Open Mike 31/10/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 31st, 2016 - 104 comments
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104 comments on “Open Mike 31/10/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    31 October 2016 at 6:25 am

    John’s Key’s New Zealand.
    A better future.

    Amount of methamphetamine seized at NZ’s borders skyrockets.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11738898

  2. Paul 2
    31 October 2016 at 6:26 am

    This is the sort of news the New Zealand media should be telling.

    Paul Craig Roberts: We all might be dead soon

  3. Morrissey 3
    31 October 2016 at 6:31 am

    Leading thinker makes brave “captain’s call” re untermenschen

    When this brave, brilliant fellow gets the sack, the ACT Party might like to recruit him. He has much in common with their ex-leader Jamie Whyte…

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/oct/20/kalgoorlie-mayor-singles-out-aboriginal-people-over-antisocial-behaviour

  4. Paul 4
    31 October 2016 at 6:33 am

    Agribusiness advocate and chief EPA ‘scientist’ Jacqueline Rowarth nailed by Sharon Murdoch.

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cv4TfFHUkAA_zv2.jpg:large

  5. Andre 5
    31 October 2016 at 7:46 am

    Interesting discussion/puff piece about online voting.

    http://spectrum.ieee.org/telecom/internet/online-voting-isnt-as-flawed-as-you-thinkjust-ask-estonia

    The security details are way beyond my negligible expertise, but I note the Estonian system also relies on everyone been required to have an electronically readable ID card. Hmmm…

    • save nz 5.1
      31 October 2016 at 8:36 am

      @Andre – electronic voting is completely subject to complete tampering unlike paper votes.

      When the government can’t even get a simple payment system to pay the teacher’s, they are certainly not ready to be trusted with democracy.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1
        31 October 2016 at 10:25 am

        electronic voting is completely subject to complete tampering unlike paper votes.

        Both systems have their flaws and advantages. The idea is to weigh them up and choose the best one.

        You don’t just use scaremongering.

        If we want democracy then we must go to online voting as it’s the only one that allows us to vote on each policy.

        When the government can’t even get a simple payment system to pay the teacher’s

        The government may have signed off on it but it was actually the private sector that failed to deliver what it promised.

        they are certainly not ready to be trusted with democracy.

        I’m pretty sure that the rich are thankful for your support for them remaining in power in our elected dictatorship.

      • Red 5.1.2
        31 October 2016 at 3:30 pm

        Apply block chain principals to voting, decentralise network and use mining and hash functions to verify votes

    • Draco T Bastard 5.2
      31 October 2016 at 11:20 am

      That’s an excellent article clearly outlining the challenges and possible solutions to those challenges. There’s still risks involved, there always will be, but they’re not as high as some people believe.

      but I note the Estonian system also relies on everyone been required to have an electronically readable ID card.

      I note that everyone already has such a card – it’s their credit card. In fact, I’ve got four in my pocket ATM and one of them’s my library card.

  6. save nz 6
    31 October 2016 at 10:23 am

    Interesting results in Iceland’s election. Shows how tax cuts and economic recovery inched ahead in the election results, of public anger. I’m not sure that NZ public is so desperate for tax cuts, but I defiantly don’t like the idea of tax increases… How about Labour and Greens harnessing public anger about corruption and unfairness on those offshore tax cheats while keeping taxes the same for the resident population… Also explained in one sound byte not some complicated policy…

    “The Pirates, founded four years ago by a group of activists, anarchists and former hackers, tripled their share of the vote to 14.5%, and together with an alliance of three left-of-centre parties won a total of 27 seats – five short of a majority in the country’s 63-seat parliament.”

    “The centre-right Independence party, however, won almost 30% of the vote and a total of 29 seats with its coalition partner of the past three years, the Progressive party, which was badly hit by this year’s Panama papers scandal and lost more than half its MPs.

    In a campaign whose early stages were dominated by public anger at Iceland’s traditional elites and a strong desire for political change, the Independence party promised to lower taxes and keep Iceland’s economic recovery on track.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/30/iceland-elections-ruling-centre-right-party-pirate-party

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1
      31 October 2016 at 10:27 am

      the Independence party promised to lower taxes and keep Iceland’s economic recovery on track.

      Well, I suspect that Iceland are about to find out that those two are mutually exclusive.

      • save nz 6.1.1
        31 October 2016 at 12:56 pm

        Your are probably right Draco! My point is that the idea of stability and tax cuts does seem compelling…. hopefully NZ labour have some good research into how much debt National has put the country in and how that might raise interest rates for homeowners in the future cancelling out any tax cuts…. unlike when Labour was in, and bought down the debt so we were in a good position with GFC.

        • Red 6.1.1.1
          31 October 2016 at 4:29 pm

          They just transferred government debt to private debt, and weighted economy in future with 2 stupid policies, free student loans and working for families Hardly any thing to Crow about

    • dukeofurl 6.2
      31 October 2016 at 2:10 pm

      Where are those who were saying a few days back Pirates were going to be largest party and go into government ?

      10 seats out of 64 !

      • save nz 6.2.1
        31 October 2016 at 2:42 pm

        Yes but with a coalition The Pirate party were only 2 seats from winning so pretty close I would think to come, out of nowhere.

  7. Puckish Rogue 7
    31 October 2016 at 10:53 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11738693

    Theres a big name announcement and a challenge for the seat

    • adam 8.1
      31 October 2016 at 12:00 pm

      That’s because Chester Brown is a idiot. OK lets leave aside his anti-democratic principles for a moment.

      The problem with Chester is that when ever this type of thing happens, it makes him and his look like weak and dishonorable, so they have to reach for any old chest nut spin merchants trick to get back on top of the debate.

      Auto Que – dumb reactionary economic arguments. These guys are so predictable.

    • Draco T Bastard 8.2
      31 October 2016 at 3:55 pm

      He’s urging rural residents to do their bit to prevent rural crime and particularly to report suspicious activity and unfamiliar vehicles to police. “It’s like the old saying: if you think something is dodgy, then it probably is,” he said.

      Unlawful intrusions on to private property by organisations seeking out examples of bad farming practices to expose internationally were putting the New Zealand economy at risk, he said.

      On one hand he’s saying that criminals shouldn’t be reported and on the other he’s saying that they should be.

      Doubt if he sees the contradiction in his stance though.

  9. David C 9
    31 October 2016 at 12:37 pm

    So Bathurst and Talleys buy 3 coal mines.

    I am sure that is going to be popular around here :-/

    • save nz 9.1
      31 October 2016 at 12:50 pm

      Coal – NZ’s dirty future under National.

      • David C 9.1.1
        31 October 2016 at 1:08 pm

        Yip National supporting business and employment. Whatever next.

        Sad to hear Talleys are just passive investors in this tho.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.1.1
          31 October 2016 at 1:32 pm

          In fact, climate costs are increasing rapidly – the economic damage is already significant. Not to mention the poverty National’s economic incompetence always brings with it.

          As their slavish follower, I expect you’d prefer Talley’s to be more involved because of their human rights abuse.

          • save nz 9.1.1.1.1
            31 October 2016 at 2:45 pm

            Next time a Talley’s worker loses an arm – they can mail it to you David C! All part of our lovely Neoliberal Dreamworld where workers or clients dying should not really ruin a good year for executives.

      • Rosemary McDonald 9.1.2
        31 October 2016 at 1:14 pm

        Is is just me, or does anyone else see the irony of Talley’s getting into coal mining at this particular point in time?

        Perhaps this venture has been in the pipeline for a while…but was the announcement delayed until a Certain Person was safely out of the way?

        Sure as eggs, she’d not be happy about this….

        Perhaps TS could run a “What would Helen say about this?” post?

        • te reo putake 9.1.2.1
          31 October 2016 at 1:37 pm

          One thing Helen would say is that Talley’s started as minority shareholders in AFFCO too. Sadly for the workers there, they moved from silent backers to majority bullies in just a few years.

          • dukeofurl 9.1.2.1.1
            31 October 2016 at 2:15 pm

            Yes but food processing is their core business, coal isnt near it.

            seems like a favour for national party who dont want Solid Energy to smack them in the face again.

            • Chris 9.1.2.1.1.1
              31 October 2016 at 5:51 pm

              “Yes but food processing is their core business, coal isnt near it.”

              Sure, but fucking more and more workers over to satisfy their ever-increasing greed is their core business, which means they’re always on the lookout for new ways to do that.

          • Red 9.1.2.1.2
            31 October 2016 at 2:39 pm

            Why did not the union and workers not buy in on Affco if they could run it so much smarter, the unions are so much better at running businesses, osh programs ect especially after the event, why are they not pushing worker cooperatives and buyouts, and utilising the immense talent of those who run unions to foster as such, they always seem to have the answers, it would beat thier current strategy of constant bleating

            • Siobhan 9.1.2.1.2.1
              31 October 2016 at 4:37 pm

              If all workers were united they probably could.
              Unfortunately Union membership is low. One factor in this being management ‘encouraging’ workers to sidestep the unions. Then there is the issue of workers having to move around a lot due to poor wages, uncertain working hours, less than satisfactory housing. It makes is hard to convince workers to operate as a group and buy out their bosses.
              Worker Co-ops overseas have been successful in factories where the workers are all long term employees and have a history of being united through Unions..

              • Red …
                31 October 2016 at 5:27 pm

                And then prevent new membership when the cost of a new member is more expensive re value lost by existing members than hired labor, where all capitalist at the end. These model also tend to fail ie Israel, Italy and Spain when cost of external monitoring and decision making makes them uncompetive to other forms of organisation, fonterra a classic case been a supplier coop vs a workers coop

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  31 October 2016 at 9:45 pm

                  Utterly incoherent 😆

                  I’d stick with the ad hominem flailing if I were you.

            • Psycho Milt 9.1.2.1.2.2
              31 October 2016 at 4:40 pm

              Why don’t people hardly making enough to live on buy out the businesses they work for? I dunno, it’s a complete fucking mystery of the universe, that one. I guess we’ll never know.

              • Red …
                31 October 2016 at 5:28 pm

                If it stacks up a union could raise external finance to takeover business and replace ownership of firm from capital to workers. I would expect immediate increase in value of the firm accruing to workers as we all know a union really know how to run a business better

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  31 October 2016 at 5:29 pm

                  This must be on Planet Ignorant Right Wing Fuckwit, where unions are flush with cash.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.2.1.2.3
              31 October 2016 at 5:34 pm

              Bleating.

              What did your Quiisling sycophancy ever do to keep forestry workers alive?

    • millsy 9.2
      31 October 2016 at 2:15 pm

      The New Zealand Government is out of the coal mining business, for the first time in about a century. Which was the plan all along.

  10. rhinocrates 10
    31 October 2016 at 12:51 pm

    This fustercluck has not happened by mistake, months of dedicated effort have gone into making it as bad as possible:

    https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/plea-humanities

    Otago University is cutting the humanities budget severely. For over a year now they’ve been making a hash of it, keeping the faculty uncertain about their fate – freezing positions, offering and then demanding early retirements, then stalling. Now there’s talk that who departments may be “invited” to re-apply for their jobs.

    The university admin has acted in bad faith with added incompetence for good measure.

    You can forget any myths you may believe about “Ivory Towers” or security of tenure. Universities in New Zealand are shitty employers with bloated management, underpaying staff and rife with bullying of faculty and students that is condoned and exploited by management to keep them “in line.”

    • Rosemary McDonald 10.1
      31 October 2016 at 1:21 pm

      This would be the same Otago University which responded thus…

      https://www.odt.co.nz/news/campus/university-of-otago/protest-against-uni-animal-lab

      to anti vivisection protesters….

      “A cardboard heart representing each animal that died in University of Otago teaching and research last year was hung on the building site of its new animal research facility yesterday.
      The 11,358 hearts were placed by the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society and other animal rights activists early yesterday.

      Within two hours, the hearts had been removed by university cleaners.
      “We are really concerned by this reaction,” Miss Jackson said.

      “If animal-based research truly was the best and most advanced research method that the university had access to, why would they feel the need to hide it so quickly?”

      A university spokeswoman described the hearts as “graffiti”.”

      I bet those pesky protesters are/were Humanities students.

      (11,388! That’s one hell of a corpse count!)

    • Siobhan 10.2
      31 October 2016 at 1:38 pm

      Its a sign of the shitty times we are living in.
      The Visigoths really are at the gates of Rome.
      Even subjects percieved as ‘elitists’ by some are seemingly seen as a threat to the modern neo Liberal capitalist agenda. Basically anything that involves ‘thinking’ outside of obvious comercial requirements is under threat.

      Of course, ignoring the fact that most of the ‘best minds’ studied arts and humanities.

      https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/oct/21/its-a-crying-shame-teachers-on-scrapped-a-level-subjects

    • Red 10.3
      31 October 2016 at 2:33 pm

      Is that violins I hear, if money is going to more practical degrees, great, arts degree possibly should be relegated to hobbies and full user pays

      • McFlock 10.3.1
        31 October 2016 at 2:39 pm

        Those who think most humanities degrees aren’t practical are those in most dire need of a BA.

        • Red 10.3.1.1
          31 October 2016 at 3:15 pm

          BA Problem is limited use in modern economy, engineering science maths the way to go, critical thinking and ideas no longer in short supply, ability to execute and realise ideas are

          • McFlock 10.3.1.1.1
            31 October 2016 at 3:27 pm

            “execute” in every sense of the word.
            Which is why we need the BA.

            It’s interesting to note that when Otago last to a machete to its humanities division, it cancelled its Russian degree and department. A month or two later “G7” became “G8” to admit Russia. Today we have NZ soldier and diplomats in the same theatres as Russian soldiers and diplomats. Think language skills might be useful?

            • Red 10.3.1.1.1.1
              31 October 2016 at 3:33 pm

              Not when in the not so distant future an app will come out to translate any language on the spot

              • McFlock …
                31 October 2016 at 3:42 pm

                Nice. You want to trust NZ’s diplomatic future to the equivalent of Apple maps.

                And that does nothing about shortcomings and missed opportunities we might have today.

                • Red …
                  31 October 2016 at 3:57 pm

                  Do a post grad business degree focussed on internationsl business and emerging markets, read Tolstoy in your spare time, take your translation app, you will be fine Possibly and under graduate degrees in engineering would help, Russia more than most countries values sciences and engineering, it is a throwback to commie days re rapid industrialisation and materialism over hocus pocus fluffy stuff

                  • McFlock …
                    31 October 2016 at 4:08 pm

                    Apart from the fact that your translation app will tell you nothing about the culture or historical references, you’d be lost with local idioms, you won’t have the connection one gets actually conversing with somebody (or listening to their small talk), you’ll stand out as a foreigner snapshotting every street sign and staring at your map app, so you end up mugged, in a strange land, no app because your phone was stolen and some other bastard who could communicate directly with your prospective clients got the fucking contract.

                    Oh, you’ll be okay most of the time. You might even get work. But someone who actually knows the language and culture, as well as their product, will always do better than a dickhead with an app.

                    • Red …
                      31 October 2016 at 4:17 pm

                      You don’t need to go to uni to learn a language, I know plenty of expats who cope just fine and learn a language and culture through immersion very quickly, likewise read a book helps, you don’t need 5 years in Russian history, language and literature, in essence you become more Russian then the average Russian

                      Likewise your view of advancing technology is very constrained

                    • McFlock …
                      31 October 2016 at 4:35 pm

                      Yeah, you can learn a lot at the time, but it’s better to know it before you need it. Or, more specifically, it’s better to know something more than your colleagues/competitors when an employer needs it.

                      But that’s just “practical” knowledge. The real value of an arts degree is that it gives you a wider perspective, while trades-obsession gives one a narrower perspective.

                      That’s actually my role for a few things at work – I’m not the best coder in the world but I got the job because I use things out of spec in an unorthodox manner. Actively disrupts the problem-solving groupthink from all you folks with a “practical” education.

                    • Red []
                      31 October 2016 at 5:07 pm

                      Trying reading a book called systematic innovation by Darrell Mann or google TRIZ it may open your mind to that innovation is not as creative or arty as you think. I think you clearly underestimate sciences and other practical degrees from a critical thinking, innovation perspective

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      31 October 2016 at 5:27 pm

                      Did someone pretend that the Arts are the sole source of innovation? No.

                      Red’s herrings are starting to smell. Again.

                    • McFlock …
                      31 October 2016 at 5:33 pm

                      And I think you undervalue the contribution a halfway decent history degree can make.

                      It actually didn’t suprise me that TRIZ was initially developed by Soviets – that should give you a clue about the limits of scientific methodology. Sciences without the humanities are doomed to failure, often in pretty catastrophic ways. Although a lack of sciences gives us an average lifespan of 40.

                      edit: seeing as we’re suggesting material now, try “All watched over by machines of loving grace”, a documentary that covered various attempts to engineer societies in the 20th century.

                  • In Vino …
                    31 October 2016 at 4:52 pm

                    I think you are wrong, Red, about how well expats learn languages through simple immersion. Without any formal training in the structure of the language, they tend to be limited to a pigeon-slangy version of the language. They get by in conversation as you say, but eloquence and refinement is rarely attained.

              • Psycho Milt …
                31 October 2016 at 4:38 pm

                Not when in the not so distant future an app will come out to translate any language on the spot

                Hilarious. In reality, computers will soon be able to provide better engineering, science and maths capability than humans, but will still make shit philosophers.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 10.3.1.1.2
            31 October 2016 at 4:50 pm

            Too funny. Mathematics is a BA subject. Fine art is consumed almost exclusively by the wealthy. Hence the prices. You really haven’t got a clue, eh.

            Oh, and why do you hate the film industry?

      • save nz 10.3.2
        31 October 2016 at 2:47 pm

        Who do you think is going to write for the film industry then Red? Who is going to do all that PR that Natz love so much. How will the developers fill their walls with art or journos do media.. How will the Natz be able to steal some music for their promo videos?

        • Muttonbird 10.3.2.1
          31 October 2016 at 2:57 pm

          All Red’s taste is in his mouth. I wonder what the world would look like now if people pursued ‘practical’ endeavours only.

          • Red 10.3.2.1.1
            31 October 2016 at 3:18 pm

            Only during work time, the rest of the time we can sit back and contemplate or what ever rocks your boat ie your hobby, if you monetise your hobby great but don’t ask others to pay for it

        • Red 10.3.2.2
          31 October 2016 at 3:16 pm

          Some one will invent an app shortly 😁

      • Muttonbird 10.3.3
        31 October 2016 at 2:56 pm

        Can’t be violins. There would be none if you had your way.

        • Red 10.3.3.1
          31 October 2016 at 3:20 pm

          You have a point thier but do you need a BA to play a a violin, I am sure plenty of engineers can play instruments, music and harmonics of course is described in mathematical terms 😁

      • Draco T Bastard 10.3.4
        31 October 2016 at 4:03 pm

        Humanities degrees are a great starting place for engineering degrees.

  11. Red 11
    31 October 2016 at 4:11 pm

    Good news, the market is working ( the economist)

    THE battle between clean energy and dirty coal has entered a new phase. The International Energy Agency (IEA), an industry forecaster, this week reported that in 2015 for the first time renewable energy passed coal as the world’s biggest source of power-generating capacity.
    The IEA, whose projections for wind and solar energy have in the past been criticised as too low, accepted that renewables are transforming electricity markets. Last year 500,000 solar panels were installed every day around the world. In China alone, home to a whopping 40% of the 153 gigawatts (GW) of global growth in renewable-energy installations, two wind turbines were erected every hour. Based on existing policies, it forecasts that from 2015-21, 825GW of new renewable capacity will be added globally, 13% more than it projected just last year.

    • Red 12.1
      31 October 2016 at 4:40 pm

      One is fact the other is opinion based on incomplete model trying to replicate and extremely complex system, let’s celebrate some good news for once over Doom and gloom

      • One Anonymous Bloke 12.1.1
        31 October 2016 at 4:56 pm

        Physics is not an opinion, dipshit.

        • Red 12.1.1.1
          31 October 2016 at 5:14 pm

          It is when you are making prediction of complex systems little man

          • One Anonymous Bloke 12.1.1.1.1
            31 October 2016 at 5:22 pm

            If you had anything substantive to say, a denier fuckwit such as yourself would have already said it.

            The forecasts made by global circulation models are not opinions either: that’s why they come with confidence intervals.

            It’s quite clear that tying your shoelaces is your idea of a complex system.

            • Red 12.1.1.1.1.1
              31 October 2016 at 5:38 pm

              Settle petal you with give yourself an ulcer💕

            • Red 12.1.1.1.1.2
              31 October 2016 at 5:56 pm

              Need to get reference little man but tied to chaos theory, Lorenz and determinism

              The prospect of the current hiatus lasting until the mid 2030’s (as per the stadium wave and related theories of natural variability) is a decisive test for IPCC’s AGW detection arguments. Detection of AGW is a prerequisite for the IPCC’s attribution arguments. The IPCC’s statements of 95% confidence that most of the warming is anthropogenic, and expectations of substantial warming between now and 2036, has the IPCC skating on very thin ice,

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                31 October 2016 at 7:32 pm

                Plagiarism is dishonesty: you can’t even acknowledge your source, which is Judith Curry’s blog.

                Even funnier, the full quote ends “in my opinion”, which makes you a hypocrite as well as a plagiarist.

                Oh, and the IPCC doesn’t author any GCMs, so statements of opinion about the IPCC are utterly irrelevant to the point, which is that mathematical models are not opinions.

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                31 October 2016 at 7:44 pm

                PS: that doesn’t mean that models are right: to the contrary: all models, no matter how useful, are wrong. You cannot grasp this simple concept – you are incapable of understanding it.

                Well, either that, or all your bullshit about models is cynical dishonesty. Charity demands I assume you’re a fuckwit rather than a liar.

                • Red …
                  31 October 2016 at 8:49 pm

                  Aaaaw your so cute when you talk tough, all puffed up, vien popping, hyperventilating little man

                  • Muttonbird …
                    31 October 2016 at 8:55 pm

                    Have you not read the policy? If you are going to attack a commenter directly you might have to be a bit more subtle.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    31 October 2016 at 9:39 pm

                    Aww you’re so feeble when you respond to substantive arguments with ad hominem attacks.

                    *you’re
                    *vein

                    Semi-literate too: thanks for making my point: you really don’t understand how models work nor what they’re for. No anger here, just ridicule 😆

              • Andre …
                1 November 2016 at 4:20 pm

                Just curious, Red, did you check when those words were written and what’s happened to global temperatures since then?

  13. weka 13
    31 October 2016 at 11:19 pm

    [In order to keep OM and DR free for other conversations, all comments, link postings etc about the US election now need to go in the dedicated US election discussion here.

    If you are unsure, post in that thread rather than here. It’s not possible for moderators to shift comments from OM to there, so any comments here may get deleted – weka]

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    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    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 Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    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
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    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
    20 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
    22 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
    24 hours 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

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