RNZ, Three Waters and partisan commentary

Written By: - Date published: 11:43 am, October 11th, 2022 - 55 comments
Categories: Environment, labour, Media, spin, taxpayers union, uncategorized - Tags:

I am a regular listener of Radio New Zealand’s Political Commentators’ show although recently I have wondered why.  The commentors from the right are a mixed bag.  Ben Thomas schmoozes but Bridgit Morton grates.  She has an ability to use extreme language in the mold of occasional Standard reader Matthew Hooton.  National can do no wrong and Labour can do no right.

She is clearly deeply partisan which of itself should not preclude her involvement.  But allowing clearly compromised opinions in a segment involving political discussion appears to me to be wrong.  In yesterday’s episode Morton said this:

I think that without any doubt three waters is a toxic thing for this Government and I take the opportunity to declare that we represent a group currently taking the three waters to court.”

She is right about her involvement.  She works for Franks Ogilvie who represents the Water User’s Group which is currently taking the Government to Court seeking judicial review of aspects of the Three Waters rollout.

Who is the Water User’s Group?  It is an incorporated society having its registered office at Franks Ogilvie.  The initial members names I do not recognise apart from John Bishop who I presume is Chris Bishop’s father.  The organisation is closely associated with the Tax Payers Union and they are clearly both on a mission to thwart Three Waters.  The phrase “astrosurfer” springs to mind.

The litigation is seeking the Court to make a series of declarations that Nanaia Mahuta’s recommendations to Cabinet were based on errors of law.  It is focusing on Maori rights to water and in particular opposes the Minister’s assertions that a pan-Maori interest in water exists.

Clearly the concept of co governance is being attacked.  Under the Water Services Entites Bill Regional Representatives Groups will be established and will have various powers including the appointment of directors, the setting of the entity’s strategic direction and performance expectations and reviewing the performance of the entity.  The board members will have day to day running of the entity.

The rhetoric coming from Franks Ogilvie about the bill is rather extreme.  There is this opinion which claims that the Government’s safeguards to stop privatisation are false misleading and deceptive.  They say this because shares are being issued and because Councils will own shares rather than retain ownership of the actual water assets currently owned.  This of course ignores the numerous protections in the bill and the fact that Councils retain effective control of the entity through their shares.  The bottom line is that the owners of shares will have extensive power and effective control over the entity.  And the bill does not address issues such as who owns Waitakere’s Parkland from which Watercare sources a fair chunk of its water.  My hunch is that this will remain in Auckland Council’s ownership and Frank Ogilvie’s hand wringing will be irrelevant.

The background is important because Radio New Zealand allows one of the persons involved in the litigation free and regular reign to come onto the station and in a show involving political commentary say the most outlandish things. And there is a big fundraising drive happening to fund the litigation.

Of course partisan commentary is important.  But there should be a limit.  Merely declaring an interest should not be enough.

55 comments on “RNZ, Three Waters and partisan commentary ”

  1. tc 1

    Relax mickey expert broadcaster Willie Jackson's onto it.

  2. mpledger 2

    How does Franks Ogilvie get to supply so many commentators to RNZ? That law firm is surely getting its clients' viewpoints huge amounts of airtime and in their own framing – if not directly, then indirectly. The value of that must be hundreds of thousands of dollars to them and they get paid for doing it. On to a winner there.

  3. tsmithfield 3

    People have good reason to be concerned about co-governance. An over 90% vote in favour of a constitutional change in Playcentres was over-ruled by two out of six roopu, which seems absolutely undemocratic.

    If this is how co-governance is going to work, I don't want a bar of it as it looks like the vast majority can be over-ruled by a very small minority.

    • James Simpson 3.1

      And ACT will make this an election issue.

      The government needs to clearly communicate to the masses about how co-governance works in practice and dampen down some of the fears.

      Otherwise ACT will run with this and make it an issue when there is no issue.

    • Mike the Lefty 3.2

      But don't you think there is a vast difference between a how a playcentre association is governed and how natural water resources, stormwater and wastewater are managed?

      Compare apples with apples.

      Scare tactics are what National and ACT thrive upon.

      It doesn't mean we have to accept their version.

  4. logie97 4

    Franks of Franks Ogilvie.

    Ex (ambitious) ACT MP?

    Franks entered Parliament in the 1999 election, having been ranked in third place on the party list for the ACT Party, and coming fourth in Rongotai electorate. This high ranking (above several sitting MPs) was indicative of ACT's high hopes for Franks at the time – as a prominent lawyer, he was generally regarded as a significant asset for the party. In 2002 he stood in Wellington Central which had been won by ACT's Richard Prebble in 1996. During his six years in Parliament he was ACT spokesman for Justice, Corrections, the Police and Commerce. He added Maori Affairs and Sport in the last three years.

    When Prebble announced his retirement from politics in early 2004, Franks was one of the four candidates who sought to take his place as leader of ACT. Franks ran on a platform of restoring the party's core message. Despite receiving the endorsement of party founder Roger Douglas, he was eventually defeated by Rodney Hide. After Hide became leader of the ACT party on 13 June, Franks remained the party's spokesperson for justice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Franks

    He has regular appearances on RNZ's The Panel.

    I think we know where he is coming from.

    • Tricledrown 4.1

      Jordan Williams was working in Franks legal practice before getting into Dirty politics and the the Taxpayers union no surprises their.The BBC and Radio NZ have commentry from so called independent think tanks such as the the NZ institute all funded by big oil and billionaires.no mention of their political affiliations.

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 4.2

      He later tried to get on the National party list.

      Its strange as previously he was a very highly paid tax lawyer and it would seem the lowly paid MP job was his dream job.

      I think it was him who said , even as a tax lawyer you are just a hired apparatchik while even a minor MP has many fawning over you ( or words to that effect)

      So he ditched the tax law and reinvented himself as public policy lawyer.

      The Taxpayers Onion and many other ACT ' agitprop' groups have been spawned out of the Frank Ogilvy law offices.

  5. Corey Humm 5

    The funny thing about three waters is this government has sold it wrong from the start, it should have been sold as patriotic nationalization, unashamedly protectionist of water to protect NZ's water quality, upgrade our infrastructure and protect water from privatization and ban exportation to China. It would have been enormously popular.

    Instead like everything the left does now from drug reforms, to health reforms to foster care reforms it's been debated in and promoted in a painfully academic way as a form social justice and racial equity that elicits internal groans from the public.

    There's no guarantee water privatization or exportation is going to be banned or who profits from it. Like most of labours reforms this term the comms have been boring, long winded and confusing and no answer answers.

    Its been painful to watch a policy that could so easily be extremely popular with middle NZ be argued from a social justice viewpoint.

    I remember how popular Jacindas first policy announcement as leader of the opposition was, which was putting a levy on water bottling, it was sold as populist left wing nationalism, it's a shame the government didn't pass that as soon as they formed a majority.

    It's really a tragedy that this government has wasted an entire term of government and ALL of it's political capital on making policies that could be popular as unpopular as they can possibly be and communicating them via a social justice lense when with a few tweaks these polices could be hugely popular left wing populist reforms.

    The speed these reforms are moving at too, horrendously slow, you want reforms to be quick and fast so the next govt can't reform them so easily, at this pace the reforms will barely be in place by a pretty damn likely change of government next year and will easily be reversed, so this government will have spent an enormous political capital and half is incumbency on policies that never saw any benefits because they were immediately overturned.

    Wtf will this govts legacy be outside of COVID if it's voted out next year. Nothing historic, nothing future generations can point to and go well the sixth labour govts signature achievement was: xyz… It'll be remembered for getting a sole majority, COVID, being the first govt to not win the popular vote in its first term and not much else. And some mild fair pay ahreements. Which is a shame… We had historically high electoral support, record breaking political capital a leader who was earth shatteringly popular and even a year ago was gonna bolt into a third term, but we pissed it away on social justice that was horribly communicated by the pm and her cabinet and having no real plan for a second term beyond being as beige as possible to achieve it. We couldn't even get basic drug reforms cos we might have won 63 seats instead of 65. Meanwhile the democrats, even Biden are all in on it. The USA left is running circles around Arderns labour. Crazy.

    I hope we get a third term but we've had no plan for a second term, what on earth would we do for third three year term when we're this directionless, tired in the middle of term two. How on earth we're going to campaign as a party of transformation next year (or ever again) after winning this sole majority and doing nothing significant ground level while people can't find houses or afford to eat and while we're led by a tired prime minister who only five years into the job is polling at 30% and can't inspire herself let alone the public anymore.

    But hey at least upper middle class libs on Twitter will be happy the govt blew it's entire legacy and political capital on arguing on mostly neoliberal concepts of social justice , neoliberal girl boss feminism, trickle down iwi co-goverance programs, knocking down affordable rentals and state houses and giving property developers huge contracts if they build a few boxes for poor people instead of rallying the country together by promoting patriotic left wing populist water reforms that make "NZ stronger", state run building programs, breaking up the supermarket duopoly and economic justice.

  6. John J Harrison 6

    This is simply delicious.

    The Maori Caucus is taking the hapless Ardern regime over a very high cliff.

    This issue is tearing our once united country apart together with the multitude of other separatist racial policies being driven in particular by Jackson and Mahuta.

    Going by the weekend’s election results Ardern is nothing more than a lame duck waddling toward an historic election loss – just as her fellow MP East suffered on Saturday- due to her public support.

    Both National and ACT should hold mandatory prayer meetings every day praying for Ardern to lead her team of sycophants into the 2023 election.

    If that transpires Labour will end up with a mere 15 – 20 MP’s on the opposition benches – for a decade.

    The worst, most divisive regime in our history.

    • logie97 6.1

      Well informed comment Mr Harrison.

      You were obviously too young to experience the Holland and Muldoon governments when it comes to dividing a country. Please give examples of the current administration's divisiveness. Just keep repeating the tired old meme and you might begin to believe your own crap.

      • gsays 6.1.1

        Maybe you are being rhetorical when you ask”Please give examples of the current administration's divisiveness.”

        The obvious example is the mandates which has divided families, destroyed businesses and put under-resourced workforces into crisis.

        • Ghostwhowalksnz 6.1.1.1

          Dont mention the thousands of lives saved ! Its still is an infectious disease which has killed millions around the world

          NZ and a few others are the only countries which had a net reduction in the total deaths that have occurred in last 30 months ( over that which has occured in other recent 30 month periods)

          • mauī 6.1.1.1.1

            The weaker Omicron strain that NZ got hit with probably saved more lives than vaccine mandates can take credit for. Omicron still managed to rip through NZ with our full range of health controls in place.

            We're also in rapid mortality catchup mode, this is looking like our worst winter death rate on record. https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/07/05/more-kiwis-dying-than-ever-before-after-mortality-rates-fell/

            And with the physical and mental stress many people have undergone for the last 2 years, kiwis general health must be in a shocking state. Please have some perspective before stating we've done the best in the world.

            • Anne 6.1.1.1.1.1

              'Please have some perspective before stating we've done the best in the world."

              Do you have reading and cognitive disorders?

        • Adrian 6.1.1.2

          Bullshit to destroyed businesses and under-resourced workforces which I presume means health and teaching, the numbers who were given the arse were very very small, in the small single figures and the reason was that they did not understand their Duty of Care to the vulnerable in their care.

          • gsays 6.1.1.2.1

            I know of 2 hospo businesses that are no more directly because of the mandates, so you can pop yr bullshit in the compost.

            Yr reckons does not negate the divisions that are a result of this government.

            • Macro 6.1.1.2.1.1

              crying

            • Anne 6.1.1.2.1.2

              Answer this question gsays.

              Why do you consistently ignore the fact that the primary objective of the government during the pandemic was to "save lives"?

              They saved thousands of them in that first 12 to 18 months in particular. NZ is regarded overseas as having had one of the best responses. Not only did our Govt. achieve their goal with a miniscule death rate [per capita] compared to other countries, but NZ came out the other end in far better shape than most.

              You think it better those thousands were dead eh? One of them might have been you.

              Of course there is fallout. There always is.

              Just like the fallout after a world war, it takes time to get commercial operations back to normal. This government has been very generous to the casualties caused by the pandemic – something you and other opponents choose to ignore in your obsessive attitude towards the unavoidable mandates.

              • gsays

                Again, none of what you say negates the fact that division is a price paid for the result.
                Your sentence about fallout is what I’m talking about.
                As to having best response, we are a remote island nation that used to have a very high trust in authority.

                • Anne

                  … we are a remote island nation that used to have a very high trust in authority.

                  Oh yes, I agree with you there gsays. But in my mind 'the authorities' doesn't include the government. They make the laws and change them from time to time, but it is the public entities who put them into practice. I lost faith in most of them a long time ago.

            • Graeme 6.1.1.2.1.3

              Mandates or punters not wanting to go out because they might catch the plague.

              I know of a lot of businesses that are no more because of the pandemic affecting customer's spending and social behaviour. In hospo I've watched two business in the same market, one that's quite tightly packed and pre covid went off, now dead and gone, another with lots of outside space and flexible management that's thriving.

              Also know of some that gave it away because customers had become so angry and abusive it wasn't worth their mental health to continue. That started long before vaccine mandates came in.

              • joe90

                After two shitty wedding seasons my brother's catering business was all but dead in the water. Today he's selling his business as requiring all front-facing staff to be vaccinated, undergo rapid tests prior to their shifts and wear N95 masks at functions.

                Business is booming and he's booked right through until Easter next year.

            • newsense 6.1.1.2.1.4

              I also know of seven hospo businesses that failed cos more than half of them do in the first couple of years. Without any spittle flecked blame game. Quite often to do with making sure regulars pay for all the booze they’re drinking!

        • newsense 6.1.1.3

          Nah- zero COVID kept the country pumping, the economy challenged those all over the world.

          Obviously didn’t have family die since omicron for the sake of the economy then? No one you were ready to sacrifice?

          But I get it- having to get a vaccination to do something was an important blahblahblah and you used to get hit and punished for speaking your own language at school. Oh you didn’t mean that divisiveness? That’s not considered divisive where you are?

          Should be out protesting drivers licenses and safety belts. Unless your just a hypocrite?

        • logie97 6.1.1.4

          … before you try to rewrite history, and an understanding of division (in this case splitting the country down the middle), at the time of the implementation of the mandates, over 90 % of the nation appeared to be supportive, including for the most part the full house of representatives. We would appear now to be in a better place to move on (notwithstanding that further mutations of the virus appear to be increasing.)

          With the benefit of hindsight things could have been managed better. But the virus appears to have been well managed in New Zealand. And it's reassuring to know that when you're in a gathering, there is a 95% chance that you're standing next to someone who has been vaccinated.

          • gsays 6.1.1.4.1

            While you accuse me of rewriting history, you start redefining division. A group can be divided by any number, it doesn't have to be in two.

            "With the benefit of hindsight things could have been managed better." True, but the point I am making is that divisions have occurred because of the state's actions. This is undeniable.

            " And it's reassuring to know that when you're in a gathering, there is a 95% chance that you're standing next to someone who has been vaccinated." This is where we part ways and a big fault with all the eggs in the pFizer basket. The false confidence in the medication is naive and unwise.

            • logie97 6.1.1.4.1.1

              with due respect, a divided nation is usually defined as split in two. (not small factions)

              1970s/80s- the pro/anti nuclear.

              1970s/1981 – anti-apartheid NZRFU

              – 1951 water front dispute.

              As for the false confidence – I have not been down the rabbit holes of the conspiracy crowd and sought my information from such dark places. I do know however that is reassuring that the majority of people I encounter are at one when it comes to behaving as responsibly as they can regarding the virus.

      • X Socialist 6.1.2

        I think the dude was once a Napier City councillor. So he may have a clue or two. Muldoon was an extreme socialist in Tory drag. His wage and price freeze would have had comrades around the world reaching an orgasm. I agree with most of what Harrison says – except I can't see Jacinda continuing to lead a political party that's poised to experience the biggest electoral defeat in NZ's history. I'm now a believer in the conspiracy that has Jacinda joining the UN. There's no way a lauded world figure such as she, who speaks at the UN, is going to hang around leading a small bunch of losers, in a small country, after the next election.

    • Peter 6.2

      The worst, most divisive regime in our history? Certainly. The coronavirus saga the most obvious example.

      They saw us as being divided into two groups and favoured one side being minuscule.

      Two groups – the living and the dead. Their reward and our reward for that?

      Well the groups ended up dividing themselves into sub-groups. The government didn't do that.

      The 'living' side was made up of the grateful, the ho-hum, and the ungrateful. The ungrateful of course had its own sub-groups. One was the fuckwits who had no idea but were self-proclaimed experts who expected the initial division into two two groups but didn't care about the size of the groups.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 6.3

      This issue is tearing our once united country apart together with the multitude of other separatist racial policies being driven in particular by Jackson and Mahuta.

      The worst, most divisive regime in our history.

      Lol. You mean in YOUR mind's version of history. Which seems to be of a particular mindset.

  7. Incognito 7

    I think you meant Brigitte Morten and astroturfing.

    On a different note, why don’t they work pro bono?

  8. gsays 8

    I can’t help but feel there is a slight contradiction at play here.

    Partisan commentary is just that, from a certain point of view and out in the open. Yet, last week, folk were queuing up to dismiss, diminish and deny concerns around Fafoi becoming a lobbyist while the ink was still wet on his farewell card.

    We do not get to be privy as to who he represents, what inducements are on offer nor the remuneration while he helps the affluent further their interests.

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 8.1

      Heard of Bill English and Company Ltd, yes his consultant business

      Then there is Joyce Advisory Ltd , the consultant arm of Steven Joyce

      Its only bad when labour does it ?

      • gsays 8.1.1

        I haven’t heard of Blinglishes lobbying outfit and I would say the same about his as I do about Fafoi’s.

        So it is bad no matter who does it.

      • James Simpson 8.1.2

        Its bad whoever does it Ghost.

        Are you saying there is nothing wrong with it?

  9. Ad 9

    Matthew Hooten is still a regular partisan commentator on TV and elsewhere.

    If he gets Chief of Staff to Mayor Brown, both National and Labour will simply ignore Brown.

    Hooten shanked his own. They don't forget.

  10. Mat Simpson 10

    " National can do no wrong and Labour can do no right "

    Well duh… I think you live under a rock and then come out every now and again and say the bleeding obvious and then you go back underneath your rock.

    Under Paul Thompson appointed by the Nasty Natz to ensure RNZ was bought into the tent and pushed National radio from a non biased professional broadcaster to what you listen to now. Are you really surprised.

    I watched and listened to it deteriorate. It has become just as Joyce intended National friendly where political comment and analysis is skewed to the right and you only have to hear the usual suspects like Dann , Espiner and others.

    They criticize LINO but economically they follow the same neo liberal policies as the Nasty Natz. They have to have an enemy to oppose in order to push their policies and control the narrative.

    My only hope is that the merger will create an independent media environment for all those kiwis whose views aren't reflected fairly and that aren't paid up members of the National party.

  11. Kat 11

    Kathryn Ryan seems to waffle up to Brigette Morten on nine to noon, no matter what the topic. Thats why it is so wonderful hearing Kim Hill on Morning Retort getting to the nitty gritty in quick time……… Luxon is like a possum in the headlights…..

  12. Lettuce 12

    If you put Luxon in a wig and applied some lipstick, you'd end up with Bridgit Morton.

  13. newsense 13

    While I value the news collection, particularly the interviewing of people directly involved in stories, at RNZ, outside of James Nokise, their political commentators (of late) always feel like they represent more than they are letting on. I can’t unravel where all the interests lie with the lobbyists, P.R. types and so on. It’s always a bit too complicated, connected and clever. They’re often ex-chief of staff/campaign head types and there’s usually some private firm loyalty there too.

    It’s not Helen Kelly or Robert Reid and the Talleys or anything so up front and simple as capital v worker’s health and safety.

    Of course this is no slight on Mike Williams! That was clearly a previous iteration.

    • Anne 13.1

      Mike Williams would have to be the most astute commentator of our time. His knowledge and experiences is unmatched. He is also very fair and does not indulge in the excessive claims that we see in the likes of Hosking, HdPA, Soper and others.

  14. Peter 14

    To counter the partisan commentary I want a simple, bullet-point leaflet in my letter box which outlines the guts of what Three Waters will mean.

    Our newly elected (by miles) mayor some months ago was spouting crap about Three Waters. He was a mayoral candidate, he was wearing a tie and he was speaking to conservative, rural, Groundswell people so what he said was gospel.

    All of those people need the story told in uncomplicated, specific form addressing the critical questions.

    People at a local meeting were pissed off that "the Government is stealing what we've bought and paid for with our rates." In their heads that is the notion. I'm picking the level of emotion and ignorance is the same up and down the country.

    As much as the new mayor surfed in on his anti-Three Waters stance, the Labour MP, a good electorate MP, will be washed away by the same waves.

    • logie97 14.1

      I agree. For all his warts, Muldoon communicated with Joe Public in plain language.

      Three Waters needs to be explained clearly, its rationale, and how it affects us individually (if at all).

      Unfortunately the overworked-and-hard-done-by Groundswell, in their polluting massive farm machinery that they intend blockading the highways with, will garner more support.

  15. Craig H 15

    I listen to the 9-noon politics slot every week. I'm a Labour Party member but don't have a problem with the partisans here as it's partisans for both sides nearly every week – that's basically the premise.

  16. RP Mcmurphy 16

    the opposition to 3 waters is all flim flam. it has to be done and who gets the contracts is th big issue hiding under all the rest. nationals just pissed off it isn't them. su k it up.

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    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

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

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

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

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

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

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

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

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

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

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

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

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

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

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
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    3 days ago
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