Productivity

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, March 14th, 2018 - 32 comments
Categories: business, Economy, employment, Financial markets, grant robertson, kiwisaver, labour, tax - Tags:

On the weekend my cousin, who is managing a large Auckland restaurant, asked me about an opportunity to invest directly in a large new cafe business by the same partners. My advice was: keep your Kiwisaver as your primary long term goal, but be brave if you want to with a punt that you can manage with your own smarts and experience. Time to back herself.

A more productive economy – and society – has been an elusive goal for many of New Zealand’s previous governments. As we have seen from National’s last nine years of rule, they were not successful.

Ideally, productivity should mean using fewer resources to get better results and more wealth for more New Zealanders, not slaving your guts out. New Zealanders on average work very long hours and don‘t get good pay or pay increases to reward us. Even Treasury says so.

In Grant Robertson’s speech to the Waikato Business Summit of February 8th, he said that this government will be reforming the tax system to ensure greater support for a more productive economy: “For too long our tax system has lacked balance and has encouraged speculation, particularly in housing. We want this to change, and we have charged a Tax Working Group … to make proposals in this regard.”
Australia – to a lesser degree than New Zealand – has relied on bulk and high-mass commodities to sustain its economy, which hasn’t been good for productivity increases. So two recent announcements from Australian Labor’s Bill Shorten caught my eye.

The first is a commitment that, if elected, businesses which invest in Australia will be eligible for new write-off provisions. It’s a promise to introduce an Australian Investment Guarantee that promises an immediate deduction of 20% off any new asset worth more than $20,000.

At almost the same time he has announced that he is going to come down hard on tax benefits for shareholders called dividend imputations used for cash refunds.

Of course this kind of crackdown on about 200,000 self-managed super funds and wealthy retirees is going to get a major backlash from the politically influential superannuation lobby.

But the intended effect upon Australia’s economy is this: encourage many, many more Australians to invest away from the sharemarket and more directly into businesses, and for those businesses to spend a lot more on high performing productive assets.

This puts productivity squarely in the frame for their 2019 federal election, squeezed in a new direction by Labor from both ends of the investment.

I want to see Minister Robertson expand his horizon beyond cooling housing speculation and tax-and-spend happiness, take a step back and ask: what can be done to shift the whole of our working lives for greater reward, more exciting careers in highly innovative companies, and better use of our natural resources. Labor Australia is now very clear about what it will do, well before its 2019 election.

32 comments on “Productivity ”

  1. savenz 1

    You are hard pressed to make any money from a cafe business!

    Same old neoliberalism labour, lets force people to invest in our country even though Labour itself seems to think overseas corporations can do it better. National have this approach too, obviously. NZ First seems to have U turned from the so called NZ First to sign trades deals, and then give logging companies more money so they can trickle it down into jobs. Trickle down only seems to lower and lower wages and provide less and less job security. Time to learn from past mistakes!

    The government allow Kiwisaver funds to take 20% of people’s profits and not guarantee it.

    The government allow banks not to have to insure their deposits.

    So what do people do? In the past they put their money into their house so at least they could have somewhere to live and these days due to immigration it earns more than they do.

    But with 1million dollars for the average house price in some cities it’s actually as likely as first division lotto for Kiwis on local wages.

    Any tax changes aimed at NZ citizens will exacerbate inequality and allow those who don’t work in NZ or have money from overseas to buy up here. It’s already happening and Labour’s weak overseas rules will do nothing as you can still buy land and other assets. The existing houses have already been bought up and their prices doubled. It’s becoming harder to pay rates on local wages, so increasingly people will have to down size or move further out, until nothing is left.

    The UK which has extensive taxes, stamp duty, 17.5 VAT, high income tax, capital gains taxes have the same problems of people on local wages not being able to afford housing.

    Increasing taxes makes no difference because only the local people seem to get caught as there are so many loopholes for corporations who seem to have extra privileges that individuals just don’t have. Many of the biggest corporations don’t even pay any taxes and if they get any liabilities they can just pick up and relocate their office at the drop of a hat.

    In the UK you literally pay 12 pounds and set up a UK company with fewer checks than joining a gym. It’s the same in NZ. These companies are used to get around local rules such as taxes or embargoes.

    For example Amnesty were tracking arms deals work $169 million from a UK registered company to South Sudan but the use of shell companies made it hard to verify if it was violating British arms embargo against South Sudan. Interestingly in the arm’s deal the company was headed by Ian Taylor as a sole shareholder who was a New Zealander, who denied knowing anything about it!

    But as the Panama papers show, the ease of shell companies is being used in so many ways to hide money and assets.

    Why don’t governments crack down?

    … well one of the biggest users of tax havens shown by Panama papers for examples was politicians.

    The National government sent Judith Collins to the anti laundering summit!

    If the government want to get taxes, stopping the rise of corporations and having much tougher rules with zero loopholes will be a start as is cracking down on foreign corporations paying little taxes.

    But with Labour’s love of trade deals that give even greater advantages to corporations over public good and wellbeing, it seems Labour would find it hard to crack down, even if they wanted to.

    Best leave the large exploiters alone, and concentrate on easy small local targets to be seen to be doing something and then lament the growing inequality and lack of small business investment. (other than immigration routs which are rampant).

    Funny hospitals, roads and schools are full in one of the lowest population increases by birth in decades in NZ, the only thing not full, is the tax coffers! Funny that, because if you only earn $20 p/h you actually qualify for tax subsidy, so why would you import people in at that level to drive the wages down even further! It’s crazy!

    • Ad 1.1

      They are making money hand over fist right now – and the central Auckland cafe market believe it or not is a long way from saturation.

      The current government is taking significant steps to limiting foreign capital – some of which you will be aware of through the legislative process.

      The more useful question than “So what do people do” is “How can government send the right investment signals”.

      I would be interested in your ideas about how New Zealand businesses could be incentivised to be more productive.

      • Tricledrown 1.1.1

        Better education of workers and management.
        Much research has been done on why NZ has one of the poorest productivity growth’s in the OECD.
        Poorly educated management the number 1 reasons.
        Poor rates of investment in technology
        Speculator’s are not taxed as heavily as productive industries.
        More recently standardized testing has caused a massive increase in youth unemployment 96,000 under 25 year olds not in training or education.
        While IT and the construction industries are steaming out for 120,000 workers .
        Rural industries farming ,forestry ,horticulture also not attracting enough workers.
        Gridlock in Auckland is reducing productivity by a huge 25%.
        Labour/NZ1st/Greens need to spend huge amounts in these neglected by National Areas of the economy.
        They have started by getting rid of the dumbing down of education,and making tertiary / Apprenticeship’s easier to access.
        National are still ranting on about a growing economy at 0•1% per Capita growth the economy actually declining per capita a recession in reality.
        National govts are bad for the economy as John Key we just muddled through the GFC,National were too busy fighting teachers by damaging our education system and giving election bribes to do anything about productivity.
        Labour are sidelined by sexual abuse scandals to show up Nationals longterm failures.

  2. Kat 2

    What about building a few ships similar to The Spirit of New Zealand and put maritime training in the school curriculum for all able bodied kids to participate in. Beats military or boot camp training and lays a good foundation for instilling resilience, self reliance, respect for others and decision making. Coupled with the reinstatement of a 21st century Ministry of Works and Development, reinvigorated industries such as Forestry, Rail and Maritime this country could go a long way down the productive road.

    • Ad 2.1

      Are you thinking about something like the Americas Cup and its associated boatbuilding support industries? That is underway.

      • Kat 2.1.1

        No Ad I am talking about the govt taking control of the situation and instigating the building of training vessels such as the Spirit of New Zealand. If we want real productivity we must start with giving all our kids the best opportunity and instruction to work things out for themselves so they can genuinely contribute. David Mac is onto it with his comments. Maritime training as part of the school curriculum would go a long way in pulling this country out of the mire of youth delinquency, substance abuse, general crime and the need for bigger prisons.

        • Ad 2.1.1.1

          OK Kat I getcha.

          I completely agree.

          It’s such a long haul to bring young people into boatbuilding apprenticeships, and it’s been a boom-bust ride for so many businesses over so many years.

          But there is a great precedent for such a school in the Rotorua-based New Zealand School for Maori Arts and Crafts. This has its own governing legislation, and has been around a while. It is a primary centre of Maori skill and traditional knowledge, and brings a lot of young people through.

          https://www.nzmaci.com/

          One of the reasons Emirates Team New Zealand wanted the base so close tot he Maritime Museum was to ensure that there would be a permanent legacy of training and sailing right next to our history. This effort will not have gone away; the Auckland Council is keenly aware of the legacy that it will gain after this Cup is gone.

    • Exkiwiforces 2.2

      What happens if the Kid’s rather be doing Civil Defence or Military Training than being forced onto a boat? As you get this “instilling resilience, self reliance, respect for others and decision making” from CD and Military Training as well.

      • Kat 2.2.1

        The kids I envisage taking up sail training program at school would be at an earlier age but could later move on to Civil Defence or Military Training if that was their calling.

        • Exkiwiforces 2.2.1.1

          There is the Sea Scouts, and NZ Cadet Forces that can achieve the same goals as you mention instead forcing the school kids into something they don’t like as that’s my only issue with your idea.

          But at same token people have issues with NZ Scouting movement and the NZ Cadet Forces.

          Could throw in the High County/ Urban SAR, High Country Fire Teams and the NZCC in the mix.

          • Kat 2.2.1.1.1

            What on earth would kids not like about a week or so away sailing on the blue sea. Have you ever been on the Spirit of New Zealand training ship.

            • Exkiwiforces 2.2.1.1.1.1

              Would’ve love to Kat, but my teachers at Hornby High knock me back as I was (according to them) a below average student and felt it should go to someone better. They even had nerve to say I wouldn’t even get into the Armed Forces as I too dumb in school reports bloody assholes they were and don’t get me started on my Middle to Long distanced running or Javelin throwing. I should’ve gone Hadley High (that my first choice) or if my parents could’ve afford it to St Andrews High and then some doors would’ve really open for me.

              Back on tropic the only Sea time this Ex tankie/ soon be Ex rockape has done. Was with the weekend Navy with Kiwi and Moa when they still boats (ships) it was quite fun. Travelling on the HMAS JB Cat from ET after INTERFET, did a Swift Eagle out Townsville which included Ship to Shore landing from our old LPA’s when I was in Support Flt and was knock back for a EX Sealion which was a rehearsal for Ex Tailsman Sabre. Sailing and racing on the lake in Canberra with a group of pirates (Navy personal and almost got drafted into the Navy team for their annual regatta until some muppet of a Jackie found out I was a bloody RAAF’ie) while I was in a Tri service unit and now boating around the Top End of Oz in my 5m waka while fishing, crabbing and the odd bit of hunting.

              My on issue is forcing kids into something they don’t want to as they could a problem and I have someone who wants to be there. Then start opening their mind/ doors to a whole new world and to me as teacher/ trainer thats the real fun part and them watching grow and learn to better themselves.

  3. David Mac 3

    I think Kat is pointing to the camaraderie and bonding that takes place between a crew of all ages over a relatively short period of time on a large sailing ship. Work as a team or all suffer.

    An alternative to dragging wayward kids out of bunks at 6am to march round a parade ground.

    Very hard to sneak in and consume drugs/alcohol. Cellphones left on the dock. A bit of internet time each evening. No TV. No visits from bad news peers. The vessels could perform a role in protecting our coastlines. Spotting and reporting illegal fishing etc. Would give the experience a sense of purpose.

    I think it’s a great idea for instilling the social attributes some of our kids are lacking.

    Lot of pride to be had for those building the boats too. They’re usually working for squillionaires

    • David Mac 3.1

      If it’s a concept that starts returning measured favourable results, an international market for the program/vessels could open up. Big fast tough utilitarian aluminium hulled yachts. Stacks of bunks rather than staterooms.

    • Ad 3.2

      Thanks David that’s good clarification.
      I will respond to Kat in kind.

      On the Americas Cup itself there must be pressure put on both Auckland Council and the government to ensure precisely this kind of legacy for young people.

      I expect you will see precisely this kind of debate around the Council chamber when the next iteration of the design for the Americas Cup bases is put up in the Governing Body meeting in late March.: actual apprenticeships. Actual futures for young people. Dare I mention Waka.

  4. David Mac 4

    I think your advise to your cousin is spot on Ad. I tried hard to make several business partnerships work well for all parties, they failed. Most do. They seem to work best when one or more partners have zero to do with running the business and purely a financial interest. I am by far at my happiest when I’m the only one with the reins.

    Just as Thatcher described the UK as a nation of shopkeepers, we’re not much different here. Small to medium businesses are the backbone of NZ and some solid viable plans to support and grow the sector is fertile vote catching territory for the Left.

    • Ad 4.1

      Cheers David.

      Her backers are good and the developers have an excellent history.

      Once the whole development is up and running I will let people know, so they can try it out.

      So long as she takes care of her long term savings and keeps that secure, it’s time to risk and promote her skill and her confidence.

  5. Draco T Bastard 5

    A more productive economy – and society – has been an elusive goal for many of New Zealand’s previous governments.

    That would be because all of them have NFI WTF an increase in productivity is for.

    Ideally, productivity should mean using fewer resources to get better results and more wealth for more New Zealanders, not slaving your guts out.

    Which is a misunderstanding of productivity and economics. It’s also one of those nasty combinations of meanings that reduce the comment to meaninglessness.

    Using less resources to get the same or better results is an increase in efficiency.
    An increase in productivity occurs when the same job can be done with less people involved in it.

    The latter is why an increase in productivity within a job/sector must, if all else remains the same, result in decreased wages. Of course, not all else remains the same as the reduced use of labour can open up new opportunities allowing the demand for labour to stay the same with wages staying at the same level.
    An increase in efficiency also increases the resources available for those opportunities as well.

    The result is something like this:
    If a nation is already producing enough food to feed everyone well then an increase in productivity must result in a decrease in people used for farming. The people freed up can, and should, be used in other places of society which don’t have enough people to supply the demand. More doctors, more construction workers etc.

    And before you say but, but, exports we have to query if that’s actually a viable option. Is exporting our limited physical resources out of the country actually sustainable? It really doesn’t look like it to me – once we’ve dug up all our iron sands and exported them we won’t have them any more. What do we do then?

    • Tricledrown 5.1

      DTB do what team NZ has done for $20 million we beat a syndicate who spent $200 million .
      Lord Rutherford we have no money so we have to start thinking.
      Unfortunately bean brained bean counters started tomorrow’s schools then standardised testing instead of turning out work prepared youngster’s who can think outside the box we have have 100,000 unemployable box tickers.

  6. eco maori 6

    Stuff

  7. Ad 7

    I forgot to mention that the Productivity Commission is holding a few events in the last week of March about a lot of this stuff.

    https://www.productivity.govt.nz/event/work-smarter-not-harder-productivity-week-2018

    Much of what they talk about in this paper from last year still applies:

    https://www.productivity.govt.nz/sites/default/files/CTTC%20grants%20innovation%20firm%20performance.pdf

  8. AsleepWhileWalking 8

    Ideally, productivity should mean using fewer resources to get better results and more wealth for more New Zealanders, not slaving your guts out.

    I took this not to be a misunderstanding of economics, but a better use of leverage by individuals to obtain a semi passive income.

    Perhaps I read it this way because I continuously look for reoccurring income (royalties or subscription services) + ways to scale up with tech or outsourcing.

    It is frustrating to see the “you must work hard” narrative still held up as a gold standard.

  9. Stuart Munro 9

    In the business context the often avoided quality approach that comes out of Shewart’s work https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_A._Shewhart is a proven path to lifting productivity. Local managers often aren’t keen on it however – they perceive it as diluting their power.

    I think too though that productivity has been an area (like English teaching in some countries) that suffers from measurement bias. Instead of measuring what is most productive they tend to measure what is easiest to measure. Let me suggest two productive examples that conventional contemporary economics would tend to understate. Robert Guyton’s garden – maximizes long term fertility and sustainable output and aesthetic factors while minimizing labour inputs. And, my grandmother, whose kitchen and garden were never still. She fed and clothed a family of seven through the depression, and supported her community in spite of using little in the way of cash by contemporary standards. Yet economists tend to suggest that pulling such productive workers out of that kind of situation and into low end external employment is some kind of achievement.

    We do have significant underemployment however, and some kind of state startup support is highly desirable because cost of living and especially housing is presently sucking up all the liquidity which once might have allowed new enterprise creation.

  10. CHCOff 10

    Not long ago there was a post highlighting the Fonterra situation, of it’s increased output, increased environmental cost, and increased financial strain the farming sector was under in keeping it’s head above water ( due to the corporate farming model which will eventually deprive them off the land).

    Without ‘value’, productivity becomes increasingly meaningless (much like knowledge without wisdom, a major problem with the purely political approach to govt. of the modern west in particular).

    And the best guarantor to the security of value’s efficacy, is that derived from distributed demand. It is that simple.

    • CHCOff 10.1

      In addition to the above then, it seems the ‘one size fits all approach’ of the current ‘free trade’ has been stripping western industry & economy of it’s ‘value’ component.

      In the short term, it has allowed govts. to appear ‘fiscally responsible’, although at boomerang costs of increasing ‘private debt’ across producing economy into the stuck in neutral to reverse speculative property ‘rock star’ economy.

      This has all been great for China. It has allowed the papering over of the structural problems of the communistic economy due to the centralised sovereign nationalistic govt, which for example in stark contrast to say New Zealand, does not allow the sale of it’s resources to outside interests. CHina has had distributed demand of sorts through the wide embrace of it’s cheap factory economy, that it’s govt. has been able to off-set through that demand in co-ordination via targetting the centralised open door political systems for sale in the west, in deal making and buying up the stipped out sectors of economy that have lost their ‘value’ component, essentially to China.

      The polar opposite positions to this arrangement, are for example contrasted that China has a problem in building ‘ghost cities’, not the shortages of housing say endemic to New Zealand.

      The lastest ‘free trade’ step of the TPP, is going to be a further fiasco in these regards.

  11. Richard@Downsouth 11

    A certain supermarket I know of down here, is paying most staff after April 1 $16.60 an hour (allows them to proudly say “We’re paying above minimum wage”)

  12. Exkiwiforces 12

    Ad,

    “At almost the same time he has announced that he is going to come down hard on tax benefits for shareholders called dividend imputations used for cash refunds.
    Of course this kind of crackdown on about 200,000 self-managed super funds and wealthy retirees”

    This policy announcement from Labour is not only going to hit the wealthy, but those on Low to Medium income retirees such as my mother-in-law and me in a couple of mths time when I’m pensioned off from the ADF as result of my injuries. I’m a little bit unhappy about Labours policy ATM as it could effect my living standards as I already live off smell of a oily rag at keeping costs down. The dumb ass Shorten is really out of touch of his work class retiress as lot have work their ass off during their working lives and want to enjoy what they earned at the end of their working life.

    Albo for PM, there’s a real work class hero in a true sense.

  13. beatie 13

    Then there’s the common situation whereby the workplace bully is promoted into management, resulting in an unhappy, underperforming workforce.

    • R.P. Mcmurphy 13.1

      Yes and the ignorant too. witness the fonterra debacle when the people in charge had no idea that while it may have been clean on the floor it was rotten on the fringes and production was everything.

      • R.P. Mcmurphy 13.1.1

        and furhermore the workplace strawboss bully is standard throughout workplaces in new zealand where some management is sadistic as a matter o fcourse.

  14. Tricledrown 14

    ACTs Don’t Brash was given several hundred thousand Dollars to look at what was needed to improve productivity.
    His first and last report was that housing needed to be affordable so industries had plenty of worker’s handy to where they are required.
    National cut Brashes funding immediately..
    So he wouldn’t show Nationals lack of policy in dealing with this catastrophe!

  15. R.P. Mcmurphy 15

    New Zealanders work as hard if not harder than most other workers in the world.
    Productivity is a chimera when we dont really make the sorts of goods where economies of scale and real innovation take place or can be utilised. Most of the spruiking comes from owners and operators who want to keep wages down while they cream off the top and keep up a howl of bullshit to make workers feel that they are not good enough when the fact of the matter is they are..

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    2 days ago
  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    2 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    2 days ago
  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    2 days ago
  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    3 days ago
  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    3 days ago
  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    4 days ago
  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    4 days ago
  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    5 days ago
  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    6 days ago
  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    6 days ago
  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • The New Government: 2023 Edition
    So New Zealand has a brand-spanking new right-wing government. Not just any new government either. A formal majority coalition, of the sort last seen in 1996-1998 (our governmental arrangements for the past quarter of a century have been varying flavours of minority coalition or single-party minority, with great emphasis ...
    6 days ago
  • The unboxing
    And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the tree with its gold ribbon but can turn out to be nothing more than a big box holding a voucher for socks, so it ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • A cruel, vicious, nasty government
    So, after weeks of negotiations, we finally have a government, with a three-party cabinet and a time-sharing deputy PM arrangement. Newsroom's Marc Daalder has put the various coalition documents online, and I've been reading through them. A few things stand out: Luxon doesn't want to do any work, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Hurrah – we have a new government (National, ACT and New Zealand First commit “to deliver for al...
    Buzz from the Beehive Sorry, there has been  no fresh news on the government’s official website since the caretaker trade minister’s press statement about the European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement. But the capital is abuzz with news – and media comment is quickly flowing – after ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Christopher Luxon – NZ PM #42.
    Nothing says strong and stable like having your government announcement delayed by a day because one of your deputies wants to remind everyone, but mostly you, who wears the trousers. It was all a bit embarrassing yesterday with the parties descending on Wellington before pulling out of proceedings. There are ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Coalition Government details policies & ministers
    Winston Peters will be Deputy PM for the first half of the Coalition Government’s three-year term, with David Seymour being Deputy PM for the second half. Photo montage by Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: PM-Elect Christopher Luxon has announced the formation of a joint National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government with a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • “Old Coat” by Peter, Paul & Mary.
     THERE ARE SOME SONGS that seem to come from a place that is at once in and out of the world. Written by men and women who, for a brief moment, are granted access to that strange, collective compendium of human experience that comes from, and belongs to, all the ...
    6 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 23-November-2023
    It’s Friday again! Maybe today we’ll finally have a government again. Roll into the weekend with some of the articles that caught our attention this week. And as always, feel free to add your links and observations in the comments. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    7 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s strategy for COP28 in Dubai
    The COP28 countdown is on. Over 100 world leaders are expected to attend this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which starts next Thursday. Among the VIPs confirmed for the Dubai summit are the UK’s Rishi Sunak and Brazil’s Lula da Silva – along ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    7 days ago
  • Coalition talks: a timeline
    Media demand to know why a coalition government has yet to be formed. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    7 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Nov 24
    Luxon was no doubt relieved to be able to announce a coalition agreement has been reached, but we still have to wait to hear the detail. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Passing Things Down.
    Keeping The Past Alive: The durability of Commando comics testifies to the extended nature of the generational passing down of the images, music, and ideology of the Second World War. It has remained fixed in the Baby Boomers’ consciousness as “The Good War”: the conflict in which, to a far ...
    7 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47 2023
    Open access notables How warped are we by fossil fuel dependency? Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 35-40 million cubic meters per day of Russian natural gas are piped across Ukraine for European consumption every single day, right now. In order to secure European cooperation against Russian aggression, Ukraine must help to ...
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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