Open mike 30/08/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 30th, 2024 - 41 comments
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41 comments on “Open mike 30/08/2024 ”

    • Obtrectator 1.1
      30 August 2024 at 10:01 am

      Another straw in the wind: had an email yesterday from our local medical practice saying that its branch clinic in a seaside settlement is soon to be closed. Cites lack of GPs and inadequate government support. (No online link as yet.)

      Reply
      • bwaghorn 1.1.1
        30 August 2024 at 11:34 am

        The last 2 prescriptions I've had for my child have been 3 to 4 day battles getting it completed properly and sent through to the pharmacy, it'd be funny if it wasn't so fucking sad.

        Reply
    • Mike the Lefty 1.2
      31 August 2024 at 6:27 pm

      Like every other disaster they have overseen so far, they blame Labour.

      Like a child saying "He made me do it…..

      That excuse is starting to wear a bit thin with a lot of people.

      Reply
  2. Dennis Frank 2
    30 August 2024 at 6:42 am

    This expert from Oz seems to make an excellent case for roof-top solar as national energy strategy: https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/08/28/an-engineers-plan-to-rewire-nz-and-save-money-doing-it/

    “You can actually now demonstrably show that for large sections of every economy in the world, it is now cost effective to solve climate change – and that’s a pretty radical new idea,” says Saul Griffith.

    That’s the message the Australian inventor and physicist has brought to New Zealand in a landmark new report on how electrifying what we drive, what we cook on and how we heat our homes and water could save us nearly $100 billion over the next 15 years.

    Griffith co-launched nonprofit Rewiring America in 2019, in an effort to reframe climate policy away from costs and towards opportunities. After the 2020 US election, his perspective was picked up and implemented into the country’s strongest ever climate law, which will mobilise trillions in private investment into decarbonisation.

    So the yanks went Deep Green and nobody noticed? The Mothers sang about this syndrome back in 1966 (it can't happen here): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freak_Out!

    Rewiring America spawned Rewiring Australia, which Griffith also co-founded, which in turn led to the 2023 creation of Rewiring Aotearoa, where Griffith serves as chief scientist.

    It’s in this role that Griffith co-authored the new report, alongside Rewiring Aotearoa’s Josh Ellison and Michelle Pawson and Reserve Bank chief economist Paul Conway (acting in a personal capacity). The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s chief economist Geoff Simmons peer reviewed the report, also in his personal capacity.

    The $100 billion figure is one of two headline figures – the other is that this savings translates to the average electrified household spending between $1500 and $4700 less on energy each year.

    So the govt has a real opportunity to make progress. The notion that rightists are capable of being progressive will be dismissed by everyone, including them, because knee-jerk reversion to tradition is what kiwi males do by default. Nonetheless, the Nats can secure political advantage by out-flanking Labour on the left. Will the prospect tempt them?

    Reply
    • tsmithfield 2.1
      30 August 2024 at 7:21 am

      I have argued for subsidised solar here before.

      I think subsidising just solar panels can be problematic due to the unpredictable power being fed back into the grid which can cause problems for generators. But, subsidising solar plus storage makes a lot of sense.

      This is a far quicker solution than say building a new dam or any other major project, and doesn't require additional land or complicated resource consents. I don't know why governments haven't looked at this option seriously in the past.

      Reply
      • AB 2.1.1
        30 August 2024 at 10:04 am

        The obstacle is probably in working out how the existing gentailers and their shareholders (including the government) can profit from community-based, distributed roof-top solar. The profits in distributed solar potentially move from one business sector (gentailers with big investments in large-scale generation capacity) to another sector (manufacturers and installers of roof-top systems and householders ). Can the gentailers quickly pivot to also monopolize profits and extract value in this new sector just as they do in their existing one? It's a brewing battle between rival sectors of capital, and indicates how much inertia and inefficiency is introduced by marketising essential services.

        Reply
    • Mikey 2.2
      30 August 2024 at 11:29 am

      Is that one of them straw men in your final paragraph?

      Reply
    • Bearded Git 2.3
      30 August 2024 at 12:28 pm

      That (outflank Labour with solar) is exactly what National should do Dennis. Luckily Simeon Brown is an idiot so it won't happen.

      As I said in a post the other day Labour should pick up the grid and rooftop solar issue (Rewiring Aotearoa) in its manifesto at the next election…..this would outflank National. It would be nice to think that Labour would acknowledge that the Greens have been supporting such a policy for many years.

      Reply
      • gsays 2.3.1
        30 August 2024 at 1:41 pm

        I fully tautoko that idea.

        They wouldn't be able to stop there though. Because of the privatisation of segments of the power industry, they are obliged to make a return to shareholders.

        Nationalise the electricity sector is the only prudent way forward if one is serious about serving the citizenry.

        Reply
    • Bearded Git 2.4
      30 August 2024 at 12:35 pm

      Saul Griffith was interviewed by Kathryn Ryan on Radio NZ Nine to Noon at 9.05. he was brilliant….well worth a listen. (Sorry on my phone in Cooktown so can't do link)

      Reply
  3. PsyclingLeft.Always 3
    30 August 2024 at 7:36 am

    The new Electric Shock treatment : (

    Taser use on mentally ill people doubles: 'It just beggars belief'

    New research shows more than half of people tasered by police are mentally ill, in distress or suicidal.

    Footage showed officers tasering him in the upper back, causing him to fall to the ground in a seated position.

    When asked if he understood what they were saying, he replied "I do speak English … my master Satan will win the planet."

    As he got up and turned away from police to go back to the house, he was tasered again and fell to the ground on his back. He ignored further instructions to get on his stomach and was tasered a third time.

    And, what he actually needed…someone please.

    A third officer who knew the man arrived, talked to him "softly" and handcuffed the man, who neither spoke nor resisted.

    Yellow Brick Road chief executive John Moore said the threshold for getting help was "high and getting higher".

    "And that's why you see police coming out and why you see ED overuse because it's the most reliable pathway most people perceive for getting mental health support.

    "So you get people who get pretty much to breaking point and then the service kicks in and then it gets them past that breaking point so then they're released. And that cycle just continues for a lot of people."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/526562/taser-use-on-mentally-ill-people-doubles-it-just-beggars-belief

    As the Link tells..this will get worse. Please help those who cant help themselves.

    Reply
    • Kay 3.1
      30 August 2024 at 8:53 am

      Had tasers existed in the 1970s, that would be my Dad on the receiving end during at least one very public manic episode that I can remember. Thankfully not, and the police still managed to take him away to the old Oakley asylum/institution without any physical harm.

      The point being, mental health crises have been around forever, and we know that removing mental health services isn't going to suddenly make that all go away, but hey, who needs common sense and logic to prevail?

      I'm very familiar with the situation in the 90s when the last of the institutions were closed down, the main reason being the cost, not the treatment of the inmates. Then the running down of the hospital attached mental health units, and now crisis teams. And even if one gets as far as seeing the crisis team, when there are literally no beds, well, they're back on the streets getting themselves tasered.

      We have plenty of money for new prisons, but zilch for mental health beds and the staff they need. Priorities, much?

      Once again, this really is on the voting public (and those who don't vote). Given how many people are personally affected by, or are caught up in the ripples of a loved one's illness, they know damn well what's happening. Yet no-one seems interested in changing the situation- literally out of mind, out of sight. I really do despair.

      Reply
      • Anne 3.1.1
        30 August 2024 at 9:20 am

        Kay, I have much admiration for you. You are not afraid to describe your personal circumstances and experiences and you are able to articulate the consequences so succinctly.

        What a contrast to some of the bone headed cretins who fill the parliamentary chamber and pass judgements on matters of which they have no knowledge, expertise or even ability to understand.

        What a weird world we live in.

        Reply
      • PsyclingLeft.Always 3.1.2
        30 August 2024 at 9:27 am

        literally out of mind, out of sight

        Well, thats it summed. Anyway, take care. My best for you, and all.

        Reply
  4. Dennis Frank 4
    30 August 2024 at 8:52 am

    Whereas democracy combined with education has kept most people anchored in the 19th century, neo-colonialism may not be a total failure after all. It has combined with neoliberalism to make educational institutions into a political football: https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/08/28/te-pukenga-staff-pissed-off-tired-by-constant-change/

    This is tremendously exciting for leftists and rightists: you can kick them from one side to the other on a regular basis, but you can also do random goal-post shifting. This strategy makes the game more interesting and, to youngsters, more infotaining.

    the organisation, which brought together polytechnics and industry training organisations in a single entity at the start of 2023, was financially viable and expected to make a deficit of about $16 million this year, following last year's $38m loss.

    We see here the essential psychodynamic of normalcy: continual failure means financial viability. Put that principle in your pipe and smoke it. See if you get as high on it as the neolibs do! Such praxis teaches the young that politics is fun.

    Reply
  5. Drowsy M. Kram 5
    30 August 2024 at 9:31 am

    Big Tobacco is so far up our CoC govt's arse. Anyone interested can evaluate the evidence below – the first link includes summaries for NZ, Malaysia, and the UK.

    Tobacco Industry Interference with Endgame Policies
    [last edited on 19 June 2024]

    As of 2023, Malaysia, New Zealand and the UK are the only countries that have announced plans to adopt a generational endgame policy. New Zealand also proposed introducing mandated denicotinisation and substantial retailer reduction.

    Tobacco industry interference to prevent, delay or undermine the legislation has been observed in each of these countries, and is detailed below.

    Mind the gap: Associate Health Minister’s actions conflict with Ministry advice, align with tobacco industry lobbying [18 July 2024]

    Revealed: Politically charged tobacco policy document that NZ First Minister Casey Costello tried to hide [26 Aug 2024]

    Vapes ‘cheap as chips’ as fire sales ignite – again [27 Aug 2024]

    Why the PM was quizzed on the harms of nicotine [28 Aug 2024]

    As expected [29 Aug 2024]

    New Plymouth donors thankful National Party candidate won’t be prosecuted for donor fraud [30 Aug 2024]

    Reply
  6. Mike the Lefty 6
    30 August 2024 at 11:33 am

    I find it interesting that management cost is used as a reason for changing from a fuel tax at the pump to a RUC for all vehicles.

    I would have thought that RUC would be a lot costlier to run, plus needing more fir enforcement.

    Also can we trust the CoC to be fair and lower the price of petrol by the same amount they will raise with RUC? and not use the occasion to sneak a tax hike that the AA will probably pretend not to notice?

    Probably not.

    Reply
    • Bruce 6.1
      30 August 2024 at 12:27 pm

      I heard the NZ Initiative representative on RNZ this morning explaining the reasoning. Low income people have older less efficient cars and so fuel tax was unfair. He failed to mention that the rich have oversized gas guzzling tanks and would benefit from a miles charge rather than fuel tax.

      Its also been suggested that taxes can be used to change behavior to positive outcome, perhaps that doesn't apply when it may result in less profit for polluters

      Reply
    • Psych Nurse 6.2
      30 August 2024 at 12:43 pm

      A significant amount of fuel tax is for ACC, by charging RUC you deny ACC of funding for activities that have considerable risk. Off road motor bikes,lawnmowers,chainsaws,motor boats,microlights,farm quad bikes. Whoops silly me thats the realm of the landed gentry.

      Reply
  7. Champaign Socialist 7
    30 August 2024 at 1:12 pm

    It's not something that I have ever heard discussed in NZ and that is the role of the private health insurance and hospital sector. Approximately 40% of the population has some form of private health insurance supporting (I'm guessing) a very profitable private health system.

    In this scenario what market constraints does a public health system come up against? Too much high quality public health care is not good for everyone in this mixed model. What financial benefits flow to the private health sector when the public system is gradually but persistently underfunded?

    As always – follow the money. I'd love to know more about the finances of the private health sector but information is not easy to find.

    Reply
    • Kay 7.1
      30 August 2024 at 1:53 pm

      Good points, and as you say, always follow the money. I've always found it somewhat strange that the majority of specialists split their time between public and private, so it's wait forever to see one publicly, or a bit sooner privately. Same doctor.

      No doubt it's a way to top up one's salary, which we know is low by global standards. But so long as the (increasingly rare) specialists won't work full time in the public sector, waiting lists will continue to get even longer, and it's the uninsured and uninsurable who will disproportionally suffer.

      Reply
      • AB 7.1.1
        30 August 2024 at 2:53 pm

        There are many young people who would make perfectly good doctors who can't get into medical schools. To undermine the pernicious effect of private health insurance, we could train a lot more doctors, make it fees-free, bond them to work in the public system for a period of time and support their pathway into specialties. Pay public-sector specialists more and punitively tax the sorts of absurdly sky high incomes that are made as a private sector specialist. If the specialist Colleges object, they will have to be politely instructed to do as they're told. No matter how much we value them, they have no right to form wealth-extracting cartels.

        Reply
        • Mountain Tui 7.1.1.1
          30 August 2024 at 4:11 pm

          This year the government broke their promise to fund 50 new doctor positions. They made it 25. They also broke their promise to fund mental health doctors. They made it 0.

          Not to mention the outflow of trained doctors. One can tell National – ACT – NZ First have no interest in doing anything to sustain the public health system, and may be manouvering it to break it further.

          Reply
    • bwaghorn 7.2
      30 August 2024 at 7:20 pm

      i know a guy had an illness , surgeon recommended going private to get it done sooner , same surgeon did private surgery $15000 later it, it failed same surgeon had another go in the piblic system!!

      Reply
  8. Vivie 8
    30 August 2024 at 6:20 pm

    The Government is considering a further attack on vulnerable people, this time by restricting funding for residential care.

    It's positive that fines have considerably increased for non-disabled drivers parking in spaces for disabled people. This is an easy, no cost, good news story for the Government. However it does not detract from the Government's intention to cut social services funding wherever possible, to try to offset the massive debt caused by their unjustifiable tax cuts mainly for the benefit of landlords.

    If residential care funding is halted, so too will be the options for adult disabled people to lead lives more independent from their families. Their parents/caregivers' chances to have respite after, in many/most cases, years of relentless concern and stress will be diminished, and the constant worry about their family members' future safety and security will continue.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350395111/government-considering-freeze-residential-care-funding-policy-document-reveals#

    "Ripu Bhatia

    August 29, 2024

    The Government is looking at a freeze on residential care funding, and being stricter on who is eligible to reduce costs, a leaked policy document reveals.

    The document, which was leaked on Tuesday, states that in order to meet the Government’s financial objectives there is likely to be no net increase in costs for individuals and residential care services, and no net increase in the number of people in residential care.

    “To stay within the indicative and fixed budgets, Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) and Enabling Good Lives (EGL) sites will need to apply eligibility criteria strictly for new entrants,” it states.

    Residential care refers to long-term care given to people who are elderly or have disabilities who stay in a residential setting rather than their own home or a family home.

    NASC and EGL sites provide support for people with disabilities and those who require residential care.

    The hold on growth to residential care, according to the document, would extend to group homes and live alone arrangements, high and complex forensic care, rest home care, hospital level care and residential rehabilitation.

    It said other expenditure lines that may be affected include facility-based respite.

    Parents of Vision Impaired NZ spokeswoman Rebekah Graham said the document makes it clear that disabled people and their families will have their allocations cut.

    “The restrictions are so severe there is significant risk of harm to disabled people and their families, particularly for ageing parents who are finding care work increasingly difficult,” she said.

    “It is clear from this document that the Government is looking to severely curtail disabled people’s lives, reduce allocated supports.”…..

    Reply
  9. Jenny 9
    31 August 2024 at 6:50 am

    Decision on Auckland’s fortnightly rubbish collection coming soon

    Story by Torika Tokalau, Local Democracy Reporter NZ Herald

    Auckland Council has proposed to move the weekly bin collection to fortnightly, like recycling bins, as part of their Waste Management and Minimisation Plan to reduce waste and carbon emissions.

    Decision on Auckland’s fortnightly rubbish collection coming soon (msn.com)

    On the news that Auckland is to go to a fortnight not weekly household rubbish collection. Weirdly the council say this move is being made to reduce waste.

    To borrow an old saying related to computers.

    'Garbage in Garbage Out'

    Trying to plug the garbage coming out, without stopping the garbage coming in will not solve the problem.

    Not until local and central government start cracking down on the single use plastics and packaging industry, will less garbage come into the system.

    Auckland Council Plastic Flows Plastics diversion in Tāmaki Makaurau August 2023

    There are approximately 190,000 tonnes of plastic estimated to be consumed in Auckland annually. Of this, consumer packaging makes up approximately 38,000 tonnes (20%), durables account for 32,000 tonnes 17%, while commercial and pre-consumer material makes up the largest share at 88,000 tonnes (47%). Finally soft plastics account for some 11,000 tonnes (6%) and agricultural plastics 1,200 tonnes (1%) The majority (77%) of material is landfilled while only 13% is estimated to be recovered.* 70% of recycled plastics are being processed onshore, while 30% of plastics recovered for recycling are shipped to export markets. Key export markets from Auckland include Malaysia and Taiwan. Based on the available data, an estimated 10% of the material in the system is unaccounted for and is either littered (44 tonnes), stockpiled, in flux, or otherwise lost to the system…..

    https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/topic-based-plans-strategies/environmental-plans-strategies/docswastemanagementplan/waste-assessment-appendix-h1.pdf

    *I added the block emphaisis to hi-light the fact that 77% of our single use plastic waste goes to landills.
    The next sentence says that of the 13% of plastic that is recovered, 70% of that is shipped out of the country, for others to deal with. Malayasia and Taiwan are two countries mentioned where we ship our waste. Good news for Malayasia, bad news for us, Malayasia will no longer accept our rubbish.

    Plastic waste imports to be banned in 2025

    23 Feb 2023

    THE country is restricting plastic waste imports and will ban scrap shipments of the material starting in 2025, as officials seek to halt a flood of refuse from rich countries that has impacted the health of its citizens and polluted its air and water.

    Plugging up the outlet without turning off the tap will only see more illegal dumping.

    Reply

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    And they taught usWhoa-oh, black woman, thou shalt not stealI said, hey, yeah, black man, thou shalt not stealWe're gonna civilise your black barbaric livesAnd we teach you how to kneelBut your history couldn't hide the genocideThe hypocrisy to us was realFor your Jesus said you're supposed to giveThe oppressed ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • How mismanagement, not wind and solar energy, causes blackouts

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections In February 2021, several severe storms swept across the United States, culminating with one that the Weather Channel unofficially named Winter Storm Uri. In Texas, Uri knocked out power to over 4.5 million homes and 10 million people. Hundreds of Texans died as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • The ‘Infra Boys’ Highway to Budget Hell

    Chris Bishop has enthusiastically dubbed himself and Simeon Brown “the Infra Boys”, but they need to take note of the sums around their roading dreams. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Media Link: “AVFA” on the politics of desperation.

    In this podcast Selwyn Manning and I talk about what appears to be a particular type of end-game in the long transition to systemic realignment in international affairs, in which the move to a new multipolar order with different characteristics … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    3 days ago
  • The cost of flying blind

    Just over two years ago, when worries about immediate mass-death from covid had waned, and people started to talk about covid becoming "endemic", I asked various government agencies what work they'd done on the costs of that - and particularly, on the cost of Long Covid. The answer was that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Seymour vs The Clergy

    For paid subscribers“Aotearoa is not as malleable as they think,” Lynette wrote last week on Homage to Simeon Brown:In my heart/mind, that phrase ricocheted over the next days, translating out to “We are not so malleable.”It gave me comfort. I always felt that we were given an advantage in New ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Unstoppable Minister McKee

    All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this townI'll do it 'til the sun goes downAnd all through the nighttimeOh, yeahOh, yeah, I'll tell you what you wanna hearLeave my sunglasses on while I shed a tearIt's never the right timeYeah, yeahSong by SiaLast night there was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Could outdoor dining revitalise Queen Street?

    This is a guest post by Ben van Bruggen of The Urban Room,.An earlier version of this post appeared on LinkedIn. All images are by Ben. Have you noticed that there’s almost nowhere on Queen Street that invites you to stop, sit outside and enjoy a coffee, let alone ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • Hipkins challenges long-held Labour view Government must stay below 30% of GDP

    Hipkins says when considering tax settings and the size of government, the big question mark is over what happens with the balance between the size of the working-age population and the growing number of Kiwis over the age of 65. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Your invite to Webworm Chat (a bit like Reddit)

    Hi,One of the things I love the most about Webworm is, well, you. The community that’s gathered around this lil’ newsletter isn’t something I ever expected when I started writing it four years ago — now the comments section is one of my favourite places on the internet. The comments ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Seymour’s Treaty bill making Nats nervous

    A delay in reappointing a top civil servant may indicate a growing nervousness within the National Party about the potential consequences of David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Dave Samuels is waiting for reappointment as the Chief Executive of Te Puni Kokiri, but POLITIK understands that what should have been a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Buried deep

    Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    7 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    7 days ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    7 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm

    Photo by Jenny Bess on UnsplashCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 pm - 5.10 pm - Bernard and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 week ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 week ago

  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

    The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping.  “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

    Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

    The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

    The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

    With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē - My success is not mine alone but is the from the strength of the many. Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young speakers are an inspiration for all New Zealanders to learn more about the depth and beauty conveyed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Driving structured literacy in schools

    The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

    Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.   “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

    The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. “Mpox is obviously a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

    Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government unlocking potential of AI

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced a programme to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) uptake among New Zealand businesses. “The AI Activator will unlock the potential of AI for New Zealand businesses through a range of support, including access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government releases Wairoa flood review findings

    The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “We welcome the review’s findings and recommendations to strengthen Wairoa's resilience against future events,” Ms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Promoting faster payment times for government

    The Government is sending a clear message to central government agencies that they must prioritise paying invoices in a timely manner, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. Data released today promotes transparency by publishing the payment times of each central government agency. This data will be published quarterly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech

    E te māngai o te Whare Pāremata, kua riro māku te whakaputa i te waka ki waho moana. E te Pirimia tēnā koe.Mr Speaker, it is my privilege to take this adjournment kōrero forward.  Prime Minister – thank you for your leadership. Taupiri te maunga Waikato te awa Te Wherowhero ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses

    Inland Revenue can begin processing GST returns for businesses affected by a historic legislative drafting error, Revenue Minister Simon Watts says. “Inland Revenue has become aware of a legislative drafting error in the GST adjustment rules after changes were made in 2023 which were meant to simplify the process. This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Strong uptake for cervical screening self-test

    More than 80 per cent of New Zealand women being tested have opted for a world-leading self-test for cervical screening since it became available a year ago. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister Casey Costello, in her responsibility for Women’s Health, say it’s fantastic to have such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document sets ambitious direction

    Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document, which sets out how the Ministry will carry out its work and deliver on its purpose. “I have set up the Ministry for Regulation with three tasks. One, to cut existing red tape with sector reviews. Two, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Māori Education Advisory Group established

    The Education Minister has established a Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group made up of experienced practitioners to help improve outcomes for Māori learners. “This group will provide independent advice on all matters related to Māori education in both English medium and Māori medium settings. It will focus on the most impactful ways we can lift ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government welcomes findings of NZ Superannuation Fund review

    The Government has welcomed the findings of the recent statutory review into the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says. The 5-yearly review, conducted on behalf of Treasury and tabled in Parliament today, found the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • First of five new Hercules aircraft takes flight

    Defence Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the first of five new C-130J-30 Hercules to arrive in New Zealand at a ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base Auckland, Whenuapai. “This is an historic day for our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and our nation. The new Hercules fleet ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Have your say on suicide prevention

    Today, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a time to reflect on New Zealand’s confronting suicide statistics, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Every death by suicide is a tragedy – a tragedy that affects far too many of our families and communities in New Zealand. We must do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

    Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

    Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.  “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

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