Open mike 29/10/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, October 29th, 2019 - 102 comments
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102 comments on “Open mike 29/10/2019 ”

  1. Sanctuary 1

    Someone should tell the corporate media a good 50% of the country hardly even noticed the rugby world cup and of the rest most were over it on Sunday afternoon.

    The way our corporate media have managed to suck any joy out of the RWC with their incessant clickbait stories that are a weird combination of braggadocio and insecurity has been amazing. And still, thtree days later, Susie Ferguson insults the intelligence of her listeners (again) by a) making her first question to Jacinda about the rugby then going for a gotcha. Seriously, there is more important things than trying to foot trip the PM over a three day old rugby match.

    • I feel love 1.1

      Ain't that the truth, I haven't heard one work mate discuss the world cup these last few months, I don't think anyone even knew it was on, I watched one game as I was staying in a motel and they had terrestrial telly, I would have watched more if it was accessible, the greedy bastards are killing the interest in the game in the name of short term profit.

      • Jimmy 1.1.1

        Wow ….where do you work? The morgue? We have had plenty of talk at work about it over the last few weeks although its a lot quieter now!

        • greywarshark 1.1.1.1

          Jimmy This is a place of relatively free expression of what is happening personally to you. Because someone expresses something different to what you feel or have experienced shouldn't be an opportunity for you to sneer at them and ask them if they work in a morgue.

          You could have left those first two questioning sentences out. Why be combative and negative about other how other people's random comment about something. Like I am at present! But with a desire to get better interaction amongst us.

          • Anne 1.1.1.1.1

            Excuse me greywarshark but I don't think Jimmy was being anything of the sort. His comment was a very Kiwi way of expressing his surprise with a smattering of humour thrown in.

            Each to his own. It's not your place to tell others how to express themselves here – or anywhere else.

            • marty mars 1.1.1.1.1.1

              Agree – a pretty standard, funny and slightly pointed kiwi saying. I can't sense malice in that.

            • aom 1.1.1.1.1.2

              greywarshark should be warned to stay away from Taika Waititi's JoJo Rabbit. The kiwi comedy in that (kiwiism warning!) would blow his tiny little mind, especially as it is tempered with very serious themes and moral issues.

              • aom You don't understand much of what you see and read if you think I don't deeply concern myself with 'very serious themes and moral issues'. You are just a learner compared to where i come from. So soak up all you can and you might get wise.

            • greywarshark 1.1.1.1.1.3

              It's not your place to come here and tell me not to express myself about what I think is important Anne. It is what you do yourself all the time, coming from a feeling of entitlement I think. And it goes against the Open Mike zeitgeist. So don't preach to me in your didactic way.

              Do you ever stop and look and listen to yourself. ‘It is not your place’ you say to me. Is that classless speech? Are you really interested in democracy but rather talking down to others who haven’t reached your height of seniority in your profession?

            • veutoviper 1.1.1.1.1.4

              Anne, consider your hand smacked by the TS's own Clayton's moderator- LOL.

              But life has its comedy moments – and TS has its comedy juxtapositions of comments at times. Today's is a classic – G's reply to you has landed immediately under G's reply to aom. Read together (particularly the last two sentences in the reply to aom) they are laughable. Talk about lacking in self-awareness, and not looking and listening to one's self.

              Enjoy! kia kaha

                • Anne

                  Hi veutoviper,

                  I was earlier unable to respond with anything other than an emoticon.

                  Thanks for the words of encouragement.

                  I think Greywarshark needs to learn to treat other people's comments with more care and attention. He/she seems occasionally vulnerable to misinterpretations. Perhaps a bit of a furlough and some internal reflection would be advisable before he/she starts laying down the law to other people who might wish to comment here.

          • Jimmy 1.1.1.1.2

            Hi Greywarshark…apologies then as I was not meaning to offend anyone. Love the rugby, or hate the rugby, it is the most important thing to so many kiwis. I am not a huge fan myself but will follow the world cup. (and even the soccer world cup when its on).

            I was simply amazed that people were not talking about it in some way at I feel the love's work place. For anyone that does work in a morgue, I did not mean to be nasty or put them down as they do an extremely important job that many people would probably not do.

            • In Vino 1.1.1.1.2.1

              Agree… It is one of our few growth industries.

            • greywarshark 1.1.1.1.2.2

              Hi Jimmy – It was just a thought – we in NZ are too inclined to negativity I think. Also some people find rugby a bit of a faux way to come together in NZ. And find the brutal approach which shows up in spear tackling and the love of big men crashing into each other a bit pathetic as an example of the finest and most charismatic sport here.

              Lately I looked at the local film called Bludgeon, and I reckon that would be a great sport for physical guys, and it involves armour that a man or woman could make themselves and use metal-working skills, so a steep learning curve and giving more individual satisfaction than rugby.

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TflUa6IWNdk

              Fair bit of crash and bash there. But there is a code of conduct. But still some risk – I think blokes like taking on risk with judgment of how to avoid it. What did you think of Bludgeon? It's different, could be good. Might be an alternative to rugby, so we have more than one claim to fame eh?

              We need to get more positive in NZ and talk to each other in a way that promotes that, and that aids conversation and helps in getting to know that person and what's good about them. That is something I think we need to work on in NZ – my opinion. So I throw in Bludgeon as an extra talking point to rugby.

              Thinking about negativity. NZrs are said to be a bit dour, and our creative output can follow that. But perhaps we get insight through it in a way, but then have watch not to set in negative mode. Scandinavia is a place that has to do this also I hear – they can suffer from SAD.*

              *Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasonsSAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.Oct 25, 2017

              https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

        • I feel love 1.1.1.2

          Ha! My workplace ranges in ages from early 20s to mid 60s, a few 100 people, all walks of life in Dunedin, men and women, and I haven't heard one mention or RWC or the ABs losing, what can I say but that is what I see. We have pools for Melbourne cup and other major sports but no one did one for the rugby. I've no doubt there are fans because people do play and I recall talk of a shield game, but seriously, it's a game being killed by its expense. I don't mind the game, but I don't mind any sport, I just don't favour any and have better things to spend my money on. Just my view.

        • lprent 1.1.1.3

          There were a pile of flags at work in the last few weeks. Mostly because the plants were removed before we move. A few mad keen rugby nuts talking about something that I hadn't seen.

          Some dribble in the papers that looked like more mindless advertising.

          Personally I just ignored it. Have better things to waste time on.

          I pretty much give up on sports activities when I finish doing them. These days physical activity is mainly restricted to the daily commuting to work on a e-bike and the weekend chores on it. Limited supply of enthusiasts for that as well as the rugby

    • I'd guess it really matters to 30% of the population….but only for a couple of weeks.

      I mean come on, it's a game based on the random bounce of an odd-shaped ball.

      • greywarshark 1.2.1

        ' a game based on the random bounce of an odd-shaped ball. ' Sounds like an analogy for life really, as in the start when our eggie got fertilised.

      • Stuart Munro. 1.2.2

        It's less important as a game, as having once been a major community binding activity. Having fallen under the dual pressures of urbanization and professionalization, rugby is no longer a uniting communal obsession. Like the churches, its congregation are aging and diminishing.

  2. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-50134723/singapore-the-artist-cutting-off-the-head-of-a-british-colonialist

    Interesting perspective and quite relevant. A resurgence in anti-colonial sentiment (not that I want to stir the hornet's nest) – No Siree! Quite a few quite capable of stirring up shit, acting like missionaries and imposing their will all by themselves.

  3. Sanctuary 3

    I know rugby is regarded by some here primarily through the lens of a fanatical culture war item, but I don't really care for the tiresome whining of the anti-rugby brigade so if you are not interested in discussing it – in the nicest possible way just don't comment and f**k off to anther topic. 🙂

    So onto rugby.

    If I were the NZRFU I would be alarmed at the general indifference the public has shown to the All Black's defeat. We are not "more mature' – it is just a huge number of people no longer give a shit. General interest in the game peaked twenty years and has been in decline ever since. Rugby is of no interest to an increasingly large percentage of the population. Kids nowadays have been alienated by an elite school system that actively discourages participation for fun as a burden on their winning. The game has been behind a paywall for a generation that has seen it's support base becoming increasing elderly, white and middle class. The focus on the apex means club and now provincial rugby has been gutted. The NPC is a now a complete farce – does anyone seriously believe Tasman has the best pool of provincial players in NZ?

    The general public is chronically over exposed to rugby from February to December and is IMHO sick to death of saturation uncritical coverage in the corporate media. Outside a few pockets no one is interested in provincial rugby, there is to much super rugby and too many All Blacks tests. The NPC was once the engine of the game – home of tribalism, huge unwavering support and where the interest in the game was actually highest. Now? I don't think so, especially in Auckland where the complacency and disinterest of the NZRFU at the decline of rugby should be a huge sports media scandal.

    Steve Tew will leave a game utterly hollowed out by professionalism. His whole era was characterised by increasingly desperate efforts to slow – but never halt – the decline of NZ's rugby power in the face of the huge wads of money being laundered through sports clubs in the Europe. In order to buy another season of All Black success, the NZRFU has destroyed the game below the elite level and now- in the light of the hiding the All Blacks just got – those chickens are coming home to roost at elite level as well. The NZRFU has never really had a plan to sustain rugby in NZ for a generation, and our well resourced sports media are not about to call them out on it.

    The problem is the NZ media are basically PR for rugby, so the general public gets no sensible debate about the direction of the game, the dropping interest, it's massive over-exposure or the issues of player loss. No one wants to talk about how player loss has gutted the quality of the rugby championship and weakened the All Blacks depth. Once Ben Smith suddenly became over the hill and Reiko Ioane apparently lost interest in playing for the All Blacks after Hanson publically dissed his brother our lack of depth was exposed at first five and wing (why is no one asking Hanson about the reasons for Reiko's loss of form?) What difference would having Charles Piutau, Lima Sopoaga, Steven Luatua, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Liam Squire, Luke Whitelock and Jackson Hemopo made had they been available? Especially as they play in positions where we were totally found out like lose forward, lock, and wing. They won't, because it would be to imply all is not well in the three rings and the media are part of the circus.

    • Sanc…I should point out that, despite my comment above, I was glued to both RWC semi-finals for the whole game in the Hawea Pub….I think rugby is a wonderful game….just not quite in the league of climate change or Brexit for its implications.

      • Sanctuary 3.1.1

        Yeah, I love rugby as well. To the point I actually believe being good at it should possibly attract a government subsidy to keep th best players here. Take the money from defense, I'd rather see nationalism at Eden Park than cheering a parade of tanks.

        • tc 3.1.1.1

          Why do the best players need to stay here ? Our lack of depth IMO is because we have this boys club approach to only local players getting an AB gig, Via the super 15/16 whatever it is now which is a created, invite only league.

          Brazil/Argentina haven't won their world cups in football with 'local' players exclusively. There's a world out there we should welcome our players going OS to. Geez the current world champs don't give their centre forward a game because he's not making the field at Chelsea, that's a position we should be in !

          Our local game would probably flourish if more got a chance via the big names following the $$$ offshore. It's pure market forces etc a.k.a. professionalism, something the NZRU have mostly sucked at since day 1./

          • Sanctuary 3.1.1.1.1

            The decision was made years ago to focus on the All Black's brand and the creation of an elite player program to feed a steady stream of new All Blacks into the squad. Everything else was sacrificed – mass participation, club rugby, the NPC and now even Super Rugby – to that end. But No one is asking if that model is fundamentally flawed. The parade of clueless doofus mercenaries being churned out from our elite school system and academies is testament to the flaws in the current model, as is the decline interest and participation. These new generation elite players have had the red carpet rolled out for them since they hit about 14 years old, and are only used to winning and have a huge sense of entitlement to a fat professional salary. They are starting to bugger off once they realise that the All Blacks is a bit harder than they thought and they can get just as much dosh for half the effort playing in France. Being an All Black for an increasing number of these elite players is now a bit like making porno movies for a few years is for a whore – a sort of video CV for the better paying whales and sugar daddies.

            An alternative does/did exist – get government funding for the cultural component of the game and emphasise mass participation, club and NPC level and a cut down professional competition including Australia. Accept the inevitable of overseas money luring away our best players (akin to Brazilians and Argentinians accepting their best players are all in Europe) and just work out a strategy to get them back in time to ensure we remain rugby world champions.

            That way, when the current era of massively overpaid professional sport eventually eats itself (as it is showing signs of doing with the falling interest from people who can longer afford to watch, the obsolescence of the paywall TV model to fund it all and the increasing demand for low carbon – i.e. no flying everywhere – sport) at least you'll still have a game left to administer.

          • The Al1en 3.1.1.1.2

            It won't happen, because unlike football, all the TV money goes to the union instead of the clubs, but the centralised contracts should go and players become free agents, able to move between teams across borders and still be available for national selection.

            That would mean clear windows for international tests, just like soccer, which could if done right, also be of benefit to tier two nations and a way of growing the sport globally.

            • In Vino 3.1.1.1.2.1

              +1, Sanctuary.

              The same malaise has afflicted many of our sports, with the same depletion of overall participation, and the death of many of what used to be healthy local clubs.

            • Dukeofurl 3.1.1.1.2.2

              In practice overseas clubs do affect a players availability for selection for a national side elsewhere, especially as clubs and national games overlap.

              Would English clubs try to restrict NZ players being selected for the All Blacks ? You bet

              • The Al1en

                I don't recall any club v country rows in English football for quite some time, with South American, African and Asian players turning out for their nations, even when tournaments are held during the season. Son Heung min from Spurs played in the Asian cup this year, for example, though the African cup of nations has now switched to the European off season recently.

                The key is obviously well organised international windows for cups, qualification purposes and friendlies. Like I said above, it won't happen under the current system but it could with the necessary changes.

        • lprent 3.1.1.2

          Don't think that we have any tanks.

          • Dukeofurl 3.1.1.2.1

            Arent the LAV a sort of modern version as they have a cannon , especially against demonstrators in cities which cant put up much resistance.

            • Alice Tectonite 3.1.1.2.1.1

              NZ LAV = APC replacement

              • Dukeofurl

                Did the APC have a turret mounted cannon like the LAVs do?

                • Alice Tectonite

                  Off the top of my head the NZ APCs had .50 cal only.

                  Technically the NZ LAVs are infantry fighting vehicles (= APC with cannon stuck on top). Basically a more heavily armed infantry taxi.

  4. joe90 4

    I'd rather be dead in a ditch than agree to a Brexit delay.… okay, just this once..

    https://twitter.com/AP/status/1188876292457934851

    • Boorish needs to remember that he is supposed to be following the will of the people, and not just his own – that is dictatorship. And for those who are going to trot out the bit about the referendum 'indicating the will of the people', I laugh at you. How can people make up their minds for some action based on unfair information, lies to deceive?? What gimcrack idea of democracy are you fostering? What sort of person are you who quotes prim verse out of a text which does not include the principle of straight and honest dealing?

      To have a matter put before the people which will overturn or affect all of a country's policies is a major undertaking for them to consider carefully. To treat it as if they were voting to have a new library that would only stock records of UK writing and thinking, is an attempt at deception by a very devious, even criminally fraudulent group of politicians. And then to suggest that a mere simple majority is sufficient for such a proposal, and then set out to confuse the trusting or ignorant populace, is irredeemably malicious.

      To call for a change within Parliament of an election date different from the normal, a snap election*, requires 66% or two-thirds of the House of the representatives of the people to make a rearrangement of that grouping who are mere servants of the people. Yet just a simple majority for a matter affecting and at the heart of all the people and country, that they are supposed to be serving!

      This shows a wish to take power over the people and indeed the country. It is in effect, a coup planned by the unscrupulous, and those Members in the part of Parliament who stand for the people are putting up a desperate battle, using all the law and precedents that they can. These have been introduced to give the country a strong and reliable Parliament without a resort to violence to debase Parliament and then enable the winners to take control the country. (And there have already been murders in the political sphere, these should not be overlooked, as preliminary skirmishes.)

      *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snap_election#United_Kingdom

      PS joe90 – I wonder how the photographers got a shot of Boorish in front of a poster about Sepsis and Infection? Or is this an example of photo-shopping – part of the playing around with images, leading to serious falsifying that the simple minds of we ordinary people have to examine carefully to form an opinion. No longer ‘seeing is believing’.

      • soddenleaf 4.1.1

        It's a scam. Someone pulls a empty cheque out writes brexit on it, then says sign here. Nobody is signing that without details put in. Blank cheque politics goes against every grain. Parliament is never going to ratify the deal, it would put their name on it, and for whatever reason… …Tory voters who want to stay in, or Labour voters who want to end austerity, or Libs who have said no. The only way to move on is to put the deal to the electorate in a referendum. Boris is an unelected leader of a minority party that demands the scam be accepted. Put up or shut up, put the deal to the people in a referendum, let them sign the cheque. Oh, and that means expat too.

        • Dukeofurl 4.1.1.1

          Parliament has ratified the deal. They did so last week ,as per the procedure with the agreement to be tabled so that it becomes a public document

          . It well known that the deal in this context is the full agreement between UK and EU negotiators.

          Additional legislation and regulations follow too cover the fine details of the law over various aspects of Brexit : Agriculture , Fisheries, Financial Services, Immigration and so on.

      • Drowsy M. Kram 4.1.2

        PM Johnson is desperate for another general election (after 2 years and 4 months), but reluctant to rerun the Brexit referendum (after 3 years and 4 months.)

        Why not rerun both at the same time, if only to clarify the 'mood' of a better-informed U.K. electorate? I see one parallel in the NZ National-led government claiming that their election win was a mandate for the massive transfer of public assets/wealth into private ownership, despite opinion polls at the time showing a clear majority of those polled were opposed.

        Brexit will consolidate the already vast power and influence of U.K./multinational wealth. "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

        "Pigs rank at the top-most level in the structure, dogs coming next, and then other animals rank accordingly. Pigs are the rulers and the masters. That means they can rewrite or reinterpret commandments to ensure their benefit, and control over other animals."
        https://literarydevices.net/all-animals-are-equal/

        • Dukeofurl 4.1.2.1

          Dont think any party in UK wants that.

          I think you are confused about what Brexit will do . Its the EU that was consolidating power , especailly with the Euro ( which Britain almost by accident was able to avoid)

          Ask the people of Greece , Spain Italy etc about EU austerity.

          The people of Greece even voted by a large majority against the EUs austerity deal, but as is Normal with the EU bureaucrats and financial mandarins they forced the Greek government to take even harsher medicine.

          Like I said you seem to have 'forgotten' how much the EU is despised for its economic policies , not only in Britain.

          • Drowsy M. Kram 4.1.2.1.1

            Duke, I though it was more about bananas than mandarins wink – don't have a dog in this contest of ideas, but none of my 'elitist' academic colleagues are particularly thrilled about the possible net effect of Brexit on UK university research and teaching programmes.

            Your suggestion to "Ask the people of Greece , Spain Italy etc about EU austerity" is a good one – asking electorates about where they stand on important issues, by way of (binding) referenda, is a great idea IMHO.

            In the UK, national referenda are not constitutionally binding, and since the UK has held only three national referenda [in 1975 (UK remaining in the EEC [Labour]), 2011 (voting system [Tory]), and 2016 (Brexit [Tory])], I can understand the reluctance for a fourth, particularly given the unsettling mess that the third delivered.

            However, since there appears to be some uncertainty as to whether a simple majority of UK voters currently support Brexit (3 years and four months on), I just wondered if another general election (2 years and 4 months on) might be the perfect opportunity to test the current mood of the electorate on Brexit. After all, it’s an issue which some at least consider to have quite far-reaching consequences, more so even than cannabis which the NZ electorate will be voting on next year.

      • Nic the NZer 4.1.3

        I watched an interesting presentation by Tom Scott at the Royal Society called there is no Algorithm for Truth. He starts off with a challenge, what if a supposed algorithm for internet truth decides (correctly) that a no deal brexit is the best for the UK. The question being (to the audience) do you therefore accept this, or respond by trying to amplify your position? I think you should conduct the same thought experiment based on the fact that at least 40 something percent of the UK disagree with your position.

        • greywarshark 4.1.3.1

          I didn't realise that 40% of UK were watching me for a lead. That is a serious responsibility and i will bear it in mind Nic the NZer. Are you Nic the ex Pom?

          • Nic the NZer 4.1.3.1.1

            No. Neither if us has a particular right to speak for the UK in general I would say.

        • Dukeofurl 4.1.3.2

          There is an algorithm for Truth

          Its called Theology. Thats why it the idea, if used in politics is totally unworkable.

    • Dukeofurl 4.3

      The letter was unsigned and was the exact text in the Benn Act about asking for an extension.

      Cover letters made it clear Johnson wasnt 'asking for it' at all. Parliament made him do it.

  5. When you've previously agreed to do a favour for your boss and work the occasional cash in hand extra, at their suggestion, only to be told a couple of days after doing the last one it's now on the books.

    Wont be doing that again. angry

    • Ian 5.1

      Good on you mate.But you and your boss were equally responsible for tax evasion.Your not alone unfortunately.Ripping off genuine taxpayers seems to be a national sport.

      • The Al1en 5.1.1

        It was only a few hours work, so not really about the money, more the being lied to.

        And while I get the point about tax evasion, and certainly not mitigating it after the fact, unemployed people can earn up to $90pw without affecting entitlements, and with my hourly rate, it wasn't even near that much.

        • solkta 5.1.1.1

          unemployed people can earn up to $90pw without affecting entitlements,

          What that fuck has that got to do with it? They are supposed to pay tax too.

          • McFlock 5.1.1.1.1

            ISTR back in the day that there was some threshold ($200?) of undeclared income that IRD didn't give a damn about.

            A few hours work isn't the problem. "Family trusts" and corporate tax sandwiches are the problem.

          • greywarshark 5.1.1.1.2

            TA is talking about working for not much money, to put in other words he sounds poor, and that's what the fuck he is concerned about, and to improve that situation even slightly.

            • solkta 5.1.1.1.2.1

              Still has absolutely nothing to do with benefit abatement rates.

              • marty mars

                exactly – an unrelated issue not connected other than the unemployed often get dragged into non-related points.

              • The Al1en

                Not quite true, as some households on benefits bring in more than mine, yet they're still permitted to earn $90 pw on top, a third more than I was in line for, but as I implied, it's not a contest, and I certainly don't begrudge them that extra.

                • solkta

                  yet they're still permitted to earn $90 pw on top

                  They still pay tax on it. I don't see the point you are trying to make. It seems as marty says, that the unemployed often get dragged into non-related points. That it is somehow ok for you to cheat on tax because unemployed people.

                  • The Al1en

                    Okay, I was under the impression that someone not working and then earning such a small amount wouldn't pay any tax, but I checked it out and found I was wrong.

            • The Al1en 5.1.1.1.2.2

              I am poor, but relatively speaking, I'm not really.

  6. Blazer 6

    'Why not rerun both at the same time,'…splendid suggestion =the 'best out of 3' ..option!

    • Drowsy M. Kram 6.1

      'Fun' result would be the election of a Boris "Let's get Brexit done" Johnson-led Tory govt combined with a narrow majority for ‘remain’ in a Brexit referendum rerun.

  7. soddenleaf 7

    Rise of the right connected directly to 2008 financial collapse, when the wealthiest aren't jailed for their crimes, they will play. Brexit, Trump, used to be you can't take the money with you when you die, now it's what can you destroy with your money before you die. The planet, markets, economies, democracy, its a fire sale.

  8. joe90 8

    How Facebook coddles and promotes RWNJ's and their freeze peach above all others.

    https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/status/1188797290527498240

    2 A investigation found a clandestine network of 14 large Facebook pages that exclusively promote content from The Daily Wire

    They promote same content, at the same time, w/the same text

    Collectively they have 8 million+ fans

    3. Facebook's rules explicitly prohibit "coordinated inauthentic behavior" which it defines as "groups of accounts and Pages working together to mislead people about who they are and what they’re doing."

    That's exactly what's happening here

    4. Facebook says when it finds "coordinated inauthentic behavior" it will "remove all inauthentic and authentic accounts, Pages and groups directly involved"

    Facebook admitted that these pages are acting deceptively, but it will not take them down

    […]

    8. It's hard to overstate how good The Daily Wire is at gaming Facebook. While a average NYT article received 1871 engagements in September, the average The Daily Wire article received 15283 engagements

    https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1188797290527498240.html

    https://popular.info/p/facebook-allows-prominent-right-wing

  9. joe90 9

    Argentinian buoyed by the election of a centre-left candidate.

    At any rate, I “lived” the 2015 election with my heart in my throat, particularly after Mauricio Macri was elected over the Peronist formula, effectively putting an end to Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and all the good things she’d been doing (and some of the bad because, let’s be honest, there’s always going to be something bad/questionable).

    […]

    Today I woke up to find out that not only did Argentina kicked Macri out unceremoniously, but former president CFK is now Vice President to Alberto Fernández

    https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/10/28/1895561/-My-hopes-shot-up-this-morning

  10. ianmac 10

    Today farming leaders and the Government announced a plan to join forces to develop practical and cost-effective ways to measure and price emissions at the farm level by 2025, so that 100 per cent of New Zealand's emissions will be on the path downwards. – Scoop

    The cynic in me says the Agriculture lobby expects to hang on for just 2-3 years so that when National gets in they will drop the Plan.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1910/S00190/world-first-plan-for-farmers-to-reduce-emissions.htm

  11. I think we are being overwhelmed by freedom campers and should put limits on visitors – some places insist on sighting return tickets with dates that comply with visas, permits. Then visitors need to show they have enough money to sustain themselves for their holiday so they don't go round stealing, bludging and ripping the country off. We have NZ men who are enough trouble without adding more.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/402025/arrogant-and-disrespectful-freedom-campers-sadden-ngai-tuhoe

    New Zealand Te Ao Māori

    'Arrogant and disrespectful' freedom campers sadden Ngāi Tūhoe 3:19 pm today

    Rubbish-strewn campsites, home-made toilets and illegal felling of native trees by "arrogant and disrespectful" freedom campers at Lake Waikaremoana have shocked and saddened Ngāi Tūhoe.

    • Cinny 11.1

      Crikey! WTF with cutting down trees, that should never ever happen, what pricks for doing so.

      Imagine a dedicated freedom camping task force in every region. They could police the freedom campers and share stories about their local area. If people felt a sense of importance about the land they are occupying maybe they would be better behaved.

      Would also like to see recycling and rubbish facilities at designated spots as well as toilets. The way I see it, freedom camping isn't going away any time soon, so we may as well mange it instead.

      • greywarshark 11.1.1

        Agree – manage it on location and limit it at the borders. It is not a big income earner, and we can do without these wandering would-be wilderness pretenders. Run the system of woofers as the main intake of long-term visitors, they would have jobs to go to with members who are registered. Lovely people, and a terrific asset to the country, forming friendships and helping out in a valuable way. They would have to be looked after to make sure that local ab-users of the system didn't take advantage, and vice versa.

    • Sacha 11.2

      I would not be surprised if the 'campers' are munters from NZ rather than further afield. The hunters mentioned in the story certainly are. Who brings their own toilet seat with them on holiday?

      • weka 11.2.1

        bottle wall, sounds like Kiwis to me.

        Too many tourist freedom campers as well, and councils restricting where Kiwis can camp because of that is fucked up.

  12. I wondered why the White Helmets didn't show up to help the Kurds

    Not just about fighting fires either

    https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/15b19407-31f2-4709-ab99-580b6a66dc72

  13. marty mars 13

    Good work citizens

    A third of New Zealanders are cutting down on their meat consumption or not eating any at all, new research shows.

    The survey of more than 1000 people found that 31 percent have been limiting their meat intake over the past year, with a further 3 percent being vegetarian or vegan.

    Health was cited as the most common reason people were cutting down on meat, followed by concern for the environment and animal welfare.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/402028/third-of-new-zealanders-eliminate-or-cut-down-on-eating-meat-research

    • Sacha 13.1

      Surely cost would be one of the main reasons?

      • marty mars 13.1.1

        Yeah I would have thought so too

        Some of the survey respondents named taste, nutrition and price as barriers to trying plant-based meat alternatives.

        …Despite plant-based meat alternatives evolving from traditional options, the research says only a fifth of New Zealanders have tried this 'new generation' of foods. And a further 44 percent expressed they'd like to try them, including nearly half of those reducing their meat intake.

        Vege sausages are $9 for 6 of them. I tried some vegan cheese the other day – man it was not good sadly.

  14. Eco maori 14

    That's the way we need to plant billions of trees to slow Global warming and Sea level rising.

    The more people that understand global warming the sooner we will ramp up the changes needed to minimise it.

    YouTube

    YouTube stars raise over $6m to plant trees around the world

    More than 600 creators and social media influencers join campaign to plant 20m trees

    A group of YouTube stars have raised more than $6m (£4.7m) to plant trees around the world by rallying their huge numbers of subscribers.

    The American YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, was challenged on Reddit in May to plant 20m trees to celebrate reaching 20 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, where he posts videos of extravagant stunts.

    He then teamed up with other YouTubers to create the #TeamTrees project with a target of $20m – each $1 donation will plant one tree. Launched on 25 October, the crowdfunder raised $5m in just 48 hours, with $1.75m coming from YouTube alone, which the team claims is a new fundraising record for the site.

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2019/oct/29/youtube-stars-fundraise-plant-trees-around-the-world

  15. Eco maori 15

    Kia Ora 1 News.

    A election in Britain this year.

    The Grenfield fire was shocking heap of people lives lost.

    I can remember watching Greece it was the a movie that shaped cultures.

    Ka kite Ano.

  16. Eco maori 16

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    I think that protecting our futures environment is important.

    Suicide is a waste of people lives and very sad.

    I agree with Moana Jackson.

    That's awesome Pharmacist being given a clearance to administer measles vaxcernations.

    Ka kite Ano

  17. Eco maori 17

    Kia Ora Breakfast.

    How times have changed I can remember when a prominent Maori was grilled live about the same problems being talked about this morning.

    Awsome mahi Mike Te gumboot fund for people with vulnerable emotions.

    Totally agree with that statement Mike.

    Congratulations to Te Netball Wahine.

    I would love to go out and back up what I say and join the peaceful protest to protect our futures environment but that move would be putting myself in Check.

    Ka kite Ano.

  18. Eco maori 18

    What I like about this research is that a few minor changes and our farmers will be mitigateing their carbon footprint. Another great point is the idea works with Papatuanuku and not trying to reinvent her or against her. Ka pai.

    Researchers dig deeper in fight against climate change

    Researchers have found deep soil holds potential to off-set greenhouse gas emissions and improve production for farmers.

    Dr Mike Beare and his colleagues at Plant and Food Research have been studying how soils differ in their potential to store carbon, and the risk for carbon loss.

    Many continuous pasture soils in New Zealand are stratified, with carbon levels declining rapidly with depth. "Where there is much greater potential to store additional carbon is below the surface soil," Beare said.

    The potential lies beneath the top 15 centimetres.

    Plant roots are an important source of the carbon that is constantly being fed into soils and help form the organic matter that improves soil health.

    The problem is that even with plants that do send roots below that depth, most of the roots still tend to be concentrated near the surface.

    "The challenge is to find productive and profitable plants that produce enough roots below ground," Beare says.

    Farmers re-seed pastures every 10-to-15 years, to improve the pastures' production. During this pasture renewal, Beare said farmers could create a deeper topsoil.

    Full-inversion tillage buries the carbon-rich top soil below 15cm and brings up the sub-soil material that is under-saturated in carbon

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/116646839/researchers-dig-deeper-in-fight-against-climate-change

  19. Eco maori 19

    I agree every one is going to lose if we do not change the way we live to minimise our carbon footprint and become a carbon neutral society. We need to stop buying stuff and next minute literally they end up it Te Tangaroa or the dump. Some people are spouting doom and gloom because we have to become minimalist in every Facit of our lives. Reality is they don't want to change. If they don't get on the WAKA to becoming minimalist then I say they will lose.

    Ka’apor Indians

    Some days, I am filled with dread. Some nights, I have trouble sleeping. But I would not swap my job for any other.

    As global environment editor for the Guardian, I report from the Amazon to the Arctic on the disappearing wonders of a rapidly deteriorating world. Along with a growing number of colleagues, I investigate who is affected, who is to blame and who is fighting back.

    This is both depressing and exciting. The trends for the climate, the oceans, the forests and the soil are unrelentingly frightening. Humanity has never faced a more wicked problem than the collapse of these natural life support systems. Nobody is free of responsibility. Everybody has something to lose, especially those with the most power. The challenge is huge, urgent and beset with opponents. But change is happening nonetheless.

    The primary challenge for a journalist is to make it feel personal. Without that, the science becomes abstract, global issues seem too huge to grasp, and it becomes difficult to relate to far off places and other species. Without that, the “environment” slips too easily into an elite pigeonhole for academics, policymakers and middle-class white people, when it should be recognised as the main driver of inequality, conflict and injustice. This is not just another subject; it is a prism through which to see the world.

    I came to this view reluctantly. Starting as a cub reporter in Asia in the 1990s, I initially wrote about politics, finance and sport – issues that are traditionally considered newsworthy because they are fast moving, human-focussed and marketable. But the more I travelled as a foreign correspondent, the harder it became to ignore how the degradation of the air, water, soil and climate was threatening people, other species and future generations. These themes rarely made front-page news, but they were often the underlying cause of political tension, economic instability and psychological unease.

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/28/everybody-has-something-to-lose-the-exciting-depressing-life-of-a-climate-writer

  20. Eco maori 20

    That's the way if you have the means Sue the people who are still wrecking our climate with pollution carbon emissions the oil producers.

    Iwi leader Mike Smith takes OMV oil boss to International Criminal Court

    Māori leader Mike Smith has shot the first arrow in a global war between indigenous communities and oil companies.

    Smith has started legal proceedings in the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Rainer Seele, the CEO of Austrian oil giant OMV.

    He said oil company executives deserved to stand trial for genocide and other climate crimes impacting on indigenous communities now and in the future

    "They choose to put profit ahead of millions of people all over the world who will suffer the effects of climate change. It's a crime of global proportions. I know it sounds dramatic but that's because it is. We need to hold these people to account."

    Smith is currently in Vienna, Austria where the OMV headquarters is based. He held a media conference outside their offices to announce the legal challenge.

    "We managed to chase out all the rest of them and turn the government around so we're not taking anymore permits," Smith said.

    Once we get rid of this lot then we become an exemplar to the rest of the world."

    In July, Smith filed proceedings in the High Court against the Government for failing to protect Māori from climate change

    Smith recently travelled to Mexico where he met with indigenous leaders from central and southern American tribes and First Nations people in Canada. He also attended the United Nations Indigenous Caucus earlier this year.

    The indigenous groups would join Smith in starting legal proceedings against a number of oil bosses in the ICC based in The Hague, Netherlands.

    We're expecting these companies to play dirty," Smith said.

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/116938671/iwi-leader-mike-smith-takes-omv-oil-boss-to-international-criminal-court

  21. Eco maori 21

    Here we go people not respecting the beautiful creatures in our Wai Tuna being killed because they don't give a stuff. What a waste of a taonga and a precious resource.

    No-one will be prosecuted over the death of potentially hundreds of long-finned eels dug up and dumped by Hawke's Bay Regional Council workers clearing a drain, the Ministry for Primary Industries says.

    The dead and dying eels were discovered by Napier resident Matiu Heremia encased in tonnes of mud that had been dumped on the banks of the Moteo River in February.

    His video of the dead eels went viral on Facebook prompting MPI to investigate the council's practice and the council itself to halt all drain works while it undertook its own review.

    Eight months later MPI said it had "insufficient evidence" to lay any charges

    Matiu Heremia, who alongside family members, worked for hours to rescue eels that were still alive and return them to the river, said MPI's decision was "appalling."

    "It's absolute bollocks. In that video [there were] tonnes and tonnes of eel in that mud. There's enough evidence there to prosecute as far as I'm concerned."

    If that was me that hauled all those eels out of a drain I'd be in trouble … they'd come down on me like a tonne of bricks."

    Many Māori caught illegally fishing were not treated with such leniency, he said.

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/402185/no-prosecutions-over-eel-deaths-that-followed-work-by-hawke-s-bay-regional-council

  22. Eco maori 22

    Kia Ora 1 News

    The misleading information unit is needed in this day and age.

    Katie the business close to the Tamarik Makaru city rail link will be happy that the government and council are putting a fund together to help for their loss of customers and profits.

    The wild life of Australia are suffering from the huge bushfire what a shame.

    Ka kite Ano

  23. Eco maori 23

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    Never mind Hine 4 years is not long then you can get a 100 vote majority kia kaha.

    Ka pai to Te puea marae for looking after the homeless tangata and Wahine and who have bullying Tane. I say all Iwi should invest in Whare for Te tangata you know that old saying As Safe As Whare.

    They don't even want to share one seat.

    Ka kite Ano

  24. Eco maori 24

    Kia ora they blocked my phone.

    https://youtu.be/LHCob76kigA

  25. Eco maori 25

    It looks like the new Crown unit to stop social media fake news is being used against me the sole purpose for the old white men who have the power who have been shaping our society since Rob Muldoon. It's time to kick these old farts out of power.
    IE they blocked my devices this morning.
    Ka kite Ano

  26. Eco maori 26

    I tried to stay out of the forestry debacle. But one does not sell Te Whenua to anyone it is a finite resource that needs to be kept in Kiwis hands or we will all become tenants in our own Aotearoa.

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/402225/forestry-conversions-rules-totally-out-of-control

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    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
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    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
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    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
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    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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