      Yes, best we build it up with more lies and spin
      Fraud and lies, misinformation and fibs
      Best we build it up with puffery
      My fair lady!

      Run with that, Key, and seal the deal
      Seal the deal, seal the deal
      Run with that, Key and seal the deal
      My dear Key!

    • Rogue Trooper 10.2

      last verse.

    • Clement Pinto 10.3

      [deleted on request from commenter]

      • Rogue Trooper 10.3.1

        reminds me of the usual barriers to democratic representation, for example, the obstruction of First Nations representatives at the invitation of Meka Whaitiri to the House this week, and so on it goes…

  9. amirite 11

    The rule of unintended consequences – House builders hurt by home loan restrictions

    http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/house-builders-hurt-home-loan-restrictions-5592185

  10. Pascal's bookie 12

    lololol

    https://twitter.com/Garner_Live/status/383427592579076096

    “Just been told that UMR poll has Nats 39, Lab 36, Green 14, NZF 5.1%. Not sure if it’s out yet. Internal presentation yday.”

    And you think hootonfarraoil are cray cray now.

    • gobsmacked 12.1

      Sounds good, but I think I’ll wait for the second source.

      Duncan Garner. Twitter … Been burnt before!

      Incidentally, Roy Morgan tweets that their next poll is out on Wednesday. So don’t spend all Friday night hitting refresh for that one … 🙂

  11. karol 13

    Garner Tweet 18 mins ago:

    Just been told that UMR poll has Nats 39, Lab 36, Green 14, NZF 5.1%. Not sure if it’s out yet. Internal presentation yday.

    • Rogue Trooper 13.1

      ha,freakin’ ha!

    • emergency mike 13.2

      Ouch. At this rate John Key might come home with a stuffed corgi in one hand and his resignation letter in the other.

    • Clement Pinto 13.3

      Will be rolled or will there be a sudden snap election soon?

      • bad12 13.3.1

        Lolz, i thought the strangely absent from the Parliament this week, Judith Collins would have seized Her chances of the plummeting support in the polls and knifed the Slippery little shyster in the time honored Tory tradition of giving it to them while they are overseas,

        Obviously Judith aint got the guts, nor the support in the Caucus and will settle for leader of the opposition after November 2014…

        • Alanz 13.3.1.1

          Stephen Joyce won’t let her do it.
          Bill English has his eyes and CV elsewhere.
          You didn’t hear that from here.

  12. Chris 14

    could some one please tell me why I keep getting a pop up window

    “Do you want to open or save analytics.js from a.sitemaster.com?” with options open, save with dropdown menu or cancel

    I have never seen this before and it only comes up on this site.

    • Puckish Rogue 14.1

      Its from the GCSB

    • Draco T Bastard 14.2

      You shouldn’t be getting that. Which browser/OS are you using?

      • Rogue Trooper 14.2.1

        Do Not Feed the imitators Draco 😛

        • Chris 14.2.1.1

          I’m not an imitator Rogue Trooper. I may not have been coming here long enough or commenting for you to know me. Would kinda like to use my regular id that I use most places I comment at but if I change to that I may confuse you even more 🙂

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 14.3

      Hi Chris,

      I’ve been getting that today too on my pc laptop (not mac) I mentioned it at comment 9. Been trying to find out more by googling but have had no success

      Also it wasn’t occurring when I used Firefox. (Only internet explorer) That was so entirely slow, though I gave up and am on my mac now

      • Chris 14.3.1

        ditto leopard. not being a techy I couldn’t make head nor tail of the search results. Think it has something to do with the site operators

      • Linz 14.3.2

        I’m getting an information bar come up saying To help protect your security, Internet Explorer blocked this site from downloading files to your computer.

        • lprent 14.3.2.1

          Interesting. Which version of IE? I’ll try it out.

          Like most of the people who use this site I don’t normally use IE (let me rephrase that – I actively avoid it). Recently it looks like IE has dropped below 30% of the pages viewed.

    • richard 14.4

      Seems to be browser specific to MS IE – no warnings from other browsers I’ve just tried (Firefox, Opera, Safari, Chrome).

    • lprent 14.5

      Interesting.

      I presume you mean analytics.js from sitemeter.com as that is the only one that we have in our system.

      I can’t see any reason for that to cause a problem as it is a normal part of many peoples sites for tracking pages views and visits. It is in an iframe but so too are the facebook widgets.

      Most likely it is part of your own computers defenses getting upset. The identical code for sitemeter is in place on kiwiblog.co.nz. Have a look there to see if you get the same problem. If it really does say sitemaster on both then you probably have a problem with a man in the middle attack.

      Otherwise I’ll have a closer look at it tonight. I don’t really need it on the system. I using it to look at the considerable differences between sitemeter and statcounter in measuring visits

  13. Chris 15

    Thank you for your extremely important contribution Puckish Rogue, however I feel that you may be having a lend 🙂

  14. Chris 16

    I.E v9 I think. just started doing it today

  15. Ad 17

    Great stuff on the UMR poll.
    Feel the fear Hooten you won’t be doing lunch in Wellington for a good stretch.

  16. Pascal's bookie 18

    And an open letter from a recent National party voter (and member) explaining why the dream is over:

    http://a-working-mans-opinion.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/dear-john-this-is-break-up-letter.html

    • Draco T Bastard 18.1

      hah, was just going to post that 🙂

      And it’s one of those things – where there’s one known about, there’s thousands thinking and doing the same but not telling you.

  17. fambo 19

    Anyone interested in the subject of Treasury figures and the future cost of the retirement pension should definitely listen to this interview with Professor Sue Newbury from the University of Sydney School of Business on Nights on National Radio on Wednesday. Seems Treasury have not followed even the most basic of accounting principles before making claims as to the cost of the pension in another 30 years or so. One could possibly suspect that shoddy accounting work is designed to massage the general public into the notion that New Zealand cannot afford to fund future welfare spending.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/2570593

  18. North 20

    UMR Poll. Well Well Well ! Come in all you RWNJ sociopaths who like to hang around on a left blog.

    Come in and explain for me once again that “perceptions” thing. You know……. the one that says “it’s all about perceptions” or whatever it is you say. The one that makes you smirk hard out every time you say it. And that 62% prime minister thing. That’s a beauty !

    Be really interesting to hear all that again. You don’t mind ?

    • Rogue Trooper 20.1

      Mind? They don’t mind.

    • chris73 20.2

      Come in all you RWNJ sociopaths who like to hang around on a left blog.

      – You called?

      lemme see here we got: a new leader, multiple weeks coverage for labour (quite a good idea i must say) and the honeymoon period so a bounce in the polls is to be expected

      We also have crime down, unemployment down, the economy up and over a year to go until the next election

      So enjoy it while it lasts (because it won’t :))

      I mean I hope theres no scandal or anything that could involve the labour party about to happen, like maybe possibly involving underage boys that could maybe bring up certain incidences from Labours not-too-distant past

      • felix 20.2.1

        I hardly think Slater is in any position to accuse others of being involved in [deleted].

        Eddie: This comment crossed the line. Banned for a week.

        • McFlock 20.2.1.1

          damn, that escalated quickly…

        • chris73 20.2.1.2

          Thats a helluva call, you got any thing to back that up with?

        • tinfoilhat 20.2.1.3

          Who are you accusing of being involved in [deleted]?

        • ABS 20.2.1.4

          Felix got any proof or are you the [deleted] in question? If not put up or shut the fuck up you disgusting cretin

        • Granted 20.2.1.5

          I think the standard response to this is “proof”. So ????

        • Pascal's bookie 20.2.1.6

          bwahaha Felix. That brought in the rats.

          But I hope Slater told this kid to think about talking to the cops.

          • tinfoilhat 20.2.1.6.1

            No, I don’t care who it is – no one should throw the accusation of [deleted] around without very very good cause.

            I recall some time ago one of the NZ first politicians slandering a chap called rex widerstrom this way ……..horrible thing to say about anyone without good cause.

        • Cameron Slater 20.2.1.7

          I can’t believe the high integrity sysop and moderators have left a highly defamatory and outrageous slur like this to continue to exist for hours.

          I thought you wanted to rise about “the sewer” looks like you are right down deep in it.

          Eddie: I was unaware of Felix’s comment until I found your comment in the moderation queue. Felix was clearly a breach of our commenting policy and has received a ban for it. Sometimes there are no moderators around. Looks like this is one of those times.

  19. Tim 21

    What the fook has happened to RNZ.
    5pm News Headline:
    “2 nephews of mana mp Hone Harawira have been jailed …… etc.: (to prraphrase – may actually be a direct quote)
    WTF???

    And after the nicest man on Earth Jim Mora’s panel.

    So Hone is now responsible for his nephews?
    Oh damn good.

    The nicest man on Earth is then responsible for his wife’s damn near slave wages of her employees
    shuvving together our healthy fast-food options

    His “the Panel’ guests’ spouses are responsible for the guests themselves.
    Murray McCully likes recycling grannies old armchair fabric into a business suit for Jane Clifton
    Ayeshun Bois are all responsible for Joe’s opinions

    Christ Almighty RNZ = what’s happened to you.
    What’s even happened to those that ekshly READ THAT CRAP. Are you THAT in fear of your jobs?

    Give it 18 months. The environment WILL be safer but surely to Christ you could take a stand for journalistic integrity! (well …. what’s left of it anyway)

  20. Tim 22

    Mary Wilson: this is the Shite way you want to play it? Consider yourself open game

  21. Frank 23

    Tim. I listened to it all too.

    You are a knob.

  22. Tim 24

    @ Frank – so please inform me what the relevance is to the fact that two guys have been jailed for crimes and how they relate to Hone.
    And if you can;t fo that – then you’ll have no objection to my relating Mary Lambie’s business interests to that of her husband, or Jane Clifton’s relatioship (past or present) to that of the duffer, or those in relationship(s) with Joe the Loon Bennett’s opinions.
    Perhaps Frank – we could hold your partner respinsible fpr your being a dickhead – but please – keep it up!

  23. Tim 25

    So you’re very clever then Frank. No doubt, those with dyslexia, those with English as a second language, those that haven’t had the benefits of your superior education, and even those that are considerably pooer than you also have opinions that aren’t as worthwhile as yours.
    My God! I wish I were Frank!

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 25.1

      Tim,

      I don’t think that Frank can bring himself to admit that the only reason they go for Hone’s Nephews is because they can’t attack Hone’s political stance because he razes them to the ground intellectually when they do that…shows them up for the sniveling idiots that they are..

      I am guessing this is why he thinks you are a knob; because you reminded him of this sorry truth.

  24. Frank 26

    BL and Timmy, difference between you two, is door side on.

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 26.1

      I am sorry for you that you are only capable of name-calling, that must be terrible going through life with such a poor ability to express yourself.

      Poor wee thing

    • Tim 26.2

      This is the last communication I intend having with you Frank. Your last sounds like an implied physical threat. Just as well on the rare occasions I do drive these days – its in something VERY substantial..
      Still – you’ve got nothing to hide, so you’ve got nothing to fear – correct?

      • Frank 26.2.1

        What I meant to say was that you are both knobs but I was using my old lappy and it has no G or H working so I was just saying you are Knobs cryptically without meaning to. so take it as you like.
        Walk in peace. I ride a bike.
        Oh Yeah. get a life.

  25. Tim 28

    @BL(GLGB) – no worries. Frank’s left enough of his footprint – just based on timestamp info to have fucked himself up.
    I can’t even be bothered delving deeper – I had a technological brain purge about 10 years ago, though my son has taken over – albeit with access to both Voda and Tcom info (ppl involved know how it all works with scratch backing and do me a favour shite).
    I have ABSOLUTELY no desire to get into it despite having access to various ISP records – I’m pure, disengaged and philosophically opposed to the use of such info for private purposes anyway.
    (which is why I’m opposed to government agencies thinking they have all such as of their right)
    I wouldn’t even bother though.
    Although I am not going to have any further comms with the cnut, anyone with nouse could ensure that should his idle threats come to anything – it’d be nothing a baseball bat held by a golfer having a hole in one record couldn’t cure. Or perhaps an indaquately trained copper with a taser ready to …

  26. Colonial Viper 29

    Rural broadband roll out in chaos, with corporate profiteering

    It’s like a bad Tory script re-run across the world.

    http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/26/bt-rural-broadband-monopoly

    • Draco T Bastard 29.1

      It is a bad Tory script run across the world. They’re taking us for a ride and have been for decades at least, more probably centuries.

  27. Not Another Sheep 30

    Some light relief

    TV3’s “7 Days” tonight and the stick given on John Key’s visit with the Queen. The little girl’s ‘pitcha’ of John Key trying on the queen’s dresses

  28. greywarbler 31

    We are spending precious millions, which we have to borrow no doubt, to make a case for getting on the Security Council. Australia is on at present and finishes in 2014 after the 2 year term. They represent for Australia -Western European and Others Group. It doesn’t even refer to Oceania or the Pacific and it seems to underline the feeling that Oz and us do not have a feeling of real connection for our unique location in the world.

    Why should we compete against Turkey which is bearing the brunt of so much of the maneouvring in the global slosh of action and reaction? They are right in it while we sit playing it cool on the poolside available to the glam stud when he wants us. We actually didn’t take our place at the UN in some committee a while ago, but graciously gave it up to the USA which needed it more than us.

    The UN must be on Jokeyhen’s bucket list. The Queen, the UN, the Taj Mahal, Silicon Valley, Disneyland. the Knighthood.

  29. xtasy 33

    Moroney for welfare got me very, very worried. I am informed of Workwise and other “evidence based” operators (who stuff sick and disabled into work on the open market, that often is casual, insecure, part time, marginal and mostly un-fulfilling) are ALL based in HAMILTON, where she comes from.

    She will have been “lobbied” by those self serving organisations and businesses before, to have welfare so designed, to deliver them the candidates they want, that is the PRIVATE enterprises, also contracting with WINZ!

    While some of their efforts may be justified, I am worried about the whole agenda, and from what I hear so far, Labour are NOT going to reverse the most hideous “welfare reforms” that happened here for decades under the National led government.

    I am not against work for those who can do it, but I remain robustly opposed to the ideological shit we get served, based on flawed “science” by self serving “experts” like UK Professor Mansel Aylward and also MSD’s David Bratt. I will fight this shit until I die, and I rather die before all this gets supported by a Labour led government, which I fear may happen again, as it did before, and Bratt was hired under them, according to roles LABOUR designed!

    http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15188-medical-and-work-capability-assessments-based-on-the-bps-model-aimed-at-disentiteling-affected-from-welfare-benefits-and-acc-compo/

    http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15264-welfare-reform-the-health-and-disability-panel-msd-the-truth-behind-the-agenda/

    So that is MY present position towards Labour! I also observe Moroney is too weak to handle Bennett, as she is too “nice”. Sue Moroney is a hard worker, nice and all that, I know, but she is NO match to Bennett, and I read something worrying out of all this, Labour NOT putting enough emphasis on welfare. It was confirmed to me last night by a Labour member! My only hope in welfare now is Louisa Wall, and otherwise the Greens or Mana!

  30. xtasy 34

    Many progressive ideas and movements were destroyed by determined hostility. Listen to the last words of Salvador Allende:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZeEfXjTNu4

    How many years of suffering and dictatorship followed? What a horrible world, and this is just one example of endless ones. Stand up and FIGHT, if you have the bloody GUTS!

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  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    10 hours ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    10 hours ago
  • David Seymour is such a loser

    For paid subscribersNot content with siphoning off $230,000,000 of taxpayers money for his hobby projects - and telling everyone his passion is education and early childcare - an intersection painfully coincidental to the interests of wealthy private families like Sean Plunkett’s1 backers, the Wright Family, Seymour is back in the ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    10 hours ago
  • Cross-party consensus: there’s no pipeline without good faith

    There’s been a lot of talk recently about a cross-party agreement to develop a pipeline for infrastructure, including transport. Last month, outgoing CRL boss Sean Sweeney talked about the importance of securing an enduring infrastructure programme. He outlined the high costs of the relentless political flip-flopping of priorities, which drives ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    14 hours ago
  • Voters love this climate policy they’ve never heard of

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The Inflation Reduction Act is the Biden administration’s signature climate law and the largest U.S. government investment in reducing climate pollution to date. Among climate advocates, the policy is well-known and celebrated, but beyond that, only a minority of Americans ...
    14 hours ago
  • ACC wants to administer inflation at more than double the RBNZ’s target rate

    ACC levies are set to rise at more than double the inflation rate targeted by the RBNZ. Photo: Lynn GrievesonKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 12:The state-owned monopoly for accident insurance wants ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    15 hours ago
  • Harris vs Trump

    We’ve been selected to rock your asses 'til midnightThis is my term, I've shaved off my perm, but it's alrightI solemnly swear to uphold the ConstitutionGot a rock 'n' roll problem? Well we got a solutionLet us be who we am, and let us kick out the jams, yeahKick out ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    16 hours ago
  • Treaty Bill “a political stunt”

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appears to have given ACT Leader David Seymour more than he has been admitting in the proposals to go forward with a Treaty Principles Bill.All along, Luxon has maintained that the Government is proceeding with the Bill to honour the coalition agreement.But that is quite specific.It ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    17 hours ago
  • An average 219 NZers migrated each day in July

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 11:Annual migration of New Zealanders rose to a record-high 80,963 in the year to the end of July, which is more than double its pre-Covid levels.Two ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • What you’re wanting to win more than anything is The Narrative

    Hubris is sitting down on election day 2016 to watch that pig Trump get his ass handed to him, and watching the New York Times needle hover for a while over Hillary and then move across to Trump where it remains all night to your gathering horror and dismay. You're ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • National’s automated lie machine

    The government has a problem: lots of people want information from it all the time. Information about benefits, about superannuation, ACC coverage and healthcare, taxes, jury service, immigration - and that's just the routine stuff. Responding to all of those queries takes a lot of time and costs a lot ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Christopher Luxon: A Man of “Faith” and “Compassion” Speaks on the Treaty Pr...

    Synopsis: Today - we explore two different realities. One where National lost. And another - which is the one we are living with here. Note: the footnote on increased fees/taxes may be of interest to some readers.Article open.Subscribe nowIt’s an alternate timeline.Yesterday as news broke that the central North Island ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Member’s Day

    Today is a Member's Day. First up is the third reading of Dan Bidois' Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the committee stage of Deborah Russell's Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. This will be followed by the second readings of Katie ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Northern Expressway Boondoggle

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has been soaring high with his hubris of getting on and building motorways but some uncomfortable realities are starting to creep in. Back in July he announced that the government was pushing on with a Northland Expressway using an “accelerated delivery strategy” The Coalition Government is ...
    2 days ago
  • Never Enough

    However much I'm falling downNever enoughHowever much I'm falling outNever, never enough!Whatever smile I smile the mostNever enoughHowever I smile I smile the mostSongwriters: Robert James Smith / Simon Gallup / Boris Williams / Porl ThompsonToday in Nick’s Kōrero:A death in the Emergency Department at Rotorua Hospital.A sad homecoming and ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Question Two of The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50)

    Kia ora.Last month I proposed restarting The Kākā Project work done before the 2023 election as The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50), aiming to be up and running before the 2025 Local Government elections, and then in a finalised form by the 2026 General Elections.A couple of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Why is God Obsessed with Spanking?

    Hi,If you’ve read Webworm for a while, you’ll be aware that I’ve spent a lot of time writing about horrific, corrupt megachurches and the shitty men who lead them.And in all of this writing, I think some people have this idea that I hate Christians or Christianity. As I explain ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Inside the public service

    In 2023, there were 63,117 full-time public servants earning, on average, $97,200 a year each. All up, that is a cost to the Government of $6.1 billion a year. It’s little wonder, then, that the public service has become a political whipping boy castigated by the Prime Minister and members ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • New Models Show Stronger Atlantic Hurricanes, and More of Them

    This is a re-post from This is Not Cool Here’s an example of some of the best kind of climate reporting, especially in that it relates to impacts that will directly affect the audience. WFLA in Tampa conducted a study in collaboration with the Department of Energy, analyzing trends in ...
    2 days ago
  • Where ever do they find these people?

    A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, is how Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union in 1939.  How might the great man have described the 2024 government of New Zealand, do we think? I can't imagine he would have thought them all that mysterious or enigmatic. I think ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Motorway madness

    How mad is National's obsession with roads? One of their pet projects - a truck highway to Whangārei - is going to eat 10% of our total infrastructure budget for the next 25 years: Official advice from the Infrastructure Commission shows the government could be set to spend 10 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Our transport planning system is fundamentally broken

    Ever since Wayne Brown became mayor (nearly two years ago now) he’s been wanting to progress an “integrated transport plan” with the government – which sounded a lot like the previous Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) with just a different name. It seems like a fair bit of work progressed ...
    3 days ago
  • Thou Shalt Not Steal

    And they taught usWhoa-oh, black woman, thou shalt not stealI said, hey, yeah, black man, thou shalt not stealWe're gonna civilise your black barbaric livesAnd we teach you how to kneelBut your history couldn't hide the genocideThe hypocrisy to us was realFor your Jesus said you're supposed to giveThe oppressed ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • How mismanagement, not wind and solar energy, causes blackouts

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections In February 2021, several severe storms swept across the United States, culminating with one that the Weather Channel unofficially named Winter Storm Uri. In Texas, Uri knocked out power to over 4.5 million homes and 10 million people. Hundreds of Texans died as a ...
    3 days ago
  • The ‘Infra Boys’ Highway to Budget Hell

    Chris Bishop has enthusiastically dubbed himself and Simeon Brown “the Infra Boys”, but they need to take note of the sums around their roading dreams. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Media Link: “AVFA” on the politics of desperation.

    In this podcast Selwyn Manning and I talk about what appears to be a particular type of end-game in the long transition to systemic realignment in international affairs, in which the move to a new multipolar order with different characteristics … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    3 days ago
  • The cost of flying blind

    Just over two years ago, when worries about immediate mass-death from covid had waned, and people started to talk about covid becoming "endemic", I asked various government agencies what work they'd done on the costs of that - and particularly, on the cost of Long Covid. The answer was that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Seymour vs The Clergy

    For paid subscribers“Aotearoa is not as malleable as they think,” Lynette wrote last week on Homage to Simeon Brown:In my heart/mind, that phrase ricocheted over the next days, translating out to “We are not so malleable.”It gave me comfort. I always felt that we were given an advantage in New ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Unstoppable Minister McKee

    All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this townI'll do it 'til the sun goes downAnd all through the nighttimeOh, yeahOh, yeah, I'll tell you what you wanna hearLeave my sunglasses on while I shed a tearIt's never the right timeYeah, yeahSong by SiaLast night there was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Could outdoor dining revitalise Queen Street?

    This is a guest post by Ben van Bruggen of The Urban Room,.An earlier version of this post appeared on LinkedIn. All images are by Ben. Have you noticed that there’s almost nowhere on Queen Street that invites you to stop, sit outside and enjoy a coffee, let alone ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • Hipkins challenges long-held Labour view Government must stay below 30% of GDP

    Hipkins says when considering tax settings and the size of government, the big question mark is over what happens with the balance between the size of the working-age population and the growing number of Kiwis over the age of 65. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Your invite to Webworm Chat (a bit like Reddit)

    Hi,One of the things I love the most about Webworm is, well, you. The community that’s gathered around this lil’ newsletter isn’t something I ever expected when I started writing it four years ago — now the comments section is one of my favourite places on the internet. The comments ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Seymour’s Treaty bill making Nats nervous

    A delay in reappointing a top civil servant may indicate a growing nervousness within the National Party about the potential consequences of David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Dave Samuels is waiting for reappointment as the Chief Executive of Te Puni Kokiri, but POLITIK understands that what should have been a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
    4 days ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Buried deep

    Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    7 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    7 days ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    7 days ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    1 week ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm

    Photo by Jenny Bess on UnsplashCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 pm - 5.10 pm - Bernard and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    1 week ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 week ago

  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

    The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping.  “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

    Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

    The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

    The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

    With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē - My success is not mine alone but is the from the strength of the many. Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young speakers are an inspiration for all New Zealanders to learn more about the depth and beauty conveyed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Driving structured literacy in schools

    The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

    Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.   “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

    The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. “Mpox is obviously a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

    Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Government unlocking potential of AI

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