Open mike 28/06/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 28th, 2021 - 141 comments
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141 comments on “Open mike 28/06/2021 ”

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  1. millsy 1
    28 June 2021 at 6:15 am

    Is it just me, or has Glenn Greenwald shifted to the right over the past year or two? He seems to support Trump, and also, more disturbingly, seems to claim to be in favour of civil liberties, but is now very pro police being able to gun down blacks like dogs in the middle of the street.

    I have emailed him to clarify these views, but he never replied.

    • Incognito 1.1
      28 June 2021 at 7:43 am

      Would you please be so kind to include a link, so that we can all be on the same page?

      • millsy 1.1.1
        28 June 2021 at 8:06 am

        Just scroll through his twitter feed. The guy wants to give police in the USA power to give out summary executions.

        • Incognito 1.1.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 8:10 am

          In that case, please provide a link to his Twitter feed. Not everybody here is on Twitter and they might still want to access it through a browser, as I tend to do from time to time. Ideally, please provide a link to one or two specific Twitter feeds that support your comment. Don’t expect others to do the digging.

        • Adrian Thornton 1.1.1.2
          28 June 2021 at 10:31 am

          Yes provide a link to show us all where Greenwald has said or even implied that supports "police being able to gun down blacks like dogs in the middle of the street." and "guy wants to give police in the USA power to give out summary executions."..if you cannot provide those links, I believe these comments really need to be removed.

          • SPC 1.1.1.2.1
            28 June 2021 at 10:49 am

            Given my browser no longer works with the toolbar here I cannot link to it, but Greenwald’s current focus on Twitter is that Democrats are not taking public concerns about violent crime as seriously as they do their own security on Capitol Hill (and he claims that because Biden has not done anything for Assange this means he wants to criminalise journalism).

            Which is not support for police doing summary executions, but is, what it is.

            • Adrian Thornton 1.1.1.2.1.1
              28 June 2021 at 11:12 am

              So in other words millsy is just making shit up…..those comments should really be moderated, not that I am trying to tell moderators how to do their job, but millsy's comments seem to be straight out slander.

              • francesca …
                28 June 2021 at 1:12 pm

                Jonathan Cook is a really thoughtful and thought provoking journalist.

                No wonder he was chucked off the Guardian .They refused to print his dispatches from Jerusalem because they didn't reflect the core values of the Guardian (not pro Israel enough)

                https://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2021-06-22/greenwald-trump-happened/

                • francesca …
                  28 June 2021 at 1:25 pm

                  Sorry , should have included a bit more info about the link

                  an excerpt

                  “Others on the left recoil from this approach. They warn that, by fixating on Trump, elements of the left have drifted into worryingly authoritarian ways of thinking – sometimes openly, more often implicitly – as a bulwark against the return of Trump or anyone like him.”

              • millsy …
                28 June 2021 at 2:03 pm

                It is there plain is day. He is starting to carry on about crime – that has always been used as an exuce to let cops gun down and beat up who they damn well please,

                • McFlock …
                  28 June 2021 at 2:07 pm

                  Here's his twittering.

                  https://twitter.com/ggreenwald

                  • millsy …
                    28 June 2021 at 2:25 pm

                    All my points illustrated there and then. You simply cannot be in favour if civil liberties if you support the right of cops to beat and shoot whoever they like.

                    The guy would have supported the KKK and lynching back in the day.

                    • McFlock …
                      28 June 2021 at 2:29 pm

                      I'm not entirely sure I'd go that far to describe his content. Can you quote the one about beating and shooting whomever they'd like?

                    • millsy …
                      28 June 2021 at 2:30 pm

                      Its all implied….

                    • Sacha …
                      28 June 2021 at 2:32 pm

                      The only mention of police I could see in his last few dozen tweets:

                      https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1409198083389394960

                    • Sacha …
                      28 June 2021 at 2:34 pm

                      Your mouth seems to be writing a lot of cheques that the evidence can't cash, millsy.

                    • millsy …
                      28 June 2021 at 2:36 pm

                      Glenn Greenwald supports a massive crackdown on civil liberties to fight crime. Its right there, plain as day. The guy is a charlatan, plain and simple.

                      He probably thought that George Floyd deserved to die,

                      [you have made a number of allegations about Greenwald and still not provided a single specific example (i.e. tweet) to support these. It definitely looks like you’re making up shit.

                      You’re now in Pre-Moderation until you provide links to specific tweets to support all of your allegations made today here on OM about Greenwald or until you withdraw each and every one of them or until you’ll be moved to the Ban list for a while – Incognito]

                    • Incognito []
                      28 June 2021 at 2:51 pm

                      See my Moderation note @ 2:36 pm

                    • Sacha …
                      28 June 2021 at 2:38 pm

                      Plain as day. When did you stop beating your wife?

                • Adrian Thornton …
                  28 June 2021 at 2:59 pm

                  @millsy, just as a matter of interest do you also believe that Trump was enabled by Putin?..just wondering, as your desperate efforts to extrapolate that bullshit out of Greenwalds tweets is giving me flash backs to that mad debunked conspiracy theory and the tortured logic that often went with it.

    • Brigid 1.2
      29 June 2021 at 11:29 pm

      Yes.

      It is just you.

  2. Jimmy 2
    28 June 2021 at 7:49 am

    Hopefully this guy gets a decent sentence handed down from the judge that will actually act as a deterrent.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300343177/police-officer-hospitalised-with-serious-concussion-after-alleged-assault-in-central-auckland

  3. Jimmy 3
    28 June 2021 at 7:53 am

    Well these two wont be "parents of the year". A shame these kids weren't taken away from the parents.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/125552709/parents-jailed-for-injuring-children

    • Foreign Waka 3.1
      29 June 2021 at 11:19 am

      Yeah, nahh… everybody has their eyes peeled on other issues. Drugs and alcohol not that much. Child violence, poverty and child death has not improved despite so many promises. But we have 16 billion to give for corporate welfare. Feelin so much better…sarc.

  4. Jenny how to get there 4
    28 June 2021 at 7:57 am

    Can we stop global warming climate change?

    We are quite capable of stopping climate change

    Will we stop global warming/climate change?

    No we won't

    Why?

    Because there is no political will to do so.

    ……our assessment didn’t need to split hairs in this way. The evidence was overwhelming.

    …..Deep decarbonisation requires that we reduce anthropogenic emissions in the first place. In fact, we need a year-on-year reduction in emissions from now until 2050, roughly equivalent to the 7% reductions seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    …..To study the social dynamics needed for such a rapid transformation, we looked at ten social drivers of decarbonisation: United Nations climate governance, transnational initiatives, climate-related regulation, climate protests and social movements, climate litigation, ….

    …..Though the 1.5°C target might be possible, there are currently no grounds for optimism that we will meet it. But perhaps our findings will provide exactly the motivation we need to make it happen.

    https://theconversation.com/global-warming-below-1-7-c-is-not-plausible-reveals-our-study-of-the-social-drivers-of-decarbonisation-163104?fbclid=IwAR0g-Ct_krr8tNgngC2ASXbajQVA8tLRKQviXAwV9tK432BnAtQwBdG2KuQ

    We need to be that 'motivation’, ‘to make it happen'.

    These wilful criminals need to be sued and protested against for all they are worth.

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

    • Jenny how to get there 4.1
      28 June 2021 at 1:36 pm

      OK Boomer

      Those most at risk from Cov-19 are in the older age bracket.

      Those most at risk from climate change are the young people.

      Maybe this explains the difference between the extraordinary efforts taken to prevent covid-19 and the lackluster efforts taken to prevent climate change.

      Climate change anxiety: Young people 'feel hopeless'

      By Steffan Messenger
      BBC Wales Environment Correspondent

      "The most soul-crushing thing is not being optimistic about [climate change].

      "It's something I'm quite worried about that isn't going to be sorted fast enough. We're already seeing effects at the moment. Not enough is being done."

      "The government should not see this as something that is just a problem for young people – the other way of actually tackling climate anxiety is to do something about climate change."

      Regular surveys by Cardiff University's school of psychology have shown a big shift in people's attitude to climate change in recent years – with 40% of those polled across the UK now saying they are "very or extremely worried" about it.

      A third said it triggered feelings of anxiety, fear or outrage.

      https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-57555760?fbclid=IwAR3pajjXNg3tg_C47_iPUVNMiVyaRDPGUZQSP34ZBtSbQ8GgUv1HHx6dG9I

      We need to harness our outrage to demand that our governing bodies do something about it.

  5. Sacha 5
    28 June 2021 at 8:01 am

    Detailed analysis of SUFW's stance – not my content and I am not in a position to comment on it but I figure people here deserve to have access to it. https://postingdad.medium.com/speak-up-for-what-d3d7a7cecab9

    https://twitter.com/postingdad/status/1409037507912605696

    https://twitter.com/postingdad/status/1409063171415937028

    • millsy 5.1
      28 June 2021 at 8:12 am

      SUFW is a group set up to wage war on the trans community.

      You will find that it is the God-people that are jerking their chain if you dig deep enough.

      [please provide some evidence that Christians control SUFW or retract the assertion – weka]

      [assertion has now been retracted below – weka]

      • Incognito 5.1.1
        28 June 2021 at 8:28 am

        Look, Sacha can post links to Tweets.

        • Sacha 5.1.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 8:31 am

          Um, the trick is to put the link on a line of their own here and this system expands them out automatically.

          • Incognito 5.1.1.1.1
            28 June 2021 at 8:35 am

            Your tip is handy, thank you.

            The trick is to put just a tiny little bit of effort into it and when it fails, ask for technical assistance here.

      • Janice 5.1.2
        28 June 2021 at 8:40 am

        I understand the SUFW is trying to protect the rights of women and also women only spaces. They are also trying to stop children being encouraged to transition rather than growing up gay. Its seems to me that it is the trans movement that is more likely to be funded by fundamental religious groups. A man with long hair, high heels, makeup and wearing a dress is still a man and no matter how deluded will always be a man.

        [Janice, my commitment here as a moderator and feminist is to try and prevent the gender/sex war taking place on TS. The boundaries around robust debate and not using language that effectively excludes others is different from elsewhere. Your comment is a problem in two ways (plus the request below re funding):

        1. By saying that TW are merely cross dressing men you make invisible TW with gender dysphoria and TW as a gender identity. You can make the argument on both those points but I’m going to ask you be less offensive in how you do that (consider the TW reading and those who may want to take part in the conversation) and that you do in fact make the argument if you want to post the opinion).
        2. saying that TW are deluded is akin to saying women are hysterical ie as a class are deficient.

        I’m figuring out how to moderate in this debate, so I hope you will take more care. It’s always fine to ask for clarification – weka]

        • Red Blooded One 5.1.2.1
          28 June 2021 at 9:15 am

          Jasus. There is no equivalence to be being Trans or Gay other than their fight for acceptance in society. When I grew up when it was illegal to be Gay it didn't mean I started wearing frocks.

          "A man with long hair, high heels, makeup and wearing a dress is still a man and no matter how deluded will always be a man.?"

          Do you have any idea, or care, how offensive comments like this are.

          If your comment is reflective of religious bigotry or the SUFW movement then you, churches and the SUFW should STFU

          • weka 5.1.2.1.1
            28 June 2021 at 9:21 am

            I also think it’s incredibly offensive and will be keeping an eye on this as a moderator.

          • Adrian Thornton 5.1.2.1.2
            28 June 2021 at 10:40 am

            " When I grew up when it was illegal to be Gay it didn't mean I started wearing frocks."…Wonder how Quentin Crisp would have got on in today's climate?

            Whatever the answer, here is an incredible interview of an extremely interesting man who was on the forefront of being openly gay in the UK…

            • Red Blooded One 5.1.2.1.2.1
              28 June 2021 at 3:08 pm

              yes I think the very brave Mr Crisp would be a very "happy camper" in todays society and I, for one, am grateful to him so we can ride on his beautifully bloused shoulders.

          • Foreign Waka 5.1.2.1.3
            29 June 2021 at 11:29 am

            Janice possible means physically – which may well be true. We shouldn't be so touchy about expressions before we found out what is meant. Some in this forum have English as their second language. If we really care, we care about everybody and their perspective. How else can you get consensus even if it is that there are different opinions?

        • weka 5.1.2.2
          28 June 2021 at 9:18 am

          As with Millsy, can you please provide the evidence that the trans rights movement is funded by religious fundamentalist groups.

        • weka 5.1.2.3
          28 June 2021 at 9:20 am

          For clarity and with regard to the nature of the debate, when you say man you mean biologically make right?

          Are you saying that trans women as a group are deluded?

        • weka 5.1.2.4
          28 June 2021 at 9:34 am

          Mod note for you Janice

        • greywarshark 5.1.2.5
          28 June 2021 at 12:27 pm

          Janice just make your points quietly and reasonably and don't bring in suggestions that feel like hyperbole likely to arouse emotions from either side of the debate. Just saying, from experience.

      • Nic the NZer 5.1.3
        28 June 2021 at 9:07 am

        Do you know of any legitimate organisations which advocate for womans rights (especially where they conflict with trans rights)? Or are they all transphobic by doing that advocacy?

      • weka 5.1.4
        28 June 2021 at 9:12 am

        Mod note for you Millsy.

      • Anker 5.1.5
        28 June 2021 at 9:37 am

        Thanks Weka. Millsy, where is your evidence. A claim like that needs to be backed up or please retract.

        I know your claim to be absolutely false.

      • Rosemary McDonald 5.2.1
        28 June 2021 at 9:21 am

        Not so very long ago The Science declared that human brains do not mature until about 25 years of age.

        Speak Up For Women quite rightly have grave concerns about teenagers being encouraged to undergo life altering chemical and surgical 'therapies'.

        Watchful waiting and talking therapies are more appropriate.

        Pro child-transitioning 'advocates' have declared this treatment approach to children and young people experiencing gender dysphoria as 'denying them access to healthcare'.

        • McFlock 5.2.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 12:55 pm

          Just wait for the right wing to take those grave concerns and apply them to general sexual health matters, including contraception and abortion.

          • Rosemary McDonald 5.2.1.1.1
            28 June 2021 at 2:49 pm

            Just wait for the right wing ….

            Do you really think this is a left wing/right wing issue?

            If you read widely on the topic you'll find that some of the most gender (ideology) critical feminists were firmly planted in the Left. Until they began to speak up about the impact on women and girls of accepting without question that 'transwomen are women'. Then the pile on from the wokest left drove them away.

            Not to the right…btw…but away.

            IMHO I don't believe the traditional definitions of 'Left' and "right' apply anymore.

            • McFlock 5.2.1.1.1.1
              28 June 2021 at 2:56 pm

              Nah, I think the trans thing is as much of a generational issue as a political issue.

              But social conservatives (i.e. the "right wing") will take the UK court findings about teenage consent for medical procedures and apply them to other medical procedures. Like abortion and contraception.

              the people opposed to any sort of sex ed in schools will sure want to stop teens asking the doc for the pill.

      • Anker 5.2.2
        28 June 2021 at 9:46 am

        I suggest the person on Twitter who asks so many questions about SUFW attends one of their public meetings to find some answers……….The group that has been referred to as a hate group, which the High Court found was patently not true, is now able to hold meetings in Council premises as the High Court concluded was their democratic right.

        Usually the research that is used to determine health decisions in Aotearoa, is from overseas, e.g Covid vaccines. NZ doesn't have the same population or funding to undertake Gold Standard research. BTW NICE guidelines on puberty blockers are that there is little evidence to support them improving gender dysphoria, mental health and Body image. They are experimental. I am sorry I don't have a link at hand, but promise to post later. I am running late today!

        • Sacha 5.2.2.1
          28 June 2021 at 9:52 am

          When you have some time I suggest you read his blog post that answers all those questions.

          • Anker 5.2.2.1.1
            28 June 2021 at 9:57 am

            Didn't click on it sorry Sacha. Will do so.

            Ok just had a quick glance and will need more time from me but will do later.
            My understanding is that SUFW was the BDMR bill kept as it is where a small number of people, because that is all it is, have to apply to the family court and have a medical exam to change their birth cert. NB my understanding is that genital surgery is not a requirement of this

          • Anker 5.2.2.1.2
            28 June 2021 at 5:54 pm

            Sacha I just got home from work. The blog you posted has a hell of a lot of information in it. I am to comment on my views in this area. I am not SUFW nor am I a member.

            Reading through it I agree with most of SUFW views. So maybe I will comment on all these areas tonight on Open mike if I get to or or tomorrow.

    • Sacha 5.3
      28 June 2021 at 8:53 am

      Relatedly, a recent NZ opinion piece about priorities in women's sport: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/300341029/the-biggest-threat-to-womens-sport-is-not-the-inclusion-of-transgender-athletes

      Since Laurel Hubbard’s naming in the New Zealand Olympic team this week, there’s been a flurry of discussion about the inclusion (or exclusion) of transgender women in women’s sport and the need to protect women’s rights.

      It’s fantastic to see how women’s rights and women’s sport are all of a sudden coming to the fore. Now that you are so interested in women’s sport let’s talk about the big threats facing women in sport.

      It’s not the inclusion of transgender women.

  6. weka 6
    28 June 2021 at 9:43 am

    [general mod note on the sex/gender debate:

    1. I’ll be moderating to maintain TS kaupapa of robust debate that doesn’t use language or tone to exclude people. Please read the Policy.

    2. I’ll also be moderating to prevent the war that is happening elsewhere from happening here. I expect a level of respect for people even where there is disagreement on position or politics.

    3. I suggest people read mod notes and comments over time to learn where the boundaries are. There are examples in Open Mike today.

    4. on days I am busy I won’t have time to explain and will be more using the mod tools like pre mod and short bans to take the heat out of the debate if it’s getting out of hand. I will try and give warnings.

    5. other mods will make decisions about how to moderate, this is a statement about my own approach. We do discuss moderation in the back end.

    6. It’s always ok to ask questions if unclear on boundaries or TS debate culture

    7. I’d really like to see TS as an exemplar of how to debate the gender/sex issues, and would appreciate all sides helping with that]

  7. millsy 7
    28 June 2021 at 9:59 am

    Ok, I retract the statement made earlier on this morning about SUFW.

    • Anker 7.1
      28 June 2021 at 12:00 pm

      Thanks Millsy. I respect that. I think we all make assumptions and I appreciate your retraction

  8. millsy 8
    28 June 2021 at 10:13 am

    For what it is worth about the Laurel Hubbard saga, does anyone know if she has had gender reassignment surgery and is she now legally female on her birth certificate? If no to either, then she shouldn't go.

    Transgender athletes should be required to undergo full transition before competing. That is the best solution for everyone.

    • weka 8.1
      28 June 2021 at 10:25 am

      AFAIK you don’t need to surgically transition to change BC sex in NZ.

      why should surgery be necessary for inclusion in Olympic sport?

    • Anker 8.2
      28 June 2021 at 12:26 pm

      Hi Millsy the competitive advantage that Laureen has over female weight lifters starts with testosterone in the womb. If you want a link to that I will find it but it was from a scientist at Otago medical school. Once puberty kicks in the advantage increases significantly. If a man has his testicles removed he will produce very little testosterone. But going through male puberty already gives the advantages of a larger heart, larger lungs with greater capacity, larger bones, more haemoglobin, a specific type of muscle which gives men an advantage, height, hand size for sports like rugby. Men also are faster than women, the fastest 10,000men on the planet can out run the one fastest women. Some of these men are 14 years old and some are 50. The two articles I posted today on transgender in sport cover it well.

      • Sacha 8.2.1
        28 June 2021 at 1:11 pm

        Yet Lauren Hubbard is the first trans athlete who has qualified to compete in an Olympics.

        • Anker 8.2.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 1:50 pm

          Yes this is why the issues is being debated. The Olympic committee only changed the trans gender regulations in 2015 or thereabouts.

          But in the States Trans women BMX riders are competing with women and winning titles. Same in Italy.

          Obviously sporting bodies are aware of the transgender issue and trying to formulate policy. It is something to be addressed, even if at this stage it is just Laureen Hubbard. Allowing trans women to play rugby with women will not only be unfair, it will be dangerous.

          There is a proposal that there are two sporting categories women and other and I support this. I think in doing this it allows for fairness to women and girls, while not depriving anyone of the chance to compete.

          Afterall it is bodies that play sport, not identities.

          • RedBaronCV 8.2.1.1.1
            28 June 2021 at 2:42 pm

            I am totally confused about this debate as I think are many others. So i'll ask for a little information.

            Setting aside what people do in the privacy of their own homes (who cares about how many Teddy bears they share a room with) what are the issues when it comes to Public facing interactions such as playing sport or using spaces that are used or classified as "male" or "female".

            Are we looking at three groups female, interzone and male or is it going to stick with two groups? If we stick with two groups do interzone (regardless of medical procedures undertaken or not) select public facing interactions on a fairly permanent basis as to how they wish to be perceived? Or do we have three groups and assign public facing interactions on some basis over those 3 groups? And if we assign then how do we do it? If we have three groups do we use a neutral pronoun

            • Anker 8.2.1.1.1.1
              28 June 2021 at 2:53 pm

              will do my best to put my tuppence in.may come later today

            • weka 8.2.1.1.1.2
              28 June 2021 at 4:19 pm

              One example: women’s refuges where traumatised women would have to share spaces with traumatised trans women. Trauma informed support would be not subjecting a woman whose been raped to be housed with a male bodied person, because of retraumatisation. Doesn’t take too much searching to see where there are already problems with this. Solution: retain women only services and set up trans and/gender neutral services. Do the political work to make sure funding is adequate.

            • Anker 8.2.1.1.1.3
              28 June 2021 at 6:30 pm

              Agree REdBaronCV what people do in the privacy of their own homes (as long of course it is mutually consenting adults).

              I am speaking up for women (though not a member of that group). The human rights act clearly set out that women have rights to separate spaces in public toilets and change rooms. I want it to stay that way.

              The human rights Act also makes the provision for separate women's spaces in accommodation such as hostels, shelters prisons and refuges. The right to have single sex schools for women. It also makes provisions for women's only sports.

              I support moves to keep the preservation of these rights. While I do see myself as able to offer complete solutions to issues about Transgender people , eg how they get to play sport , what change rooms they are in, I want to preserve the arrangements we have (although already we have a biological male who is competing in women's elite sport at Olympic level). Women are being expected to automatically comply with allowing trans women to assess domains that are normally reserved for them. Female weight lifters are being told not to speak up about Laureen Hubbard.

              I also have huge concerns about introducing gender ideology to school children as young as 7 years old. Kids are being taught there are all these difference gender's you can be e.g pan gender, gender fluid, trans etc. They are presented with flags that go with each gender. I don't believe there is any science behind gender ideology (correct me if I am wrong). I think children at this age are not capable of abstract thought so will just accept these ideas as truths.

              We have significant increases of children and young teens as identifying as transgender and we are not sure why. So we now have 12 years old being prescribed puberty blockers and then cross hormones. NICE have come out strongly to say there is a lack of evidence to support the efficacy of puberty blockers and unknown long term effects. We have 16 year old girls getting double masectomies and then hysterectomies at 18 years.

              So I have many concerns about this whole area. Not sure I have answered you questions.

            • RedBaronCV 8.2.1.1.1.4
              28 June 2021 at 7:02 pm

              Hey Anker that was helpful. I noticed Sacha below used a Venn diagram analogy so we are looking at discussing which public activities intersect the men or women circle and which remain outside. with different levels of support etc? When it comes to some things like public rest rooms do we bump up the disabled toilet type facility- which are very much appreciated by some other groups like women/ men with small children who can use them and keep the children close.
              As for children of 7 receiving instruction i suspect it will go straight over their heads. In times past I was treated to some work perfect recitations of the facts of life ( some parents do a great job) complete with zero understanding.

          • Sacha 8.2.1.1.2
            28 June 2021 at 2:51 pm

            there are two sporting categories women and other

            So trans women would compete as women? Or do they have to compete with trans men?

            • Anker 8.2.1.1.2.1
              28 June 2021 at 3:12 pm

              Well my view is that if you are born male and have a male's physiology then you compete with men. I think the Other category could be open to anyone, men, trans women and anyone else who wants to compete in that group. The women's category for women born women and that would be open to trans men.

              That seems fair and safe to me. But I understand some trans women may feel uncomfortable with this. Interestingly I watched a clip with a UK trans women who was very clear she should be playing with biological males and has joined a men rugby team. Again my view is it is bodies that play sports not identities. That is why in weightlifting and boxing there are separate categories for different weights. You wouldn't put a light weight man with a heavy weight. BTW Laureen Hubbard is competing in a category that her weight well exceeds in.

              I am really sorry about this. I realize this is difficult for some trans people. But my full support goes to women and girls. I am speaking up for the female weight lifters who have been told to stay quiet about Laureen Hubbard. If not me and groups like SUFW then who?

              • Sacha …
                28 June 2021 at 3:59 pm

                The women's category for women born women and that would be open to trans men

                In other words, genetic females. Why not just say that?

                • weka …
                  28 June 2021 at 4:22 pm

                  How about people use the language they use to best communicate what they’re trying to communicate except where they’re being excessively offensive.

                  • Sacha …
                    28 June 2021 at 4:33 pm

                    When trying to communicate about sex and gender it pays to know the difference.

                    We already have one standard word in this language that describes both ‘women born women’ and ‘trans men’ in this context. Females.

                    • weka …
                      28 June 2021 at 4:39 pm

                      How did Anker fail to not understand the difference between sex and gender?

                      most people would understand what she said

                    • Anker …
                      28 June 2021 at 5:20 pm

                      I think this is the problem Sacha. To date you are the first person who has told me that i.e women and trans men are females.

                      May I ask who decided that? I think Weka is correct most people would know what I meant and I do see how want I said could be considered to be offensive.

                      I don't think of myself as female as such ,unless the options are male or female. I have always thought of myself as a women. End of.

                    • weka …
                      28 June 2021 at 5:37 pm

                      I do think of myself as female, but in English that word is used in some contexts and not others. Woman is more common. Most people still use the word woman to mean biologically female, but it's implied, they're not sitting there thinking about biology because this is how woman has always been used until fairly recently.

                    • Sacha …
                      28 June 2021 at 5:39 pm

                      Who said 'offensive'? Just illogical.

                      To date you are the first person who has told me that i.e women and trans men are females.

                      Nothing novel or controversial in saying that so I'm not sure what company you have been keeping.

                    • Sacha …
                      28 June 2021 at 5:41 pm

                      this is how woman has always been used until fairly recently.

                      In English. And words evolve as cultures do.

                    • weka …
                      28 June 2021 at 5:48 pm

                      words do indeed evolve, but at this point in history there are compelling reasons why women want to have some control over the language that they use, and that affects them.

                      Woman born woman is an evolution of language that's come out of women wanting to be able to talk about their experience in a highly charge social/political arena. I often just revert to using woman, depending on context, because woman and trans woman is a really effective way to communicate. Everyone knows what is being said.

                    • Sacha …
                      28 June 2021 at 6:08 pm

                      In venn diagram terms, positioning the circle 'trans women' as outside the circle 'women' is quite different than inside.

                      Transgender activists and communities have used the term 'cis women' as distinct from trans women' where both are subsets of 'women'.

                      The 'debate' seems much like white people trying to claim the word 'New Zealander' or 'Kiwi' only for themselves.

                    • weka …
                      28 June 2021 at 7:15 pm

                      Unless one believes that women have the right to self determination, in which case it's more like women resisting men telling women what to do, again.

                      I don't believe that trans women have the right to tell women how to speak about ourselves. What TAs could be doing instead is working with women on how to resolve the issues, including the conflicts. Most women would be open to that (or would have been, there's some seriously angry GC women around now who've had or seen really shitty things done to women). As far as I can tell a big part of this is the dysphoria that drives trans women to need to be accepted as women to relieve dysphoria. I think there are better ways to approach that than taking away women's rights. I also think there's a level of entitlement in that that needs challenging. And I don't think that dysphoria should be a driving force for such significant social change without serious examination. A lot of that is social rather than regulatory or legislative.

                    • Sacha …
                      28 June 2021 at 8:39 pm

                      I don't believe that trans women have the right to tell women how to speak about ourselves.

                      Which only makes sense if you define trans women as not women. Bit circular there.

              • Nic the NZer …
                28 June 2021 at 6:01 pm

                I believe the Olympics have an issue with having both a womans and an open category. The suggestion is that this reduces the value of the womans category where the competition is close enough that the best women are in the open category. Their preference is for non overlapping categories, though I do think this could be amended if needed.

                • Anker …
                  28 June 2021 at 8:22 pm

                  Reply to Sacha………?Illogical to say women and trans women???????

                  I have no idea what you mean.

                  And also what did you mean when you said about the company I keep? You don't even know me.

  9. Pat 9
    28 June 2021 at 10:32 am

    A comment on Pundit that resonates….

    "The Soviet Union became a society where everyone knew what their leaders said was not real, because they could see with their own eyes that the economy was falling apart. But everybody had to play along and pretend that it was real, because no one could imagine any alternative."

    "One Soviet writer ( Alexei Yurchak, a professor of anthropology who was born in Leningrad and later went to teach in the United States) called it hypernormalisation."

    " We are so much part of the system that it is impossible to see beyond it. The fakeness was hypernormal"

    "We live in a world where the powerful deceive us. We know they lie. They know we know they lie. They don't care. We say we care but we do nothing. And nothing ever changes. It's normal. Welcome to the post-truth world. HyperNormalisation"

    https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/debt-is-a-part-of-a-modern-economy-it-still-is-even-if-we-call-it-colonial#comments-placeholder=

    • ianmac 9.1
      28 June 2021 at 10:56 am

      So Pat. Where does Trump fit in there?

    • Descendant Of Smith 9.2
      28 June 2021 at 2:42 pm

      Adam Curtis did a good questioning of hyper normalisation.

      https://thoughtmaybe.com/hypernormalisation/

      • Pat 9.2.1
        28 June 2021 at 6:11 pm

        2 hours 46…..later

        • Descendant Of Smith 9.2.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 7:17 pm

          Yeah but did you find it interesting. I quite like his stuff ever since All Watched over By Machines Of Loving Grace. which looked at Silicon Valley and it's connections to Ayn Rand amongst other things.

          He has a new series which I haven't watched yet.

          https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/cgyoomh

          These strange days did not just happen. We – and those in power – created them together.

          — Adam Curtis

          It supports what I've said for a long time – since the 80's – that you need to fundamentally change the power structures – whereas power has focussed on changing individuals – which is really just victim blaming.

          We've seen a touch of changing power with the move from Maori consultation to Maori wards. Much more needs to be done to re-empower informed communities in decision making.

  10. Molly 10
    28 June 2021 at 1:21 pm

    This legacy of systematic inequity remains a decade after the formation of Auckland Council.

    Auckland mayor Phil Goff agrees the current model isn’t fair and he hopes the review can throw up some better options.

    “As a result of seven different legacy councils having varying levels of asset investment, assets inherited by and maintained by different local boards receive variable funding,” he says.

    “The historic legacy means that some areas are not getting equitable funding with others. There are complex issues to work through, but the joint governance working party and council are examining how to ensure that different parts of the city have equitable access to amenities and that funding is provided on a fair basis across the region.”

    At least now there is a working group, so snails pace yourselves.

    Inequality in wellbeing is increased by such funding frameworks as those that are currently in place.

    • Descendant Of Smith 10.1
      28 June 2021 at 8:04 pm

      Yeah but some councils divested themselves (sold off) income producing assets while others did not. Some councils kept costly upgrade needed housing while others sold it off.

      Those who disposed of assets benefitted at the time and I can see why some ratepayers would rightly say they didn't benefit in anyway from the sell-offs made at the time but are expected to see those areas who did sell off benefit from them not doing so.

      I also think that central government needs to support those councils who did keep housing by giving them some funding to upgrade their housing stock.

      Central government helped the private sector through tax breaks and Housing NZ directly (apart from when national pinched poor peoples rent in the way of dividends leaving little money for maintenance) – the councils were always left out. Those they stayed the course should be now compensated.

      It’s also ironic that the right go on about councils should only do sewage and water but we can see across the country that they have neglected this very function but due to the rights focus on shifting costs for things like conference centres and racing events and so on that mainly the elite get to partake in they still manage to spend lots of money.

  11. Molly 11
    28 June 2021 at 2:10 pm

    This is where investment in innovation, technology and new ways of providing housing could have an impact in NZ.

    Small houses, delivered for $49,000USD that are able to be connected to services on site within an hour of delivery.

    The whole channel is worth watching, when you are disillusioned with the pace of change that you see about you…

    https://youtu.be/_W2YDxVi02I

    • Molly 11.1
      28 June 2021 at 2:10 pm

      PS. Price includes delivery, fridge and washing machine. You do have to provide your own bed, couch, dining suite…

      • s y d 11.1.1
        28 June 2021 at 3:29 pm

        And your own site, power, water, wastewater, roading, playgrounds, schools….

        The system is broken….talk about hypernormality.

        Even good old Bernard Hickey has given up and recommends anyone not already owning a house should flee while they still can.

        The median voter remains supreme. The government has in recent weeks prioritised “keeping a lid on debt” over infrastructure to ensure houses are built.

        Get out while you still can

        Those parents still renting and those just graduating into Covid without assets should move now. Giving up hope seems a capitulation. It is. But sometimes discretion is the better part of valour. Sometimes there is no hope. Move to Australia and you’ll find wages are 30-40% higher and rents have fallen $50-100 in the last year.

        • Molly 11.1.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 3:42 pm

          And your own site, power, water, wastewater.

          Yes. But in terms of housing during rebuilds those are already usually onsite. And when your permanent housing is ready, it can be sold. repacked and moved on.

          I wasn't suggesting it as THE solution to our housing situation (I believe that is a multipronged one), rather as a tool to be deployed where appropriate.

          Also, we do need to look how judicious use of technology in our building industry can be used to design and build with efficient use of resources and lower costs. We are really behind the ball here.

          (They also have tried to design to avoid the need for heavy moving trucks and cranes, again reducing costs.)

    • joe90 11.2
      28 June 2021 at 4:51 pm

      Nothing new under the sun. (iirc the factory turned out four or five every day)

      https://collection.fletcherarchives.co.nz/objects/2432/fletcher-holdings-ltd-beazley-group

      [image resized]

      • Molly 11.2.1
        28 June 2021 at 5:09 pm

        Ok, disagree on the comparison. (Not foldable and able to be moved on a trailer… and using basic build techniques to build cheaper, not efficiently. )

        More thinking how investment in automated factories and improvements in design and utilising local supply chains may reduce build costs while standardising a high build quality. Beasley homes were just small homes built to be transported. Build costs in NZ are exceptionally high.

        Investing in standardised local supply chains for fittings, and utilising technology and automated systems for regional production of State Housing would be beneficial. Current approach is not keeping up.

        • Molly 11.2.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 5:11 pm

          … and Beasley homes were both mean-spirited and ugly. I bet those that profited from them, never would live in them.

          • joe90 11.2.1.1.1
            28 June 2021 at 5:48 pm

            Transportables came late to the party when major infrastructure projects required hundreds of homes in remote locations.

            The methods and innovations imported post war by Beazly snr and jnr were employed locally to build thousands of comfortable, affordable homes, like the one I grew up in, to accommodate tens of thousands of working New Zealanders. The majority still stand.

            https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/manawatu-standard/20100717/281509337461552

            • Molly 11.2.1.1.1.1
              28 June 2021 at 8:21 pm

              The methods and innovations imported post war by Beazly snr and jnr were employed locally to build thousands of comfortable, affordable homes

              Jeez. They did not utilise automated systems, or the design software that allows for changes to suit site or orientation. This is possible now without material waste or loss of production efficiency.

              But ok, I understand you think there is no room for improvement in building design, material wastage, build time or costs.

            • Molly 11.2.1.1.1.2
              28 June 2021 at 8:23 pm

              … BTW used a relocatable to add extra bedrooms, so not unfamiliar with them. The transport costs can be high. The smaller units shown could be transported on a trailer.

  12. greywarshark 12
    28 June 2021 at 3:16 pm

    Excluding cars from areas in Wellington CBD – what impact will that have on small businesses?

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/445647/wellington-businesses-lose-customers-as-level-2-restrictions-continue

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018801327/barriers-everywhere-for-disabled-people

    It is estimated that thousands of people with disabilities are living in unsuitable accommodation but only 2 percent of houses are accessible in Aotearoa.

    Kāinga Ora plans to make 15 percent of new houses accessible and there is growing pressure for more.

    It's not only housing, new plans for carless city centres block out people who struggle to walk or cycle.

    A proposal to make Wellington's Golden Mile car-free has been criticised for excluding a large part of the population, while the head of a recreation group has highlighted the barriers to the country's great walks for disabled people.

    Sweeping new changes that sound good, look good in nicely coloured promotions, are often coming from the idealist not the realist perspective.

    • McFlock 12.1
      28 June 2021 at 3:33 pm

      car-free doesn't seem to have killed Cuba St over the decades.

      • RedBaronCV 12.1.1
        28 June 2021 at 3:38 pm

        Car free Manners Mall ( now used by buses) was a dogbox but now much better. The bottom end of Cuba Street is deserted pretty much – people don’t even walk through there

        • McFlock 12.1.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 3:48 pm

          Seemed pretty busy when I was there earlier in the year.

          Only go to welly once a year or so. Sad TonTory on Manners st is no more – always liked that place late at night.

    • RedBaronCV 12.2
      28 June 2021 at 3:37 pm

      This little proposal is worse than that. Yes anyone who can't walk a reasonable distance or climb on a bus can forget it under this.

      But the underlying study focused on only three parts of the day, morning and evening rush times and the lunch break. Now to get the buses through pronto we should probably get all private transport ( cars and cycles as well, out of the bus route at those morning and evening times. The actual volumes are low on the actual route ( the side streets are different) so that's not too disruptive. I include cycles because no matter what the number of lanes is limited and will remain so and we don't need buses following slow bikes. There won't be much more space for pedestrians either.

      No reason why private transport can't use and park outside those times. A lot of the area is sunless caverns outside lunch hours (it was designed like that in the past) and in the evenings the lower two thirds are absolutely deserted. It will stop people parking when they want to go to a show other evening entertainment etc. It doesn't address the impacts on surrounding areas either or unavoidable road closure and alternate routes when disaster strikes.

      Worse of all is the $59 to $76 mill price tag. There would be some minor works needed on the vehicle carriage way but the rest of the price tag looks like $50 mill of planter boxes and paving.

      Frankly it's ideology gone mad dressed in high priced designer togs.

      .

      • greywarshark 12.2.1
        28 June 2021 at 9:52 pm

        RedBaroncv – The idea is the thing. The council planners have to come up with something new and bold etc etc.

        I have a feeling that this impetus for Councils is exemplified in this intro for a video meeting of Councils. I don't want to point the finger at any particular council but the current emphasis on being excellent, leading edge, world class etc. all spells money, and perhaps measures beyond what would be satisfactory and useful. Is 'good enough' OK for the average ratepayer? I think they might be getting to that POV:

        This … will cover the ,,,,Council's continuous improvement efforts, and all it has done in its pursuit of excellence.

        [It] has shown courageous leadership as it strives towards the goal of being the very best Council in New Zealand. Their journey started four years ago when the Council undertook its first CouncilMARK™ assessment which helped …. establish a baseline of performance. From there, a comprehensive work programme was created that centered around continuous improvement.

        • RedBaronCV 12.2.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 10:11 pm

          While the ratepayers spend their time hoping the money is spent well. Seems to be a vast increase in style over substance in some areas. The courageous always makes me laugh – what are they expecting – everyone to wade through a crocodile infested swamp?

    • RedBaronCV 13.1
      28 June 2021 at 6:36 pm

      So the government is going to hand out free phones.Wheee. Much better idea than closing the travel bubble, All this sounds horribly detached from peoples real lives.

      And I can't say I liked this Jacinda comment on any level. you know privacy, commercial firms tracking us, sticking it on overseas databases

      "We expect that over time requiring people to scan in would become a part of normal life."

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/445682/government-to-consider-mandatory-masks-qr-code-scanning-pm-jacinda-ardern

      • weka 13.1.1
        28 June 2021 at 7:10 pm

        Pretty sure when they say scan they mean scan or sign in. The issue with signing in is that the government hasn't set up good systems. Who wants to use a pen that lots of other people have just used in the middle of an outbreak? It's solvable, they just haven't done the mahi.

        I'm reasonably ok with what's happening with the app data currently (it's not shared with govt, and afaik stays on the phone rather in the cloud. Commercial companies don't have access?). My concern is what a National government would do to change that, and what Labour might do if pressured enough.

        • Sabine 13.1.1.1
          28 June 2021 at 7:14 pm

          Labour atm has a majority, so really they don't feel pressured to do anything they don't like to do. As for National, let me put it this way, they would do exactly what is legal to do and they would go as far as they could, and Labour if the shoe were on the other side would do exactly the same. I mean, really.

          Do you trust Labour to setup a surveillance system that would be 'National' proof? Because making ‘a scanning in a thing of norm’ is plowing the grounds to lay some seeds of mass surveillance. And the plants growing of these seeds won’t be good ones.

          • weka 13.1.1.1.1
            28 June 2021 at 7:17 pm

            Nope. But the current app system seems reasonably ok for now.

            Pressure on Labour would be economic pressure, but also closer to the election pressure. Pressure of a scared public demanding the govt be punitive to non-complyers.

            • Sabine 13.1.1.1.1.1
              28 June 2021 at 7:29 pm

              Emphasis on 'current'. Currently it is not mandatory. Once it is mandatory who will monitor and how, and i don't trust this government any further on that then i would trust a National government on it.

              The ones bringing Covid to our shores are coming in via plane, they are not living here. So really how keeps forcing you to sign in in Dunedin keeps the waitress safe from a spreader on holiday in Auckland or Wellington, Chch, or Arrowtown? And what if you don't comply? A fine? Home D? A bit of a prison stint?

              Define ' the public' that is demanding stuff from the government would be helpful too. Also consider that there are things the public demands from government and yet, government does very little or what ever it does is belated. Health Care, Mental Healthcare, Housing, crumbling infrastructure, etc.

              So yeah, nah, nah. Surveillance under Labour is/will be as bad as it would be under National. They would both abuse the situation if need arises and if they could get away with it.

              I could also see a tool of mass surveillance masked under ‘public health’ to be a massive voter turn off. Just saying. Not that these guys would care about that.
              As for economic reasons, well they could get the vaccines in the country with a bit of gusto and urgency and maybe they get finished before the next election runs about?

              • weka …
                28 June 2021 at 8:04 pm

                Apparently there were Wellingtonians a bit freaked out yesterday.

                https://twitter.com/BarristerNZ/status/1408313981421244417

                • weka …
                  28 June 2021 at 8:05 pm

                  read the thread, it's interesting, including the people who disagree with him about the app.

                  • Sabine …
                    28 June 2021 at 9:10 pm

                    The whole of NZ should be a bit freaked out at the fact that some covid carrying dude from OZ came to NZ for a bit of leisure and plague spreading.

                    So, close the door. Unless really the government is now so outta cash that it needs the foreign currency injection so badly that it rather put us under constant surveillance then close the door to people and re-instate the two weeks mandatory quarantine.

                    And the 'some ask for harsher' methods is not clearly defined, could literally just be some government flunky who realised that Covid is also an issue for those that are well heeled. In fact, that is the issue is it not, its not spread world wide by the poor, but by those that can afford to holiday and fly. But the poor will have to pay the bill, again. Right?

                    I can not wait for 2023 to come soon enough, just so that i can again vote against these people.

                    • RedBaronCV …
                      28 June 2021 at 10:13 pm

                      Thinking I'll get me a burner phone for govt comms. And never answer it.

                    • Herodotus …
                      28 June 2021 at 10:25 pm

                      Just get on with the vaccination roll out. And on the topic why have not these alternatives been cleared yet ??

                      Our closed boarders are only a stop gap until science prevails with the answer/solutions.

                      and re the phone how will they know that you or I have zapped the app ? Not sure how a government agent will be able to ask to check your or my phone at a pub ?

                    • weka …
                      29 June 2021 at 11:14 am

                      who are you going to vote for?

                    • weka …
                      29 June 2021 at 11:16 am

                      "The whole of NZ should be a bit freaked out at the fact that some covid carrying dude from OZ came to NZ for a bit of leisure and plague spreading."

                      I'm not freaked out. The system is working. My concern is where Labour push the system beyond its limits due to economics. I'd be happy with stronger border controls and shifting NZ to a steady state, relocalised economy, but that's not going to happen.

                    • Sabine …
                      30 June 2021 at 8:10 am

                      @Weka,

                      like the last time a third party. I will neither vote for L, N or G. No use.

                  • Sabine …
                    30 June 2021 at 8:12 am

                    the system works? the system works insofar that we can trace the virus.

                    But until we have a confirmed case, that case can meander about the country spreading the plague where ever they go.

                    Maybe ask someone who works at a supermarket, pharmacy, etc if they think the 'system' works. Maybe ask a Nurse at the local ED department if they think the system and works, and then ask how long they think if will hold up if we had an outbreak here like OZ now has.

                    Maybe ask someone who works public facing if they should wear a mask for 8 + hours a day, just so that some guys from Oz can come over and have a holiday.

                    The system does not work in preventing an outbreak, it only works in tracing it and hopefully before it goes rampant is brought under control. What do you think your chances are if there were an outbreak? Yes, everyone should be freaked.

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  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
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