Sex & the Supercity

Written By: - Date published: 10:56 am, March 21st, 2010 - 52 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, democracy under attack - Tags: , , , , ,

For several months, my fellow author on The Standard, Sam Cash, has been covering the opening moves in the Supercity mayoralty race, particularly the problems faced by John Banks. Sam has gone so far as to say that the Right (the Citizens and Ratepayers group, effectively National) would soon look to switch their support from Banks to someone else.

As far back as November, Sam gave us the tip that Jenny Shipley would be chosen as an alternative Right candidate to challenge Banks.

Fran O’Sullivan has now confirmed that Shipley was approached but turned down the offer (she’s looking at being unelected dictator of Canterbury’s water supply for the  next four years instead) and that a sizable faction of the Right is still looking for an alternative to Banks, preferably a woman.

So why has the Right gone dark on Banks? Quite simply, as O’Sullivan admits, because he won’t win. None of the polls have put him ahead of Len Brown. Most have put him a long way behind. Banks simply does not represent most Aucklanders. And Brown has the advantage (or should have the advantage) of support from Left-leaning mayors in Waitakere and the North Shore.

Moreover, Banks has the burden of being associated with the undemcoratic and rushed process of forcing the unwanted Supercity on the people of Auckland. He is the chosen candidate of the very people who are creating the Supercity. Rodney Hide has gone so far as to label him a “super mayor” – an outrage in itself, the Minister responsible for creating the supercity also endorsing a candidate.

From the beginning it was clear that the Supercity was being created for the Right, by the Right. The system has been gerrymandered from the start to give more voting power to right-wing constituencies. When they thought their candidate would be super-mayor, the Right were planning to make that office all-powerful.

But things have changed now. Brown is out in front. Any late-comer Right candidate is more likely to split support from Banks than Brown. If Brown keeps it together, he is odds-on favourite.

So, we’re seeing these late changes in tactic from the Right. Trying to get in a woman in the cynical belief that a woman will draw left-leaning votes. Making the ‘council-controlled organisation’ that will run Auckland’s water and roading anything but council-controlled. Refusing to let right-leaving areas of Rodney, Papakura, and Franklin stay out of the Supercity despite overwhelming public opposition.

Gone are their hubristic dreams of John Banks ruling Auckland for business with a free hand. Now their attention is on last-ditch bids to stop Brown or constrain him once he wins.

All in all, this just confirms what a cynical and politically-driven process this whole Supercity process has been. It is undemocratic to its core. It is not about ‘growth’ or creating a better city. It is about securing power (and, thereby, wealth) for the city’s right-wing elite.

Now their plans are falling apart around them. It’s fun to watch.

52 comments on “Sex & the Supercity ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Kevin Welsh 1
    21 March 2010 at 11:24 am

    Whilst it has been fun to watch, Eddie, there is far too much at stake for the right to let Len Brown waltz on in as the mayor by default because they can’t get their shit together.

    What is still under wraps to be played at the last minute?

  2. Anne 2
    21 March 2010 at 11:25 am

    Rumour abounds that another attempt to topple Rodney Hide as Act leader is imminent. If it’s true would that affect the Supercity machinations? Will JK step in again? If he deosn’t, will Hide retain his local government porfolio? It looks like things are hotting up!

  3. Ianmac 3
    21 March 2010 at 11:26 am

    How about getting Michele Boag for Super Mayor? She has the strings to pull and connections to top movers and shakers like Steve Rejoyce. And able to be ruthless, single minded and impervious to whining lefties. 🙂

  4. Anne 4
    21 March 2010 at 11:34 am

    damm – bad typos again.

  5. tsmithfield 5
    21 March 2010 at 12:05 pm

    Surely if those malevolent right wing forces are secretly plotting to win the Auckland mayoralty, then selecting another candidate to compete against Banks would simply split the vote, thus reducing the likelihood of a right-wing candidate winning.

    Surely, a good test for whether those dastardly right wing forces really are plotting behind the scenes would be for another candidate to be selected, and at the same time have Banks mysteriously eliminated from the race, thus removing the problem of vote splitting.

    If theses forces are prepared to go that far, surely a simpler solution for them would be to find a way to eliminate Len Brown. Arsenic in his coffee perhaps?

    • Ari 5.1
      21 March 2010 at 3:08 pm

      Assassination really isn’t funny.

      Nothing short of intimidation is going to make John Banks back down, and I think the government is wisely giving up on that idea for now. 😉 None of that, however, does anything to mitigate the blatant attempt at stacking local democracy to make it easier for the Right to win control.

      Democratic structure should be about what’s fair, not who wins.

  7. wyndham 7
    21 March 2010 at 1:50 pm

    One imagines that the right-wing spin meisters will be hard at work trying to rake up muck on Len Brown. In fact, I’ll bet on it.

    • Daveski 7.1
      21 March 2010 at 2:57 pm

      Why would the right bother to use failed left tactics?

      • r0b 7.1.1
        21 March 2010 at 6:50 pm

        You can say that with a straight face Daveski? The right have gone further than the left ever have, with private detectives stalking Clark and family.

        • Daveski 7.1.1.1
          21 March 2010 at 7:14 pm

          My usual beef tho r0b that there’s the white hat/black hat mantra with the respective roles reversed at KB. It’s kind of ironic that no one bothered to dig up dirt on Georgina Beyer and her life experiences hardly detracted from her ability to perform as an MP ironically, in somewhat of a conservative electorate.

          • r0b 7.1.1.1.1
            21 March 2010 at 7:36 pm

            My usual beef tho r0b that there’s the white hat/black hat mantra with the respective roles reversed at KB

            Pick a war. Any war. Any big debate (abortion, creationism, global warming). Each side is going to claim the white hat and paint the others as black.

            The claims themselves don’t make a side right or wrong.

            The claims themselves don’t make each side as good or bad as each other.

            One side has the truth on their side. So you have to put the rhetoric aside and look at the facts, and work it out. One side is right. Question is, which one?

  8. gingercrush 8
    21 March 2010 at 2:14 pm

    What evidence do you have to support this: The system has been gerrymandered from the start to give more voting power to right-wing constituencies.

  9. Parnell Boy 9
    21 March 2010 at 3:22 pm

    Looks like the baseless attacks have started on Len Brown “Mayor expects attacks” – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10633312&ref=rss

    Brown seems like a genuinely nice guy, I don’t think gutter politics will work against him.

  10. prism 10
    21 March 2010 at 3:33 pm

    ” Making the ‘council-controlled organisation’ that will run Auckland’s water and roading anything but council-controlled. Refusing to let right-leaving areas of Rodney, Papakura, and Franklin stay out of the Supercity despite overwhelming public opposition.”

    Should that be ‘right-leaning areas’?

    The Right could be so anxious to prevent someone not their choice taking the lead that they will present a spoiler to John Banks with a giant campaign to influence the dazed voter at the end to boost the one who turns out top of the focus group pops.

  11. tsmithfield 11
    21 March 2010 at 4:05 pm

    A very deep and nefarious trick those shadowy right-winged conspirators could use would be to set up an apparent left-leaning front to appoint another popular left leaning candidate to run against Len Brown. This could have the affect of splitting the left-vote and allowing a right-wing candidate to come up through the middle.

    So, be wary if another popular left-leaning candidate comes on the scene. It could be part of the grand right-winged conspiratorial plot.

    • felix 11.1
      21 March 2010 at 4:21 pm

      Don’t be a silly goose txxxxxxxxxx, everybody knows there’s no scheming, plotting, backroom deals or treachery in politics and you’d be a complete fucking moron to suggest otherwise.

  12. tsmithfield 12
    21 March 2010 at 4:43 pm

    Felix “Don’t be a silly goose txxxxxxxxxx, everybody knows there’s no scheming, plotting, backroom deals or treachery in politics and you’d be a complete fucking moron to suggest otherwise.”

    There’s more conspiracy theory oozing from other contributors than you’d get from a busload of Ian Wisharts, so there must be something to it.

    If the right-wingers were to cunningly put up a well-funded left-leaning campaign to oppose Len Brown, so that left is attacking the left, which would have a much greater effect in damaging the overall vote for the left than it would be if the right was attacking the left.

    • Pascal's bookie 12.1
      21 March 2010 at 4:55 pm

      But you’d have to find someone as stupid as Ralph Nader to git ‘er done. That kind of stupid doesn’t came around that often on the left.

      • tsmithfield 12.1.1
        21 March 2010 at 5:20 pm

        PB: “But you’d have to find someone as stupid as Ralph Nader to git ‘er done. That kind of stupid doesn’t came around that often on the left.”

        Who said anything about stupid? From what I read here, those on the right have limitless wealth, while those on the left are as poor as church mice. All the right has to do is bribe someone on the left to do their bidding.

        • felix 12.1.1.1
          21 March 2010 at 5:27 pm

          Ah, now I get it. You really are a complete fucking moron.

        • Draco T Bastard 12.1.1.2
          21 March 2010 at 6:27 pm

          I know you’re a moron TS and that this may go over your head but there’s these things called principles – the political left have them and the political right don’t. What it means, in general, is that the political left, unlike the political right, can’t be bought.

  13. tsmithfield 13
    21 March 2010 at 5:25 pm

    PB “But you’d have to find someone as stupid as Ralph Nader to git ‘er done. That kind of stupid doesn’t came around that often on the left.”

    Who said anything about finding someone stupid enough? As we all know, the right have cornered 99.999% of the wealth in the world while those on the left are as poor as church mice. So all that the right need to do is to bribe someone to do their bidding.

    • Pascal's bookie 13.1
      21 March 2010 at 6:32 pm

      Where it falls down is that the person would need to take the bribe, which would make them unelectable when it comes out. And with any leftie prominent enough to be worth bribing, it would come out, because the money would need to be explained somehow to the lefties they want votes from.

      Like I said, you’d need a Nader.

      That’s why it’s stupid. And sure there has probably been other things said that are just as stupid, but what sort of defence is that? And it’s not like you don’t have form in the stupid stakes. Remember all that stupid you were bleating about Worth?

      Folks here do

  14. tsmithfield 14
    21 March 2010 at 5:46 pm

    Sorry about the repeat comment above. The first one didn’t seem to go through so I re-did it, now there are two replies.

    Felix: “Ah, now I get it. You really are a complete fucking moron.”

    Have you ever heard of “taking the piss”. Is anything I’ve written above that dramatically different from a lot of the conspiratorial sort of stuff others have written here? If I’m a “complete fucking moron” what does that say about everyone else?

    • felix 14.1
      21 March 2010 at 6:29 pm

      Yes, what you’ve written is vastly different from what others are saying. The fact that you are too thick to see how is what identifies you as a moron.

  15. tsmithfield 15
    21 March 2010 at 6:39 pm

    Felix: “Yes, what you’ve written is vastly different from what others are saying. The fact that you are too thick to see how is what identifies you as a moron.”

    Is it really that different, Felix? In the opening article Eddie suggested a conspiracy by the right in supposedly putting forward a female candidate to compete an electoral race that already included another strong right-wing candidate, John Banks. As I pointed out earlier, this move would only split the right vote and make it easier for the left to win. So that seems like just as stupid reason to suggest a conspiracy as anything I have written. Just as the song says: I “didn’t start the fire”.

    • felix 15.1
      21 March 2010 at 7:05 pm

      You’re a moron because you don’t know what “conspire” means yet you try to make fun of those who do.

      Your entire attempt at humour on this lovely day is premised on the idea that politics doesn’t involve people conspiring which is patently absurd.

      That you can’t figure this out yourself renders you a moron.

      Just let me know if you need it explained again, dummy.

  16. tsmithfield 16
    21 March 2010 at 7:20 pm

    Felix “Your entire attempt at humour on this lovely day is premised on the idea that politics doesn’t involve people conspiring which is patently absurd.”

    You are the one who seems to have problems with comprehension, Felix.

    My “attempt at humour” has been based on the premise that when people do conspire they will at least have the intelligence to do it for logical reasons that have some prospect of working.

    See, my opening post on this topic stated: “Surely if those malevolent right wing forces are secretly plotting to win the Auckland mayoralty, then selecting another candidate to compete against Banks would simply split the vote, thus reducing the likelihood of a right-wing candidate winning.”

    As far-fetched and absurd my alternative conspiracy theories have been, at least it is more logical than what Eddie was suggesting at the outset.

    My point to all this is that if you’re going to believe a conspiracy, then at least put forward some rational reasons for doing so.

    • prism 16.1
      21 March 2010 at 8:42 pm

      ts No-one here except you seems to find anything humorous about the Auckland takeover. It is a serious power grab and it wasn’t thought up overnight one balmy evening by a few mates over a barbecue. There is plotting and planning here. And what makes me sick to my stomach and further, is the way that the democratic process is again being circumvented as it was in Roger’s Labour term.

      My conspiracy theory – perhaps this was thought up by people in Treasury. They have gazillions of dollars, time to set up elaborate convoluted models on their computers, and a mindset set on the distant blue horizon, like an Auckland yachtie. Perhaps you’re one of the in-group so you can feel a little smug and amused about it all.

      • tsmithfield 16.1.1
        21 March 2010 at 8:50 pm

        Prism: “ts No-one here except you seems to find anything humorous about the Auckland takeover. It is a serious power grab and it wasn’t thought up overnight one balmy evening by a few mates over a barbecue. There is plotting and planning here. And what makes me sick to my stomach and further, is the way that the democratic process is again being circumvented as it was in Roger’s Labour term.”

        I live in Christchurch, so I can find a bit more humour in the going ons in Auckland. I don’t dispute the possibility of a conspiracy of some type. However, if it is as well thought out as you say, they won’t be putting up alternative candidates to split the vote for the right as was suggested in the opening article.

        Conspiracy theories are fine if they are based on some logical rationale and evidence. What was proposed in the opening article qualified in neither respect.

        • lprent 16.1.1.1
          21 March 2010 at 9:12 pm

          The problem for the rather stupid conservative right that initiated this cockup consists of two parts

          1. They didn’t realize exactly how much this stupid set of decisions in wellington would get up aucklanders craw. This cuts across the political divide. In fact I’d say that the auckland right outside of the Panell and Remuera set detest it even more than the left. If that means we have to change the government to fix it, then that is what will happen.

          2. They didn’t realize that John Banks was detested by almost everyone outside of central Auckland, and detested by a considerable number inside central Auckland. No Amount of gerrymandering gets around this fact.

        • prism 16.1.1.2
          21 March 2010 at 9:18 pm

          ts I don’t think you, or I, are ever going to be able to match the slicing and dicing that goes on into planning political moves. You think that past observed splitting of votes by multiple candidates rules out that possibility if the right is thinking logically in Auckland. Therefore it is not worth considering. But like worms on a hook we have to keep squirming, trying to work out what is likely to happen. Political chess players like Rove in the USA and some outfit called Textor can be bought to advise on strategy. I am interested in trying to work out how ingenious they are.

          And don’t be too relaxed about Auckland’s fate, we are all in this small boat together. The population has been shifting to the top of the country with no growth in some SI cities for some time. We don’t want the two main islands to become unbalanced, the bottom half underpopulated, and ignored with Aucklanders looking towards Australia.

        • Akldnut 16.1.1.3
          21 March 2010 at 10:29 pm

          ts why the fuck are you copying and pasting everyones comments – can’t you just click on reply and then type your answer?

          Its a shame that our principles will force us to stick up for you and your ilk, if & when these clowns decide its time for the South Island to become a super city and you’ll get places like Westport, Nelson & Blenheim controlled by a Christchurch based Council. (My conspiracy theory)

          Capcha – afraid – be very, very afraid

  17. tsmithfield 17
    21 March 2010 at 8:31 pm

    Come on, Felix.

    Come back and admit you are the one who is intellectually challenged. You are very happy to throw around the adhoms and personal abuse. However, when I have clearly shown that you couldn’t grasp the clear and simple point I was making, you clam up. Come on, Felix. You can admit you were wr..wr..wr..wr. I know you can.

    Don’t show yourself up as a coward as well as thick.

    • felix 17.1
      21 March 2010 at 10:53 pm

      Sorry txxxxxx, been off living my life.

      I was clearly wrong. You’re no moron. You’re an absolute fucktard. You haven’t understood a word of what anyone has said in this thread so far, not that that’s out of character for you.

      I’m going to type this really slowly for you: You’re talking about “conspiracy theories” in a mythological sense while referring to a situation which is, of necessity and by it’s very nature, the result of many people conspiring.

      Furthermore this has been explained to you several times and you still don’t realise how utterly stupid this makes you appear.

      Now fuck off and stop trying to derail the thread so transparently and sadly.

  18. coolas 18
    21 March 2010 at 8:44 pm

    When Hide imposed the Super City his confidence included Banks as Super Mayor, and in his ego intoxication he no doubt saw himself being praised by the wealthy elite. This shallow little man with dramatically plucked eyebrows is an imposter. He has attempted to deceive the people of Auckland for fraudulent gain. Banks must be pissed with the clumsiness. He’s shrewd. Hide’s a clown. But they’re joined at the hip. Yeah Banksie will be fumin’

    Len Brown seems to be the antithesis of Hide and Banks. Humble, down to earth, man of the people. And most of all people know he’ll challenge the structure and make changes.

    Banks is gone.
    Boag’s a joke – come on!
    Len’s the Man

    • Zaphod Beeblebrox 18.1
      21 March 2010 at 9:10 pm

      The Banks camp has been desperately trying to label Len as weak, indecisive and not upfront enough to lead Auckland. Unfortunately for them Brown has a pretty impressive set of mayoral achievements. Banksie seems good at getting his photo in the social pages of the Sunday Herald but doesn’t seem that involved in day to day issues until they become newsworthy.
      Banks is sort of like reverse iceberg. All tip and no body.

  19. tsmithfield 19
    21 March 2010 at 9:50 pm

    Iprent, Prism, what solid evidence is there of a conspiracy from the right with respect to the Auckland Mayoralty. Are we talking solid facts or are we talking faked moon landing sort of stuff?

    • felix 19.1
      21 March 2010 at 11:06 pm

      Baby steps for the big blubbering baby.

      Is the supercity being designed by lefties or righties?

      One word answer if you please. Take your time.

  20. Rich 20
    21 March 2010 at 10:16 pm

    Surely they’ll just offer Banks an ambassador’s job or a high list place in a year or so, just to get him out of the way.

  21. BLiP 21
    21 March 2010 at 10:19 pm

    “Council Controlled” – my fat arse!

  22. Cactus Kate 22
    22 March 2010 at 12:42 am

    Shipley approached for Mayor? Ergh..who by? Given her inability to ever actually win an election as leader I would doubt that and is rumour-mongering by those with nothing better to do.

    I’ve heard 6 businesspeople who have been approached to stand for Mayor in Wellington and another 4 in Auckland. None of these people will stand because they are all far too sensible.

  23. tsmithfield 23
    22 March 2010 at 4:31 am

    Felix “Baby steps for the big blubbering baby.

    Is the supercity being designed by lefties or righties?

    One word answer if you please. Take your time.”

    So, this is the sum total that you have of evidence of a conspiracy, Felix? The fact it was designed by righties? So, on that basis, if it was designed by lefties, it would be a left-wing conspiracy, correct? So, your definition of a conspiracy is any time two or more people agreeing to do something?

    As I’ve already said, I have no problem with the concept of political conspiracies. However, I do expect some evidence that such things are taking place. Reading back through the threads here, there is not the slightest shred of actual evidence to support the contention of a political conspiracy with respect to Auckland.

    In my most recent post, I actually asked with genuine interest for evidence to support this conspiracy theory. However, none has been forthcoming.

    If expecting evidence and rationality is derailing a thread then I sincerely apologise.

    • felix 23.1
      22 March 2010 at 9:26 am

      No, I’m establishing that you understand who is putting this supercity thing together.

      Like I said, baby steps. Once You answer the question we can move on to establishing a few other facts, and you’ll be able to point to some of these conspiracy theories which you seem to see everywhere and we can have a discussion about them.

      But first you need to be here in good faith so we need to establish some background truths. It’s sad and pathetic to have to walk you through such boring and obvious stuff this way but that’s your choice.

      So once again, who is designing the supercity, lefties or righties?

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  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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