Right-wing mayor candidates try to kneecap themselves

Written By: - Date published: 7:07 am, September 15th, 2016 - 82 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, local body elections, local government, phil goff - Tags:

Vic Crone said wha?

Humans warming the Earth? That’s contentious, Vic Crone says

Take a look at cycles here on this lovely xkcd comic Vic.

Vic’s views very backward says top scientist, Dr James Renwick of Victoria Uni.

Quite rightly so.  I’m going to leave it to James to point out the detail, as if “97% of all relevant experts cannot convince climate change skeptics of the basic scientific facts, then nothing I say will change their minds” – as per a Guardian opinion piece proposing fewer children due to the urgency of  climate change.

In that same top article John Palino says he doesn’t think Auckland is ‘super’.  I don’t think I want a mayor who doesn’t even like the place.  And he proposes the council do land-banking – buying up outside city limits and then changing its zoning to make money… not sure we need you LA ideas here, mate (they do it in LA… and look at the mess it’s in…).

And Mark Thomas is now polling 6th, but still seems to be seen as the other ‘credible’ candidate, even though he’s now just asking people not to vote for Phil Goff.  Chloe Swarbrick and Penny Bright have a right to be aggrieved not to be getting more coverage than Mark.

Of course the main worry for the left in Auckland is with Phil waltzing in, do voters get out and make sure the city gets the councillors and local boards it needs.  The mayor is but 1 vote of 21 at the table.  That said, it’s an important voice with a bully pulpit – I’ve heard Goff speak about the need to use that pulpit as NZ government is very centralised.  When National criticises Auckland Council for not doing enough on housing, it’s because the council isn’t pulling their 1 lever hard enough, while National are neglecting touching their many, bigger, levers at all…  The mayor needs to keep the pressure on them.

82 comments on “Right-wing mayor candidates try to kneecap themselves ”

  1. srylands 1

    It seems to me that odd views are not confined to so called right candidates. Penny Bright is a climate change denier.

    • Sanctuary 1.1

      And Penny Bright has about as much chance as Vic Crone of winning, so that is another thing they have in common.

      • Lanthanide 1.1.1

        Penny has much much less chance.

        For example, if Goff had a heart attack, Vic would be in a great position. Penny still wouldn’t.

      • That doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve to be critically analyzed as a candidate. I mean, David Seymour has no support nationally and yet we still have to deal with the hologram.

    • Snowboarder Sam 1.2

      Odd views? According to the ‘esteemed’ leading Arctic ice expert, Professor Peter Wadhams of Cambridge University, whose article (below) was issued on the 17th of September 2012, Saturday is the end of the world as the “Arctic waters will be completely ice free within four years”. That’s today!

      http://www.commondreams.org/news/2012/09/17/arctic-sea-ice-will-reach-final-collapse-within-four-years-expert

      Except they’re not, as one of the Polar Ocean Challenge crew members posted today: “On that note, the North West Passage has already frozen behind us. So as it turns out we went through a very short window. The V Strait closed almost as soon as we went through, the same was true of Barrow… we were lucky to get through.” Not only did the ice NOT disappear, this year was one of the earliest re-freezes in recent decades.

      http://polarocean.co.uk/its-over-were-in-upernavik/

      To celebrate, I thought I’d go snowboarding, but Mt Ruapehu was closed today due to whiteout conditions with over half-a-metre of snow expected this weekend. So I went for a surf at high-tide instead, and noticed the sea-level was in exactly the same place it has been for the past 40+ years. Nothing “odd” about that at all.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2.1

        He isn’t very “esteemed” by Dr Peter Gleick. I realise that a gullible fuckwit who believes Anthony Watts over NASA is incapable of rational thought or enquiry, but still.

  2. someoneelse 2

    What is so bad about the council buying cheaper land and building residential zones that we desperately need? Half of you are annoyed that it’s not you earning the money. The other half, I’m not sure why they are against it. I pay $2000. rates for next to nothing every year except library books. I pay separately for rubbish and I don’t have footpaths.
    I think Auckland could be better. I’m voting Palino.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1

      That’s nice dear. You know he’s a nasty little blackmailer who’s going to lose, eh.

    • dv 2.2

      So someoneelese you don’t use
      water
      sewage
      roads

    • Draco T Bastard 2.3

      I pay $2000. rates for next to nothing every year

      No, you pay rates so that we actually have a viable city. If you, and everybody else, didn’t the city would fail to work because of the massive services that the council provides would no longer be there. Especially all those subsidies that business gets.

      You’ve just proved that you’re voting Palino because you’re an ignorant schmuck.

    • Molly 2.4

      Because what will happen is that “friends of the mayor” with marginal land will be offering it to Auckland Council at inflated rates. None of the prerequisite planning and consideration on the appropriateness of housing at that location will be undertaken. And putting houses into greenfield developments, is not without long-term costs regarding infrastructure and social cohesion.

      People live in communities, not just houses.

      Auckland could be better, but anyone who proposes such simplistic solutions is not going to make it so.

  3. esoteric pineapples 3

    Most man made climate change deniers are white males over 35 which suggests this says more about white males over 35 than climate change. I think it is a “men’s shed” syndrome where white males get hold of some information, put it through their superior minds and then come up with a conclusion that is far more likely than that proposed by all the scientists in the world.

    • alwyn 3.1

      “Most man made climate change deniers are white males over 35”
      And your evidence for this claim?
      I suppose you believe that the people in China are, in spite of the number of coal fired power stations they are building, all accept that they are causing the largest part of climate change and want to stop?

    • Doogs 3.2

      How dare you equate my white male over-35ness with dumb-arse climate deniers. You are as bad as they are – sweeping comments with no backup evidence.

      Another example of crap verbiage wasting space.

  4. Penny Bright 4

    Now a REAL debate would be between Auckland Mayoral candidates Penny Bright and Phil Goff.

    I will argue that Neo-liberal ‘Rogernomic$’ wrecked Auckland (and NZ) and Phil Goff can defend the actions of the 1984 -87 Rogernomic$ Labour Government, in which he was a Cabinet Minister.

    I oppose corrupt corporate control, locally, nationally and internationally.

    Therefore, I oppose Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs), Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

    Phil Goff supports all of the above.

    I oppose road tolls.

    Phil Goff supports road tolls.

    Let the ‘Mayoral debate’ shadow-boxing STOP, and the REAL debate start.

    Kind regards

    Penny Bright

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    ‘Activists – get things done’.

    • Ad 4.1

      What’s your polling level again?

      It’s not a contest of ideas Penny, it’s actually a popularity contest.

      Voting papers are out next week, so debate time is done.

      • DoublePlusGood 4.1.1

        Far be it for anyone to suggest that popularity should be based on the quality of people’s ideas and policies…

        • Ad 4.1.1.1

          Ideas are good for the first three quarters of any campaign.

          Right now, it really is a popularity contest: who gets the votes, wins.

          • BM 4.1.1.1.1

            Looks grim for Andrew Little then.

            • Ad 4.1.1.1.1.1

              And then we introduce you to MMP……

              • Puckish Rogue

                You do know that since MMP was introduced National has been in power longer then Labour so National do have a pretty good grasp of what it takes to win in an MMP environment

                Just checking because its seems that a lot of people on here like to fall back on the MMP line but don’t seem to realise that National is better at MMP then Labour

                • Lanthanide

                  It seems National’s way with MMP is to destroy their coalition partners.

                  Since they’ve still never gotten more than 50% of the vote, and overseas experience shows that in MMP systems that is a very rare feat indeed, I think National’s current success with this strategy can be better interpreted as luck, rather than skill.

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    That’s a lot of “luck” then

                    • Lanthanide

                      I think it’s more down to Labour’s bad choices, than National’s good.

                      Winston has said he didn’t go with Labour in 1996 because Helen and Jim were literally not talking to each other, and he didn’t see how it would be possible to have a government where the two parties didn’t speak to each other.

                      Clearly 2014 was Labour’s election to lose, and they did, through the media attacking Cunliffe for ridiculous things, and KDC stinking the whole place up with Internet-Mana.

                • Ad

                  Truly I do.

                • Doogs

                  It is about the only thing they are good at.

                  You actually think that being good at manipulating a system so that you win every time is an advantage?

                  Go do something useful like clean a toilet.

                  Every time those puffed-up, egocentric, neo-liberalst, self serving popinjays get into power they do absolutely nothing for the common good or for people who are less fortunate. Also, they fuck up social welfare, the health system and education whenever they get their hands on the tiller.

                  If they had the guts I suspect they would all come out as climate change deniers too, only that would be bad for business.

            • Oscar 4.1.1.1.1.2

              I didn’t know he was standing for Mayor.

            • Anno1701 4.1.1.1.1.3

              “Looks grim for Andrew Little then.”

              aaaand another gold star moment

      • Penny Bright 4.1.2

        It ain’t over till it’s over.

        It’s not how you start the race – it’s how you finish.

        I look forward to ‘doing a Winston’ and causing a major electoral upset 🙂

        If you think Phil Goff’s support for corporate control by and for the 1% via CCOs, PPPs and the TPPA is going to encourage genuine Labour supporters to vote for him, let alone the disaffected 64% who didn’t bother in 2013, I suggest you think again?

        Kind regards

        Penny Bright

        2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

        • Ad 4.1.2.1

          I’m sure Goff wakes up quaking in his boots.

          You’ll be there again I am sure when the full Council is sworn in, shouting and jeering gracelessly like you did last time. Trust me I was two rows back and you were just an embarrassment.

    • srylands 4.2

      I have asked you this before and received no answer:

      If you oppose road pricing to reduce congestion, what is your solution(s) for Auckland transport? And before you repeat it, don’t say the solution is to for the Council to directly own and operate every last public transport service. That is no solution.

      People will use private cars in Auckland if it is the cheapest and most convenient transport option. What is your plan to make public transport more efficient and convenient and to make private MV travel in Auckland more costly, reflecting the congestion costs imposed?

      • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1

        People will use private cars in Auckland if it is the cheapest and most convenient transport option.

        Thing is, private transport has never been the cheapest system or, in many ways, the most convenient.

        It uses far more resources than public transport and requires that part of a persons land area has to be put aside just to house the bloody things. Then there’s having to drive and maintain the bloody things all of which is a massive inconvenience and unnecessary stressor.

        What is your plan to make public transport more efficient and convenient and to make private MV travel in Auckland more costly, reflecting the congestion costs imposed?

        Don’t actually have to do anything to make public transport more efficient. It is by default even when it’s badly run by private corporations. Because of that super efficiency we don’t have to make private vehicles more costly – just have to make sure that the costs are properly associated and placed fully upon the users of cars. Of course, to me that does mean using congestion charging and road user charges based upon mass.

        Cars are a direct result of the Delusions of Scale.

        • On-form as usual there, Draco. 🙂

          +1 and such.

        • Molly 4.2.1.2

          +100

        • srylands 4.2.1.3

          I assume you don’t have a car. Or children. Or a dog.

          If you have children it is impossible to meaningfully participate in society without owning a motor vehicle. Try doing the shopping or taking the kids to piano lessons or ballet or rugby by public transport in New Zealand.

          I use public transport. But your blinkered view suggests to me you have no clue about raising children.

          • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.3.1

            If you have children it is impossible to meaningfully participate in society without owning a motor vehicle.

            And yet people do it all the time around the world. Instead of using cars they use feet, peddles and public transport.

            Try doing the shopping or taking the kids to piano lessons or ballet or rugby by public transport in New Zealand.

            Oh dear, you failed to learn the lesson of Dick Quax:

            An Auckland politician has sparked the invention of a new word named in his “honour” following an online stoush about public transport.

            The term “quaxing”, named for Howick councillor and former Olympian Dick Quax, began circling following a Twitter argument earlier this year and has now been appropriated by groups as far away as England and Germany.

            Its use has become so popular the term was “officially” defined this week on the blog By The Motorway. It means: “to shop, in the western world, by means of walking, cycling or public transit.”

            Yeah, he was just as ignorant as you are.

      • mickysavage 4.2.2

        Ever been to Tokyo srylands? They have electric rail all over the place. Lots of people walk or cycle. There is no traffic congestion and the city functions perfectly well.

        Auckland just needs to be brave and do stuff for the long term.

        • maninthemiddle 4.2.2.1

          Tokyo
          Population: 13.62m
          Size: 2,188km2

          Auckland
          Population: 1.377m
          Size: 1,086km2

          The cost imposition of public transport in Auckland is prohibitive, and likely always will be.

          • Draco T Bastard 4.2.2.1.1

            Lies.

            The cost of public transport is far cheaper than cars:

            So, weighing all factors, dollar for dollar, railways go so much farther in terms of handling capacity than do highways, all things being equal.

            But the real beauty of this whole conversation is that with the railway versus the highway, the difference in regard to energy/emissions-savings is like night and day. Historically, in this regard, railways have come out on top.

            • maninthemiddle 4.2.2.1.1.1

              No, it isn’t. You’re example cherry picks data to try to support a pre-conceived conclusion, and assumes that people will choose public over private transport. It also assume the only options are rail over cars. Public transport includes buses, which drive on the same roads as cars, hence sharing the cost.

        • Lanthanide 4.2.2.2

          No traffic congestion?

          I recently had a meal with some Japanese who own my company. *Everyone* takes the train to work, because a car is too expensive and slow, due to all the traffic.

          Trains are squashed standing-room only, during morning and evening rush hour.

        • srylands 4.2.2.3

          Yes and yes I agree with you.

      • lprent 4.2.3

        If you oppose road pricing to reduce congestion, what is your solution(s) for Auckland transport?

        I don’t oppose road pricing. I embrace it. I just think that your opinion about what it is is simply way too narrow.

        Tax motor vehicles and their carbon fuels in exactly the way we are now. Just make them pay the full costs – which we aren’t doing now, and stop the distortions of cross-subsidies.

        The most expensive part of roads is making them in the first place, followed by the cost of maintenance. So charge drivers up front for their roads AND for having the alternates.

        Road user charges and fuel taxes should pay for very cheap public transport and rail infrastructure because it reduces the cost of creating a road AND reduces road maintenance.

        Do road user charges progressively on axle weight to provide a direct correlation to road maintenance. In other words stop subsidizing the road transport industry from the taxes for light vehicles. Truck costs should be an order of magnitude higher than they are now to pay the full cost of their contribution to road maintenance. Buses and cars have low axle weights by comparison and are being massively over charged.

        Tax fuel for the full cost of removing their waste pollution from the atmosphere at the current costs to do so. Which means that they should be a lot higher than they are now. That will make low pollution vehicles a whole lot more attractive.

        That should help relieve both congestion and the need to put in new roads. And it fits the economic model of making people pay full costs for what they actually use. ie road pricing.

        • Macro 4.2.3.1

          Do road user charges progressively on axle weight to provide a direct correlation to road maintenance. In other words stop subsidizing the road transport industry from the taxes for light vehicles. Truck costs should be an order of magnitude higher than they are now to pay the full cost of their contribution to road maintenance. Buses and cars have low axle weights by comparison and are being massively over charged.

          Quoted for truth.

          There should also be regulations promoting fuel efficient cars. Electric cars are great – but at present only available to the wealthy in society. The Greens have been asking Govt for this for years – but it won’t happen because of “nanny” state – i.e. can’t upset the V8 brigade.

          • Doogs 4.2.3.1.1

            Have you thought of the knock-on effect of slamming trucks with massive RUC? Everything we use, and I mean EVERYTHING is transported either a lot or a little at some stage in its processing. Imagine the exponential extra costs that would bring to everyday items.

            Catch 22 really – trucks should pay a hell of a lot more towards road maintenance, yet the downstream effects of that would be quite unsettling economically.

            • McFlock 4.2.3.1.1.1

              Ships and trains would be able to compete on a level playing field.

              Which would boost their traffic and increase their efficiency.

            • Macro 4.2.3.1.1.2

              Imagine if we had to pay the real costs on items. World wide Oil was subsidised by half a Trillion Dollars in 2014.
              Consumerism, as it is now, is causing the destruction of the Earth.
              Most of the costs of our consumption we leave to future generations to pick up the tab. Climate Change is only the tip of the ice berg.
              Western economies are out of whack with the environment – we behave as if the environment was a subset of the economy, whereas in reality it is the other way round. Our economies are unsustainable and sooner rather than later they are going to collapse. Trucks will again become used just for local distribution – as they should be. The road trains of today will disappear to be replaced by more energy efficient rail and coastal shipping.

              • Pat

                “Our economies are unsustainable and sooner rather than later they are going to collapse. Trucks will again become used just for local distribution – as they should be”

                Agree with the first part of that statement but would suggest if we are correct then the second part is unlikely….collapse by its very nature is disorderly and the organisational/technological wherewithal to support any form of distribution will be severely compromised let alone one based on distantly sourced stock/energy.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.2.3.1.1.3

              Have you thought of the knock-on effect of slamming trucks with massive RUC?

              Yes, I have. Great thing about trains is that they pay all their own costs and are still competitive with trucks.

              Catch 22 really – trucks should pay a hell of a lot more towards road maintenance, yet the downstream effects of that would be quite unsettling economically.

              What it would mean is that we’d start acting economically rather than uneconomically as we do now.

    • save nz 4.3

      +1 Penny. I like the fact we have an archaist in the mix. Shake it up, Penny.

      If there is one thing NZ seems very short of these days, it is new ideas and challenges to the status quo.

      Why not demand you know where you rates money is going?

      I have no problem with that.

      And Goff will not change anything. In fact he could make things worse. Sorry to be so pessimistic but he is short of ideas for the future and the ability to implement them quickly (and still hung up on old and out dated neoliberal ideology). Fresh ideas that actually are practical and work is what is most missing in Auckland.

      • save nz 4.3.1

        And of course high speed rail. What is the point of the outer limits being built on if we have 8000 new cars on the road each week (month? can’t remember how many but it’s a lot).

        • save nz 4.3.1.1

          With the billion they just wasted on IT for the failed supercity we could have got rail. Nobody even cares about that, but a park for Kids costing a few 100,000 or a library or something like that, or living wages, and we have massive public outrage fanned by MSM and politicians.

      • Draco T Bastard 4.3.2

        And Goff will not change anything. In fact he could make things worse. Sorry to be so pessimistic but he is short of ideas for the future and the ability to implement them quickly (and still hung up on old and out dated neoliberal ideology). Fresh ideas that actually are practical and work is what is most missing in Auckland.

        Truth.

    • mosa 4.4

      Penny i would vote for you if i was still in Auckland but i got out some years ago and headed south to buy a home and have a quality of life that Auckland just does not provide which was hard after living in the city of sails all of my life and i miss all the places i know so well.
      So i still take an interest in the big smoke from afar and the city is going into a critical phase in its development so this election is one of the citys most important in its history and there are massive challenges to confront.
      All the best in your campaign and i hope your a part of Aucklands future direction.

  5. Draco T Bastard 5

    When National criticises Auckland Council for not doing enough on housing, it’s because the council isn’t pulling their 1 lever hard enough, while National are neglecting touching their many, bigger, levers at all…

    Oh, they’re touching those levers alright – they’re holding them firmly in place so as to hold on to the delusion of getting richer from housing.

    • srylands 5.1

      Except it is not a delusion. Aucklanders who have sold up in the last 12 months and relocated to a retirement spot in Northland or Hawkes Bay will have in many cases pocketed $1 million plus in cash for their retirement overseas travel fund. Sometimes $2 million.

      • whispering kate 5.1.1

        Srylands – On the backs of young New Zealanders who will never own a home in Auckland. An apartment maybe but that comes with conditions such as very high Body Corp Fees and rates as well – no place to have a couple of kids in. Where is the fairness in that – typical.

        • srylands 5.1.1.1

          Why do you say “typical”? Is that directed at me? I have posted on this forum many times what a debacle the housing market is in New Zealand. I agree it is very unfair. I was simply stating the obvious – many private individuals are in the process of funding lavish retirements on the back of Auckland housing. I know two of them.

          If I have misunderstood your comment, I apologise.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.2

        But the country hasn’t become wealthier and so that extra money is delusion.

        • srylands 5.1.2.1

          Yes. It is simply transferring wealth from some people to others – especially from the young to the old(er). But the extra money is quite real for the recipients. But you are correct – it does nothing for the nation.

          • Draco T Bastard 5.1.2.1.1

            Thank you for pointing out the precise delusion of the present system.

            Money isn’t real nor is it based upon real economic activity.

      • McFlock 5.1.3

        in exactly the same way that the people who sold out of Madoff’s ponzi before it collapsed were richer.

        But for most investors, it is a delusion.

      • Anno1701 5.1.4

        “retirement overseas travel fund.”

        hallelujah the world can rest safely

        some baby boomers are going to be able to whinge there way around the world ( probably on some poxy cruise ship) a couple of times

        i can sleep well tonight …..

  6. mac1 6

    Attended a candidate’s meeting in our little town. The Deputy Mayor in answer to a question about climate change still does not get the difference between climate and weather. Luckily, he also espouses, so he told us, the need for collective responsibility, so I guess he will swallow his views and act accordingly with the rest of the council, should he get re-elected. I’ve changed my view of him.

    These meetings are invaluable, as you can if nothing else observe the body language of candidates for two hours and see how they react to differing views, as well as question and evaluate their own answers.

  7. TC 7

    Its not a contest the right want to win or they would throw the national dirty politics machine behind a plausible candidate which they have chosen not to do.

    Goff ticks boxes their own candidate would tick so why bother burning resources when you can change laws under urgency if you want anyway.

    John Palino is there for comedic value and thomas will parrot the nat/CT lines as a dress rehersal for next years GE.

    • maninthemiddle 7.1

      “Goff ticks boxes their own candidate would tick so why bother burning resources when you can change laws under urgency if you want anyway.”

      Exactly. Goff is a moderate, from the centre right of the Labour Party. He is not a reformist, and will most likely be a cooperative safe pair of hands as far as National are concerned. Besides, he can’t be worse than Brown. Can he?

      • save nz 7.1.1

        Besides, he can’t be worse than Brown. Can he?

        Yes we can get worse. The PPP Skypath where they charge walkers and cyclists to use the harbour bridge is a case in point. I’m for Skypath, just not the PPP and the charging of the walkers and cyclists…

        It’s that weird anti logic that Auckland council seems to be going for.

        Mining, taxing, pretty much anything bad for society or the environment, they love.

  8. Takere 8

    1. Goff wins
    2. Sends message throughout council of impending cull coming
    3. All procurement contracts to be reviewed eg; Madison Recruitment’s $11m contract. WTF?
    4. Initiates cull in meaningless cling-on sectors such as;
    ATEED – Dismantle Steven Joyce’s National Party Ratepayer Funded Talk-fests & Bussiness (MBie) stick up rate payer funded “Central Govt” spending projects at Rate Payers expense.
    AT – Return to Core Business
    IMSB – Hijacked Quango
    Panuku Dev Group (Use to be Auckland Waterfront Dev)

    Then get to work! Simple plan!

  9. Patrick Cummoskey 9

    Looks like Phil Goff will get in. This is great news as it mean less cars and more trains!

  10. AB 10

    And what are the odds that when she was in business she regarded evidence-based decision making as important?
    The sheer hilarity of it makes the contest farcical.

  11. Anne Hartly 11

    From the polls it looks like Phil is going to win. This is tremendous news as it means fewer cars on the road and more trains.

    [Released from ‘pending’ before noticing it is word for word the same as the other, well identical, comment from Patrick Commoskey. Bending over backwards to leave this here and not ban on the suspicion of using multiple id’s.] – Bill

    • Anne Hartly 11.1

      Patrick is a friend of mine and asked me to post. Please remove the post if it has breached this web site’s policies and accept my sincerest apologies. 🙂

      • Bill 11.1.1

        Thanks for the clarification. That was the scenario I decided to let my ‘element of doubt’ dictate to me in letting your own comment stand while throwing Patrick’s into spam due to it being a duplicate.

  12. Takere 12

    If anybody has Vic’s home address, could you flick it to me? I’ve found her tinfoil hat. She must of lost it when a gust of wind blew it off her little head … WTF?! Zero Shareholders dump more shares and the price plummets from $17.00 too? Is that climate change?

  13. Richard Rawshark 13

    The quality of mayoral candidates is , well, outstanding /sarc

    Not a single one of them are about the people, it’s all about their own personal points of view and they will drive their dream home.

    Well as I’ve always thought to myself, what selfish pricks they all are.

    Dreams, making ones mark, most of the time these MARKS on our landscape, are either needed or wanted.

    But what ever..I’ve started giving up on proper governance and people who serve the people not their own dreams for personal satisfaction.

    Goff just going to play political football depending on who’s in power. The rest of them are..no bodies or shit stirrers.

    Right wing? more morons if you ask me. But it’s got to be better than the current joke, Clown Len.

    IMHO

  14. mosa 14

    Palino got a cheek standing after his behaviour at the last election.
    He has got more front than Brighton pier !

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    7 hours ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    9 hours ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    13 hours ago
  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    14 hours ago
  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    16 hours ago
  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    24 hours ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    1 day ago
  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    2 days ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    2 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    2 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    4 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    5 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    5 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    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 ...
    6 days ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    6 days ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago
  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    6 days ago
  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    7 days ago
  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    7 days ago
  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    1 week ago
  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
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