Open mike 28/09/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 28th, 2011 - 67 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

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

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

67 comments on “Open mike 28/09/2011 ”

  1. A Swiss study says Forex traders are worse than Psychopaths. What you reckon? Nice, giving, loving people can make it to the top in that world? Neh, but lying, callous, destructive bullies can!! John Key anyone?

  2. Hilary 2

    This trader admits Goldman Sachs runs the world and that recessions are just another opportunity to make money, in this BBC interview

    • marsman 2.1

      Yep , and Goldman Sachs owns part of Mediaworks a virtual monopoly created by and recently handed 30 odd million bucks by Steven Joyce.

    • marsman 2.2

      John Key didn’t care that he could have bankrupted NZ with his currency raiding. He doesn’t care that children are starving, that the elderly can’t afford to heat their homes. MONEY is all he cares about. YUCK YUCK YUCK.

    • ianmac 2.3

      This money trader’s warning is that the Stock Market is going, going, gone as is the Euro, and put that against John Key’s buoyant “she’ll be right” and “we have it under control”, who would you trust? Or as a money trader is John Key looking to make heaps out of the crash?

    • Colonial Viper 2.4

      You got there before I did 🙂

  3. RobC 3

    Random thought: I always wondered how on earth Americans could vote a second term for George W. Bush. As we head to an election, I now know.

  4. Retailers running foul of All Blacks ad ban

    Lingerie store im Designer Bodywear lingerie in Grey St was contacted by rugby authorities last week and told to remove its “All black lingerie” sign, with warnings that it risked breaching the fair trading and trademark acts.

    Manager Sue Moar said she felt bullied by the NZRU but had no intention of removing the sign.

    “The whole thing’s just turned stupid.

    “The guy said, ‘You take it down or you’ll be getting a letter.’ But I haven’t got any letter and the sign’s still up.”

    ooooh a letter…bet she’s shittting herself

    Ms Barnett said she was yet to be challenged about her display but defended her right to use references to the World Cup and the national team.

    “Since when have they had ownership on black?

    “Black’s been around ever since we’ve had nighttime.”

    hahaha…fuck you NZRU!!!

  5. Rodney Hide last night gave the best Parliamentary Speech of this term.

    [Feck did I just say that?] 

    • Jim Nald 5.1

      Oh rite, he gives such speeches before he gets into government and when he is pissing off. He is a useless dildo.

  6. Colonial Viper 6

    An HONEST market trader talks about the coming Eurozone collapse

    “Like most traders, we don’t care that much about having a fixed economy…”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC19fEqR5bA&feature=player_embedded

    He’ll never be invited back to the BBC.

  7. Why did the student protest group at Auckland University allow Omar Hamed to attend? and is his alleged treatment of woman (from various feminist groups) a concern?

  8. prism 9

    I just looked at what the Santa Fe Institute, USA is doing at the moment. In education they are featuring their complexity studies. Our political leaders and economists would learn more that is relevant to doing the best job they can for us if they did not go to Harvard or Chicago, but studied at the inter-disciplinary Santa Fe.

    This is part of their course explanation and provision text.

    Take on our Complex World. Inspire Others.
    Complexity Scholars trained at the Santa Fe Institute are working to understand the theoretical foundations and patterns underlying the systems most critical to our future — economies, ecosystems, conflict, disease, human social institutions, and the global condition.
    To fully understand these complex adaptive systems, with their deep interdependencies and emergent behaviors at many scales, a new kind of science is needed. One that relies on the synthesis of many scientific perspectives. One that unravels today’s most complex problems with revolutionary theories derived both from careful observation of real-world phenomena and proven scientific principles.

    “The core problem is that our education and training systems were built for another era. We can get where we must go only by changing the system itself.”
    — National Center on Education and the Economy 2007, Tough Choices for Tough Times

    • prism 9.1

      Education in NZ is splitting along the pipeline. The leading teachers bodies have been facing off against the School Trustees bunch and have accused them of adopting an attitude to differences of opinion as if it was a master and servant relationship. I think this is an inherent problem in Tomorrows Schools and I think it is a feature in some USA school areas, the USA being where we picked tomorrows schools policy from. If I am wrong somebody who can amend what I’ve stated can reply and put me right.

  9. JS 11

    PM conducting focus groups to see whether he will get more votes supporting or opposing Coronation Street’s new viewing time.

  10. Lanthanide 12

    Stuff have got a very interesting interactive breakdown of their polls up on their site. You can break it down by different demographics such as age or who they voted for in 2008, and then which party they’ll vote or what issues concern them most (the most interesting figures I think).

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/polls/election-poll

    The full stats aren’t available for their latest 28th September poll, but in 30th August we can see that people who voted National in 2008 considered Law & Order the most important issue, and people who Don’t Know or Undecided about their vote this year have Law & Order their second most important issue.

    Preferred PM is another interesting one. 29% of labour voters want Phil Goff while 14% want ‘Other’ and 39% ‘Don’t know’.

    Previous 2008 vote with intended 2011 vote:
    89% of Nats stick with Nats, 5.3% go to Labour
    79% of Labour stick with Labour, 7.8% go to Greens and 12% to National
    84% of Greens stick with Greens, 9% go to Labour and 3.5% to National.
    Mana picks up 1.7% from Greens and 1.6% from Other.

    Be interested to see what other people can dig out of this.

    • Puddleglum 12.1

      Yes, that is a good link. September 28 seems to be there now.

      Apparently, 52% of men and 56% of women in the sample intend voting National (though, 2.6% of men intend voting ACT and only 0.5% of women). Labour is 28% for each gender.

      Those who are comfortable (22% Labour, 10% Green, 60% National); getting by ( 26%; 8.9%; 58%); struggling (43%; 14%; 37%).

      Preferred PM for under 35 42% Key; 35-59 54% Key; over 60 58% Key.

       

  11. Akldnut 13

    Just heard on the radio another SAS soildier shot and killed in Kabul.
    Starting to drop like flies now – but smiley wavey guy will make it all OK.

  12. Campbell Larsen 14

    This threat was recently sent to one of my employers:

    ” From: mattyroo@gmail.com
    Do you think this is appropriate for one of your models to be publicly saying:

    Campbell Larsen1619 September 2011 at 7:19 pm
    I wish the mad butcher would hurry up and die.
    Fuck Close Up for giving this National party cheerleader a free slot in primetime.
    [link ommitted to reduce rehashing of old ground]

    How do you think your clients would feel, if they were to find out what someone that they have engaged through you, has been saying about a Kiwi icon?

    I’m sure Vodafone, whom you prominently advertise on your website as a client, would certainly be interested to know about this…. Especially considering Sir Peter Leitch has a longstanding relationship with them.

    I’m interested to hear your response? ”

    Seems Sir Peter and his mates are not above going after the little guy….

    [I see that mattyroo once copped a lifetime ban for similar “real world” bully tactics. The ban was never enforced, but it is now. r0b]

    • McFlock 14.1

      Fuck I hate tories. I can’t say I agreed with your comment, but this sort of shit is why I use a pseudonym. It ain’t perfect, but it’s a disconnect from my personal and professional life. 

    • The Voice of Reason 14.2

      Yep, that’s pretty low. The next time someone brings up the real name versus anonymous poster argument, I’ll remind them of this attack on your freedom of speech.

    • grumpy 14.3

      …..you’re a model??????

      That explains it then.

    • Aye another RWNJ feeding frenzy.  They are great at picking up on the slightest comment and then turning it into an attack.  They are oblivious to the criticism that they are hypocrites.  It seems they have learned this technique off the slithery one.
       
       

      • Joe Bloggs 14.4.1

        two questions for the legal fraternity…

        how do you justify calling Larsen’s post “the slightest comment”?

        what is the substantive difference between Darien Fenton calling for a boycott of Mad Butcher shops and Mattyroo calling for a boycott of Larsen?

    • higherstandard 14.5

      “Seems Sir Peter and his mates are not above going after the little guy
.”

      How is Peter and his mates going after the little guy ?

      As you’ve outed yourself as an actor do you also take umbrage to Robyn Malcolm and Lucy Lawless using their fame for influencing politics ?

      How about Michael Jones and Inga ?

      What about Pio and Oscar Keightly ?

      Are you going to object to all of them having their right to free speech as well and wish they all hurry up and die ?

      • Campbell Larsen 14.5.1

        Funny, as it happens I haven’t seen any of those you have mentioned granted a patsy interview on close up recently (actually not ever, but then I try an avoid close up, and campbell live as those shows are rubbish tv, certinly not news, not even info-tainment)

        What I do remember is that Lucy Lawless and Robyn Malcom (the most memorable of those you mentioned) campaign on issues and policies – they encourage people to think when they vote.
        On the other hand, minor celebrities like the butcher who gushingly make statements like I think so-and-so is the best man for the job contribute nothing useful to the voting process – I would even go a step further and call it a cynical attempt at manipulation.

        If you require further clarification due to your memory and comprehension problems go back to the original thread and the discussions therein – Puddleglums contributions are especially eloquent and insightful.

        I am finished with you sir – this topic is closed.

        • higherstandard 14.5.1.1

          Ah, so you’re a hypocrite as well as an arse.

          And I see you’re still avoiding a response in relation to your other comment

          “Seems Sir Peter and his mates are not above going after the little guy
.”

          How is it that Peter and his mates are going after the little guy ?

  13. Bored 15

    Breaking News Herald A New Zealand SAS soldier has died after being shot in the head in an ongoing assault on a group of insurgents in Afghanistan. The soldier was killed while supporting an assault on an insurgent team in the Afghan capital


    A sinking feeling of here we go again, “peace keeping, reconstruction AND if youread it leading the assault. Bring our boys home please!

    • Soo sad! Wonder when people are going to wonder why NZ soldiers have to die in other peoples wars?

    • prism 15.2

      I wonder if our army are in the forefront of Afghanistan fighting as mentors, (is that what used to be called advisors?) to please the USofA so that we can progress the free market giveaway of the quality of our sovereignty, such as it is, and get a cardboard replica back covered no doubt in modern technologically advanced hologram material displaying and enhancing our shrinking taonga. ‘My kingdom for a free market deal’ said Jokey Hen and offered the sacrifice of some young people paid by New Zealand to die for the cause.

  14. prism 16

    For anyone who wants a full overview of RWC I recommend Wikpedia. I was trying to get the playing points of teams and couldn’t find anything except the pools points on the other sites I went to. With all the information available I didn’t think a simple chart for all the games played would be so hard to find.

  15. It isAuckland Mayor Len Brown who has effectively taken the flak for Mark Ford, Chair of the Auckland Transport Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) over the RWC transport debacle on 9 September 2011.

    It is the Auckland Transport CCO – NOT Auckland Council which is supposed to be responsible for transport.

    Following is the suggestion that I made directly to Auckland Transport when I addressed the (unelected) Board of Directors on 19 September:

    The public effectively own the railway tracks through KiwiRail, and the public effectively own the trains and railway stations through Auckland Transport.

    So – why don’t we just change the uniforms and business cards of those who actually DO the work, driving the trains and collecting the tickets etc to ‘AUCKLAND TRANPSORT’ and cut out French mutlinational private ‘piggy-in-the-middle’ Veolia Transport – who has the contract – (for private profit) to operate and manage Auckland rail services?

    _____________________________________________________________________

    Why don’t we get rid of the unaccountable ‘Council Controlled Organisation’ model which we the public never voted for and the unelected CCO Boards of Directors while we’re at it?

    It seems that the only ones who have benefitted from Council services being run in a more ‘business-like’ way are those businesses / businesspeople who have got the contracts?

    And how exactly was it decided WHO got these contracts?

    Who is checking for ‘conflicts of interests’ between those who are giving the contracts and those who are getting the contracts?

    Where’s the publicly available ‘Registers of Interests’ for all local government elected representatives and their spouses, all CCO Board members, and all Council (and CCO) staff responsible for property and procurement?

    Where are the publicly available central registers of contracts, and ‘devilish details’ available for public scrutiny – giving the name of the contractor / scope/ term and value of each contract?

    Without this information – how is ‘line-by-line’ accounting possible?

    Where is the ‘cost-benefit’ analysis, which proves that private provision of services formally provided ‘in-house’ at central and local government level, is a more ‘cost-effective’ use of public monies?

    How come in NZ ‘perceived’ to be the least corrupt country in the world (along with Denmanrk and Singapore) according to the 2010 Transparency International ‘Corruption Perception Index’ – we have so little genuine transparency when it comes to public expenditure on private sector contractors?

    At both central and local government level?

    Penny Bright
    ‘independent Public Watchdog’
    Candidate for Epsom

  16. Prime Minister Material?

    John Key made a dick of himself again in an interview yesterday. I’m not just talking about the Prime Minster’s stupid joke about Australia gifting New Zealand a coalmine. I’m talking about one of the biggest lies that has ever been foisted on the New Zealand public. John Key said that National had created employment and that unemployment had fallen. This is such a blatant lie that I’m almost lost for words. Here’s what the moron said


  17. Big bruv 19

    And so it starts…..VSM is being read for the third time.

    All students will now be free.

    What a great day!

    • r0b 19.1

      They’ll be much less free.

      Less free because they’ll still be paying the same amount in compulsory fees to University administrations instead of their own organisations.

      You lot have sold student freedom down the river.

      • McFlock 19.1.1

        Well said. I couldn’t get past a string of expletives.

        • r0b 19.1.1.1

          Expletives work too. Perfectly appropriate for this situation.

          • McFlock 19.1.1.1.1

            We can but hope it is short term – the one good thing about their slimey self-pleasuring is that it will turn to bile with a vengeance if national can’t scrape together 45% in november.

    • Joe Bloggs 19.2

      ironic how anti-democratic some leftie ideologues can be.

      As for students complaining about the erosion of democracy by demanding compulsory unionism, words fail…

      • prism 19.2.1

        JB That would be a change.

      • McFlock 19.2.2

        What, you mean after students – the only people affected by it – voted on it?
        ACTiods lost the democratic vote, so ran to a fucking stupid old fossil (or whatever the phrase was) for help.

        • Joe Bloggs 19.2.2.1

          Scoff…

          The only scientific poll done amongst students (during the last VSM bill) on this issue showed a majority support voluntary membership.

          • McFlock 19.2.2.1.1

            And the democratic elections held at each and every tertiary institution on the matter in 1999, and thereafter whenever 10% of students decided the issue needed revisiting. Idiot.

      • Draco T Bastard 19.2.3

        Still got the blinders on but, then, that’s a normal part of being a RWNJ.

        NAct removed democracy from:
        ECAN
        Auckland
        Parliament through massive abuse of urgency

        It’s the right who are ideologically opposed to democracy.

    • RobC 19.3

      Yep, today is a great day BB. Almost as good as yesterday where my wife gets a 5 figure payout on behalf of the taxpayer that makes you choke on your own vomit. Cheers! Hic!!!

  18. wasted 20

    Is there any truth to the rumour currently going round, the outage on Slaters web site is tied to the major outage in the govts computer system, and he is funded via the a slush fund? smoke fire etc

  19. Joe Bloggs 21

    .
    As for the TupperWaka – what a bilious and pathetic sop to Maoridom that’s turned out to be.

    Four weeks into the RWC, and construction is just starting – still, I suppose that’s what you get for being obliged to bow and scrape to local iwi.

    • Colonial Viper 21.1

      Four weeks into the RWC, and construction is just starting – still, I suppose that’s what you get for being obliged to bow and scrape to local iwi.

      Bad government, bad coalition, bad outcomes.

  20. AAMC 22

    Former NYT journalist joins and is interviewed at #occupywallstreet

    http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/chris_hedges_occupies_wall_street_20110926/

  21. burt 23

    Stuff: Asset sales, Christchurch rebuild on voters’ minds

    Fairfax Media-Research International poll results, out this morning, show the overriding concern is for the state of hospitals and education, followed by the economy.

    But hang on, the country agreed in 1999 that they didn’t mind paying a few cents more tax to fix health and education – guess 9 years of Labour just wasn’t enough…. Now waiting for someone to tell me National have failed for not doing in 3 years what Labour couldn’t do in 9.

  22. prism 24

    I have been listening today to a repeat interview from Nine To Noon on Tuesday 31 May 2011.
    Dick Smith is more than just the founder an electronics retail empire, he is also the founder of Australian Geographic magazine, an adventurer, philanthropist, and now the author of a new book on unsustainable growth.
    Dick Smith is very clued up about Australian business and economics. When I heard him speak on Tuesday 27/9 he had a lot of things to say relevant to nz.
    He refers in the interview to the practice of buying food as cheaply as possible and finds it unsustainable as the food industry and farming in Australia will collapse if it continues. He gives an example of importing peaches from Swaziland.
    I think one of the worrying signs about the food industry and farmers’ problems is the way that supermarkets have gone into competition with milk, using it as a loss leader. One farmer had Coles supermarket state that they were going to reneg on their contract with him by dropping prices 5 per cent and his agreement was necessary if he wanted to retain their business. He mentioned nz lower wages and Heinz closing beetroot processing there to bring it here at 20% lower wages.
    From 31 May, 2011 (31â€Č27″)
    Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/library?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=dick+smith+31+May+2011

  23. Anyone else have problems trying to make an on-line submission on the Video Camera Surveillance (Temporary Measures) Bill?

    I couldn’t.

    So – I tried Plan “B” ……………..

    28 September 2011

    Members of the Justice and Electoral Select Committee:

    MP Name Party, Electorate
    Justice and Electoral Member Adams, Amy National Party, Selwyn
    Justice and Electoral Member Bakshi, Kanwaljit Singh National Party, List
    Justice and Electoral Member Beaumont, Carol Labour Party, List
    Justice and Electoral Chairperson Borrows, Chester National Party, Whanganui
    Justice and Electoral Deputy-Chairperson Bridges, Simon National Party, Tauranga
    Justice and Electoral Member Chauvel, Charles Labour Party, List
    Justice and Electoral Member Graham, Kennedy Green Party, List
    Justice and Electoral Member Quinn, Paul National Party, List
    Justice and Electoral Member Sepuloni, Carmel Labour Party, List

    It is now 11.30pm, Wednesday 28 September 2011.

    Although it is stated:
    “The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 28 September 2011. Submissions will close at midnight.”
    – I cannot make a submission on-line.

    The message which has come up on screen states:

    ” Alert. www,parliament.nz uses an invalid security certificate. the certificate is not trusted because no issuer chain was provided. (error code: sec_error_unknown_issuer)

    This is a disgrace.

    It is bad enough that this legislative change which is trying to retrospectively make lawful – unlawful Police action – is being railroaded through Parliament – but for it to prove impossible to make on-line submissions after being told this is possible – is simply appalling.

    I therefore expect this submission to be included.

    I have tried to follow your ‘process’ – but it is not working.

    What sort of country is this New Zealand ‘perceived’ to be the least corrupt country in the world?

    Penny Bright.

    WHAT WAS STATED ON THE PARLIAMENTARY WEBSITE:

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/SC/MakeSub/5/0/e/49SCJE_SCF_00DBHOH_BILL11056_1-Video-Camera-Surveillance-Temporary.htm#captcha

    Select committees
    Make a submission
    Content provider
    House of Representatives

    Information

    Date:
    28 September 2011

    Related documents

    Video Camera Surveillance (Temporary Measures) Bill
    Business before the Justice and Electoral Committee
    Making a submission to a Parliamentary select committee

    Contact details
    Committee Secretariat
    Justice and Electoral
    Parliament Buildings
    Wellington

    Phone: +64 4 817 9508
    Fax: +64 4 499 0486
    Email contacts

    Committee Secretariat

    Related links

    Bennetts Book Shop online legislation enquiry
    Having trouble making an online submission?

    Video Camera Surveillance (Temporary Measures) Bill

    Public submissions are now being invited on the Video Camera Surveillance (Temporary Measures) Bill.You can make your submission online – scroll to the bottom of this page.
    The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 28 September 2011. Submissions will close at midnight.

    This bill clarifies the use by the Police of video camera surveillance following a recent Supreme Court decision.

    The bill is available for download from the `Related documentsÂŽ panel. Print copies can be ordered online from Bennetts Government Bookshops.

    The committee requires 2 copies of each submission if made in writing. Those wishing to include any information of a private or personal nature in a submission should first discuss this with the clerk of the committee, as submissions are usually released to the public by the committee. Those wishing to appear before the committee to speak to their submissions should state this clearly and provide a daytime telephone contact number. To assist with administration please supply your postcode and an email address if you have one.

    Further guidance on making a submission can be found from the Making a Submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee link in the `Related documentsÂŽ panel.

    _______________________________________________________________________

    What follows is my URGENT submission on the
    Video Camera Surveillance (Temporary Measures) Bill
    ___________________________________________

    Surely ‘ignorance of the law’ is NO excuse and NZ Police must lead by example and follow the ‘Rule of Law’?
    ………………………….

    Penny Bright
    Independent Public Watchdog
    Candidate for Epsom

    • thejackal 25.1

      Hi Penny, It sounds like you might want to update firefox or go to
      this website for a fix. Not sure how it will work as I’ve never needed to use it.

      You might be the victim of David Farrar’s insidious little LSO cookie that I have previously blogged about. As well as cleaning out your normal cookies, you might want to have a read of this post on how to get rid of their interference.

      Although government websites have been having problems lately and it could be a number of issues, that’s where I would start.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Mana or Money
    Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged.  After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    60 mins ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Thursday, May 2
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 11:10 am on Thursday, May 2:Scoop: Government sits on official advice on fast-track consent. The Ombudsman is investigating after official briefings on the contentious regime were held back despite requests from Forest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 hours ago
  • The Art of taking no Responsibility
    Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 hours ago
  • The shabby “Parliamentary urgency” ploy – shaky foundations and why our democracy needs trust
    Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust.  The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 hours ago
  • Jones has made plain he isn’t fond of frogs (not the dim-witted ones, at least) – and now we lea...
    This article was prepared for publication yesterday.  More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written.  We will report on these later today ….    Buzz from the Beehive  There we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 hours ago
  • Infrastructure & home building slumping on Govt funding freeze
    New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 hours ago
  • Brainwashed People Think Everyone Else is Brainwashed
    Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 hours ago
  • Peters’ real foreign policy threat is Helen Clark
    Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    8 hours ago
  • NZ’s trans lobby is fighting a rearguard action
    Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    16 hours ago
  • Your mandate is imaginary
    This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    21 hours ago
  • 14,000 unemployed under National
    The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    23 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Discontent and gloom dominate NZ’s political mood
    Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    23 hours ago
  • Taking Tea with 42 & 38.
    National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Beware political propaganda: statistics are pointing to Grant Robertson never protecting “Lives an...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”. As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Winding back the hands of history’s clock
    Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
     Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    1 day ago
  • Business confidence sliding into winter of discontent
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the coalition’s awful, not good, very bad poll results
    Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
    1 day ago
  • New HOP readers for future payment options
    Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: April (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
    2 days ago
  • At a glance – Clearing up misconceptions regarding 'hide the decline'
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • Road photos
    Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
    The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • NZDF is still hostile to oversight
    Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Winding Back The Hands Of History’s Clock.
    Holding On To The Present: The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
    2 days ago
  • Sweet Moderation? What Christopher Luxon Could Learn From The Germans.
    Stuck In The Middle With You: As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
    2 days ago
  • A clear warning
    The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Poll results and Waitangi Tribunal report go unmentioned on the Beehive website – where racing tru...
    Buzz  from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example.  This shows National down ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Listening To The Traffic.
    It Takes A Train To Cry: Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
    2 days ago
  • Comity Be Damned! The State’s Legislative Arm Is Flexing Its Constitutional Muscles.
    Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
    2 days ago
  • Ending The Quest.
    Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
    2 days ago
  • Will political polarisation intensify to the point where ‘normal’ government becomes impossible,...
    Chris Trotter writes –  New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, April 30
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:30am on Tuesday, May 30:Scoop: NZ 'close to the tipping point' of measles epidemic, health experts warn NZ Herald Benjamin PlummerHealth: 'Absurd and totally unacceptable': Man has to wait a year for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Worst poll result for a new Government in MMP history
    Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Pinning down climate change's role in extreme weather
    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
    2 days ago
  • Serving at Seymour's pleasure.
    Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Webworm LA Pop-Up
    Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • “Feel good” school is out
    Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
    Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic plan, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    3 days ago
  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
    3 days ago
  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
    3 days ago
  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
    4 days ago
  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • 25
    She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8.  The universe was ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
    5 days ago
  • Policing protests.
    Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    Peter Dunne writes –  The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • More tax for less
    Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Real News vs Fake News.
    We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
    5 days ago
  • Cutting the Public Service
    It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious:  we live in a troubled ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • This is how I roll over
    1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”

    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes –  The High Court ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same? Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • One Night Only!
    Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • What did Melissa Lee do?
    It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago
  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • ƌ-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic ƌ-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mƍ ƌ-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The ƌ-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government saves access to medicines
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.    “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in TĂŒrkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, TĂŒrkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-02T01:01:32+00:00