Open mike 28/01/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 28th, 2013 - 85 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 link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

85 comments on “Open mike 28/01/2013 ”

  1. just saying 1

    Watch and weep.

    The UK social security “reforms” and their devastating effects on citizens with disabilities.

    http://www.opednews.com/articles/Video-The-Secret-Governme-by-Mick-Meaney-130125-244.html

    Soon to be enacted by a government near you.

    • rosy 1.1

      And next up… did you see the one about ‘voice risk analysis’ aka lie detectors being used over the phone to work out whether people are lying about their need for council benefits in Cornwall? It’s even too much for a Tory councillor who has resigned over it.

      “It is clearly right that Cornwall council takes a strong line against people who deliberately mis-claim tax benefits but in this case I am more concerned about the impact on the vast majority of honest claimants.”…

      Private outsourcing company Capita says on its website that VRA is “capable of identifying stress and emotion in a caller’s voice pattern”. The contract will cost the taxpayer about £50,000 but is intended to save many times that amount in preventing false claims, according to Cornwall council which states that research carried out in other areas of the country suggests 4%of single person benefit discounts could be false claims.

      Trained assessors, specialist technology for calling 30,000 households? Yeah…right. Sounds like atos spin.

      Research carries out in other parts of the country also show VRA, or lie detectors by phone, is not suitable in a ‘benefits environment’. But Cornwall is not letting that wee point stop it.

      • Colonial Weka 1.1.1

        A year or two ago the WINZ call centre was trialling a system of voice recognition. I think you had a choice to register and then they recorded your voice and so whenever you phoned in after that they knew it was you. Needless to say, my response to that was fuck off, but it makes sense now why they were trialling it. I haven’t come across it for a while though so I’m guessing they dropped it.

      • McFlock 1.1.2

        So they’re looking to see if people calling up about a benefit are stressed?

        That sounds more stupid that usual.
        I wonder – do people who fail the test get audited, or just automatically suspended?

        • rosy 1.1.2.1

          It does sound more stupid than usual – especially when you look at the numbers it’s clear the people doing some kind of psychological assessment on the data are call centre operators.

          If it’s anything like atos, it’ll be suspension until appeal rather than the other way around.

  2. Jenny 2

    ‘GAZA REPORT’

    UK documentary maker and activist Harry Fear will be speaking in Auckland

    Where: Lecture Room B28, Auckland University Library Alfred Street

    Time: 7pm Thursday 7 February

    Harry Fear and veteran Kiwi activist Roger Fowler were on a fact-finding mission in Gaza when the recent Israeli bombing raids took place. They will speak about their experiences.

    *Legendary reggae band ‘Unity Pacific’ will be playing

    Hosted by; Auckland University Students for Justice in Palestine’

    With: Kia Ora Gaza

  3. Matthew Hooton 3

    Shearer performed better than Key on Morning Report on housing, I thought.

    • Socialist Paddy 3.1

      So Matthew did Trevor ask you to say this?

      • Jenny 3.1.1

        The Right’s love affair with Shearer deepens into commitment.

        • blue leopard 3.1.1.1

          Its called trying to gain a targets trust…this way the spin can be effective, if people realise its all poppy-cock that he speaks, he becomes less effective as a spin doctor. Sadly, I have witnessed some here starting to think Hooton is making sense, this is not good. He never does.

    • Lanthanide 3.2

      Yes, good showing by Shearer this morning. IF he can keep it up, Labour might be out of the woods.

      • Dr Terry 3.2.1

        Lanth. We get this kind of response after his every speech. How much value must people continue to place upon rhetoric? (Look at Obama for example!) And so it goes on every time, with the obligatory IF IF IF . . .

    • muzza 3.3

      Radiolive Duncan Garner – David Shearer interview

      4.30pm News with Jeff Bryant Tuesday 18 November 2012

      A potential flashpoint is brewing between Labour and the Greens with David Shearer squashing Green plans for quantitative easing if the two go into coalition after the next election.

      The Green’s want to drive down the value of the New Zealand dollar by getting the Reserve Bank to print more money which could be used to buy earthquake bonds and rebuild the EQC.

      Mr Shearer told Radiolive’s Duncan Garner thats not an option;

      “What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”

      David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.

      ___________________________________________________________________________

      Perhaps that is what Shearer was referring to when is the speech…..

      Well I am committed to this future.

      There is simply no other option.

      That is why I have asked my colleagues to develop a clear plan to diversify our economy.

      A plan we can put in front of New Zealanders, not airy fairy concepts.

      All of these areas – jobs, education, housing and building a new economy – are critical to rebuilding our second largest city.

      I am committed to rebuilding Christchurch from the grassroots up, not the Beehive down.

      That’s why I’ll be talking to Cantabrians about how they see their future.

      To ensure their voices are heard.

      That’s what we’ll work on in the coming months.

      These ideas will make a difference.

      These are ideas National simply can’t see.

      Airy Fairy ideas (traitor words) – DS confirms his loyalty to the continuation of the neo liberal agenda, he was, is, and will remain and agent of the establishment, its that simple!

      • Tiresias 3.3.1

        “David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”

        That’s odd, considering that a couple of days ago in his State of the Nation speech Shearer said:

        “We’ll make changes to monetary policy so that our job-creating businesses aren’t undermined by our exchange rate.”

        **************************

        “David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”

        That suggests to me that Shearer believes “the economy” is some kind of discrete, independent entity which will somehow run itself perfectly well as long as its left alone – presumably shaped by some “invisible hand”. If he ever gets to be Prime Minister he will, on day one, be faced with “the economy” bequeathed to him by National which, according to him, he won’t ‘interfer with’ by trying any new ideas.

        ******************************
        “David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”

        A couple of days ago in his State of the Nation speech David Shearer said: “We are on the cusp of a new era – when new thinking and leadership is needed to build wealth we can all share in.”

        *****************************

        Jesus wept.

        • McFlock 3.3.1.1

          By the sounds of it Labour have caught up with the idea that the RBA should be widened in scope beyond just inflation targets. I.e. you make unemployment and quality of life targets part of the objective, and the RB will do a bit of autonomous QE.

          A few years old as an idea (they probably resisted it while in power), but at least they’re only 5 or 10 years out of date – not the 150 that Nact are 🙂

          Not sure how much of the idea follows on from the monetary policy + noninterference statements – could just be teafleaf reading on my part.

      • Jenny 3.3.2

        A potential flashpoint is brewing between Labour and the Greens with David Shearer squashing Green plans for quantitative easing if the two go into coalition after the next election.

        The Green’s want to drive down the value of the New Zealand dollar by getting the Reserve Bank to print more money which could be used to buy earthquake bonds and rebuild the EQC.

        Mr Shearer told Radiolive’s Duncan Garner thats not an option;

        Why are the Greens wasting their political capital on this sort of ephemera, when the future of humanity itself hangs in the balance, threatened by permanent climate change?

      • mikesh 3.3.3

        “What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”

        Placing decisions which belong properly to government beyond the reach of a government accountable to the people is undemocratic, and in fact represents the very essence of fascism.

    • Pete 3.4

      I didn’t hear him this morning, but I noticed on Morning Report last week that Shearer is getting better with his communication. I think he must have been working on it over the summer and with some robust policy developed I think it would be easier for him to give firm answers than waffle to fill the air.

      • Socialist Paddy 3.4.1

        He may be getting better but he has gone from being warmed up Shyte to barely adequate.

        And giving the odd speech is not enough.

        Shearer needs to repair relationships within caucus and the rank and file. Only if he can do that will he show leadership material.

        I bet the Nats cannot wait until the first debate. I hope that Labour in selecting Shearer has not selected our own Sarah Palin.

        • Lanthanide 3.4.1.1

          Nah, Sarah Palin was a vacuous bimbo pretending she could do the job.

          Shearer most likely can do the job, he just has trouble showing us.

          • CV - Real Labour 3.4.1.1.1

            But what exactly is the job that he’s been asked to do, that’s what continues to trouble me.

            • muzza 3.4.1.1.1.1

              “What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”

              What David is saying, is that having the RBNZ/OoDM, as private, is the best solution, as thats what his masters are telling him to say. The tools government gets controlled with is Graeme Wheeler, ex World Banker, relaying messages. David will be given no tools to the RBNZ, which is why he has not mentioned them in the speech, he is talking bull shit!

              David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.

              Here David emphasises that market driven ideology will continue, and that he is owned, and speaking on behalf of *the market* controllers!

              David will strickly adhere to the *best practice* frameworks, and there will be no *airy fairy ideas*, (such as what is right/best for NZ), coming from his mouth, or via Labour Party policy!

              David Shearer, like John Key, and so many others pretending to be politicians (hence the continued atrocious performances), are TRAITORS!

            • Treetop 3.4.1.1.1.2

              The fogies do not want to be the fall guy. It’s as if the puppet masters (fogies) write the lines and Shearer does not deliver them verbatim.

    • fenderviper 3.5

      I’d just like to take the opportunity to wish both Matthew Hooton and Mike Williams all the best for their marriage, they are perfect for one another.

      Come back Josie Pagani, there is a spot for you now M. Williams has joined the National Party.

      • bad12 3.5.1

        LOLZ, Hooten, on today’s RadioNZ National Nine to Noon seems to have laughably lost the over-sized plum that has Him at times thinking He speaks with the voice of the Lord of the Manor,

        Unfortunately for Hooten the ‘plum’ voice has had Him at times sounding more like a transvestite in training,

        Wonder if Hooties had the offending ‘plum’ surgically removed or did the recent ‘pricking’ of that ones over-blown ego here at the Standard result in it’s shriveling…

      • Polish Pride 3.5.2

        I am sure that you have considered that for Labour to get into power they will actually need to appeal to the voters in the centre of the political spectrum (assuming a relatively equal number of voters on either side of the centre). Once having one the election they will be able implement nore left wing policies on the basis that their coalition partners are further to the left than they are and as always there will be some negotiation and collaboration in forming the new govt.
        If they ignore the centre (which I don’t think they are) they will quite simply lose the election and their policies won’t really matter for another three years……..

        • McFlock 3.5.2.1

          5%+ from current nonvoters

        • mikesh 3.5.2.2

          You seem to be saying they should campaign on policies they don’t believe in in order to gain power, so that once in power they can implement policies they do believe in, even if it means breaking election promises.

    • mike 3.6

      Oh look it’s Matthew “No Spin Here” Hooten. Wouldn’t you be more effective with a pseudonym? Ah you already do that. Carry on then.

    • tc 3.7

      Yes Matthew, isn’t it great to be paid by both sides to assist towards the same outcome.

      Just spin and repeat, easy money Matty eh.

    • Cactus Kate 3.8

      Nonsense Matthew.
      Stop confusing the kids here.

  4. KhandallaViper 4

    Trevor hosted a media event in his Electorate football ground for his Leader at which a “Hands on” strategy was the theme.
    Does Shearer have the right team around him to firstly detail such policies and secondly execute them when in power?
    Trevor’s last job was to build a new sports stadium on Auckland’s waterfront. Truly great idea, appealingly executed.
    Who in Shearer’s team jumps out of bed in the morning with a passion to undo and never repeat the mistakes of the past 30 years?
    Who in Shearer’s team jumps out of bed in the morning with a plan that is relevant to those who don’t want to own a house? Don’t relate to third level education? Don’t see a future in NZ?

    • just saying 4.1

      KV
      Yesterday I found there was so much in Shearer’s speech that offended and appalled me that I was dumbstruck.

      Far from tearing it down and nit-picking to find fault, I felt overwhelmed. I’d have to go through line by line and write a bloody dissertation on all the things that were wrong with that speech.

      But of course it was the picture that was painted of what and who was and wasn’t important. Maybe outside of the context of the speech as a whole, the line about the “success” of a person being the first one in the family to graduate university, wouldn’t have grated like it did.

      I felt like saying that my father has a couple of degrees yet for some reason we’re all pretty proud that my brother was the first member of the generations of my family to be able to build a house, and my sisters, the first to be able to teach young children how to read and write and do sums and feel confident learning to learn, and most of all that our severely disabled sister was able to learn to read against the odds and that for a few years, before all the wonderful Rogernomic reforms, was able to work in the community and earn a wage to pay the mortgage on her own home.

      Pity they don’t have degrees. Their work is and was a kind of anti-success, a generational downward-mobility. It is in the subtext of that speech, – winners – yay, losers unmentionable, strive, aspire, compete, be the best and look after number one, (in the most narrow and conventional terms imaginable that is).

      • CV - Real Labour 4.1.1

        Beltway Labour, you’re only any good if you have a university education. Ever wonder why the Beltway can’t connect to ordinary people worth a damn? Seen the attitude in Young Labour as well. When they find out some kid is “just” a tradie or school leaver noses get turned up real quick. Pathetic and elitist.

        • Anne 4.1.1.1

          Interesting comment CV…

          A few years ago a former Labour candidate (I think the person has now walked from the Party) once approached a (now retired) senior Labour politician asking for advice on… how to go about becoming a candidate. The first question the prospective candidate was asked:

          Do you have a university degree?” The candidate replied “yes”.
          “Oh, that’s OK then
          ” said the senior politician. “You really need a degree to become a Labour candidate nowadays“.

          Pathetic and elitist you say. I would add to that… sad and astoundingly stupid!

          • Rhinoviper 4.1.1.1.1

            That’s even more pathetic than you know, because the people I see starting at university come from all sorts of disadvantaged backgrounds.

            “Do you have a university degree?” is really code for: “Are you an unthreateningly, comfortably middle class professional of the sort that clogs Public Address? You’ve never been a sex worker, a drug user, in prison, chronically ill, an artist, epileptic, suffering from a disorder, a sole parent, too dark a shade of brown… or actually gained a degree, but one that’s in boring science and not sexy law or commerce? Right?”

            I’ve had a parade of students who tick several of those boxes pass before me and gain degrees, and they’re exactly the sort Labour needs (I can think of one in particular… and another… and another… and more) but I can imagine them saying “Yes” to that MP’s question and then seeing him squirm in his seat and vacillate “Weeeeeellll…. that’s good, that’s a good life story… you’re a battler for sure, but, well, your story’s a bit complicated and for all your… well, virtues… there are some people who won’t be able to understand… Well, for example, I wish you’d overcome… given up something less likely to make the wrong sort of headlines… people won’t understand… perhaps if you’d just quit smoking perhaps? Cigarettes! Cigarettes, I mean! Yes, yes, I know what you do – did – is legal now, and you did it to have money to raise your child… but that takes a long time to explain and you can’t do that in a soundbite and some people – not me of course – some people are going to be, um moralistic about it… they’ll call you a… well, I won’t say that word, but can you imagine it? It would be so hard for you to hear it every day. Oh you did? On talk radio, I mean… on TV, or Kiwiblog… And you have a degree too? Hmmm, yes, I have to say, we’ve many high quality candidates, so don’t feel that we think the less of you when we select this recent marketing graduate who’s been working on my staff for… weeks… now. They’re good, they’re really good and put the hard yards into the party…. um, yes… and they look good on television (yes, I know, I’m not so very slim now either – too many Bellamy’s meals, ha ha!)… and that counts when they’re being interviewed in front of a Ponsonby cafe where we think we can turn the vote around… though mind you, they’re serving an apprenticeship still, so we’ll put them in a nice safe seat or a high list position… Anyway, good luck and keep up the good work! You’re an inspiration!”

            • Anne 4.1.1.1.1.1

              😀

            • rosy 4.1.1.1.1.2

              More ‘know your place’ moments.

              I’ve had a few professional-type job interviews with middle-class, university-educated academics that have gone pretty much along those lines and ended up with ‘so where would you fit?’ or ‘because you’re a solo-parent I can’t risk that you’ll take time off when the children are sick’.

              Funnily enough for more manual jobs don’t care who I am, just whether I could do the job and stay… those employers think with a couple of degrees I’m over-qualified.

  5. millsy 5

    Im probably the only one in the world who finds the practise of celebrating the anniversary of geo-political entities (the Provinces) that were abolished in the mid-19th Century completely absurd. I cannot think of any other non-federallised country that has holidays in different parts of the country on different days.

    Though the actual abolishment of the provincial anniversary and their replacement with a more relevant national holidays would be unlikely, due the the events that take place on these days. So carry on inhabitants of the former Auckland Province, enjoy your holiday. You might want to take the time to read up on the old Provinces.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    I dont think the changes to the WOF system is going to lead to the downfall of civilisation as the testing and mechanical barons say they will, but they will turn out to be a false economy. The inspections will end up being much more tougher, resulting in bigger financial hits for car owners (rather than costs being spread through the year).

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Captain mumblefuck is already backtracking on KiwiBuild, and the rednecks are pouring vitirol on the greens, forgetting about their generous familiy benefit capitalisation and State Advances loans. Labour should just focus on increasing the state house build, and give assistance to those who wish to buy their state houses (and chop the renewable tenancies — also perhaps extend the IRR to community provider?). This should in itself dampen the housing market.

    • Lanthanide 5.1

      “but they will turn out to be a false economy. The inspections will end up being much more tougher, resulting in bigger financial hits for car owners (rather than costs being spread through the year).”

      A guy made the point this morning that arguable the 6 monthly WOF system had been acting as a crutch, because people only worried about the state of their car on those 2 days each year, instead of paying more attention to it throughout the year. I think this is likely to be true, but we probably won’t see any move back to owner-responsibility for a good 5-7 years I’d guess.

      • rosy 5.1.1

        I’m concerned about lack of inspections of cars – how many people know nothing about what they’re meant to check. But what I’m really worried about is the self-regulated inspections of trucks. Reducing regulation in safety critical elements hasn’t worked in other industries and it won’t work in the transport industry either.

  6. CV - Real Labour 6

    Shearer conceedes KiwiBuild $300K house price is only a national average, does not apply to Auckland

    Standalone Auckland houses under KiwiBuild to be $550K. Smaller apartments or terraced accomodation may be $300K in some outlying areas of Auckland.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10861855

    • karol 6.1

      Indeed. That was clear in last night’s 3 News report. See my comment on the Good Coverage for Shearer thread.

    • the Al1en 6.2

      Perfect example of a poor policy launch, and dare I suggest typical of current inept back room management.
      The big roll out policy, the press, the media attention, good voter vibes, then whoops, what I meant to say was…

      Really, who would do that?

  7. sally 7

    I wish Shearer would spend as much time in Auckland as he does in the Hutt Valley. Funny how the three power-brokers in caucus are the MP for Wellington Central and the two MPs for the Hutt Valley – little wonder Shearer is hardly ever in Auckland.

  8. NoseViper (The Nose knows) 8

    NACTs degrading our society again. Cutting the wof system down. At present new vehicles only need a once a year, then go to six monthly after the first six years. There is talk about cars being built to be safer these days. Well air bags are for when there is an accident, and the whole purpose of wofs is to keep vital parts in good working order lessening accident possibility. That’s what I like for me, and to know that the other vehicles on the road have been vetted and in reasonable condition.

    Instead we get deregulation, the Reno style of political decision making. Go fast towards your goal, don’t worry about possible obstacles – sounds like this new idea is just a rerun of the Roger Douglas thinking.

    Novopay – Education is apparently the second ‘successful’ service manufactured by clever clogs in Australia for us, the first being for NZ Post which I heard is not a go’er either.

    Charter Schools – discussion on radionz this morning with someone from academic circles called John, and principal from a middle school in Wanganui, the fortunate area to receive government monetary assistance to keep a private school viable, didn’t impress me with the need for the current legislation. Academic John pointed out that there is provision for alternative schools in a 1989 act, and that there has been changes made to the current legislation which seems to make it more radical. Alternative schools, under the state system, are needed for some students and there are some presently. Surely just changes to the enabling 1989 act were all that is necessary.

    The government is into makework it seems to me. They don’t wish to support building a better future for us but need to appear to do something so they fiddle with things we already have and that broadly are successful. Result conditions further downgraded. What a shower.

  9. logie97 9

    So Key is now an expert on road safety and vehicle maintenance.
    (Wonder if he has acshully ever looked under the bonnet of a car, let alone changed a wheel).

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/8230081/PM-defends-WOF-changes

    Surely vehicle testing is self financing.
    So this is all about saving costs for the fleet owners.

    For the average punter, this great saving over a ten year cycle will be about $40.00 dollars per year (on today’s testing rates).

    As for me, my car is fairly new but I shall be continuing with a six monthly check-up thank you Johnny Boy and it will continue to be done independently of my regular service.

    • logie97 9.1

      …and apparently the AA have said that their membership is unanimously in support of the new system. Not this member and would love to know when they commissioned that survey.

      • Rosie 9.1.1

        Hi logie97.

        1)”So key is now an expert on road safety and vehicle maintenance”……exactly,.lol, he would have never had to ride in an unroadworthy car in his life. What would he know.

        2)I was also baffled at the results of that AA survey, and no, they never asked this member either.

        3)It’s beyond me that we would purposely reduce safety checking in cars. Our car is 20 years old so will still be getting a 6 monthly check under the changes to WOF requirements. Even if it fell into the post 2000 age we woulds still be getting it checked every 6 months, certainly not once a year. To leave it up to faith that your not brand new car is road safe in another year is just plain fool hardy. One thought I’m having is around the number of sales reps that are on our roads every day driving huge distances. Unless you work for a large company or a multi national you will be driving an older model car, one that fits into that post 2000 rego cut off point. Your car could be as old as 14 years and will now only require checking once a year. I know of companies who have laid off staff and reorganised their reps territories since the recession. The reps now have to cover much larger areas than previously. This is dangerous for two reasons: they are more fatigued when they are on the road and the wear and tear on the car is increasing. A deteriorating part that could have been picked up in at a 6 month check will now be left a year. Will that part make it the car unsafe for the driver and other road users.?Quite possibly!

        4 and finally)betcha Peter Dunne had something do with voting for change. Don’t know if you saw Keith Webb, one of the directors of the MTA on 3 news last night, discussing the flaws of this change. As he’s my mechanic, we’ve had chats about these changes. Last year he took a bald tyre over to Peter Dunne’s office to demonstrate to him the difference between checking a tyre at 6 months and 12 months. The wear would have been picked up at 6 months, but depending on mileage could be at a point where its almost shredding in a further 6 months. Did PD care? No he did not. The only good outcome was that there will be one less person voting for PD in the Ohariu electorate vote next year. – the mechanic told me that he won’t be voting PD again. (Thats great but I hope the rest of the electorate wakes up before then)

        So, now there will be more potentially unsound cars in our roads. Thanks National Govt for putting safety first. Not.

      • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 9.1.2

        logie97
        I thought that the AA guy sounded like a free market density. When he said stuff about individual responsibility the hairs on my neck prickled. I thought AA was supposed to be conservative in favour of safety and providing services for motorists and travellers.

        He seemed to think that it was an unneeded expense to have these regular checks and it would save AA members money. If anyone didn’t get a service and repair done, well they ought to and make regular checks, or they were irresponsible. It can be easy to overlook stuff, that’s what we have the WOF for and everyone has been expected to have one when appropriate for the age of their car. So we all benefit from the universality with properly serviced cars.

        I think the next reorganisation should happen in parliament. The MPs seats should be taken out and sold in the interests of ergonomics etc. It is supposed to be healthier to be standing instead of sitting for long periods. So just leaning shelves in front of each MP would be sufficient and some of the fat cats might start losing weight by just standing and therefore proving they are alive.

    • fenderviper 9.2

      “So this is all about saving costs for the fleet owners”

      Yes, more corporate welfare.

      “For the average punter, this great saving over a ten year cycle will be about $40.00 dollars per year (on today’s testing rates).”

      As Clashman suggested yesterday the cost will most likely double for checking of older cars.

      • TiggerViper 9.2.1

        Only fleet owners? I asked myself who benefits from these changes and wonder who else.

        • fenderviper 9.2.1.1

          With the “more roadside checks” by police being touted I’d suggest the Govt. coffers will benefit i.e. more tickets issued.

          • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 9.2.1.1.1

            It would be wise for us to have a separate transport police force again. I’m going to lose all my respect for police if I have to put up with them doing more petty surveillance on cars and drivers for misdemeanours.

            The people police used to be the government body who helped the non law breakers and citizens dealt with them occasionally and relatively happily. The government has turned them into a bunch who are in everybody’s face all the time, sirens and lights flashing multiple times a day and booze road blocks where they have a catch rate of about 5% so 95% stopped are being unnecessarily harrassed. And then they can pick you up for out-dated certificates and fine you. It’s not good to have these tax gatherers at you all the time. In the bible Jesus was the only friendly face to a tax gatherer. They might find that the people divide against them – the rich on one side and the majority on the other.

            And then the government is so bloody careless about trying to improve any situation that impacts on ordinary people, they don’t even put the drunken bums through retraining programs. It seems they just like catching people out and punishing, fining them etc. Like in the Simpsons when annoyed by Homer Mr Burns answer is ‘I’ll loose the dogs”. I see that with such a laissez faire government that is likely to become a reality as people become angry and desperate.

            • McFlock 9.2.1.1.1.1

              I have no problem with the drink driving checks, but the issue I have is the use of traffic duties to boost the individual officers’ activity quotas.

              The classic example I saw a few years ago was when a 2-cop car (how many of those are left) pulled someone over for a pretty blatant red light issue. Fair enough.

              While one officer was dealing with the other car, his partner pulled over all the cars on a busy street and asked to see D/Ls – just “papers, please”, no fitness checks or anything.

              Of course, each of those counted as traffic duty, so their stats were up – but really there was only one actual case of “traffic duty”, the rest were just pointless ID checks.

  10. Elizabeth Bourchier Real Labour 10

    What problem did Shearer fix yesterday ?
    The 1 million non voters were connected to labour?
    Those who are moving to greens coming back?
    The Caucus re-united?
    Talent inspired to transform the country?
    No, no.
    The Wellington gaggle feel reassured??
    Yes, yes

  11. This is what the revolutionary Marxists in Aotearoa this will happen to the Labour Party.

    The global capitalist crisis and NZs perilous economic situation has activated a class war inside the Labour Party such as not seen since the late 1980s over Rogernomics. The onset of crisis in 2007 and Labour’s defeat by a right-moving National -ACT-Maori Party Coalition in 2008 and 2011 has thrown the party into an internal crisis. The ‘old guard’ continue to ‘oppose’ the NACTs by competing for the same middle ground, while a ‘new guard’ has emerged dedicated to return Labour to its traditional parliamentary socialism. The scene is set for Labour to split between the ‘right’ and the ‘left’. We examine the significance of this impending split for the development of class struggle in Aotearoa/NZ…

    http://redrave.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/nz-labour-party-changing-guard.html

  12. John 12

    Affordable housing $300,000 or less for everyone under kiwibuild…..as long as you want your house to be an apartment with only two bedrooms…otherwise it will be up to $550,000….was Bill English right when he said Labour were being dishonest with their $300,000 figure…i guess he was…

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10861855

  13. Bill 13

    I can’t remember the ‘mechanical’ ins and outs of it, but the Northern Hemisphere can apparently expect to experience weather systems that ‘sit’ for far longer due to AGW. So heatwaves and droughts and rains last much longer than was previously considered normal.

    And anyway, for some reason the weather forecast the other day ( I don’t usually listen in) struck me as odd insofar as it was very short because the same weather was expected over the entire country whereas there is usually quite a variation. And in todays ‘stuff’

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8231629/End-predicted-to-capital-weather

    Which has got me wondering whether the Southern Hemisphere can expect similar to the Northern Hemisphere and have periods of long ‘sameness’ as weather systems basically slow and stall due to the effects of AGW.

    • kiwi_prometheus 13.1

      Don’t think so, because there is no massive continent ie euroasia in the South. Plus Antarctica is a continent so not warming nearly as fast as the Arcrtic.

      The jet streams are the result of heat energy moving from the torrid equator to the freezing poles. Because the Arctic is warming ( faster than anywhere as predicted by modelling ) there is less differentiation between it and the equator = less heat energy transfer = slower jet stream.

      A slower jet stream means slower weather patterns dragged along at lower levels. Plus like a slow moving river the northern jet stream is meandering more, channeling cold air from further north to further south ie snow in North Africa for the first time in decades or more , and vice versa sucking hot air up from further south to the north ie Russian drought worst in hundreds of years.

  14. Is it possible to not like or believe in the leader of a political party but still support the objectives and ethos of a party – its kaupapa – and still vote for them.

    For instance, Hone has alienated some with his remarks and some don’t like him personally or they spin it is the Hone Party – yet when Mana’s policies and objectives are looked at, even though Hone is a turn-off for an individual – the plans and policies may be a turn-on. And the other way around – I love the leader but not sure about the policies. I’m interested because of my discussions with mcflock on another thread. And because I want to increase the votes for Mana and the left whether people like Hone or not.

    • karol 14.1

      I’d possibly vote to get Annette Sykes into the House, and Sue Bradford.

    • Rosie 14.2

      Hi marty mars. I wrote an epic length response to your question. When I clicked on submit comment I lost the site and my reply to you. I’m not going to repeat it all again but instead just abreviate what I said and refer to your example of the Mana Party and its leader Hone Harawira.

      Brief reply to your question: It would depend on the individuals liklihood to be influenced by the persona of a party’s leader over the substance of their policy. What is more important to them?
      Its not a perfect example but consider how Epsom voters strategically voted JB for their electorate to in order for National to still hold the sway of power. JB wasn’t well regarded as a whole by the voters but they saw him as a vehicle for upholding their own kaupapa. They got what they wanted despite not having much in the way of respect for their elected representative.

      My two cents worth: Personally and historically my view of a leader has taken a back seat to the policy, objectives and ethos of the party. The next election will be my 10th as a voter. It will be my first, NOT party voting Labour. This is mainly because their direction isn’t enough to sustain me as a voter. However, this time I can’t deny that the persona of the leader was the triggering factor for my choice – for the many and varied reasons already discussed on The Standard.

      I like Hone Harawira. I like the kaupapa and policies of Mana. It is the party that most closely aligns with my social and political view. Despite that my party vote is going to that rising star, The Greens, who in the past I’ve always given my electorate vote. I wish you luck with your efforts to increase their votes. It would be great if they picked up a few extra seats. Heres to a good left win in 2014 – even if it does seem like a distant future.

    • McFlock 14.3

      I don’t see much policy difference between the Greens, Mana, or the Alliance, and Labour aren’t too far behind.

      So basically it comes down to nitpicking personalities, policy order, and what their actions say as well as their words.

      For me, it’s not so much “not supporting” party A, as much as simply deciding at the toss that Party B of the bunch is better suited to my perspective.

  15. joe90 16

    Yes, she can win.

    Kathleen Wynne has won the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party and is set to become the province’s first female premier, after a closely fought race with Sandra Pupatello.

    Wynne, the 59-year-old MPP for Don Valley West, is a long-time party member who has had several cabinet roles, including minister of transportation and minister of education.

    She has vowed to bring back the legislature on Feb. 19, saying Ontarians are not looking for another election.

    Wynne, who is openly gay, had earlier asked delegates in an opening speech: “Can a gay woman win?”

  16. Rogue Trooper 17

    read an article in the Dom recently quoting “Race Against The Machine” and that works’ relevance to the rapidly increasing loss globally of “middle class” employment roles due to technological advances (bring it on you Far.side right wing capitalist commentary clowns)

    • CV - Real Labour 17.1

      Here’s another one: very skilled and very cheap Chinese and Indian labour taking over software development, routine legal/accounting/accounts work, administration roles, IT technicians etc

      Corporations and shareholders which outsource local jobs get to make bigger and bigger profits even as local communities fail.

      http://www.smh.com.au/data-point/get-used-to-it-sending-jobs-overseas-is-the-way-of-the-future-20121009-27bfh.html

      • kiwi_prometheus 17.1.1

        A relative was on the phone to Telstra/Vodafone needing help. Turns out the call was being taken in Manila! She was pissed off, told them that as a New Zealander she was disappointed about it and would be looking for a company that employed NZers. The Filipino girl on the other end was like “I help you! I help you!”

        lol

      • tc 17.1.2

        Yup, a lot of major big systems upgrades and customisations have been done in Indian code shops by oracle, SAP etc for years as its the only way they can take the work from local crowds.

        Major utilities and others happily take advantage of this, it’s not like they care about quality anyway, being a monopoly does that.

      • Rogue Trooper 17.1.3

        interesting, i’m sans all two-way communication devices in my whare now (just sneaking on at PL, so can’t link) however, RNZ is very informative if one ignores most of what passes for opinion and concentrates on seasoned,comparitively objective,commentary on local and global issues; also there is “Press Display” at the PL and the dailys’; still not looking like a brighter future, unless one is an investor in the right commodities, and we shall see those see-saw as well this year.
        btw :), a friend of mine relayed her experience of watching cs political commentary on the boob-tube and said she could not understand why the broadcasters give the likes of him and Farr-up-his-own the Time of day.(influential? like cholera is influential)
        as an aside, just keep dumping chemical toxins on our pastures (and in our children) and everything will just be tickety-boo.

        -Back In Black

    • kiwi_prometheus 17.2

      Yeah robotics are advancing rapidly and on the cheap – fully automated factories.

      Remember that was the utopia promised by the technocrats and rationalists. Freed from the burden and drudgery of labour we would have time and energy to pursue our interest.

      So will we all get to share in the wealth of this technological revolution or will it pan out more like Blade Runner?

      • Rogue Trooper 17.2.1

        Blade Runner (Do androids dream of electric sheep?) was fairly visionary imo.
        as an aside, I was aware very early on that those who could ‘insert” into the MSM and it’s variants were baiting me, and muzza, what was with the “betrayal”? finding laudanum?
        Whatever, it is encouraging to see examples of articles more challenging to the status quo appearing occasionally in our dailys’, and even some of the rw eunuchs getting a little more interested in their loss of genitalia (but thats’ those rational types for ya, it’s all about self and Interest) although a cynic Idealist might perceive the blonde bombshell, i meant, eggshell, as a political foil to J-A G…

      • millsy 17.2.2

        I am thinking more along the lines of Running Man and the Robocop movies.

        Far from being mindless action flicks, Robocop 1 and 2 are interesting commentaries on urban decay, privatisation, the malevolent use of technology and human experimentation by corporations, underfunding of police, outsourcing, and so on and so forth.

        The Running Man, focuses on the use of reality TV to distract the masses….

      • Draco T Bastard 17.2.3

        Under the present socio-economic paradigm it will be more like Blade Runner (and/or what millsy said). Of course, we don’t have to keep the present socio-economic system.

  17. bad12 18

    The reasoning behind what some would see as the surprise sacking from the Slippery lead National Government’s Cabinet of Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson and un-HousingNZ Minister Phill ‘the mouse’ Heatley was escaping me until i listened to a RadioNZ National interview of Slippery the Prime Minister the other day,

    Insisting that Heatley and Wilkinson were not given the bums rush out of the Cabinet,(Heatley with barely two hours notice), was not provoked by bad behavior the Prime Minister even gushingly described their contribution as great work which served to further bamboozle me until that is our Prime Minister uttered the words fresh young faces as part of the reasoning behind his demotion of Wilkinson and Heatley and the promotion of Nikki Kaye and Simon Bridges,

    Immediately into my mind ‘flashed two simultaneous pictures, one of a group of balding old men gathered round a Cabinet table most having stapled to their various cranium the fur of one or other dead animal, mostly in numerous states of comatose rigidity and only stirring weekly at the sound of Social Development Minister Paula Benefits weekly enumeration of the numbers She has managed to drive off benefits and off-shore via the intensely effective use of Her minions creative use of the ‘new’ rules to deny people their rightful income support, heard amongst this awakening of the gathered Ministers the clashing of false teeth, the snorts as if emanating from a piggery and the odd shouted exhortation to kick the poor,

    The other, pictures that flashed into my mind that is, a picture of both the Blond Nikki Kaye and Pretty Boy Simon Bridges being lead into the Cabinet room with signs round their necks which contained in bold blue lettering the words ”eye candy”, at which point transmission was lost as the sound of the sirens from a mass malfunction in at least 20 pace-makers broke my reverie,

    We can well imagine Slippery the Prime Minister spending His summer holidays mulling over the problem of trying to energize a bunch of geriatric old codgers, the flotsam left over from National Governments from so long ago that no-one is sure what position they occupied or even if the aging coterie in the Cabinet room isn’t in fact a remnant left behind as the previous Labour Government decamped after their election defeat,

    ”Eye candy” was the chosen solution for the Prime Minister, some ”candy” for all tastes around the Cabinet table…

      • bad12 18.1.1

        Lol, i know, gardening does it to me, first i am pulling weeds,then i am babbling at the plants ”no, no way” and soon after i am on my knees laughing like a loon,

        Friggin dangerous places those gardens, the narrative did go on for quite some time about the bits of various dead animals that most of them have taken to stapling onto their various cranial caps, Maurice Williamson (Raccoon), Peter Dunne (Skunk), and, Slippery the Prime Minister( the soft hairs gently plucked from the anal crack of a blind donkey called Brucie),

        I abridged it a bit to give my stubby little fingers a rest,(and my laptop which i have a habit of bashing instead of softly pashing), i might have to explore the issue of cranial covering further later on…

    • rosy 18.2

      Good call. I’ve yet to see what Kate Wilkinson did wrong. She follows the neo-liberal (so hating that word right now) to the letter, and that’s not a compliment btw. If it was Pike River he would have sacked her long ago.

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  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    4 days ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    5 days ago
  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    7 days ago
  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago
  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • JERRY COYNE: A good summary of the mess that is science education in New Zealand
    JERRY COYNE writes –  If you want to see what the government of New Zealand is up to with respect to science education, you can’t do better than listening to this video/slideshow by two exponents of the “we-need-two-knowledge-systems” view. I’ve gotten a lot of scary stuff from Kiwi ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • Good news on the GDP front is accompanied by news of a $5m govt boost for Supercars (but what about ...
    Buzz from the Beehive First, we were treated to the news (from Finance Minister Grant Robertson) that the economy has turned a corner and New Zealand never was in recession.  This was triggered by statistics which showed the economy expanded 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, twice as much as ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • The Scafetta Saga
    It has taken 17 months to get a comment published pointing out the obvious errors in the Scafetta (2022) paper in GRL. Back in March 2022, Nicola Scafetta published a short paper in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) purporting to show through ‘advanced’ means that ‘all models with ECS > ...
    Real ClimateBy Gavin
    7 days ago
  • Friday's Chorus: Penny wise and pound foolish
    TL;DR: In the middle of a climate emergency and in a city prone to earthquakes, Victoria University of Wellington announced yesterday it would stop teaching geophysics, geographic information science and physical geography to save $22 million a year and repay debt. Climate change damage in Aotearoa this year is already ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: Calling the big dog’s bluff
      For nearly thirty years the pundits have been telling the minor parties that they must be good little puppies and let the big dogs decide. The parties with a plurality of the votes cast must be allowed to govern – even if that means ignoring the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • The electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
     Another poll, another 27 for Labour. It was July the last time one of the reputable TV company polls had Labour's poll percentage starting with a three, so the limbo question is now being asked: how low can you go?It seems such an unlikely question because this doesn't feel like the kind ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago
  • A Womance, and a Nomance.
    After the trench warfare of Tuesday night, when the two major parties went head to head, last night was the turn of the minor parties. Hosts Newshub termed it “the Powerbrokers' Debate”.Based on the latest polls the four parties taking part - ACT, the Greens, New Zealand First, and Te ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • When The Internet Rushes To Your Defense
    Hi,You can’t make this stuff up.People involved with Sound of Freedom, the QAnon-infused movie about anti-child trafficker Tim Ballard, are dropping like flies. I won’t ruin your day by describing it here, but Vice reports that footage has emerged of executive producer Paul Hutchinson being inappropriate with a 16-year-old trafficking ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Doubts about Robertson’s good news day
    The trading banks yesterday concluded that though GDP figures released yesterday show the economy is not in recession, it may well soon be. Nevertheless, the fact that GDP has gone up 0.8 per cent in the latest quarter and that StatsNZ revised the previous quarter’s figure to show a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • The Votes That Media Dare Not Speak Its Name
    .Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..A recent political opinion poll (20 September) on TV1 presented what could only be called bleak news for the Left Bloc:National: 37%, down two points equating to 46 seatsLabour: 27%, down one point (34 ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #38 2023
    Open access notables At our roots Skeptical Science is about cognition of the results of climate science research in the minds of the entire human population. Ideally we'd be perfectly communicating understanding of Earth's climate, and perfectly understood. We can only approximate that, but hopefully converging closer to perfection. With ...
    1 week ago
  • Failing To Hold Back The Flood: The Edgy Politics of the Twenty-First Century.
    Coming Over The Top: Rory Stewart's memoir, Politics On The Edge, lays bare the dangerous inadequacies of the Western World's current political model.VERY FEW NEW ZEALANDERS will have heard of Rory Stewart. Those with a keen eye for the absurdities of politics may recognise the name as that of the ...
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government invests in top of the south’s roading resilience
    $12 million to improve the resilience of roads in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions Hope Bypass earmarked in draft Government Policy Statement on land transport $127 million invested in the top of the south’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022 The Government is investing over $12 million to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • New Zealanders continue to support the revitalisation of te reo as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Mā...
    Ko tēnei te wiki e whakanui ana i tō tātou reo rangatira. Ko te wā tuku reo Māori, e whakanuia tahitia ai te reo ahakoa kei hea ake tēnā me tēnā o tātou, ka tū ā te Rātū te 14 o Mahuru, ā te 12 o ngā hāora i te ahiahi. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • New Wildlife Act to better protect native species
    The 70-year-old Wildlife Act will be replaced with modern, fit-for-purpose legislation to better protect native species and improve biodiversity, Minister of Conservation Willow-Jean Prime has announced.   “New species legislation is urgently needed to address New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis,” Willow-Jean Prime said.   “More than 4,000 of our native species are currently ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Further safety initiatives for Auckland City Centre
    Central and Local Government are today announcing a range of new measures to tackle low-level crime and anti-social behaviour in the Auckland CBD to complement Police scaling up their presence in the area. “Police have an important role to play in preventing and responding to crime, but there is more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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