Open mike 29/10/2010

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 29th, 2010 - 53 comments
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53 comments on “Open mike 29/10/2010 ”

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  1. The Chairman 1
    29 October 2010 at 6:28 am

    Maori Party “kowtowing” to iwi elite?

    An “iwi elite caste” system emerging with a right wing economic agenda showing no immediate trickle down benefits for Maori?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/maori/news/article.cfm?c_id=252&objectid=10683273&ref=rss

    • Colonial Viper 1.1
      29 October 2010 at 8:58 am

      Maori are NZ’s largest exporters of meat. That’s a lot of foreign currency.

    • The Chairman 1.2
      29 October 2010 at 9:23 am

      How will an emerging right wing agenda sit with a possible Labour – Maori coalition?

    • KJT 1.3
      29 October 2010 at 11:28 am

      Is this suddenly news. The Maori party are a good fit with National. Same born to rule exploitative attitudes. I am beginning to have more and more time for Hone.

      Just waiting for Maori to wake up to the Maori Moneyocracy.

      They will hopefully take less time than it takes for Pakeha to wake up NACT.

      • The Chairman 1.3.1
        29 October 2010 at 12:23 pm

        Re: suddenly news

        Hardly.

        However, it’s good to see the party’s principles being questioned

        And it does bring into question any possible coalition deals. How will this emerging right-wing agenda sit with Labour’s new policy shift?

  2. BLiP 2
    29 October 2010 at 6:46 am

    _ _ – – = = F O R S A L E = = = – – – _ _ _

    A sovereign nation’s self-respect and democracy

    . . . are human rights, justice and worker protections, those pesky and pernicious prohibitions to potential profit hampering your avarice . . .

    WE HAVE THE SOLUTION – –ELIMINATE THEM

    at just $US500 million per enactment, you can’t go past this deal

    But wait, there’s more . . .

    Guaranteed 10% C A S H rebate for foreign-owned multinational corporations – just speak to our in-store sales consultant John – do it today and save save save

    ♪ ♫ . . . .the Beehive, the Beehive, where everyone gets a bargain . . . . ♫ ♪

    • Bored 2.1
      29 October 2010 at 7:54 am

      You have made my day, I would encourage everybody to sing along today, so subtle, so catchy, so effective!

    • LynW 2.2
      29 October 2010 at 8:05 am

      Exactly! Now that song will stay in my head all day ….not that I need reminding!

    • prism 2.3
      29 October 2010 at 10:10 am

      Have you been in business Blip? What was/is your trade? There is a term called ‘horse trading’. Sales just don’t happen. People ask for discounts for cash etc. Many considerations come into it.

      I paid more for my second-hand car because I decided it was worth it but got an enhanced guarantee. That might not have been needed because of the Fair Trading Act. But it was the best deal going at the time. I had consulted the AA advice person to check car-make profile and general reliability, also got pre-sale scrutiny at a reliable garage. Seemed a goer, though not perfect. I wanted it, it would probably work out well. The price wasn’t too bad. I bought it. The car still goes well by the way.

      • BLiP 2.3.1
        29 October 2010 at 2:00 pm

        Would you sleep with me for $US500 million?

        Sure.

        Would you sleep with me for five bucks?

        What . . . who do you think you’re talking to?

        Madam, we know what you are, at the moment we’re just haggling.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.3.2
        29 October 2010 at 2:48 pm

        You know, last time I sold a car the potential buyer had the AA guys check it out. They picked up a couple of things wrong one of which was the oil. According to them it hadn’t been changed for at least 10,000km. The last oil change was less 5000km before. I know, I was the one who did it.

    • Jim Nald 2.4
      29 October 2010 at 10:21 am

      Mickey & McCully arrived in Vietnam last night
      East Asian Summit’s delight
      For a price and deals you taxpayers underwrite
      Mickey & McCully are anyone’s tonight

      ♪ ♫ . . . .the Beehive, the Beehive, where everyone gets a bargain . . . . ♫ ♪

      Fanks, BLiP.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.1
      29 October 2010 at 2:57 pm

      Hopefully it’s deep enough to produce real changes in the banking ponzi scheme.

  4. Rodel 4
    29 October 2010 at 8:27 am

    On Momentum.
    Interesting that the media aren’t probing into the momentumgate scandal.Why aren’t the national party owners of momentum, Michelle Boag, Jenny Shipley and co -who recruited John Key and Steven Wilk being interviwed?
    When. oh when will we get some proper journalists?

  5. Carol 5
    29 October 2010 at 9:18 am

    Mallard just held up in the House a print out of an image emailed to him over night from a Kiwi in Japan. It’s an image of the NZ flag with the UK Union flag removed from the top left hand corner and a Warner Brothers’ logo inserted in its place.

    Pure genius.

  6. Quoth the Raven 6
    29 October 2010 at 9:41 am

    In the strange world of American politics recently we’ve seen Log cabin Republicans challenge Don’t ask don’t tell in court. The Judge orders it to abandoned immediately. The Obama administration who supposedly wants to repeal it and have just lost a vote on it is granted a stay on the injunction to prepare their one would have to say embarrassing argument against the injunction of a policy they supposedly want repealed.
    Obama opposes gay marriage instead, like Labour here, he, without a hint of irony regarding the historical significance, takes a separate but equal position. Meawhile a gay judge in California overturns a ban on gay marriage, a judge who was originally nominated by Reagan, but whose nomination was opposed by the Democrats because of his “insensitivity” towards gays.
    Then there is Proposition 19. A lot of “progressives” have come out in support of it. However the Obama administration, who appointed a drug warrior to head the DEA, has vowed to continue to enforce prohibition federally in California. At least Obama has the war mongering and corporatist part of being a “progressive” down.

    • Quoth the Raven 6.1
      29 October 2010 at 1:08 pm

      Just to again highlight the inanity of the factionalism that pervades American politics (and politics in general see our own Labour-Natioal absurdities) Glenn Greenwald has a recent article: Obama finds support from the right

      Let’s hear one more time from the Supremely Crazy Witch Christine O’Donnell on this: “I support Obama’s decision to send troops to Afghanistan. I support Obama’s decision for drones. I support Obama’s decision to treat the American who is recruiting terrorists on American soil, who is hiding in Yemen, I support the decision for our intelligence agencies to do whatever it takes to take him out.”

      And Glenn Greenwald reminds us that the inequity in regards to gay rights which Obama opposes, whilst holding his illiberal “same but equal” position was enshrined in law by Bill Clinton in the form of DOMA and the Obama administration, once again despite Obama’s own ostensible opposition to it actually defended the constitutionality of it.

      In July of this year, a federal judge ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act — the 1996 law enacted with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by President Clinton — was unconstitutional. Among other things, DOMA bars the federal government and all federal agencies from issuing any marriage-based benefits — including immigration rights — to same-sex couples, even if those couples are legally married in the U.S. It effectuates that ban by restricting federal recognition of spousal relationships to “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” The court ruled that this provision was unconstitutional because it violates the rights of states under the Tenth Amendment to define “marriage” for themselves, and independently violates the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

      As if anyone really needed another reminder of the sheer absurdity of the messianic Obama presidency and the mindless factionalism in politics.

      Another article today: Obama hope was all hype Although why anyone would have hope in a politician in the first place is beyond me.

      “Political action involves mental vulgarity, not merely because it entails the occurrence and support of those who are mentally vulgar, but because of the simplification of human life implied in even the best of it purposes.”
      Michael Oakeshott

  7. just saying 7
    29 October 2010 at 9:53 am

    An outstanding post by Maia at ‘The Hand Mirror’ about the Hobbit: A must-read for even those as Hobbit-weary as I am. Do watch the quick clip at the end if you can too.

    http://thehandmirror.blogspot.com/

    • ianmac 9.1
      29 October 2010 at 2:07 pm

      “Yeah. What that mum needs is a good belt round the ears, and the little monster needs a good thrashing! It worked for me and now I’m a good God-fearing right minded Citizen. Hey! Leave my computer alone you bastards! I didn’t download that stuff. Not mine! Some one else must have…… God help me!”

  10. KJT 10
    29 October 2010 at 11:26 am

    Too late. Should have started disciplining him earlier.

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1
      29 October 2010 at 3:20 pm

      Should have started teaching him self-discipline earlier.

      FIFY

      And I disagree that it’s too late to teach him that discipline. It’ll be harder but not impossible.

  11. Bored 11
    29 October 2010 at 12:06 pm

    I see Trotter has got into Labour and Goff for their feable failure to come to the aid of workers rights etc in the whole St Peter / Warners rip off fiasco. Well done Chris, to Goff please just go!

    Anybody else feel the same?

    • Lazy Susan 11.1
      29 October 2010 at 2:05 pm

      I think this was really a case of falling at the first fence for Goff/Labour although admittedly a very tough call.

      The party conference presented Labour’s new direction as firmly wed to the union movement and the rights of workers and a stark contrast to the neo-liberal anti-worker positioning of NAct. To then allow, in the following week, a full scale assault on the whole of the union movement to go largely unchallenged was a big mistake. It made Labour look weak and insincere.

      It would have taken guts to go up against the scared cow that was PJ but that is what true leadership is all about. As the dust settles around this whole fiasco there is much disquiet about the sell-out this government has enacted and the motivations of Peter Jackson and associates (read today’s Herald edititorial and letters section). Had Labour made loud noises very early on they would have provided a platform for this disquiet and have been seen as defenders of working people and our national sovereignity.

      • Bored 11.1.1
        29 October 2010 at 3:05 pm

        I take your points as well considered BUT if I was sitting on a Board of Directors (as I do) and had this type of scenario explained to me by incompetent management at every other meeting I would probably fire the CEO. Its a case of once is a mistake, twice unfortunate, three times unforgivable.

    • The Voice of Reason 11.2
      29 October 2010 at 3:12 pm

      You’re kidding, right? Why on earth would Phil Goff want to climb aboard a sinking ship? If he’d said anything about the merits of the AE case, he’d be copping similar misinformed crap as has been thrown at Helen Kelly for the last two weeks and there would be every chance of a snap election next month where the main point of discussion wouldn’t be policy platforms on the economy, unemployment, health or education, it’d be be who loves hobbits more.

      Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all. I wish Chris Trotter would take the hint, too.

      • Jim Nald 11.2.1
        29 October 2010 at 3:33 pm

        King John seeks PR advice: Snap election for NZ? What campaign slogan to run? How about “A hobbit, a hobbit, my kingdom for a hobbit” ?

      • Bored 11.2.2
        29 October 2010 at 4:07 pm

        Your Reasonable Voice is right that Goff should not climb onto a sinking ship: his “crime” is that he (and whoever his staff are) never gave himself a chance to get in before the whole thing was sinking. Never there in time, never before the event, never in a safe position to be heard, never driving. Never there or heard, never never never to ever be PM.

      • Anne 11.2.3
        29 October 2010 at 4:45 pm

        Phil Goff did the sensible thing. He waited for the story to play out, and the facts to emerge before he climbed on board. I agree with you TVoR. I get the feeling that sometimes Chris Trotter wades in before thinking through the consequences properly. So easy to criticise with the benefit of hindsight.

        • Colonial Viper 11.2.3.1
          29 October 2010 at 5:01 pm

          Phil could have waded in much earlier to help the unions get airtime for the points they were desperately, but essentially failing to make, without going into the specifics of the dispute between SPADA/AE/Jackson/Warner e.g.

          The fact that people expected to perform as employees should have employee protections. The fact that successful film making countries like Australia, Canada, US, UK and Ireland have heavily unionised film workforces and as our industry develops we should fall into line with best practice. The fact that asking for a meeting to discuss issues is really a simple demand for any good employer to meet. And the fact that NZ workers deserve certainty on minimum terms and conditions of work and that minimum working conditions must be sacrosanct.

          • Anne 11.2.3.1.1
            29 October 2010 at 6:07 pm

            Okay CV take your point. Goff could have waded in a bit sooner – like 4 or 5 days. On the other hand, for all we know someone from the union movement (won’t name names because I don’t know) told him to stay out of it until after Key’s meeting with WB. After all, it wasn’t until that point that some of the murk surrounding this affair started to clear.

          • The Voice of Reason 11.2.3.1.2
            29 October 2010 at 6:11 pm

            No argument with your second para, but I maintain that Goff was best advised to stay schtumm. The ERA is still, for the time being, Labour’s law. He’d have been hit with ‘you had nine years to fix this, blah, blah blah’. It was obvious pretty early on that it was not a winner and I’d have to think his advisers would have said leave it to the CTU to sort it out. Which they did, actually, but based on the assumption that the rules of good faith behaviour applied outside of the ERA. Apparently Warners and Jackson knew better.

            If Goff had said a word, Key would have had his second term sown up.

            • Carol 11.2.3.1.2.1
              29 October 2010 at 7:46 pm

              I waver on this issue, but timing is important, and it’s hard to know what the short & long term impact would have been, with the hysteria & the anti-union line taken by the press. It could have solidified attitudes and slowed down the responses against Key’s selling of our soul’s to Warners.

              Mallard said something about this in the House today, but I’m not totally clear of what sort of (non) comments and when he was referring to. I also don’t remember his exact wording. It was during (near the begiining of?) the last stage of the discussion about the change of employment law, just after the bill had finished the committee stage and was returned to the whole parliament.

              Mallard said he had told other Labour MPs to stay silent on the issue. His explanation had something to do with it being an international issue, and when the government is still dealing with such issues, the rest of parliament should present some sort of unity and not provide opposition. i’m also not sure why he would be dishing out that sort of advice & not Goff.

              Maybe someone has a record of what he actuallly said?

              • Anne …
                29 October 2010 at 8:15 pm

                @ Carol
                I’ve followed the arguments for and against whether Goff should have spoken sooner but, on balance, I think TVoR has got it in a nutshell. If Goff had spoken before the WB meeting, he would have been on a hiding to nothing. The media would have misrepresented what he said, and given the emotive hysteria surrounding this debate he would have been a goner. Much better to stay quiet until the MSM (and others) started to figure the truth out for themselves. It’s happening albeit slowly. A good example is today’s NZ Herald editorial.

                • Anne …
                  29 October 2010 at 8:26 pm

                  I forgot to add… it’s something we’re never going to know for sure. 😉

                  • Carol …
                    29 October 2010 at 8:35 pm

                    yes, I guess. Though I just thought Mallard’s comment added an extra dimension to the discussion. The other thing is that it’s not just a question of when a party leader (or any MP) should take a stand, but how it’s done.

                    I see that Mallard’s visual aid of the WB version of the NZ flag, made it to both TV One & TV3 news. That is something people will remember, and it has a clear point/message.

    • The Voice of Reason 11.3
      29 October 2010 at 4:02 pm

      Spookily, the weekly roundup email just popped into my inbox from Phil Goff and it includes this:

      THE HOBBIT DISPUTE COSTS NZ DEARLY
      The resolution of The Hobbit dispute is good news.

      The original threat of a boycott, resolved and gone before Warner Bros arrived, was nevertheless the pretext for demanding more money, but the Government hadn’t anticipated it. National hadn’t maintained the relationship and was faced with crisis management and no preparation. John Key simply gave in to the demands.

      His panicked response has cost New Zealand taxpayers more than it should with the Government handing over an extra $33m in subsidies on top of the $60m already promised to the movie giant.

      It’s crystal clear now that money was the main motivation behind Warner Bros’ threat to move The Hobbit film to another country.

      But the Government also caved in to demands from the film company that changes be made to our employment laws. These changes were essentially rammed through at the behest of a foreign-owned, multi-billion dollar movie giant without any chance for kiwis to comment on whether it was necessary. That is a move that sets a very dangerous precedent.

      We have been used as pawns in a game that’s all about profit for Warner Bros not what is best for New Zealand.

      • Bored 11.3.1
        29 October 2010 at 4:29 pm

        Never ever in time, never ever before the event and able to make an impression in a timely manner, always after the event when the horse has bolted, always a spook, invisible and unheard…..

  12. joe90 12
    29 October 2010 at 5:49 pm

    Private prisons writing their own laws.

    That’s because prison companies like this one had a plan — a new business model to lock up illegal immigrants. And the plan became Arizona’s immigration law

    • Quoth the Raven 12.1
      29 October 2010 at 6:07 pm

      In relation: Public sector unions making the system work for them:

      Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, the CCPOA lobbied the state government to increase California’s prison facilities—since more prisons would obviously mean more jobs for corrections officers. And between 1980 and 2000, the Golden State constructed 22 new prisons for adults (before 1980, California had only 12 such facilities). The CCPOA also pushed for the 1994 “three strikes” sentencing law, which imposed stiff penalties on repeat offenders. The prison population exploded—and, as intended, the new prisoners required more guards. The CCPOA has been no less successful in increasing members’ compensation: In 2006, the average union member made $70,000 a year, and more than $100,000 with overtime. Corrections officers can also retire with 90% of their salaries as early as age 50. Today, an amazing 11% of the state budget—more than what is spent on higher education—goes to the penal system. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger now proposes privatizing portions of the prison system to escape the unions’ grip—though his proposal has so far met with predictable (union supported) political opposition.

  13. Pascal's bookie 13
    29 October 2010 at 8:11 pm

    Yeah baby.

    http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=11974168

    How Rove is working that Supreme court decision that corporations are people too:

    In the bitter U.S. Senate race in Kentucky, a local millionaire has helped launch a barrage of ads attacking the Democratic candidate  a candidate who, as the state’s attorney general, is prosecuting the businessman’s nursing home for allegedly covering up sexual abuse, records show.

    The businessman’s name is Terry Forcht. And like many super-wealthy conservative donors who are quietly stoking the GOP’s mid-term election surge around the nation, the extent of his investment in the 2010 campaign is both vast and, for now at least, largely unknown.

    In addition to donating personally to Republican Rand Paul’s upstart campaign, Forcht is the banker handling funds for American Crossroads. The conservative group was founded by Republican strategist Karl Rove and has, through its non-profit arm, American Crossroads GPS, channeled millions into this year’s campaigns without identifying its donors.

    American Crossroads GPS and other outside groups that shield the identity of their donors have emerged as a fixture of the 2010 campaign season, thanks to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that loosened restrictions on political giving. The case of Forcht’s opaque role in the Kentucky contest offers a glimpse at why some election reform groups believe anonymous donations are so problematic.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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