Sale of the century

Written By: - Date published: 12:02 pm, July 2nd, 2012 - 71 comments
Categories: john key, Privatisation - Tags: ,

If anyone knows the original source of this please post it in comments.

71 comments on “Sale of the century ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Mighty Kites 1
    2 July 2012 at 12:03 pm

    Looks like the Dom Post

  2. Kotahi Tane Huna 2
    2 July 2012 at 12:06 pm

    “The Diary” is from the Herald, isn’t it? That’s where it resides these days at any rate…

  3. Hayley 3
    2 July 2012 at 12:09 pm

    I am pretty sure the Dom Post has Diary as part of its “Capital Day” section, but I could be mistaken.

  4. ad 4
    2 July 2012 at 12:52 pm

    In terms of who did well out of the last lot of asset sales, might want to have a chat with Infratil. They did great thanks!

  5. dan1 5
    2 July 2012 at 12:52 pm

    Don’t ask John Key. He won’t remember.

    • the pink postman 5.1
      3 July 2012 at 2:19 pm

      He is certainly very forgetfull he can’t even remember if he was pro-tour or not.According to Tom Scott (channel 7) last week Scott says that Key was pro-tour.I find that rather disturbing .how can a person of Jewish decent support apartheid ? I have never heard of it before, what a two faced slime bag this Key is . Love of money is what drives him ,it will be his failure maybe sooner than we think.

      • Te Reo Putake 5.1.1
        3 July 2012 at 2:41 pm

        To be fair, Postie, Key isn’t a devout Jew. He seems to hedge on his religious beliefs, much like he does on any issue that requires him to make a moral judgement.
         
        Apartheid South Africa’s most consistent international friend during the eighties, and a regular sanction buster, was Israel. Mainly for business reasons, I suspect. Ironic, huh?

      • jack 5.1.2
        4 July 2012 at 3:36 pm

        I remember his response in the last debate with Helen Clark. He was going to school and didn’t care at all about the demonstrations. He said he was studying and dating his girlfriend which I believe is his wife, not sure. Anyway, fast forward and things have changed a little. He’s making a shit load of money off the taxpayer’s back instead of studying and he’s doing to this country now what he was trying to do to his girlfriend back then.

  6. Newt 6
    2 July 2012 at 1:17 pm

    It’s not online on The Herald… but if you want to share it on Facebook use this one: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150904947906190

    • Akldnut 6.1
      2 July 2012 at 4:31 pm

      I shared that link on facebook yesterday morning and it was still up last night but it’s gone now.
      Methinks the influence of the govt over facebook in NZ may have had a bit to play!
      I’m glad someone saved it.

  7. Phaedrus 7
    2 July 2012 at 1:19 pm

    DomPost Saturday 30th June 2012

  9. ropata 9
    2 July 2012 at 1:57 pm

    The biggest bludgers in NZ are not welfare beneficiaries…

    • Draco T Bastard 9.1
      2 July 2012 at 5:45 pm

      The biggest bludgers have always been the rich. They bludge off the work of everyone else and whinge when everyone else wants more their own wealth.

      • Frank Macskasy 9.1.1
        2 July 2012 at 9:49 pm

        Indeed, Draco.

        But I nthink, this time, they’ve scored an own-goal with their greed. Chester Borrows was only too happy to make an admission on the last episode of ‘Backbenches’. If this isn’t a comnflict of interest – I don’t know what is…

        “Conflicts of Interest?”
        – http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/conflicts-of-interest/

        I’ve emailed a link to my blogpost to the msm. It’ll be interesting what, if anything develops from this…

  10. captain hook 10
    2 July 2012 at 2:16 pm

    thats right.
    all asset buyers should be drug tested.

    • weka 10.1
      2 July 2012 at 3:04 pm

      And be sterilised.

      • TheContrarian 10.1.1
        2 July 2012 at 3:08 pm

        I should be sterilised for wanting to purchase shares in Mighty River? 

        Interesting perspective 

        • felix 10.1.1.1
          2 July 2012 at 5:58 pm

          The justification for drug-testing beneficiaries is that being in receipt of public money carries certain obligations, one of those is that the money is not being spent on drugs.

          If you make a profit from our energy companies it could be argued that you’re in receipt of the benefit of the hard work and taxes of several generations of New Zealanders that it took to build up those energy and profit-producing assets, and that you owe an obligation that their hard work and taxes are not being frittered away on your drug habit.

          It’s a spurious argument in some respects, I know, but in others it’s not far removed from the one Paula Bennett is using.

          • TheContrarian 10.1.1.1.1
            2 July 2012 at 6:15 pm

            I don’t agree with drug testing of beneficiaries.

            • felix 10.1.1.1.1.1
              2 July 2012 at 6:25 pm

              Nor do I. And not with drug-testing the beneficiaries of share floats either. Or the beneficiaries of family trusts or anything else.

              But It might be interesting to see someone argue for one but not the other.

            • McFlock 10.1.1.1.1.2
              2 July 2012 at 8:57 pm

              Actually the issue was sterilization of beneficaries of asset sales.
                     
              Sadly, while tempting, it rests on the logic of euthenasia. The fact is that behavioural variation within chromosomal variation is wider than that between chomosomal variation. So sterilizining people who think “society” is spelt with an “m” and an “e” will not produce the desired result, i.e. a society made of people who know that profiteering off their neighbours weakens all concerned.

            • Frank Macskasy 10.1.1.1.1.3
              2 July 2012 at 9:52 pm

              +1

              I wonder if we can breath-test politicians who have been drinking booze at work?

              “I’m sorry, Minister, but that’s a ‘positive’ return. I now require you to accompany me to an authorised place for an evidential breath test or blood sample…”

        • mike e 10.1.1.2
          2 July 2012 at 8:04 pm

          You need adult nappies incontenaryan

          • TheContrarian 10.1.1.2.1
            2 July 2012 at 8:12 pm

            Another of those high quality comments that makes The Standard an enlightening, adult and intellectual resource for the studious left-wing man (or woman) of today.

            Hat’s off to you mike e.

      • ropata 10.1.2
        2 July 2012 at 3:08 pm

        And regularly humiliated and required to justify their existence

        • TheContrarian 10.1.2.1
          2 July 2012 at 3:13 pm

          well, I haven’t decided yet anyway – see what my financial advisor  recommends.

          • John M 10.1.2.1.1
            2 July 2012 at 4:13 pm

            He’d probably recommend regular humiliation, wouldn’t he? I don’t think financial advisors do justification of your existence very well. He’d probably have to refer you on for that.

            • TheContrarian 10.1.2.1.1.1
              2 July 2012 at 4:23 pm

              I generally only accept financial advice from him.
              But hey, if shares in NZ companies are to be floated better I buy them than a foreigner, no? 

              • John M …
                2 July 2012 at 4:36 pm

                Well, only if you think it’d be easier for government to buy them back, but I think the best bet is for Shearer and the Greens to say now that they’d re-nationalise and at the rate the shares are sold for, no inflation adjustment, to put all buyers off which would have the effect of scuppering the greedy bastards’ plan – like when locals quite rightly trash buildings put up on waterfront sub-divisions sold for millions but which are potentially subject to claims and which the Crown didn’t have the balls to buy – a bit of direct action.

                • Rodel …
                  2 July 2012 at 5:39 pm

                  John M Yes Yes Yes! C’mon Shearer..Show some grit..Show me why I should vote for you.

                • Ben …
                  4 July 2012 at 1:17 pm

                  I don’t understand why they haven’t said this.

                  I suppose it may be because the books might look quite unhealthy /when/ the left get in 2014. (The books looking bad that’s probably a safe assumption given who’s currently at the wheel and how much of a hash they’re making of economic policy.)

                  Given that it might be financially irresponsible to re-nationalise in 2014 – and you can bet that NActUF will try to make it a financial impossibility – it would have to be couched in language where it was a serious threat rather than a promise. Promote it well enough and say that the shares will be bought back at original cost price (no inflation), and that should get investors worried: Who’d want to put thousands of dollars in to an investment for a 0% return? (Could even be a negative return once inflation is taken into account.)

                  Getting that message out would decrease the value of the shares, making NActUF’s figures even more shakey, and damaging the (already brittle) case for their sale in the first place.

                  Sounds like a good idea to me.

                  • Frank Macskasy …
                    4 July 2012 at 2:36 pm

                    “Getting that message out would decrease the value of the shares, making NActUF’s figures even more shakey, and damaging the (already brittle) case for their sale in the first place.”

                    Precisely.

                    The only way to undermine and subvert National’s campaign.

                  • why pay? …
                    4 July 2012 at 3:41 pm

                    I agree Ben, but here’s a stronger idea:

                    John M said “the best bet is for Shearer and the Greens to say now that they’d re-nationalise and at the rate the shares are sold for, no inflation adjustment”

                    If buyers are clearly warned with big, strong “caveat emptor” signals from credible future governments, then why do those clear warnings need to promise to pay the IPO price?

                    Why not clearly warn prospective buyers that the “re-nationalise” price will be $zero?

                    • Frank Macskasy …
                      5 July 2012 at 8:26 pm

                      Because that would spook the Middle Classes, ‘Why Pay’, and we’d end up with a Thousand Year Reign of the Key Reich.

                      We want to sooth the punters – not freak’em out and send them into the waiting arms of Key & Co…

              • bbfloyd …
                2 July 2012 at 4:49 pm

                No difference little cont….. you have no more interest in the health of nz society than any corporation ceo sitting in his office in “hawaii”…

                You havn’t even the wit to hide your smugness over your wealth…..

                What would be the odds on arseholes selling their shares to those same corporations the second they make a better profit from that than any dividends payable?

                Evens, i would confidently guess….

                • TheContrarian …
                  2 July 2012 at 4:55 pm

                  Funnily enough I was thinking about taking a Christmas holiday to Hawaii because they had some good specials at Flight Centre. 

                  (FYI – As a member of NZ society I am keenly interested in its health.)

              • darkhorse …
                3 July 2012 at 10:31 pm

                Amazing how people like the contrarian think that selling  power companies they already own so they can buy them back in a different form so they can pay higher power bills to get a better return on their investment makes sense.

                Maybe he should just keep warm by burning his money in the fireplace – it is a more direct way of getting rid of it and no less wasteful

                I wish I could find gullible fools like him to do deals with.

              • Frank Macskasy …
                4 July 2012 at 2:44 pm

                No.

                Because unless you have money saved, if potential investors have to borrow money from the babk to buy shares – then that’s pretty much the same as people borrowing money to buy investment properties.

                Essentially, it’s specualtion using funds borrowed from offshore – worsening our private debt.

                “Key: Private sector debt NZ’s biggest concern”
                http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10765329

                “NZ dangerously in debt: top businessman ”
                http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/5051060/NZ-dangerously-in-debt-top-businessman

                Which is ironic, considering Dear Leader recently said that investing in SOE shares is better than rental properties… Twat.

          • mike e 10.1.2.1.2
            2 July 2012 at 9:15 pm

            the incontenaryan Poise

        • mike e 10.1.2.2
          2 July 2012 at 9:17 pm

          He would recommend Poise

  11. guestasaurusrex 11
    2 July 2012 at 2:31 pm

    Does anyone know an online source for the video clip? There’s this one where he says the same quote, but not in relation to asset sales http://www.3news.co.nz/Whizz-kid-John-Key-in-1987—video/tabid/423/articleID/173895/Default.aspx

  12. captain hook 12
    2 July 2012 at 2:45 pm

    who makes money out of asset sales?
    the insiders in the know who can buy cheap and sell dear.

  13. Rupert 13
    2 July 2012 at 2:56 pm

    Of course, this was without a buyer’s bonus, which the Nats are suggesting this time.

  14. PoliticallyCorrected 14
    2 July 2012 at 3:27 pm

    Old piece from Fran O’Sullivan:-

    Key believes too much of New Zealand’s foreign investment has been based on investment in existing businesses – not on completely new ventures.

    “From New Zealand’s perspective there is the opportunity, if we wish to consider it, of saying how can we explore and grow new industries.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/company-taxation/news/article.cfm?c_id=691&objectid=10336608

    • Frank Macskasy 14.1
      4 July 2012 at 2:46 pm

      Ta for that, PC.

      Interesting and useful, as a backgrounder.

      Strangely, it has no date of publication… Bugger.

    • Frank Macskasy 14.2
      4 July 2012 at 2:49 pm

      Hmmm, according to Iain Parker, writing 13 Apr 12, 8:30pm on Interest.co.nz;

      “Quite ironic that John Key who played a major part in Ireland banking crisis induced receivership from other side of the fence now downunder overseeing that of New Zealand;
      Article by Fran O’Sullivan titled – Key chases luck o’ the Irish – published New Zealand Herald July 20 2005”

  15. PoliticallyCorrected 15
    2 July 2012 at 3:32 pm

    I want to see a clip of Chester Burrows on the last Back Benchers show crowing how he is a “Mum & Dad investor” with a his parliamentary salary flashing up on the screen, and how much he received in tax cuts. Would be good to see that done with any politician who has said on camera they would buy shares in the asset sell down.

  16. Alison Withers 16
    2 July 2012 at 5:14 pm

    I’m still researching to find out where the source of this article is from, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was created by one of those online newspaper generators that chop off the newspaper name, Lol, but it’s definitely doing the rounds on facebook now. 🙂

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=434806936551017&set=a.111096488922065.9523.100000651420214&type=1

    [Bunji: it’s the same one the posts about, so it’s DomPost Saturday 30th June 2012, page A23 – but good to have another facebook link to share as the previous ones have been taken down… Looks like people will have to keep putting it up…]

  17. Karl Sinclair 17
    3 July 2012 at 11:23 am

    Just for the fun of it (believe it or not), lets look at the book ‘People of the lie, by M. Scott Peck (a book about evil)
    and compare that to Mien Leader J. Keys:

    Page 129 “Evil people would be distinguished by these traits:

    a) Consistent destructive, scapegoating behavior, which may often be quite subtle
    b) Excessive, albeit usually covert, intolerance to criticism and other forms of narcissistic injury
    c) Pronounced concern with a public image and self-image of respectability, contributing to a stability of lifestyle but also to pretentiousness and denial of hateful feelings or vengeful motives.
    d) intellectual deviousness, with an increased likelihood of a mild schizophreniclike disturbance of thinking at times of stress.”

    Page 104 “Those who are evil are masters of disguise; they are not apt to wittingly disclose their true colors – either to others or to themselves. It is not without reason that the serpent is renowned for his subtlety. We therefore cannot pass judgment on a person for a single act. Instead judgment must be made on the basis of a whole PATTERN of acts as well as their manner and style.”

    People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil
    by M. Scott Peck, M.D.

    “This is a dangerous book.” warns M. Scott Peck in the first sentence of “People of the Lie.” It’s true. Reading this best-selling book is a look straight into the face of evil.

    This and Peck’s other book, “The Road Less Traveled,” were mentioned in a sermon I enjoyed in mid 1998. I got this book expecting discussions of Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin and other monsters from the past. Instead, Peck uses “case studies” from his practice (altered to protect the identities of the patients) to illustrate his points and explain clinical concepts (e.g. psychopathology, revulsion countertransference, and malignant narcissism) for the lay reader. Despite Peck’s claim that the scientific integrity was not compromised in these alterations, I had initial difficulty with these examples. But as I saw traces of people I have met or read about, I began to trust his judgment.

    Peck carefully lays the logical groundwork for his theory, a psychology of evil, and also professes his personal Christian faith. His religious perspective may cause some to question his objectivity. After all, evil has mostly been relegated to the realm of religion. Exactly for this reason it seems to me to be more of an asset than a liability. Evil has been observed, documented, and battled by religious people for centuries and this body of knowledge cannot be ignored. In any case, a true scientist reveals all relevant facts and lets those reviewing his work judge for themselves. Incidentally, Peck makes no apologies for his faith

  18. Lloyd 18
    3 July 2012 at 8:13 pm

    Surely the drug-testing should be a requirement of any board-member or CEO of any of the publicly stolen companies.

    Hang on, shouldn’t it be the board of any public company?

  19. darkhorse 19
    5 July 2012 at 8:08 am

    And now Bill English is saying the average household can put their average life savings of $1000 into power company shares so that they can get better returns on their money from this investment. They can use what is left of the interest after they have paid tax in the interest to pay the additional cost of electricity that will be required to pay the higher returns on the asset.

    And this fool is running our economy. 

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    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

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