Open mike 28/03/2020

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 28th, 2020 - 130 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

130 comments on “Open mike 28/03/2020 ”

  1. Molly 1

    Bit of mixed messaging coming out here from the Civil Defence director Sarah Stuart-Black.

    "Can I drive to where I want to exercise?

    Yes, but stay local.

    "If you're able to walk the dog around the block, it might not be the dog's idea of a good time but that will work," says Civil Defence director Sarah Stuart-Black. "You don't have to get in the car and drive."

    I'm thinking this probably could've waited a bit longer, and let the non-drive recommendations take time to get used to.

    We share the property with our tenants who have spent both days out visiting. Unfortunately, they have also invited others to the property and responded agressively when they arrived back home with more visitors and I informed them that the Alert 4 meant they should be at home by themselves (I was in on the front porch on the phone enjoying the sun when they got home). After asking what that meant, they then told me that they had been to the supermarket (while dressed in togs, with towels around their waists like the carload of previous visitors.)

    Any relaxation of driving rules will allow those who already aren't following them to self-justify.

    (BTW, any advice on how to deal with tenants without impacting on their rights in this matter would be appreciated. Have told them we don't care about where they go, but they cannot invite visitors to the shared property during the lockdown period. The second visitor was someone who does tattoos, and they couldn't do it at his house because he has seven kids…)

    • KJT 1.1

      What you can and can't do is pretty clear.

      The police, and some other organisations, as well as others with a strong authoritarian bias, appear to be making up their own rules, instead of doing their job, enforcing the rules Government has put in place.
      Making for unnecessary mixed messages and confusion.

      People getting told to go home here, when out walking with more than two, even though they are from the same, “bubble”, by the cops, for example.

      https://covid19.govt.nz/

      "You should stay at home as much as possible, except for going for a walk or picking up essentials. You should not enter other people’s houses or arrange meetings in public places.

      If you leave your home, keep a two metre distance from other people at all times. When you return home from being in public, thoroughly wash your hands. Stopping physical contact with people outside your household is the single most important thing we can do right now to stop further community transmission.

      Be kind. People may want to act as enforcers of others, but report any concerns to the correct authorities through nhccselfisolation@health.govt.nz.

      See more information on staying at home

      Can I use my car?

      Using private vehicles for transport is allowed. You can only travel if you’re accessing essential services, if you’re an essential worker, or if you’re driving to a local area for a walk or to exercise. You should only travel in your car with people from your household.

      Personal walks and other active travel like cycling or scootering, is fine, provided you keep a two metre distance from anybody outside of your household. Stick to simple outdoor exercise and avoid areas where you can get injured or lost. It’s important the emergency services remain available to support the response to COVID19".

      I would take that to mean rowing, kayaking, swimming and fishing in your local area, in sheltered water, is fine also, but the amount of people indulging their “control freak” about activities that actually have no effect on virus spread, so long as you can keep your distance, is amazing.

      I can understand why higher risk activities, such as power boating, and surfing, are discouraged.

      • Molly 1.1.1

        Thanks, KJT.

        We have a fairly good grasp of the restrictions.

        My question was more about how to deal with tenants on our shared property, who are not following the alerts, and inviting others back to our shared property without overstepping the mark as landlords – or infringing on their rights as tenants. (As well as noting, that the advice to drive to parks for leisure will be taken as justification for their current approach to Level 4).

        • KJT 1.1.1.1

          I think just pot them, link above, and say you are concerned to the authorities.

          Let them deal with it.

          • Carolyn_Nth 1.1.1.1.1

            Yes. There were a fair number of reports to the dob in line in the first day of lock down.

            The police are taking a community policing approach in the first instance – visiting the alleged offenders and explaining what is required for the lock down. They get tougher if people fail to heed their advice.

            There are some clueless people about. First day of lock down, a tweeter said they'd reported a neighbour who had about 50 people arriving for a barbeque. An idiot from somewhere in NZ told them to chill because this virus had been around since 2017 and nothing bad had happened. He provided a screenshot about SARS as his source.

            When we told him not the same virus, he said there were thousands more people die of the flu – and he said the fact that is not known is all a Big Pharma conspiracy.

          • Molly 1.1.1.1.2

            It is a bit difficult because we are on a shared property. We are landlords by default because we have a no longer required granny flat.

            Although we had issued a notice to end tenancy before the alerts, when the lifting to Level 3 and notice for Level 4 was announced, and it was apparent that their expected next dwelling had changed, we told them to consider it void and that they would be there for the duration of the lockdown. We will issue the notice again, when the lockdown lifts as my son wants to return to Auckland to look for work. However, that means minimum of four months with them in close proximity, more if we find ourselves moving in and out of Alert levels.

            They can be a bit threatening, bluster mostly. Along the lines of "I'm a madman, people don't piss me off because they know what I'll do" and "In my family, women don't speak" which kind of confirms their first statement. In the next instance he referred to his girlfriends tendency for violence and how we better watch out. My concern is that we still have teens at home, and how to avoid them having to deal with any fallout.

            I know what we can do legally. If the threats are considered we may also have the right to immediately evict.

            However, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions strategic approaches to deal with this that we could try out. Although they are not the most model of tenants, I want to avoid involving authorities if possible.

            • Molly 1.1.1.1.2.1

              Thanks, everyone. Have to participate in some lockdown renovations while the sun is shining, but appreciate the suggestions.

              Here's hoping they will settle down, and we only have to go on to the next step if another incident occurs.

        • anker 1.1.1.2

          I really feel for you Molly. That is a tough position to be in. I, like almost all of us who are giving up stuff in order to do the right thing would be very angry with your neighbours.

          Everyone reading this, I think Molly needs some help here i.e. our collective brain power to give her ideas of what to do.

          I would call the police (unless you think these people could be threatening towards you. I would tell the police I am concerned about repercussions and if they visit the neighbours (and they should) could they warn them if they retaliate in any way there will be very serious consequences.? The police may even be able to phone them as a first step.

          • Molly 1.1.1.2.1

            Thanks Anker. I think yours (and similar) will be the advice we'll follow if another incident occurs.

            Though I will be reluctant to involve the police in this matter, I'm sure that they are going to be under considerable pressure as it is.

      • Carolyn_Nth 1.1.2

        According to RNZ, kayaking is not fine. Anything likely to require emergency assistance means other people needing to come in close contact with you. I think that is also what Bloomfield said. Staying local also means less likely to need roadside assistance.

        The reporter in the video at the RNZ link said people should only be going to Mission Bay in Auckland, if they can walk there from home. I suspect it's more likely in more rural areas that people might be OK driving a short distance to their local beach.

        • Wayne 1.1.2.1

          Kayaking,

          Is it ok or not?

          I think it depends. So for instance in Ngataringa Bay, no kayaker could ever be more than 500 meters from the shore, and it is probable the water would be no more than 1.5 meters deep. At the very centre of the Bay it would be 2 meters. Bear in mind that is at high tide.

          So I can't see how going for a kayak on Ngataringa Bay could be a risk of any significance. Basically if you fell out, you can probably stand up and walk for about 75% of the Bay. Maybe people should stay away from the centre where it is deepest. In my 20 years living here, I have never seen anyone in trouble. I have seen a few centreboard dinghys tip over. But the people righted them, or in one case towed it to shore. But kayakers have never got into difficulty.

          Can you ever say there will never ever be problems, notwithstanding there have been none in the 20 years I have lived here. I guess not. But the risk has to be minute.

          So I guess it depends on the circumstances. For instance could a farmer go out and shoot rabbits on his/her farm? I would say, yes. Again there is a minute risk that they could shoot themselves.

          Life can't be totally risk free. No doubt there will be many accidents in the home and in the garden over the next four weeks. And we are not saying, don't garden.

          • Cinny 1.1.2.1.1

            A friend died kayaking a number of years back, he did not know he had epilepsy, and the glint of the sun off the water caused a seizure and he drowned. He was paddling in thigh high water in an estuary.

            A old boy died kayaking in the calm waters around Ruby Bay and Mapua the other week, he had a heart attack on the water.

            Both were competent kayakers. As for me, I've a kayak, and live a block from the beach but I'm going to wait, riding the waves is even more fun after a break from doing so.

            PS No one ever drowned in the vege garden

            • Andre 1.1.2.1.1.1

              No-one ever drowned in a vege garden, but plenty of people have had to go to hospital from gardening. Cuts, infections, legionnaires from compost and so on. Different activities, different hazards.

              • Cinny

                No one ever called out emergency services including the helicopter and coast guard for a gardening incident.

                Sure, different activities, different hazards, but perspective is everything.

                • Andre

                  Coastguard probably not, but helicopter definitely has happened. The incident I was closest to involved anaphylaxis from insect stings that got riled up by the gardening activities..

                  Then the medical care needed for something like legionnaires is vastly more demanding on medical facilities in comparison to the quick in-and-out that would be needed for almost all kayaking incidents.

                  Perspective indeed. I'm not arguing for or against gardening or kayaking. I'm arguing against claiming activity A should be allowed while activity B shouldn't, when activity B also has a lot of hidden factors that might also contribute to increasing the burden on our healthcare system.

                  • Cinny

                    That would of been scary as with stinging insects Andre and for KJT and the broken ankle. Hopefully they were once in a lifetime events for you both

                    It will be interesting looking back at ACC incidents post lock down.

                    Maybe part of being mindful doing 'approved' activities during the lockdown is having a plan B in-case something happens.

                • KJT

                  Well. I nearly had to call an ambulance, gardening.

                  Fell over and broke my ankle carting tree clippings.

            • KJT 1.1.2.1.1.2

              In fact. You are much more likely to need help from first responders, gardening or cycling, than kayaking.
              Just had a thought I may trigger people wanting gardening or cycling banned, now. Shit.

              I wouldn't go surf swimming or white water or ocean kayaking, though.

              • Cinny

                Dang, really? Crikey.

                Mental note, if there are high accident rates for housework, never ever tell the children, least they use it for leverage to escape their chores 🙂

                KJT, good idea re the article, a cabin fever post would be super helpful.

              • Carolyn_Nth

                It's hard to be certain about each instance of what's in or out during lock down. To some extent it requires common sense, and focus on the main aim.

                Many people staying home will choose to do DIY, but some care should be taken about taking unnecessary risks where a person could do themselves the kind of harm requiring emergency services.

                I am quite impressed by how the new neighbours have changed to adjust to lock down. No more tradies doing their major home and property upgrade.

                This morning the whole family is out – looks like making a garden. I'm not so impressed by the young man who just started using a pneumatic drill to drill some rock – not such a peaceful lock down for the hood.

              • Robert Guyton

                Countless people have died in bed – end the lethal practice, now!

              • Wayne

                Very good point about the comparison of risk. Bike riding is probably more risky than swimming in 1.5 meters of smooth water. All my sporting accidents have been bike riding related, some involving X-rays, physio, etc. either coming off the bike at speed, or in one case running into a parked car because I wasn't looking. These have been on longer rides, up to 160 k. But I have had incidents on local rides.

                Swimming, my major risk would be a heart attack, and in that case 1.5 meters of water would not necessarily be shallow enough. I keep myself quite fit, but all of us run a heart attack risk. Is that enough of a deterrent?

                So here is a thought for KJT, when you do your item on what is acceptable and what is not, it would worth checking the stats on various activities and their risk profile.

                As an example, people used to say about recreational flying that the biggest risk was driving to the airfield. It was completely wrong. A detailed analysis of accidents rates per hour of activity showed powered flight in small aircraft was 8 times more risky than driving a car. And Gliding was 32 times more risky. Motorcycling is about 8 times more risky than a car.

          • observer 1.1.2.1.2

            Sure, it may well be fine. Lots of regular water activities may be fine. But are they necessary?

            It's often called a "war" against the virus. People aren't being asked to survive the trenches of WW1, or the Blitz of WW2. We're not being conscripted to serve, and nobody has to be Willie Apiata.

            To be Heroes in this "war", we only need to make a tiny sacrifice in our leisure activity, because it is our best hope of saving lives.

            If we can't even manage that, then we should probably cancel all ANZAC Day services forever, because we are an embarrassment to those we honour.

            • KJT 1.1.2.1.2.1

              I planning on an article about that.

              I'll just say at the moment. Cabin fever is a real thing, for many people.

      • Rosemary McDonald 1.1.3

        So, you can drive to exercise?

        How come a friend drove to a largely deserted beach to walk her dog and was closely tailed by a police car? Which parked up her tailpipe until the other two police cars arrived to combine forces to coax two surfers out of the water?

        Mind you, In some parts if the rohe the constabularly do this kind of stuff just for shits and giggles while largely ignoring more serious doings like meth related crime.

        And then, when they're not intimidating grey haired women walking their dog, they wonder why ordinary law abiding folk struggle to respect them.

        I assumed that knocking on folks' suburban doors and getting up in their faces trying to sell them " moisturiser" would also be a no no. The jars contained a thick clear substance unlike any moisturiser I have ever seen.

        I sent Mr. Entrepreneur on his way, but when I could hear him banging away on the neighbouring doors loudly selling his wares I became a little concerned. The desperate, almost crazed look and his aggro reaction when I challenged him led me to call the Constables. I suspect I should have saved my breath.

        Those committing crimes Before in order to finance their lifestyles are often as cunning as shithouse rats. This is going to present untold opportunities.

        The police have been losing that battle already…and now they have dog walkers and surfers to deal with I'd hazard that other war is on hold.

        Interesting times.

    • observer 1.2

      Sounds like you're being very patient, Molly. A difficult situation.

      They are – like many people – obviously violating the spirit of the lockdown, big time. And I'm getting fed up with people saying "Oh, we need clearer guidelines", like they are 5 year olds. They're looking for excuses, not explanations. STAY HOME.

      When all this is over I hope we don't hear any more rubbish about "nanny state" and "individual responsibility". We've got the responsibility now, and some of us obviously can't handle it. There's a lot of Kiwis who don't need Mary Poppins, they need Robocop. STAY HOME.

      • KJT 1.2.1

        Most people we have observed over the past ten days, are being sensible.

        Even from a week ago, before the lock down, avoiding group activities and staying two metres apart.

        Some of my family went walking yesterday. Everyone they met crossed over, or stayed well away.

    • Cinny 1.3

      Wow, some people are super selfish.

      Send a text to 105 and report them.

      On a different note.
      Was wondering how P heads were going to get on during the lock down.
      All the weed growers will have pulled their plants, as it’s harvest time, so they will be happy in lockdown trimming and drying their pot.
      The boozers were able to stock up and some can still buy it, so they will be sorted.
      I’m predicting a few P busts as the police follow peoples movements. Not saying your neighbours are on P, just thinking out loud.

      • anker 1.3.1

        Everyone excuse my previous plea to help Molly. By the time I had written my bit a whole lot of other commenters had responded to her.

        Interested to see post text 105 Cinny. Is this a new way of dobbing people in?

    • JanM 1.4

      Next time they do it ring the police because they're obviously not listening to you

      • weka 1.4.1

        I'm in this camp. Explain clearly and calmly once, give them an online reference to something official (because then they know it's not just you). If they do it again, hand it over to the police or text number. We get one chance at not having community transmission and what we do in the coming week matters hugely.

        • Molly 1.4.1.1

          Thanks, weka. We had already had a talk with them about the issues, when we advised that they would be staying during the lockdown. Have also given them the official government site details.

          I think as most suggest, we will involve authorities if another incident occurs.

    • weka 1.5

      "I'm thinking this probably could've waited a bit longer, and let the non-drive recommendations take time to get used to."

      I think we should start as we mean to go on and get as many people as possible understanding that driving creates risks and should be limited.

      What is someone going to do if their car breaks down or is in accident? Are they going to expect someone else to give them a ride home? I'm not even sure that there re mechanics avaialble now (although emergency towing and AA etc still are functioning). This is why the stay local message makes sense. If something happens it's easier to manage.

      I've been thinking about this a fair bit, because I live in the country and it's normal to drive a distance to go for walk. Local is really going to depend on the person's situation and location. Needing to get out once a week somewhere in nature that's a 20 min drive, for mental health sake is different than going out every day to do stuff.

  2. aj 2

    Playing For Change is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music, born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.

    A remake of the Band's The Weight, from Music from Big Pink. A timeless classic featuring Ringo, Robbie, and other musicians from around the world. A great way to start the weekend.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1GU1qQ1zQ

  3. KJT 3

    More information from health authorities for those that have "essential workers" in their household, which you all may find useful.

    Already finding this very difficult with three still working.

    "I'm an essential worker – what do I need to do to keep safe?

    Workers need to take reasonable care of their own health and safety, and the health and safety of others, while working. This means following and cooperating with any reasonable health and safety instructions, policies and procedures that you're given, to stay safe and to make sure you don't risk the health and safety of others that you come in contact with through your work. Work with your employer to help develop any new ways of working that are needed to keep you and others safe.

    In addition, there are a number of things people can do to keep safe when they get home.

    The most important thing for essential workers to do when they get home is to wash their hands immediately and practice good hygiene.

    This includes

    • Cough or sneeze into your elbow or by covering your mouth and nose with tissues.
    • Put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately.
    • Wash your hands with soap and water often (for at least 20 seconds).

    before eating or handling food

    after using the toilet

    after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose or wiping children's noses

    after caring for sick people.

    • Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
    • Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
    • Avoid personal contact, such as kissing, sharing cups or food
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs.
    • Stay home if you feel unwell and call Healthline.

    If you are very concerned you may wish to:

    • Minimise close contact with people by avoiding situations where you have face-to-face contact closer than 1 metre for more than 15 minutes.
    • Use your own toothbrushes, eating and drinking utensils (including cups and glasses in the bathroom and bedroom), dishes, towels, washcloths or bed linen. Do not share food and drinks or prepare food for others. Wash your clothing and dishes separate to others in your home.
    • Clean surfaces like kitchen benches and sink tops after you use them and try to avoid touching them after you have cleaned them.
    • Make sure you use separate towels from other people in your house, both for drying yourself after bathing or showering and for drying your hands. Ask your family or the people you live with to remember to use their own towels.
    • If you use a shared toilet and bathroom, it’s important that you clean them every time you use them (for example, wiping surfaces you have come into contact with). You may wish to be the last to use the shower/bath in the morning or evening to make this easier on those you live with. You should use your own toilet paper, hand towels, toothpaste and other supplies during your self-isolation”.

    [Adjusted font size]

  4. mac1 4

    The Headmaster of a college at which I taught very memorably (forty five years ago) summed up the school rules in two sentences."Anything against common sense is against the school rules. Anything against the law is against school rules".

    Rabbi Hillel was asked to explain the Torah while standing on one foot. Hillel replied, "What is hateful to yourself, do not do to your fellow man. That is the whole Torah; the rest is just commentary. Go and study it".

    Jacinda Ardern has done something similar with her injunction to "act as if you yourself have the virus".

    • Craig H 4.1

      Good stuff. Jesus sums up the 10 commandments as love God and love your fellow man.

      • sumsuch 4.1.1

        Oh, I wish my bac sibs left it at that. But they continued on into bat crazy. It was always about themselves. Not reality.

    • Treetop 4.2

      I realise this is necessary and it is time consuming for an already tired frontline worker.

      I would like to see free nutritious meals provided at work for health workers and police officers. Supermarket workers need to have their hours reduced but be paid there usual hours.

      I am not sure of the percentage of people who are keeping the country running, they deserve respect, care and kindness.

      This comment was suppose to be 3.1

  5. Cinny 5

    United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating.

    "Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus," Johnson announced on Twitter on Friday.

    "I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government's response via video conference as we fight this virus."

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/british-pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-coronavirus-200327111847798.html

    • Carolyn_Nth 5.1

      Spot the differences between the UK government response and NZ.

      NZ parliament activities have been more strongly restricted at a much earlier stage than in the UK. So MPs now only meet physically with some other MPs and staff "inside their bubble".

      And still there are op eds in NZ media saying NZ should have gone into lock down a month or 2 earlier.

      A lock down requires a lot of logistical reorganisation, plus messaging to the general population.

      Things are still not totally clear or sorted in NZ, but consider all that's required: not just having the protective gear for front line workers, but working out which workers should get what and how many protective kits; deciding which businesses are essential when loads are trying to get classified as such, often for commercial reasons rather than the national good; preparing and organising the police and military for appropriate responses; changing benefits so all can survive; then all the responses to suspected and confirmed Covid-19 cases, including testing, contact tracing, health support…. and more.

      • Cinny 5.1.1

        Am seriously impressed at how fast the Covid-19 website was put together by our government. That's been super informative and helpful for us.

        Also with the warning we got by the PM, about being ready to move quickly when we were at level two. It helped our household so much in getting our heads around the lock down.

        My girls have been in lock down since last Sunday afternoon and every day it gets a bit easier. Sure we've had our moments, but they are adjusting really well.

    • Gabby 5.2

      How convenient for blobby, he'll have to take it easy(er).

    • Carolyn_Nth 5.3

      Idiot Johnson, possibly at the beginning of March, saying he continues to shake people's hands and has been in hospitals where there are patients with Covid-19 and he's been shaking everyone's hands.

  6. Cinny 6

    The Nation is on, live stream here. They are currently interviewing Jacinda.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows.html

  7. observer 7

    Understandably there is "information overload" at this time, so forgive me for this reminder –

    From the official site:

    COVID-19 can remain on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to about three days and less than that for other types of surfaces. This will depend on the surface.

    So when we go out for our "harmless" walks or drives, we need to avoid sitting on benches, opening gates, pressing buttons, and a hundred other things we do without even thinking.

    If your walk takes you far from any hand-washing, and you're not carrying something to wash/sanitise with, then it's too far.

    Distancing from people we see is not hard. Distancing from the virus is another matter.

  8. Adrian Thornton 8

    Krystal Ball talks about Tara Reade's Joe Biden sexual assault allegation and #MeToo's role.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vZTuU-NDV4

    • Cinny 8.1

      Dodgy joe, have you seen his trump attack ad re the virus? It's off the hook, put's simon to shame. Will find the link later.

      Agent orange is about to do his daily update, stream here, updated with sound.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd-YQreyfpk

      Sorry for being so chatty on TS this morning, but when one is the only adult in the house it really helps with ones sanity.

    • Morrissey 8.2

      Tara Reade is not the first woman to be betrayed by the MeToo racket. Two years ago, as they paraded one after the other in their jewels and silk dresses, they studiously avoided even mentioning Ahed Tamimi….

      https://thestandard.org.nz/middle-east-teenagers/#comment-1442597

      https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-03-02-2018/#comment-1442903

      • McFlock 8.2.1

        At the moment I'm trying to avoid some fringes of the commentariat, but curiosity compells me in this case. What on earth do those links have to do with the Metoo movement?

      • Adrian Thornton 8.2.2

        Thanks Morrissey that second link was a classic, I don't know why, but I keep forgetting how easily lead by the MSM to follow the party line so many of the regular contributors on TS are.

        I guess I just keep hoping that these obviously smart people will start using the critical thinking part of their brains at some point, But there is no sign of that happening any time soon… half the people on here at one point or another have shown some sort of support for Biden, have defended his obvious mental decline as "gaffs" etc…stupidly going along with the Biden nomination like bit characters from The Emperor's new clothes, it really feels like we are have entered pure fantasy land with Biden.

  9. A 9

    Watching this I felt that I had been very sheltered and naive.

    This discusses how foreigners are treated in China, and there is a little bit on how China responds to their own mistakes.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ftZdHnHBHo

    • RedLogix 9.1

      Winston is an interesting character. He started out pretty much as a lifestyle blogger, but as Xi Xinping's regime has become increasingly authoritarian and hawkish he's started to become more political.

      There is a great deal hanging on the CCP's true intent as events unfold.

  10. ianmac 10

    Rod Oram has some good ideas about now and after.

    Over the next few months global economic activity will likely plummet more than the 15 percent it suffered during the first three years of the Great Depression.

    For the record, New Zealand’s GDP plunged 17 percent from 1929 to its nadir in 1931……

    Fourthly, as many businesses as possible across the economy should work out how they can drastically reduce human contact through online ways of working and serving customers. Huge creativity is vital.

    This might be the end of face to face shopping. Guaranteed germ/virus free home delivery might be the new norm?

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/03/27/1102149/we-face-two-herculean-efforts-to-save-economy?utm_source=Friends+of+the+Newsroom&utm_campaign=d19f92abcb-Week+in+Review+280320&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_71de5c4b35-d19f92abcb-95522477

    • Carolyn_Nth 10.1

      Home deliveries may be less risky re-germs than shopping in store, but right now there is no way they can be germ free. From supermarkets, there's no way of knowing who handled the products in the process of getting them into shopping bags (they use paper bags at cost of $1.00); then there's the potential germ contact from the deliverer.

      • Incognito 10.1.1

        The skin is a formidable barrier against infections. The key is to wash your hands properly after handling the deliveries and always wash your hands before eating and/or touching your face. If the virus doesn’t get to your respiratory system, it won’t get in and take hold. Paper bags are not a smooth surface and I’d imagine virus particles don’t transfer all that efficiently back to humans. Just don’t eat the paper bag when you’ve emptied it 😉

        • Carolyn_Nth 10.1.1.1

          The GP receptionist I talked to on the phone recommended disinfecting all groceries that arrive in the house and letting dry before storing. My first home delivery arrived in the last hour (I thought they were coming on Sunday?).

          Anyway, I tried wiping down all the frozen veg packages plus stuff that needs to go in fridge pretty quickly, and other stuff for the freezer with disinfectant on paper towel – that's all pretty tricky really. Left the rest to sit in the bags for a few hours, and washed hands 2-3 times in the process.

          • Incognito 10.1.1.1.1

            I’m not sure that trying to wipe everything is necessarily a good thing as it could spread things around. Too much of a ‘good’ thing can backfire. My suggestion is to try avoiding contact between what you put into your mouth and the outside packaging. Don’t put packed groceries on the kitchen bench for easy unpacking. Keep the food preparation area separate from others. Don’t use one cloth for everything – IIRC there are many stories from way before COVID-19 on how to keep your kitchen cloth germ free. Don’t become paranoid.

            • Carolyn_Nth 10.1.1.1.1.1

              That sounds better. I won't try the wipe down of groceries again. Just doesn't work.

              • KJT

                Suggest unpacking grocery bags at the door, and throwing them in the washing machine.

                • Carolyn_Nth

                  Yep. Sound like good advice for those doing their own shopping. Supermarket home deliveries are in paper bags. I understand they don't have an easy surface for virus drops to land and stay on, but I'll just leave them where they are for a couple of days.

      • ianmac 10.1.2

        Maybe the day will come when courier/delivery vans are fitted out as fumigation units. Order online and have delivered "clean"items. Rod says think of innovative ways to adapt.

    • pat 10.2

      Oram does outline the near future problem but mispurposes the current Government largesse…

      "Governments have started to put money into people's hands to stimulate the economy, writes Rod Oram. Now we need to start restoring business activity and consumer spending"

      The current packages purposes isnt economic stimulus but rather life support and capacity banking…but he does have a much better handle on the impacts than some others as demonstrated in this other Newsroom piece

      https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/03/27/1103673/how-covid-19-has-shocked-the-global-economy

      • Incognito 10.2.1

        Am I missing something? Where and how can people spend their money when we are in lockdown and at Alert Level 4?

        • pat 10.2.1.1

          no you are not missing anything….that is precisely why it isnt a stimulus package….that is yet to come (one would assume)

          • Incognito 10.2.1.1.1

            yes

            • pat 10.2.1.1.1.1

              There is another obvious concern with his recovery strategy….

              "A good way to begin expanding economic activity would be to allow courier services to resume handling non-essential items. E-commerce could then play a bigger role. TradeMe’s website gives a very clear explanation how restricted the current trading system is.

              But for e-commerce to function, businesses and government would also need to design protocols for warehouses and fulfilment centres to operate. Currently, we are far more restrictive than some other countries. In the US, for example, Amazon is still functioning, albeit for essential items; and in many US states restaurants have switched to doing takeaways only delivered by services such as Uber Eats."

              Im not sure encouraging e commerce is a sound idea when the bulk of those goods will be imported and we have just seen our largest foreign currency earner wiped out for the foreseeable…..

              https://tia.org.nz/about-the-industry/quick-facts-and-figures/

              Whatever programme that is designed to mop up the unutilised capacity will have to have at least one eye on that fact.

        • Poission 10.2.1.2

          The only defense against CV at present is non pharmaceutical intervention ie lockdown and limited self quarantine.

          History seems to show that early intervention to contain has better economic outcomes with recovery.

          https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3561560

          Keeping the drawbridge up internationally is also a must.

    • dv 11.1

      Yes I thought so too. I don't know why stuff published it. Balance?

      As an aside I am working on a plan for investment in the markets.Not got the timing quite right yet
      I call it hindsight.

      • Chris 11.1.1

        I guess Stuff was duped by Elers' pathetic ploy to avoid accusations of political bias by calling Hone Harawira a leader.

    • bwaghorn 11.2

      Hes the same type of fukwit that if in 4 months we've stamped this bug out will write an article saying how the government overreacted and caused economic chaos because of it .

      • Chris 11.2.1

        Now that Bridges' comms people have told him to take the 'we're all in this together' line I guess someone has to do it. The irony is that you could bet your house on Bridges acting way way later: "We need to balance people's health needs with the health of the economy…" and "without a healthy economy we'd have no health system".

    • Andre 11.3

      Well, a quick google turns up links to kiwibog and that other defunct sewer. Haven't got the stomach to click on them, sorry.

      But absolutely nothing to suggest his opinion on epidemiological matters has any value whatsoever. That suggests he's another one of these academics scamming off his title to lend false credibility to his reckons totally outside his competence.

      https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/expertise/profile.cfm?stref=656350

      • Psycho Milt 11.3.1

        Oh great, someone else from Massey publishing illiberal commentary. On top of being the anti-freedom-of-speech university it now gets to be the ignorance-based-reckons university. I hope I get to retire soon.

    • SPC 11.4

      Oh nice posted while writing and then claims its a duplicate and denies me the right to edit it.

      His past columns were 

      1. Waitangi Day column criticism of the PM as just words with no action on home building

      2. a column supporting the value of a communications degree where he suggests that despite being a lightweight the PM has succeeded because of her communications degree based capacity to network.

      3. March column supporting Oz deporting Kiwis and opposing the PM standing up for the rights of Kiwis there

      No column advocating a tougher response to Coronavirus threat or attacking any other government for having to resort to lockdowns

      Prediction – he seeks to stand for the Maori Party and be part of a National led government.

    • Gabby 11.5

      So NOW Stoive knew right from the start. How fortuitous.

      • observer 11.5.1

        Either he knew it all, and did not use his regular platform in a major media outlet to tell the rest of us. Not once. Or … he's lying.

        He should be charged with criminal negligence. Except of course … he's lying.

    • observer 11.6

      Elers' column itself is bad enough.

      What's worse is the Stuff Comments policy, where there's an outpouring of deranged misinformation, and then comments are closed so nothing can be rebutted.

      Stuff journos have been doing a terrific job on Covid19, especially in the past week when they must have been working overtime.

      Elers undermines them all.

  11. SPC 12

    I am still waiting for the mash up of My Sharona and Maxine remade as My Corona Vaccine … tick … tick

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKFIa74833o

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo7HB-slsm4

  12. Hooch 13

    Apart from preventing covid-19 what else might the lockdown stamp out? Will we see no cases of seasonal flu or the common cold for the rest of the year if everyone is cleaning like mad and isolating for a month or more breaking the chain? What about headlice in school kids if they’re not mixing for so long? Interesting times ahead.

    • bwaghorn 13.1

      Less car crashes. Drunken chaos on Friday and Saturday. The ers are possibly having some well earned quiet before the possible storm

  13. Morrissey 14

    John Pilger: Vanessa Baraitser achieves infamy for her wicked cruelty

    This outrage is happening in Britain in 2020, but the contempt for justice and the inhumanity of these "authorities" could be from the Soviet Union in 1938….

    https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/thread/1585233407.html

  14. mauī 15

    The next 4 weeks is the perfect time to be doing all those disruptive roadworks and rail upgrades across the country.

    • RedLogix 15.1

      That looks like an attractive idea at first glance, but what you see happening out on site is only the tip of a much larger iceberg of engineering and supplier activity all feeding into it.

  15. Carolyn_Nth 16

    The guy doing the Covid-19 daily 1pm update (Bloomfield is having a day off) said "don't be an idiot" – basic hygiene, 2 meter distance and stay local. Don't travel to your holiday home.

    Apparently some groups of people in parks have been throwing frisbies to each other, and playing touch rugby.

    And RNZ reports the police are in a bit of a stand-off with a load of boaties anchoring in Great Barrier Island harbours for the lock down. They are using the supermarket on the island, and putting a lot of strain on the island resources.

    • KJT 16.1

      The boaties at the Barrier was nearly us. We were using that as a way of avoiding people, before the lockdown. Then several days of Westerly gales stopped us getting back.

      Didn't want to have any risk of causing a coast guard callout, by sailing into strong winds, so had to wait until Wednesday to come back.

      We did consider staying there, but thought would be better at home. If we had a larger boat equipped and stored for a long period, we may have stayed out.

  16. Bruce 17

    Good old national Denise Lee has the postman out the delivering potentially virus laden spam to tell me after 9 yrs of destruction she is there for me.

    Most of the annoyance comes from her clever marketing, addressed to the residents, a peak in side says covid 19 so i think its important and get it out to read.

  17. joe90 18

    Everything is OK but they're planning to euthanise the untermensch.

    https://twitter.com/propublica/status/1243464395625283584

    • KJT 18.1

      Not a big step. They already have Governors saying over 60's are expendable, "for the sake of the economy".

      • Anne 18.2.1

        Did you listen to the livestream of the latest Trump presser Cinny @ 8.1 linked to this morning?

        Rambling garbage that went on and and on and on… and he said nothing except everything was great, beautiful and that his advisers were the best in the world and that America was the greatest country in the world and every thing was going to be hunky dory (no, he didn't say hunky dory but something similar) and standing alongside him was a grinning neanderthal – have no idea who he was – who looked like he had just emerged from hill-billy country and had been shoved into a suit.

        At one point he said: they're building a lot of things in New York that they have never builded before.

        "Builded" for God's sake! What he was talking about… who knows.

        Frankly I've got to the point where I think America deserves everything that is coming to them because they have demonstrated utter cowardice in kow-towing to an unhinged crackpot who is looking more and more like a cross between Stalin and Hitler.

  18. joe90 20

    Surprise surprise..

    The reliability of China’s coronavirus numbers is under question once again in view of the staggering amount of urns being distributed out in Wuhan.

    According to official Chinese government data, 50,006 people were infected with the Covid-19 virus in Wuhan with 2,535 dying from the disease.

    However, Chinese investigative outlet Caixin reports that when mortuaries opened back up this week in the Hubei capital, people had to wait in line for as long as five hours to receive the remains of their loved ones lost during the epidemic.

    […]

    Urns are reportedly being distributed at a rate of 500 a day at the mortuary until the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, which falls on April 4 this year.

    Wuhan has seven other mortuaries. If they are all sticking to the same schedule, this adds up to more than 40,000 urns being distributed in the city over the next 10 days.

    http://shanghaiist.com/2020/03/27/urns-in-wuhan-far-exceed-death-toll-raising-more-questions-about-chinas-tally/

    • RedLogix 20.1

      Thanks for this. About 3 weeks ago I conveyed similar information that my sources were telling me the real toll in Wuhan was at least 10 times what was being officially claimed … but I was lambasted for scaremongering.

      Again a great deal hinges on the CCP's real intent here.

    • RFA (Radio Free Asia) – admittedly not an unbiased source – points out that just one cremetory (?) working round the clock could cremate all 2500 bodies in a week. Wuhan has seven such, all working round the clock for over 2 months.

      Best estimate is over 40,000 deaths, probably closer to 48,000.

      CCP transparency anyone?

  19. Bazza64 21

    I see an update from the government re Covid 19 subsidies for employees (of importance to part timers)

    https://www.business.govt.nz/news/covid-19-latest-news-and-updates?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SE_CV_28Mar2020&utm_content=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.business.govt.nz%2Fnews%2Fcovid-19-latest-news-and-updates

    • will pay named employees, at a minimum:
      • for any work they do at their normal rates
      • at least 80% of income where reasonably possible (for employees working reduced hours while self-isolating)
      • the full subsidy received for each named employee, where their pay is below the subsidy rate.

    Subsidy rates

    Payment rates under the modified wage subsidy scheme are unchanged from the original COVID-19 leave and wage subsidy schemes. They are:

    • $585.80 (gross) per week for full-time employees, where full-time is 20 hours or more per week
    • $350 (gross) per week for part-time employees, where part-time is less than 20 hours per week.

    So it looks like if you are a part timer (less than 20 hours per week) & you earn say $150 gross, your employer has to pass on the full subsidy to you as employee – a huge win for some part timers – who should be paid $350 per week during the shutdown period if their employer has received a subsidy for them.

    The govt will at some stage have available on the internet all businesses that received the wages subsidy, so if you are a part timer, check you receive your full entitlement !!

  20. Bazza64 22

    It may be unfair, but when you get govt paying out subsidies based on simple calculations to get the money out fast to employees, you are bound to have some winners & some losers in the scheme.

    Just thought it best to let people know their entitlements, but this is a moving space & things could change quickly.

  21. Bazza64 23

    Update to my previous post – it seems the rules re full $350 payments to part timers only applies to employer subsidy applications received from 4pm on 27 March 2020.

    Sorry like everything it is more complex than thought – part timers may or may not be entitled to the full $350 per week depending when their employer lodged the claim with WINZ.

    I'm sure this is not the end of the matter as Incognito has shown there is already push back from National on this one.

    • Incognito 23.1

      She [the PM] said one of the questions she keeps getting asked was around the wage subsidy.

      "As you know, the wage subsidy is roughly $585 per week for full-time and $350 for part-time and goes straight to employers."

      She asked employers to do their best to pay their workers at least 80 per cent of what they would usually be paid.

      "For those part-time workers who might be earning less than that amount, really what we are asking employers is to pay [their workers] what their normal hours would be." [my italics]

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12320607

  22. Bazza64 24

    It seems what Jacinda is saying about payment to part time employees is in conflict with the press releases from business.govt.nz

    • Incognito 24.1

      No, I don’t think that’s the case and I think it is actually quite clear:

      Wage rates for employees

      If you are receiving the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy, you must try your hardest to pay the employee named in your application at least 80% of their usual wages. If that isn’t possible, you need to pay at least the subsidy rate (ie, full-time or part-time).

      If your employee's usual wages are less than the subsidy, you must pay them their usual wages. Any difference should be used for the wages of other affected staff – the wage subsidy is designed to keep your employees connected to you. [my italics]

  23. Muttonbird 25

    Simon's done his own Facebook speech to the nation.

    He has an 0800 number right wing voters can call to give information with which to attack the government at the next election. I'm thinking meat-eating National voters who can't access their butcher of choice, etc.

    He has 55 MPs ready to hear stories about how the government didn't get it perfect in the greatest civil and economic disturbance in modern times.

    Simon's Facebook speech and 0800 number seem more like a PR exercise in relevancy rather than anything useful to the people most affected.

  24. Bazza64 26

    Incognito you are correct, business.govt.nz has just updated the current position on its website at 6.20 pm tonight which ties in with Jacinda’s statements. Their post from yesterday which I was referring to has now been changed.

  25. sumsuch 27

    Staying away from people by 2 metres in the open air seems to be the biz. The supermarket is much more dangerous — what did I touch last? Staying home is about enforceability. The govt went with clarity over the increasing Mishnah interpretations of the Torah of their new laws.

    Going to the shops is still a crap shoot, for me with no disinfectant anyway.

  26. Eco Maori 30

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    Those young tourists look like they don't give a stuff.

    I had a surprise when I went to the supermarket.

    That's is cool those people living in a camper van with a baby getting a whare in the South Island it would be cold there now.

    Ka kite Ano

  27. Eco Maori 31

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    I know what he was saying about the prices.

    Awhi A health care worker is cool.

    Ka kite Ano

  28. Eco Maori 32

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    That's is great working Kiwis being payed the weekly alounce in Australia.

    Ka pai to the people helping our elderly their are quite a few of them living alone some would need help.

    Its good to see the worlds carbon footprint shrink.

    Ka kite Ano

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    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

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