President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Written By: - Date published: 6:54 am, November 8th, 2020 - 92 comments
Categories: Donald Trump, International, us politics - Tags:

At last. All of the main US media organisations have now called the election for for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris – including Fox News. Pennsylvania with its 20 electorate votes went past the 0.5% to Biden and the lead shows no signs of reducing.

It appears that Arizona and Nevada are also being called the same way. With the Georgia also looking to fall to Biden as well, the electoral college vote looks to be over 300 – well above the 270 required.

Donald Trump, predictably, is starting to emulate the Hitler bunker where an ageing despot retreats into fantasy and starts calling for dead armies to rescue his dreams.

While I’m sure that are going to be continued attempts to try to prise changes in the courts, so far the legal mud being spread by the Republican lawyers is being rejected. It is likely to continue to be so. That is because in the US, mail-in and early votes are legal in the states that allow them. In the wake of Covid-19, that is now most states. The states are in charge of how they organise their elections, and the Federal government doesn’t really have much of a say in the hands-on organisation of the presidential election.

There is a run off of the two Senate seats in Georgia on January 5th that will determine the partisan control of the Senate.

I’m sure that some will view this as tasteless. However it pretty well covers my views on how I think that Donald Trump will handle his eviction.

Incidentally, it is good the USA has finally caught up with the rest of the civilised world and elected a female politician to the second highest office in their society. They will find that they should have done elected women to their higher offices a lot earlier.

She looks like a damn good backup as well.

92 comments on “President Biden and Vice President Harris. ”

  1. lprent 1

    Hat tip to Ad who linked to this in Open Mike – SNL?

    • Treetop 1.1

      It certainly looks and sounds like Trump. Imagine what he is like in the White House around adults if he behaves like in the video around children.

    • Andre 1.2

      I'm actually seriously worried about the next eleven weeks. We know he has no boundaries and zero impulse control and no particular known future project to direct his energy towards, and a vengeful streak that matches his ego.

      On the other hand, maybe he'll just take the opportunity to catch up on all the golfing he hasn't had time for because he's been working so hard. /

      • WeTheBleeple 1.2.1

        I doubt they're going to let that clown have access to the red button now.

        Or is it all the small things he can do, which he's been doing for the past four years? I do expect him to try burn his bridges. But so does everyone else.

      • weka 1.2.2

        I'm really torn about which way it might go. Such an unstable situation.

        On the positive side, the people in power who were ok with fascism but aren't Trump acolytes and have a stronger sense of self preservation will be quite ok with going back to neoliberalism, and those people will now be making choices based on what is likely to happen past January. In that sense the coup fizzled.

        MSM seem to have some to their senses too.

        I do think there is cause to be concerned though, because there seem to be still quite a few acolytes around.

        • WeTheBleeple 1.2.2.1

          Yes. But we may look to the decimation of the national party over a short space to see what happens when a populace hoodwinked finally takes their blinkers off.

      • RedBaronCV 1.2.3

        If a few Biden supporters surround the White House and yell "Loser" loud enough for him to hear he would likely decamp to Florida for the winter. Actually I suspect a large number of his court will simply jump ship leaving him alone. Who would want to go down with that ship.
        And has the fence come down?

        I could see Mitch McConnell moving smartly to create a new republican power base around himself.

        BTW Andre good to see you still here. I wondered if it would take time to emerge from the pile of coffee cups, comfort snack packages and cuddle blankets into the light of the new dawn. I for one feel a lot less anxious now Biden has won.

      • Patricia Bremner 1.2.4

        According to the news tonight he did play golf.

    • joe90 1.3

      The full Donny Goes to School skit.



    • weka 1.4

      Original is from Comedy Central. From 2017. Gold.

    • Phillip ure 2.1

      The boomer-haters in this forum won't like that data…

    • RedLogix 2.2

      Good comment swf. It confirms an idea I put forward a while back, that we are in the middle of one of those multi-decade cycles where the US political base re-shuffles itself into new, pre-conception breaking configurations.

      One of the easy misconceptions to fall into is thinking that Democrats = NZLP and Republican = NZ Nationals. To some extent this is true, but there is a lot more to it in the USA. In some ways it's better to think of the two big parties as 'brand vehicles' for which the actual product on offer changes radically over time.

      Expect more turmoil as the re-positioning continues for at least another five years.

    • Sanctuary 2.3

      The exit polls were only of those who voted on the day, so they'll skew heavily towards Trump supporters. So, say, an African-American who supports Trump is far more likely to be represented in an exit poll than Biden supporters, who used mail in ballots. From what I have read the conclusions on minority support drawn from exit polling has been a little… premature.

  2. Dennis Frank 3

    Fox only took 10 mins longer than the other networks to accept the new reality. Trump's narcissism keeps his inner reality to the fore so we await pressure from his friends & family to prevail over that.

    Apparently (according to Fox) there's upward of 22,000 military votes still in the pipeline in Georgia so their knife-edge situation may revert to a Trump win eventually. Since the other knife-edge situations produced wins for Biden in Pennsylvania & Nevada, the people have produced a Democrat president regardless of how much Trump closes the gap after this.

    Yesterday the Philadelphia mayor told Trump to put on his big-boy pants. Didn't call him Tubby though. Bit of a stretch. Elastic could break. If Trump does a press conference wearing them, it would signal he got the message.

  3. Ad 4

    Kamala Harris may as well prepare for full time in the Senate chair to preside there as long as there's anything close to tied votes.

    https://www.senate.gov/general/Features/Part_1_VP.htm

    They are going to need a really tight bind between the White House and Senate.

  4. Andre 5

    Has Pootee sent his congratulations to Biden yet?

    • Patricia Bremner 5.1

      Hi Andre, happy for this result, but anxious about the next bit. Trump does not possess grace, only self interest. All the best to you and your family over there.

  5. Ad 6

    Bathe in the Lincoln Project rhetoric and enjoy the visual bubble-bath of victory:

  6. Tiger Mountain 7

    Allow us too, the long suffering people outside of America, who have felt the pain and chaos from afar, some sweet time for reflection and celebration that the orange tumour–assembled in some grotesque mockery of the human form, has been “Fired!”.

    The reality of what Joe and Kamala have to deal with, and how they will deal with it, can wait for a day.

  7. Bearded Git 8

    Biden has said that one of the first things he will do is rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. That has to be the best news the planet has had for some time.

    But Biden won this by the skin of his teeth-70 million voters supported Trump and his extreme right, anti-environment, illiberal and nationalistic views. The next election will be interesting.

    • Robert Guyton 8.1

      "The next election will be interesting."

      There's to be another one!

      God help us all!

    • Dennis Frank 8.2

      Jack Tame on One just now said Trump won more non-white votes than any other president in US history. If true, that's something that all those framing Trump as the last bastion of white rule are going to have to wrap their heads around!!

      • weka 8.2.2

        "If true, that's something that all those framing Trump as the last bastion of white rule are going to have to wrap their heads around!!"

        Actually, it's something for the people who don't see/understand white supremacy to get their head around. We went through this at the last election.

        This from Adrienne Maree Brown this morning,

        there’s a lot of women, black people and poor people who got caught up in trumpism because white supremacy is so seductive, supremacy is so seductive. i saw some meme that said ‘women for trump, black people for trump, chickens for mcnuggets.’ yes, you have been seduced into moving against your own interests and now the awakening is going to be violent and resistant.

        http://adriennemareebrown.net/2020/11/07/we-won-stay-safe/

        And you know, PoC aren't a hive mind, there are conservative Black people. It's also pretty clear that the current white supremacy movements will work with PoC when it suits them. Just like the patriarchy allows some women to have some power and so some women take that opportunity.

        Trump isn't the last bastion of white rule (unfortunately). He's the current vanguard.

        • RedLogix 8.2.2.1

          Actually, it's something for the people who don't see/understand white supremacy to get their head around.

          Running divisive racist lines on a left wing blog eh … colour me surprised.

          there’s a lot of women, black people and poor people who got caught up in trumpism because white supremacy is so seductive, supremacy is so seductive.

          The highly selective, parochial 'kindness' of the radical left is something only the true believers cannot see. And their circular, kafka trap, gaslighting explanations for why some of the so-called 'victim class' don't play by their cult rules are morally bankrupt bullshit. And you guys whine that Trump was the 'great divider', when your entire intellectual framework is rooted in just that.

          Patronising to boot.

          • Drowsy M. Kram 8.2.2.1.1

            divisive
            racist

            highly selective
            parochial
            radical
            circular
            kafla
            [sic] trap
            gaslighting
            so-called 'victim class'
            cult rules
            morally bankrupt bullshit
            whine

            Patronising

            I see where you're coming from, and admire your ‘passion‘. Is it 'over'? OVER

        • Draco T Bastard 8.2.2.2

          And you know, PoC aren't a hive mind,

          Which is a truth that should put to end the identity politics that keeps popping up in such things as:

          • Women in government
          • Māori in government
          • Gays in government

          Because representation.

          But no single person can represent such groups because they're not actually a hive mind.

          • weka 8.2.2.2.1

            not sure what you mean there Draco. We use tools to increase representation because it's the collective numbers that make the difference. It's well within identity politics framing to understand that individuals of a class aren't representative eg Thatcher. That's why we need the numbers, to change the culture.

            • Draco T Bastard 8.2.2.2.1.1

              We have great celebrations of having more women and Māori in parliament to represent those people and yet, by your own words, its meaningless. Even your comment there contains the contradiction:

              It's well within identity politics framing to understand that individuals of a class aren't representative eg Thatcher. That's why we need the numbers, to change the culture.

          • Incognito 8.2.2.2.2

            But no single person can represent such groups because they're not actually a hive mind.

            The only logical solution is that all people represent themselves in a participatory democracy. However, there is only one intrinsic problem with this, which is why it would inevitably change to becoming less participatory and more like the representative-delegated system that we have at present.

            • Draco T Bastard 8.2.2.2.2.1

              Good use of modern tools such as Loomio could make our democracy far more participatory than what it is.

              • Incognito

                Yes, it could, but I believe that not enough people are interested at present. This is where bold & brave visionary leadership comes in, or not …

                I reckon we won’t even see any meaningful and recommended changes to the MMP system during this term.

    • Tricledrown 8.3

      5 million votes up to 306 electoral college votes is not skin of your teeth.Biden will probably not run again given his Age.

      Biden a man for the Ages a safe pair of hands getting rid of the Orange blimp is all that matters.

      All trump's cronies and all his tyrannical despot dictator mates can't put Trumpty together again.

      • Bearded Git 8.3.1

        Rubbish Tricle.

        The vote is 75 million against 71 million-a nation split almost down the middle.

        You are using the unfair and unpredictable electoral college system to justify your statement, but that argument doesn't work either. If Trump had got a few more votes in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada and Georgia he would have won massively.

        • Foreign waka 8.3.1.1

          Tricle -Trump won under the same rules and mechanisms four years ago.

          So befitting he is playing golf, a game of equalising qualities due to the rules of the game. Alas, Trump can't help himself to cheat here too. What does this say about the character of that men.

          Whilst we do not know whether Biden will have the desired impact the american public wants, it is still better to have someone moderate and reconciliatory than divisive. Trump has used his “partners” to fan unrest even to such extend that people feared a civil war can break out. What kind of President does that?

          The one thing all, public, politicians, press etc should be doing is giving Trump a door to exit. To provoke him by insulting him is not much better behaviour than any description of the men.

          Trump has a lot to loose once out of the immunity of the position. He even can go to jail due to his financial doings. So he will fight until the bitter end.

        • Craig H 8.3.1.2

          The same argument could be made about 2012 with a similar margin of votes and percentage of popular vote, but that was seen as a decisive victory to Obama.

      • Craig H 8.3.2

        Agree, it's a sizeable margin in the end.

  8. mango 9

    There is going to be such an epis s***fight now. It ain't gonna be pretty.

    • Tricledrown 9.1

      If that was going to happen it would have manifested itself on election night as it did when 3 Trump supporters allegedly came from Virginia in their Hummvee full of weapons but were thwarted quickly.

      Trump protestors have been loud but not violent if they choose a path of violence Republican support will go down at midterms only 2 years away .

    • Tricledrown 9.2

      The Republican Party will be happy to get rid of the Orange Blimp with a Nappy.

      He was an outsider They won't want him hanging around damaging their Parties image.

  9. Phillip ure 10

    If trump just spits the dummy and walks away..essentially resigns…does pence become president for that period before biden takes over ..and if so could he then do a ford/nixon…and give trump a blanket pardon for crimes committed..?

    • mac1 10.1

      Can a President give a pardon to someone who has not been convicted of a crime? Surely you have to have something to be pardoned for?

      Secondly, if Pence gave Trump a pardon, wouldn't there have to be, if not a conviction, at least a list of the crimes for which he would need pardoning?

      Surely it can't be as blatant as "I don't know what this great President has done, because he is such a great human being sent by God to this great nation to be our president unhappily just for a little short of four years because of fraud and fake news and hip pocket media, but for whatever scurrilous lies might be dreamt up by his godless enemies, on behalf of the people, and acting for all the people and not in any partisan manner I declare Donald Trump pardoned."

      Hmmm………..

      • Phillip ure 10.1.1

        Of course all that is relevant..I am just wondering if they would be able to do it….does the constitution/whatever allow such chicanery.?..or does it not block that possibility..?..'cos trump is as cunning as a rat with a gold toothpick ..and if he could get away with that..he will do it….and Putin is just passing a law giving him blanket-immunity for any crimes he has committed during his time as president…so the concept is not farcical..I just can't think of any way the founding fathers could have thought of that possibility..

        • mac1 10.1.1.1

          Immunity is not the same as a pardon.

          But I take your point. I'd suggest that Trump could be so difficult to prosecute that he would be just left to enjoy the privileges of his status as a former president, and some lower echelon fall guy takes one instead.

      • joe90 10.1.2

        Nixon was never convicted. Ford pardoned him for any crimes he may have committed.

        • mac1 10.1.2.1

          The citation has this second paragraph.

          "After Ford left the White House in 1977, he privately justified his pardon of Nixon by carrying in his wallet a portion of the text of Burdick v. United States, a 1915 U.S. Supreme Court decision that suggested that a pardon carries an imputation of guilt and that its acceptance carries a confession of guilt."

          The guilt was very much part of the pardon. Would Trump accept that imputation?

          • joe90 10.1.2.1.1

            If he saw it as a way to avoid spending the rest of his life tied up in the courts, absolutely.

      • alwyn 10.1.3

        "Can a President give a pardon to someone who has not been convicted of a crime".

        Well Gerald Ford certainly thought so when he pardoned Nixon, who hadn't actually been charged with anything, much less convicted of anything.

        He pardoned him for any crimes he might have committed while President. Very sensible of him I always thought. Otherwise Watergate would have gone on forever.

        • Stuart Munro 10.1.3.1

          There is the matter of deterrence.

          The political class are well educated and well lawyered – they cannot pretend ignorance of the consequences of their actions.

          Trump is responsible for an awful lot of dead Americans. He should get a bit of a shock – the one they call 'the electric chair'. "You give them a short sharp shock, and they don't do it again, dig it?" Pink Floyd.

  10. swordfish 11

    .

    I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve the … uh … protect the … you know, you know the thing!

  11. Anker 12



    and here’s a song to see Trump off. You moving out today..sung and written by the wonderful Carole Bayer Sager

  12. millsy 13

    It was a joy, waking up at 4:30 am in the morning, checking my phone, and the Guardian feed telling me that Biden had won.

    Turned on CNN this morning, and was greeted to the most awesome sight of Americans dancing in the streets.

    Thank you New Zealand, ACT, Bolivia, Queensland and now the USA.

  13. Cinny 15

    Woooooo Hooooooo what fantastic news for the USA.

    And still the entertainment continues, trump is having twitter tantrums.

    Fingers crossed the maga supporters don't lose their minds too.

  14. Just a wee thought about Tat today 😆

  15. AB 18

    Florida Amendment 2 for a $15 minimum wage passes with 61% support, but Biden loses Florida by nearly 4%, even though he has a $15 minimum wage as part of his platform. This element of the dreaded 'socialism' looks to be quite popular, even though Biden repudiates 'socialism' while quietly having this piece of it in his manifesto. What conclusion to draw from such a muddle? Probably none – except to venture that unless Biden stops the empty rhetoric about 'unity' and makes a real difference to material economic conditions on the ground for millions of people, Trumpism isn't going away. How can there be unity when your economic system is an undeclared war of all against all.

    • joe90 18.1

      Well, it is Florida and socialism is the magic word in Florida.

      COMMENTARY Congresswoman-elect Maria Elvira Salazar used the McCarthy tactics she once faced. Her success signals a darker South Florida political culture.

      Maria Elvira Salazar apparently has a short memory.

      Just two years ago the former TV journalist faced sleazy accusations during her Republican primary bid for Florida’s 27th congressional district. A rival called Salazar, who is Cuban-American, a fan of Cuba’s late communist dictator Fidel Castro simply because she’d interviewed Castro in 1995. One especially underhanded attack ad edited the interview to make it look and sound as if she’d fallen in love with el comandante. The spot asked: “Whose side are you on, Maria?”

      I wrote a commentary defending Salazar – and called her win in that primary an encouraging sign that Miami politics was shedding its sinister McCarthyism.

      But boy do I look stupid and naïve now, folks. This year’s election not only confirmed malicious McCarthyism is alive and smearing in South Florida – it showcased Salazar as one of its most enthusiastic practitioners.

      https://www.wlrn.org/commentary/2020-11-06/salazars-hypocrisy-a-reminder-how-harmful-socialista-hysteria-is-to-south-florida

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 18.2

      " while quietly having this piece of it in his manifesto "

      'Quietly' – that is probably the answer to the apparent contradiction – Biden made no effort to draw attention to his $15/h policy. I suspect because he (and especially his donors) don't actually want it.

  16. WeTheBleeple 19

    Biden will address public 8 pm est (2 pm NZ).

    Guessing this is the acceptance speech sans Trump's concession speech.

  17. Bazza64 20

    Good to see the end of Halloween Head, the most delusional US president ever, but surprising to see how many still voted for him.

    Biden will be a safe pair of hands, provided he hangs on to his marbles for the next four years. Senate still remains in Republican control, but that may change later, if not there won’t be any radical change by the Democrats. More interesting will be the old vs young democrat divide, the fossils being far more centrist & the new young democrats far more left wing. Predict bun fights in the dems in future about this.

  18. Stephen D 21

    Biden’s got his work cut out reconciling urban v rural America.
    Even in states like Tennessee which went for Trump big time, the two major urban ares, Nashville and Memphis went to Biden.

    This seemed to be replicated in a lot of States.

    • Muttonbird 21.1

      I’m confused. Joe Biden just stopped the most divisive President of modern times and Biden is the one in trouble?

      I think he’ll naturally defuse the worst of it with innate congeniality, if allowed. Trump will try to maintain division, and I suspect will try to run again.

  19. Dennis Frank 22

    US academic institutions are providing counselling to students traumatised by democracy:

    California State University-Chico will host a support group this week for students suffering from anxiety over election results. Other universities and colleges around the nation announced in October that they were offering support and counseling services to students experiencing anxiety over the election.

    https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2020/11/04/cal-state-chico-to-host-support-group-for-students-struggling-with-election-anxiety/#

    Having spent a large part of my life with a professional counsellor as partner, I know the free market fails to provide sufferers sufficient funds to pay for help. Victims of democracy don't get state support so good to see universities stepping up.

    • weka 22.1

      it's not trauma from democracy it's trauma from fascism.

      Weird ironic twist to be linking to Breitbart then.

      • Dennis Frank 22.1.1

        There's been some controversy within younger generations, apparently.

        The term "snowflake generation" was one of Collins English Dictionary's 2016 words of the year. Collins defines the term as "the young adults of the 2010s, viewed as being less resilient and more prone to taking offence than previous generations".

        The terms "generation snowflake" and "snowflake generation" are frequently used in reference to use of trigger warnings and safe spaces, or to describe young adults as anti-free speech, specifically in reference to a practice referred to as deplatforming. It has also been used to refer to a reported increase in mental health issues among young adults.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake_(slang)

        I've noticed some references to entitlement often show up in the analysis & commentary. Not that the syndrome is generation specific: Trump seems to feel he's entitled to a second term as president. But precisely why some young people believe they are entitled to deplatform others never is explained. So we are left with guessing their parents reared them with the belief that they have that right. Then when society denies it to them, trauma ensues…

        • weka 22.1.1.1

          You're conflating two things there.

          1. the past 4 years have been traumatic for many people, due to fascism.

          2. in the last decade there's been the development of culture around protecting people's emotional vulnerability. There are valuable aspects to this and problematic ones.

          those are two different things, with obvious overlaps. If the 2nd didn't exist the first still would, and it makes sense to me that universities would offer extra support to students around this particular election (not democracy in general).

    • Incognito 22.2

      Universities are not part of the free market?

  20. Treetop 23

    Biden has a German Shepard called Major. It is a rescue from an animal shelter. I expect the dog will go to the White House and eat rump steak.

  21. Great speeches from Biden and Harris. So weird not to hear a stream of invective and lies. Harris has the potential to be inspirational like our own PM. Biden's theme of unity and healing and ending partisan hatred is much needed. He talked of making life better for the people, firstly by getting COVID under control. Establishing his own task force based on gasp science!

    Biden doesn't soar like Obama but he says the right stuff. He mentions "inflection points" in history where Americans choose leaders that fight for justice. Name checks Lincoln, FDR & the new deal, JFK and Obama, and "restoring the soul of America". Signs off with a quote from a hymn. "And he will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn. Make you to shine like the sun and hold you in the palm of his hand." & "God Bless America"

    Enjoyed the crowd reactions, lots of diverse people found the occasion moving.

    https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1325149771464540160?s=20

  22. sumsuch 25

    Mostly for me is the release from subjectivism personified being overthrown.

    The subjectivism of this comfortable age for some will soon kill us all but lets not make it an ideal.

  23. Phil 26

    While there is plenty of good news for Dems, there are two things in this result that should be deeply concerning to them:

    1) Trump/Republican in-built advantage in the electoral college remains significant.

    Biden is going to win the popular vote by 4-6% (depending on how all the votes from large states like CA and NY settle) but he only won the states that put him over 270 electoral votes by less than 1%. That means even a small move back toward Republicans could give them an electoral majority in 2024 even with another loss of the popular vote.

    2) Republican House and Senate candidates overperformed Trump across the nation, which is a sign that the election was more a repudiation of Trump the Person, and not Trump the Policy Platform.

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    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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
    19 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

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

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

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

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

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    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    7 days ago
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    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
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    1 week ago

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