Open Mike 28/01/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 28th, 2017 - 48 comments
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48 comments on “Open Mike 28/01/2017 ”

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  1. Carolyn_nth 1
    28 January 2017 at 6:10 am

    What a bunch of jokers, these US Federal Reserve Bankers: via The Intercept:

    ridiculed and laughed at the unemployed; blamed poor work ethics, drugs, and poor education for people being unemployed; failed to account for the rise in unemployment in the GFC; failed to give explanations of how society failed the unemployed, the under-educated;

    and didn’t explain why they pay a pittance for demoralising jobs, or why wide spread drug taking may be a response to stressful and/or a depressing social and economic context.

    • Whispering Kate 1.1
      28 January 2017 at 10:35 am

      Considering Bankers and others of their ilk consider snorting cocaine as their recreational drug of choice what a bunch of hypocrites they are. Wasn’t there some high flyers who got name suppression for being caught buying cocaine in a Police cocaine heist, here in Auckland recently.

  2. Penny Bright 2
    28 January 2017 at 8:21 am

    Is it ‘done and dusted’ that Jacinda Adern will become the next MP for Mt Albert?

    http://auckland.scoop.co.nz/2017/01/the-2016-corruption-perception-index-isnt-worth-the-paper/

    This National Government, in my view, is VERY politically vulnerable on corruption.

    Despite the best efforts of the effectively Government- funded ‘mouthpiece’ Transparency International NZ to put ‘glitter on the stinking turd’ that is this worsening corrupt, polluted tax haven – otherwise purported to be ‘clean, green’ New Zealand?

    No other NZ political party or person, has spent the last TEN years, ‘whistle-blowing’ against corruption as I have, or has produced a comprehensive ‘ACTION PLAN for Transparency and Accountability’ as I have.

    (Have you read it?
    It’s in the linked Press Release 🙂

    Wouldn’t it make much more political sense to have a fiercely INDEPENDENT MP for Mt Albert in the House, to keep the heat on corruption from the INSIDE?

    Rather than an existing MP who does not have these anti-corruption policies or proven track record in fighting for these policies?

    What do YOU think?

    Penny Bright

    2017 Independent candidate Mt Albert by-election

  3. Sabine 3
    28 January 2017 at 8:39 am

    I think Helen Clark just got out of dogde in time

    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-un-idUSKBN15B1NG?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social

    “”Our goal with the administration is to show value at the U.N. and the way that we’ll show value is to show our strength, show our voice, have the backs of our allies and make sure that our allies have our back as well,” Haley said.

    “For those that don’t have our back, we’re taking names, we will make points to respond to that accordingly,” added Republican President Donald Trump’s U.N. envoy.

    Haley, who was South Carolina’s Republican governor when Trump picked her for the post, has little foreign policy and no U.S. federal government experience.”

    oh dear oh dear…how dare people not support the US.

  4. AsleepWhileWalking 4
    28 January 2017 at 8:41 am

    Quote of the day is this headline:
    http://johngaltfla.com/wordpress/2017/01/26/the-atm-of-today-is-the-phone-booth-of-tomorrow/

    China first to issue digital currency. Beware, with no cash comes complete tracking of spending/investments (there goes any remaining privacy) and more opportunity to tax tax tax…

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      28 January 2017 at 10:20 am

      Beware, with no cash comes complete tracking of spending/investments (there goes any remaining privacy) and more opportunity to tax tax tax…

      And the elimination of crime. And a few other advantages as well.

      And just because it’s tracked doesn’t mean that it’s being looked at.

      And then there’s the fact that digital currency is in high use by the private banks that create 97% of our money.

      • KJT 4.1.1
        28 January 2017 at 1:38 pm

        Most transactions are digital already. And subject to “private tax” in the form of transaction charges by the banks.

        Also removes opportunities to dodge tax and launder criminal proceeds. Swings and roundabouts.

      • One Two 4.1.2
        28 January 2017 at 1:58 pm

        “Elimination of crime”

        NO!

        “doesn’t mean it’s being looked at”

        You live in denial or a fantasy land, when it comes to technology

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.2.1
          28 January 2017 at 2:29 pm

          No, I’m quite aware of technology and it’s strengths and weaknesses.

          As KJT says, almost all transactions are presently recorded by the private banks and yet nobody’s complaining about that. And they can be hacked and looked at as the police treatment of Nicky Hager shows.

          The only defence against that is good rules and enforcement of those rules.

          Thing is, the majority of people will never have their transactions looked at because they’re really uninteresting.

          And, yeah, it completely removes the ability of corporations and rich people to hide their transactions thus dodge tax. If you want a financial transactions tax then this is the only way to go about it.

          • One Two 4.1.2.1.1
            28 January 2017 at 2:48 pm

            The issues/effects which will arise from a ‘cashless society’ are not technological in essence

            And you clearly have no idea how corporations and ‘rich people’ operate and structure their financial affairs!

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.2.1.1.1
              28 January 2017 at 4:36 pm

              The issues/effects which will arise from a ‘cashless society’ are not technological in essence
              No, they’re about peoples fear of what they’re buying being known to the government. For some strange reason, they don’t have this fear of private banks having that same information.

              And you clearly have no idea how corporations and ‘rich people’ operate and structure their financial affairs!

              Well, that’s the difference between what we have now and a truly cashless society where there is no bank money. The structure will be known, their transactions will be known and so will the fact that they’re avoiding paying taxes. Well, that latter is already known but the present structure prevents anyone from getting the necessary information together to prove it.

              • One Two …
                28 January 2017 at 5:36 pm

                1. Do you understand who/what controls ‘money creation’ inside the current frameworks?

                2.Do you understand who/what is driving the ‘digital currency’ agenda?

                3. Can you explain how in your utopian ‘cashless society’ the existing money masters are not the future money masters?

  5. AsleepWhileWalking 5
    28 January 2017 at 8:46 am

    Here’s one of my favourite skeptics, James Corbett commenting on cashless society

    • Once was and others etc 5.1
      28 January 2017 at 12:38 pm

      Bang on the money!
      Whether or not you buy into the idea that it was Modi’s wish to clean up black money, the implementation was/is one of the most ham-fisted things I’ve ever experienced – and that leads to the idea that it wasn’t really about ‘black money’ at all.

      When he came to power, he stated he wanted to give every family a bank account – a noble gesture in as much as it was a way of employees not being ripped off/underpaid/etc.
      Why then did he not wait UNTIL that had been achieved, or at least provided many more people to get one.
      The people most affected are the most vulnerable – the poor, and those such as crop farmers (who are obliged to pay minimal tax anyway) who contribute to feeding the nation and to export earnings – they’re underpaid and receive SFA as a percentage of the final ‘earn’ from their endeavours.

      Modi knows the black money is most evident in areas such as contruction, things like wedding palaces during the wedding ‘season’, jewelery, etc. (It still is – despite the programme of demonetisation)
      The cost has been immense – even if you happen to just be standing in a line waiting to get into a bank, and a few half-starved people feint around you – often spent a sizable portion of their daily currency quota just getting to the bank from a remote village.
      And then when you do get into a bank, the Bank Manager and his (note I say HIS) employees consider themselves Gods, and those, whose money they guard and manipulate are mere rabble. And if they attempt to protest – well there’s always a vintage shotgun toting security guard to whip ’em into line. (No concept of a customer or ‘service’ – concepts under which they are attempting to trade on)

      IF Modi had been genuine, he’d have done what seems to me as the bleeding obvious:
      – Waited till his wish to give every family – or at least a majority a bank account.
      – Made sure the banking infrastructure was actually up to it.

      – Rather than going for the ‘big bang’, he’d have simply announced there was going to be ‘new currency issued’. I.e. nothing more. The real holders of black money would have remained oblivious and not tried to find ways of burying their ill-gotten gains at the expense of the poor. (He simply caused many to bury their black money in jewelry, in property with Rajastan or Italian marble, etc. etd. Oh …. and in political donations to the BJP and others). The State Police in some areas found people burning vast wads of 1,000 notes, rather than having to explain, and incur 200% penalty.

      – Next, he’d have printed enough 2,000 and 500 rupee notes (indeed overprinted), AND ensured they were distributed around the nation

      – THEN he’d have announced withdrawal of present currency. The tax department would be investigating large deposits and their source anyway. At least an exchange of 500 rupee notes would not have been as critical and would allow those on subsistence income to survive – even though experiencing a little hardship.

      Corbett really does raise some valid points. As Modi will learn (eventually), even the poor are not fucking stupid. I say ‘eventually’ because it might not be during this election round …. but nothing’s permanent and hidden from scrutiny when the natives eventually get restless and beat the drums.

      Penny Bright’s comment above is also interesting …. At least in India, you KNOW there’s corruption – it’s overt, and unless you’re not a complete mug, it’s expected.
      Whereas in ‘little ole NuZull’ (and amongst the Nation of Global Corporatism), it’s covert, driven by a sense of entitlement often – and cronyism [just check out Frank’s crony watch for a start].
      Let’s just hope it doesn’t end violently, but I’m seeing signs that it will

  6. Fisiani 6
    28 January 2017 at 9:01 am

    Looking forward to the speeches. Will Angry be an orator and win over Green doubters or will Turie offer more bribes? This will be a beauty contest to divide up the Luddite 40%. Will it be L 28 G 12 or L 26 G 14? Meanwhile the country prospers and wages far outstrip inflation. Progress is all around enjoy the speeches I hope they bring a ray of sunshine.

    [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.]

  7. Robert Guyton 7
    28 January 2017 at 10:46 am

    The ArchDruid’s having a dark day.

    “There’s a certain bleak amusement to be had from the fact that one of the central themes of this blog not that many years back—“Collapse Now and Avoid the Rush”—has already passed its pull date.”

    Have a read, if you will, and decide for yourself whether he’s, as is usually the case, on the button (chilling allusion intended 🙂

    http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.co.nz/2017/01/how-great-fall-can-be.html

    • marty mars 7.1
      28 January 2017 at 11:13 am

      I have found his position on trump unpalatable. He is a conservative and a Freemason and a very good writer. It has enlightening to me to realise that I can like a lot of what he says and disagree strongly on other points.

      “Collapse Now and Avoid the Rush” has been my mantra for years now – I recommend it 🙂

  8. Robert Guyton 8
    28 January 2017 at 10:53 am

    Crowd funding to by an environment centre – if you’ve always wanted to assist in a great community project, but didn’t know how, I’ve blogged on one more-than-worthwhile PledgeMe opportunity , right here in Riverton (apologies for the linky-self-promotion, I hope to be forgiven here)

    http://robertguyton.blogspot.co.nz/2017/01/crowd-funding-for-environment-centre.html

  9. Stephanie Rodgers 9
    28 January 2017 at 11:01 am

    Here’s my speaking notes from this week’s Wellington Fabians discussion, on the political prospects for 2017.
    https://bootstheory.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/the-political-prospects-for-2017-living-our-values/

    • Rosemary McDonald 9.1
      28 January 2017 at 1:39 pm

      That’s sort of where I’m coming from with regard to the upcoming election.

      You try not to make it ‘all about [insert special interest group here]’, but when successive governments have failed that group and the future is looking worse…then demanding specific policy statements on specific issues is almost a duty.

      Labour failed to have a specific policy for disability supports (for non ACC) in 2014…they had an airy fairy ‘living ordinary lives’ type statement but failed when it came to specific issues. The devil resides and thrives in the detail.

      I will never apologise for making securing my vote conditional on having specific policy statements on specific issues.

      Enjoyed the read, Stephanie.

  10. locus 10
    28 January 2017 at 11:33 am

    I’m watching RT television news right now. (RT is the Russian state’s main international news organisation)

    In the space of 10 minutes, this is the world according to RT:
    – The far left are rioting against Donald Trump (lots of gory violence and molotov cocktail shots)
    – The mainstream controlled US media is guided by an outdated model that doesn’t recognise the new reality
    – All of the foreign media are trying toshow how bad it is here in Russia
    – The mainstream media are in bed with Hilary Clinton
    – The Chinese state enslaves workersand children to work in coal mines
    – Marine le Pen is on her way to becoming president
    – The media in the US are acting like anti American strategist
    ….. and people quote and trust RT as a trustworthy news source?!

    • mauī 10.1
      28 January 2017 at 12:17 pm

      And when was the last time New Zealand’s state tv channel provided any decent geopolitical analysis? Or interviewed a respected independent journalist? Or showed a decent investigative journalism documentary?

      RT does this regularly.

      • Foreign waka 10.1.1
        28 January 2017 at 2:54 pm

        Quite right, TVNZ programing……rugby, …sport,….golf,…..cricket,…an accident on highway xyz,…sport,….kerfuffle regarding Waitangi,….rugby 7’s,…..water shortage looming in HB, ….cricket,….sport, sport, sport….that will keep them quiet.

        • locus 10.1.1.1
          28 January 2017 at 10:29 pm

          interesting premise Foreign waka …
          does TV programming reflect what the majority of viewers want to watch, (more viewers, more advertising revenue) or is it that viewers are ‘influenced’ by the prevalence of the topics on TV so their viewing preference is moulded by those controlling the programming – who possibly want to “keep them quiet”

          I haven’t recently watched NZ television so I’m not sure how far it’s designed to ‘keep people quiet’ – my observation on RT was more about the framing of every topic presented

          when national TV media – like RT – is entirely state controlled and there is a demagogic leader, the framing and content of their national and international broadcasting is engineered to promote what is most in their own interest.

          RT excels at presenting national and international stories and views that enhance Putin’s and Russia’s image at home and abroad, and which subtly (and at times blatantly) are intended to turn people against their opponents and enemies

          At least in countries that practise democratic values it’s still possible for the media to present criticism of the state or the leader without fear of losing their jobs – or as is the case in countries like Russia, fear of losing their lives

    • NewsFlash 10.2
      28 January 2017 at 5:15 pm

      Oh, so free speech in Russia still exists does it?

  11. marty mars 11
    28 January 2017 at 11:34 am

    Good idea

    “A veteran group of squatters has occupied an empty £15m central London property purchased by a Russian oligarch in 2014 and opened it as a homeless shelter.

    The extensive, five-storey Grade ll-listed Eaton Square property was bought by Andrey Goncharenko, a little-known oligarch who has bought a number of luxury properties in London in recent years.

    The squatters – Autonomous Nation of Anarchist Libertarians, known as ANAL – said they entered the building through an open window on 23 January and have accommodated about 25 homeless people so far, many of whom had been sleeping rough around Victoria station.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/27/squatters-open-oligarchs-empty-london-property-as-homeless-shelter?CMP=twt_gu

    So needed to

    “New rough sleeper figures published this week have revealed an increase of 16% from last year, to more than 4,000.

    More than 200,000 homes have been empty for more than six months, according to new government figures.”

    The time for empty houses is gone – the time for homelessness is gone.

    • weka 11.1
      28 January 2017 at 1:18 pm

      In NZ someone could start with empty state houses.

      • marty mars 11.1.1
        28 January 2017 at 1:25 pm

        yep and lots of empty holiday homes here too

        • weka 11.1.1.1
          28 January 2017 at 1:31 pm

          where would people have holidays if they had squatters in them?

        • Alan 11.1.1.2
          28 January 2017 at 1:41 pm

          so the concept of private property doesn’t fit with your view of the world
          marty?

          • KJT 11.1.1.2.1
            28 January 2017 at 1:46 pm

            Depends how they made the money for the property.

            Leveraging off tax payer utilities, and infrastructure, while avoiding taxes would disqualify many of our wealthiest people. Whose property, is it?

          • marty mars 11.1.1.2.2
            28 January 2017 at 1:53 pm

            not really – it’s pretty overrated imo

            I do like people making homes that they can feel safe in, that they can build memories, and generations, without being moved on though – if private property is the vehicle we use to manifest that then I can accept a bit of it.

  12. joe90 12
    28 January 2017 at 2:28 pm

    This shit will make the recent fake news shenanigans seem quaint.

    http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/01/fake-news-technology?

    • greywarshark 12.1
      28 January 2017 at 3:31 pm

      joe90
      WTF. Will we have to listen to live feed ourselves to know we are getting the truth?

  13. joe90 13
    28 January 2017 at 3:25 pm

    Holocaust remembrance day and Trump has signed an order indefinitely banning all Syrian refugees fleeing the horrors of ISIS/civil war.

    http://myfox8.com/2017/01/27/tension-rises-as-first-phase-of-trumps-muslim-shutdown-takes-shape/

  14. joe90 14
    28 January 2017 at 3:54 pm

    Apparently pumpkin pinochet is big on revenge.

    “Our goal with the administration is to show value at the U.N. and the way that we’ll show value is to show our strength, show our voice, have the backs of our allies and make sure that our allies have our back as well,” Haley said.

    “For those that don’t have our back, we’re taking names, we will make points to respond to that accordingly,” added Republican President Donald Trump’s U.N. envoy.

    Haley, who was South Carolina’s Republican governor when Trump picked her for the post, has little foreign policy and no U.S. federal government experience.

    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-un-idUSKBN15B1NG?

  15. Morrissey 15
    28 January 2017 at 6:28 pm

    More on the hapless Professor Lawrence Krauss

    Yesterday this board was embroiled in quite a stoush after I posted up a critique of some ignorant partisan comments by one Lawrence Krauss, who is supposed to be working as a scientist….
    https://thestandard.org.nz/doomsday-clock-moves-forward/#comment-1292322

    As the debate raged yesterday, something nagged at me. I had a vague memory I’d come across Krauss in the past, and I had the feeling he was less than impressive.

    And now, thanks to the wonders of Boolean algebra, I’ve been able to track down some incriminating video evidence of this pitiful stooge in action. Here he is trying to match wits with someone far more serious and well informed than him. Just like his ridiculous anti-Russian broadside yesterday on RNZ National, Krauss comes out of it looking very, very foolish. For those who don’t know much, like our friend HDCAFriendlyTroll, Krauss is the tongue-tied ditherer shuffling the papers …

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Friendly but frank talks with China Premier
    It sounded like the best word to describe yesterday’s talks between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his heavyweight delegation of Ministers and officials and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and New Zealand Ministers and officials was “frank.” But it was the kind of frankness that friends can indulge in. It ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #24 2024
    Open access notables Wildfire smoke impacts lake ecosystems, Farruggia et al., Global Change Biology: We introduce the concept of the lake smoke-day, or the number of days any given lake is exposed to smoke in any given fire season, and quantify the total lake smoke-day exposure in North America from 2019 ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: China’s message to New Zealand – don’t put it all at risk
    Don’t put it all at risk. That’s likely to be the take-home message for New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in his meetings with Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier. Li’s visit to Wellington this week is the highest-ranking visit by a Chinese official since 2017. The trip down under – ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    4 days ago

  • The Real Thing
    I know the feelingIt is the real thingThe essence of the soulThe perfect momentThat golden momentI know you feel it tooI know the feelingIt is the real thingYou can't refuse the embraceNo?Sometimes we face the things we most dislike. A phobia or fear that must be confronted so it doesn’t ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how moderates empower the political right
    Struth, what a week. Having made sure the rural sector won’t have to pay any time soon for its pollution, PM Christopher Luxon yesterday chose Fieldays 2024 to launch a parliamentary inquiry into rural banking services, to see how the banks have been treating farmers faced with high interest rates. ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Bernard's Dawn Chorus and pick 'n' mix for Thursday, June 13
    In April, 17,656 people left Aotearoa-NZ to live overseas, averaging 588 a day, with just over half of those likely to have gone to Australia. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, June 13 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Our guide to having your say on the draft RLTP 2024
    Auckland’s draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2024 is open for feedback – and you only have until Monday 17 June to submit. Do it! Join the thousands of Aucklanders who are speaking up for wise strategic investment that will dig us out of traffic and give us easy and ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    5 days ago

  • The China puzzle
    Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Wellington today for a three-day visit to the country. The visit will take place amid uncertainty about the future of the New Zealand-China relationship. Li hosted a formal welcome and then lunch for then-Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in Beijing a year ago. The pair ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Fossil fuels are shredding our democracy
    This is a re-post of an article from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler published on June 3, 2024. I have an oped in the New York Times (gift link) about this. For a long time, a common refrain about the energy transition was that renewable energy needed to become ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Life at 20 kilometres an hour
    We are still in France, getting from A to B.Possibly for only another week, though; Switzerland and Germany are looming now. On we pedal, towards Budapest, at about 20 km per hour.What are are mostly doing is inhaling a country, loving its ways and its food. Rolling, talking, quietly thinking. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Hipkins is still useless
    The big problem with the last Labour government was that they were chickenshits who did nothing with the absolute majority we had given them. They governed as if they were scared of their own shadows, afraid of making decisions lest it upset someone - usually someone who would never have ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Exercising with the IDF.
    This morning I did something I seldom do, I looked at the Twitter newsfeed. Normally I take the approach of something that I’m not sure is an American urban legend, or genuinely something kids do over there. The infamous bag of dog poo on the front porch, set it on ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Helm Hammerhand Anime: First Pictures and an Old English ‘Hera’
    We have some news on the upcoming War of the Rohirrim anime. It will apparently be two and a half hours in length, with Peter Jackson as Executive Producer, and Helm’s daughter Hera will be the main character. Also, pictures: The bloke in the middle picture is Freca’s ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Farmers get free pass on climate AND get subsidies
    The cows will keep burping and farting and climate change will keep accelerating - but farmers can stop worrying about being included in the ETS. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, June 12 were:The ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Six ideas to secure Te Huia’s Future
    This is a guest post by our friend Darren Davis. It originally appeared on his excellent blog, Adventures in Transitland, which features “musings about public transport and other cool stuff in Aotearoa/ New Zealand and around the globe.” With Te Huia now having funding secure through to 2026, now is ...
    Greater AucklandBy Darren Davis
    6 days ago

  • The methane waka sinks
    In some ways, there may be less than meets the eye to the Government announcement yesterday that the He Waka Eke Noa proposal for farmers to pay for greenhouse gas emissions has been scrapped. The spectre of farmers still having to pay at some point in the future remains. That, ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – Does positive feedback necessarily mean runaway warming?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Climate Change: Farmers get what they wanted – for now
    Since entering office, National has unravelled practically every climate policy, leaving us with no effective way of reducing emissions or meeting our emissions budgets beyond magical thinking around the ETS. And today they've announced another step: removing agriculture entirely. At present, following the complete failure of he waka eka noa, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Presumed Innocent?
    The blue billionaireDistraction no interactionOr movement outside these glazed over eyesThe new great divideFew fight the tide to be glorifiedBut will he be satisfied?Can we accept this without zoom?The elephant in the roomNot much happens in politics on a Monday. Bugger all in fact. Although yesterday Christopher Luxon found he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on our doomed love affair with oil and gas
    What if New Zealand threw a fossil fuel party, and nobody came? On the weekend, Resources Minister Shane Jones sent out the invitations and strung up the balloons, but will anyone really want to invest big time in resuming oil and gas exploration in our corner of the planet? Yes, ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    7 days ago

  • Building better housing insights
    This is a guest post by Meredith Dale, senior urban designer and strategist at The Urban Advisory. There’s a saying that goes something like: ‘what you measure is what you value’. An RNZ article last week claimed that Auckland was ‘hurting’ because of a more affordable supply of homes, particularly townhouses ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    7 days ago

  • Putin would be proud of them
    A Prime Minister directs his public service to inquire into the actions of the opposition political party which is his harshest critic. Something from Orban's Hungary, or Putin's Russia? No, its happening right here in Aotearoa: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Public Service Commission will launch an ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Resources for debunking common solar and wind myths
    This is a repost from a Yale Climate Connections article by SueEllen Campbell published on June 3, 2024. The articles listed can help you tell fact from fiction when it comes to solar and wind energy. Some statements you hear about solar and wind energy are just plain false. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Juggernaut
    Politics were going on all around us yesterday, and we barely noticed, rolling along canal paths, eating baguettes. It wasn’t until my mate got to the headlines last night that we learned there had been a dismayingly strong far right result in the EU elections and Macron had called a ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Numbers Game.
    Respect Existence, Or Expect Resistance? There may well have been 50,000 pairs of feet “Marching For Nature” down Auckland’s Queen Street on Saturday afternoon, but the figure that impresses the Coalition Government is the 1,450,000 pairs of Auckland feet that were somewhere else.IN THE ERA OF DRONES and Artificial Intelligence, ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Media Link: AVFA on post-colonial blowback.
    Selwyn Manning and I discuss varieties of post colonial blowback and the implications its has for the rise of the Global South. Counties discussed include Palestine/Israel, France/New Caledonia, England/India, apartheid/post-apartheid South Africa and post-colonial New Zealand. It is a bit … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago

  • Policy by panic
    Back in March, Ombudsman Peter Boshier resigned when he hit the statutory retirement age of 72, leaving the country in the awkward (and legally questionable) position of having him continue as a temporay appointee. It apparently took the entire political system by surprise - as evinced by Labour's dick move ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • PSA: NZ's Richest Company, Zuru, Sucks
    Hi,Today the New Zealand press is breathlessly reporting that the owners of toy company Zuru are officially New Zealand’s wealthiest people: Mat and Nick Mowbray worth an estimated $20 billion between them.While the New Zealand press loses its shit celebrating this Kiwi success story, this is a Webworm reminder that ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Bernard's Dawn Chorus and pick 'n' mix for Monday, June 10
    TL;DR: The six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty in the past day to 8:36 pm on Monday, June 10 were:20,000 protested against the Fast-track approval bill on Saturday in Auckland, but PM Christopher Luxon says ‘sorry, but not sorry’ about the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • In Defence of Kāinga Ora
    Given the headlines around the recent findings of the ‘independent’ review of Kāinga Ora by Bill English, you might assume this post will be about social housing, Kāinga Ora’s most prominent role. While that is indeed something that requires defending, I want to talk about the other core purpose of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    1 week ago

  • Baby You're A Rich Man
    “How does it feel to beOne of the beautiful peopleNow that you know who you areWhat do you want to beAnd have you traveled very far?Far as the eye can see”Yesterday the ACT party faithful were regaled with craven boasts, sneers, and demands for even more at their annual rally.That ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Stopping a future Labour government from shutting down gas exploration
    A defiant Resources Minister Shane Jones has responded to Saturday’s environmental protests by ending Labour’s offshore oil exploration ban and calling for long-term contracts with any successful explorers. The purpose would be to prevent a future Labour Government from reversing any licence the explorers might hold. Jones sees a precedent ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #23
    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, June 2, 2024 thru Sat, June 8, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is Yale Climate Connection's Resources for debunking common solar and wind myths, by ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Fission by the river
    This is where we ate our lunch last Wednesday. Never mind your châteaux and castles and whatnot, we like to enjoy a baguette in the shadow of a nuclear power plant; a station that puts out more than twice as much as Manapouri using nothing more than tiny atoms to bring ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Fact Brief – Is the ocean acidifying?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by John Mason in collaboration with members from the Gigafact team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is the ocean acidifying? Acidification of oceans ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • 20,000+ on Queen St.
    The largest protest I ever went on was in the mid 90s. There were 10,000 people there that day, and I’ve never forgotten it. An enormous mass of people, chanting together. Stretching block after block, bringing traffic to a halt.But I can’t say that’s the biggest protest I’ve ever been ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Josh Drummond's Columns
    Hi there,I wanted to put all of Josh Drummond’s Webworm pieces all in one place. I love that he writes for Webworm — and all of these are a good read!David.Why Are So Many “Christians” Hellbent on Being Horrible?Why do so many objectively hideous people declare themselves “Christian”?Meeting the Master ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Bernard’s Saturday soliloquy and weekend Pick ‘n’ Mix for June 8/9
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: On reflection, the six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty this week were:The Government-driven freeze in building new classrooms, local roads and water networks in order to save cash for tax cuts is frustrating communities facing massive population ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • The no-vision thing
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past somewhat interrupted week. Still on the move!Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • When Journalists are Disingenuous
    Hi,One of the things I like the most about Webworm is to be able to break down the media and journalism a little, and go behind the scenes.This is one of those times.Yesterday an email arrived in my inbox from journalist Jonathan Milne, who is managing editor at Newsroom.I don’t ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Me, elsewhere: Just say you’ll do the thing
    Wrote something over at 1/200 on a familiar theme of mine: The way we frame the economy as a separate, sacred force which must be sacrificed to, the way we talk about criminals as invaders who must be repelled, the constant othering of people on the benefit, people not in ...
    Boots TheoryBy Stephanie Rodgers
    1 week ago

  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted
    A nice bit of news today: my 4600-word historical fantasy-horror piece, A Voyage Among the Vandals, has been accepted by Phobica Books (https://www.phobicabooks.co.uk/books) for their upcoming Pirate Horror anthology, Shivering Timbers. This one is set in the Mediterranean, during the mid-fifth century AD. Notable for having one of history’s designated ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago

  • Ministerial conflicts of interest
    Since the National government came to power, it has been surrounded by allegations of conflicts of interest. Firstly, there's the fast-track law, which concentrates power in the hands of three Ministers, some of whom have received donations from companies whose projects they will be deciding on. Secondly, there's the close ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • The 2024 Budget Forecasts Are Gloomy Prognosis About The Next Three Years.
    There was no less razzamatazz about the 2024 Budget than about earlier ones. Once again the underlying economic analysis got lost. It deserves more attention.Just to remind you, the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU), is the Treasury’s independent assessment and so can be analysed by other competent economists (although ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • A government that can't see twenty feet ahead
    There are two failings that consistently characterise a National government. One is a lack of imagination, the other is their willingness to look after their mates, no matter what harm it might do to everyone else.This is how we come to have thousands of enormous trucks carving up our roads. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • A post I hope is incorrect
    In May, we learned that National MP David MacLeod had "forgotten" to declare $178,000 in electoral donations. Filing a donation return which is false in any material particular is a crime, and the Electoral Commission has now referred MacLeod to police, since they're the only people who are allowed to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Māori Cannot Re-Write New Zealand’s Constitution By Stealth.
    The Kotahitanga Parliament 1897: A Māori Parliament – at least in the guise of a large and representative body dedicated to describing the shape of New Zealand’s future from a Māori perspective – would be a very good idea.THE DEMAND for a “Māori Parliament” needs to be carefully unpicked. Some Pakeha, ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 weeks ago

  • Cowpats and Colonials.
    Dumbtown, is how my friend Gerard refers to people like ZB listeners - he’s not wrong.Normally on a Friday I start by looking at Mike Hosking’s moronic reckons of the week which he vomits down the throats of his audience like helpless baby birds in a nest, grateful for the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 weeks ago

  • Gordon Campbell on cutting the sick leave of vulnerable workers
    Should sick leave be part and parcel of the working conditions from Day One on the job, just like every other health and safety provision? Or should access to sick leave be something that only gradually accumulates, depending on how long a worker has been on the payroll? If enacted ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    2 weeks ago

  • Making it easier to build granny flats
    The Government has today announced that it is making it easier for people to build granny flats, Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop say. “Making it easier to build granny flats will make it more affordable for families to live the way that suits them ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • High Court Judge appointed
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Auckland King’s Counsel Gregory Peter Blanchard as a High Court Judge. Justice Blanchard attended the University of Auckland from 1991 to 1995, graduating with an LLB (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (English). He was a solicitor with the firm that is now Dentons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Health workforce numbers rise
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says new data released today shows encouraging growth in the health workforce, with a continued increase in the numbers of doctors, nurses and midwives joining Health New Zealand. “Frontline healthcare workers are the beating heart of the healthcare system. Increasing and retaining our health workforce ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government to overhaul firearms laws
    Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has today announced a comprehensive programme to reform New Zealand's outdated and complicated firearms laws. “The Arms Act has been in place for over 40 years. It has been amended several times – in a piecemeal, and sometimes rushed way. This has resulted in outdated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government delivers landmark specialist schools investment
    The coalition Government is delivering record levels of targeted investment in specialist schools so children with additional needs can thrive. As part of Budget 24, $89 million has been ringfenced to redevelop specialist facilities and increase satellite classrooms for students with high needs. This includes: $63 million in depreciation funding ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Major health and safety consultation begins
    A substantial consultation on work health and safety will begin today with a roadshow across the regions over the coming months, says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden.  This the first step to deliver on the commitment to reforming health and safety law and regulations, set out in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Growing the potential of New Zealand’s forestry sector in partnership
    Forestry Minister Todd McClay, today announced the start of the Government’s plan to restore certainty and confidence in the forestry and wood processing sector. “This government will drive investment to unlock the industry’s economic potential for growth,” Mr McClay says. “Forestry’s success is critical to rebuilding New Zealand’s economy, boosting ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government cancels forestry ETS annual service charges for 2023-24
    Annual service charges in the forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will be cancelled for 2023/24, Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. “The sector has told me the costs imposed on forestry owners by the previous government were excessive and unreasonable and I agree,” Mr McClay says. “They have said that there ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech to the LGNZ Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Thank you for having me here today and welcome to Wellington, the home of the Hurricanes, the next Super Rugby champions. Infrastructure – the challenge This government has inherited a series of big challenges in infrastructure. I don’t need to tell an audience as smart as this one that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government boosts Agriculture and food trade with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard welcomed outcomes to boost agricultural and food trade between New Zealand and China. A number of documents were signed today at Government House that will improve the business environment between New Zealand and China, and help reduce barriers, including on infant formula ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZ and China launch Services Trade Negotiations
    Trade Minister Todd McClay, and China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, today announced the official launch of Negotiations on Services Trade between the two countries.  “The Government is focused on opening doors for services exporters to grow the New Zealand’s economy,” Mr McClay says.  As part of the 2022 New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement Upgrade ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon meets with Premier Li
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Government House in Wellington today.  “I was pleased to welcome Premier Li to Wellington for his first official visit, which marks 10 years since New Zealand and China established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Mr Luxon says. “The Premier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government and business tackling gender pay gap
    The coalition Government is taking action to reduce the gender pay gap in New Zealand through the development of a voluntary calculation tool. “Gender pay gaps have impacted women for decades, which is why we need to continue to drive change in New Zealand,” Acting Minister for Women Louise Upston ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Funding Boost for Rural Support Trusts
    The coalition Government is boosting funding for Rural Support Trusts to provide more help to farmers and growers under pressure, Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced today. “A strong and thriving agricultural sector is crucial to the New Zealand economy and one of the ways to support it is to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Latest data shows size of public service decreasing
    Spending on contractors and consultants continues to fall and the size of the Public Service workforce has started to decrease after years of growth, according to the latest data released today by the Public Service Commission. Workforce data for the quarter from 31 December 23 to 31 March 24 shows ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Law Association
    Thank you to the Law Association for inviting me to speak this morning. As a former president under its previous name — the Auckland District Law Society — I take particular satisfaction in seeing this organisation, and its members, in such good heart. As Attorney-General, I am grateful for these ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • 25 years on, NZ reaffirms enduring friendship with Timor Leste
    New Zealand is committed to working closely with Timor-Leste to support its prosperity and resilience, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “This year is the 25th anniversary of New Zealand sending peacekeepers to Timor-Leste, who contributed to the country’s stabilisation and ultimately its independence,” Mr Peters says.    “A quarter ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Inquiry requested into rural banking
    Promoting robust competition in the banking sector is vital to rebuilding the economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  “New Zealanders deserve a banking sector that is as competitive as possible. Banking services play an important role in our communities and in the economy. Kiwis rely on access to lending when ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Ministry for Regulation targets red tape to keep farmers and growers competitive
    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have today announced a regulatory sector review on the approval process for new agricultural and horticultural products.    “Red tape stops farmers and growers from getting access to products that have been approved by other OECD countries. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government to reverse blanket speed limit reductions
    The Coalition Government will reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions by 1 July 2025 through a new Land Transport Rule released for public consultation today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  The draft speed limit rule will deliver on the National-ACT coalition commitment to reverse the previous government’s blanket speed limit ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Chair appointments for NZSO, CNZ and NZ On Air
    Minister Paul Goldsmith is making major leadership changes within both his Arts and Media portfolios. “I am delighted to announce Carmel Walsh will be officially stepping into the role of Chair of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, having been acting Chair since April,” Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Carmel is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government focus on long-term food, fibre growth
    Food and fibre export revenue is tipped to reach $54.6 billion this year and hit a record $66.6b in 2028 as the Government focuses on getting better access to markets and cutting red tape, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones say. “This achievement is testament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Govt consulting on cutting red tape for exporters
    A new export exemption proposal for food businesses demonstrates the coalition Government’s commitment to reducing regulatory barriers for industry and increasing the value of New Zealand exports, which gets safe New Zealand food to more markets, says Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard.  “The coalition Government has listened to the concerns ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand and Philippines elevating relationship
    New Zealand and Philippines are continuing to elevate our relationship, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The leaders of New Zealand and Philippines agreed in April 2024 to lift our relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026,” Mr Peters says. “Our visit to Manila this week has been an excellent ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Paid Parental Leave increase to help families
    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Brooke van Velden says paid parental leave increase from 1 July will put more money in the pockets of Kiwi parents and give them extra support as they take precious time off to bond with their newborns. The increase takes effect from 1 July 2024 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Defence increases UN Command commitment
    The number of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel deployed to the Republic of Korea is increasing, Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today.  NZDF will deploy up to 41 additional personnel to the Republic of Korea, increasing the size of its contribution to the United ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Zealand to attend 'Summit on Peace in Ukraine' in Switzerland
    New Zealand will be represented at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine by Minister Mark Mitchell in Switzerland later this week.    “New Zealand strongly supports Ukraine’s efforts to build a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Minister Mitchell is a senior Cabinet Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Big step forward for M.bovis programme
    Farmers’ hard work is paying off in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) with the move to a national pest management plan marking strong progress in the eradication effort, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.  “The plan, approved by the Coalition Government, was proposed by the programme partners DairyNZ, Beef ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Build To Rent opening welcomed by Housing Minister
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Housing Minister Chris Bishop formally opened a new Build to Rent development in Mt Wellington this morning. “The Prime Minister and I were honoured to cut the ribbon of Resido, New Zealand’s largest Build to Rent development to date.  “Build to Rent housing, like the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Agriculture to come out of the ETS
    The Government will deliver on its election commitment to take agriculture out of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) and will establish a new Pastoral Sector Group to constructively tackle biogenic methane, Coalition Government Agriculture and Climate Change Ministers say. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand farmers ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Luxon Tokyo-bound for political and business visit
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Japan from 16-20 June, his first visit as Prime Minister.   “Japan is incredibly important to New Zealand's prosperity. It is the world’s fourth largest economy, and our fourth largest export destination.  “As you know, growing the economy is my number one priority. A strong economy means ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Bayly travels to Singapore for scam prevention meetings
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