SkyCity a nightmare for the Nats

Written By: - Date published: 11:15 am, January 12th, 2015 - 76 comments
Categories: accountability, business, economy, john key, Steven Joyce - Tags: , , , ,

Thanks to Key’s fast and loose interpretation of proper process, SkyCity have played the government for fools. The Nats probably hoped to sweep the issue under the carpet with the traditional Christmas bad news dump (this year in brand new super-size!). No such luck. Even their most sycophantic commentators are concerned. An anonymous Herald editorial in December sums it up bluntly:

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says taxpayers are the Government’s “least preferred” solution to a blowout in the cost of SkyCity’s Auckland convention centre. He should not even think about it. One of the alternatives, he says, is an Auckland Council contribution. He should not think about that either.

Now to kick off the new year, David Fisher has the first of a two part series in The Herald:

Special report: A most unconventional agreement

After two years hammering out the agreement, SkyCity and the Government have yet to agree a design. The original timetable shows a final “detailed design” to be completed by July. The documents the Herald obtained show SkyCity started making changes almost immediately after it secured land from TVNZ in September 2013. The most significant was the placement of a 300-room hotel on the TVNZ land. SkyCity had said for years the land was needed for the convention centre.
…
At the end of last year, SkyCity said the original $402 million cost had been “revised” to $470-530 million. … Mr Morrison said SkyCity wanted a taxpayer top-up and told Radio NZ: “If New Zealand doesn’t want it … we don’t have to do this.”
…
There is nothing normal about the SkyCity deal, says international business mentor, management consultant and academic Patrick Rottiers. “Is this about the convention centre or about extending a virtual monopoly? The two are strongly linked from the beginning.”

Long time Standard author Eddie predicted this mess back in 2012 (see lprent’s recent review) – so why was no one in government able to see it?

Far from fading away into the Christmas haze, this looks likely to be one of the defining political issues for 2015. It highlights National’s poor process and the incompetence of two of their leading players, Key and Joyce. They will be desperate to at least avoid coughing up taxpayers’ money for SkyCity’s new demands. But SkyCity have leverage, if they walk away that is a disaster for National too (though good for NZ!). Expect some sort of messy compromise and claims of victory all round.

76 comments on “SkyCity a nightmare for the Nats ”

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  1. OhMyGodYes 1
    12 January 2015 at 11:26 am

    National = the Banana Republican Party

  2. karol 2
    12 January 2015 at 11:32 am

    Yes. Well said, Anthony.

    I’m not sure it’s showing up Key and Joyce’s incompetence, as much as their MO. They didn’t expect to get such media coverage, maybe? Thought they could get away with the public spin, while doing various anti-democratic machinations in the background?

  3. Draco T Bastard 3
    12 January 2015 at 11:50 am

    But SkyCity have leverage, if they walk away that is a disaster for National too (though good for NZ!). Expect some sort of messy compromise and claims of victory all round.

    The government should just be annulling the deal and taking back the land – all without compensation due to SkyCity breaking the deal. But, as you say, we’ll probably see some messy stitch-up deal that will end up costing us $600m+ for something that we don’t want and wont be used.

    • Colonial Rawshark 3.1
      12 January 2015 at 11:54 am

      Oh I think the Convention Centre will indeed be used – by the National Party annual conference.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1
        12 January 2015 at 11:55 am

        And that’ll probably be paid for by us as well.

      • ShoreGirl 3.1.2
        12 January 2015 at 8:00 pm

        And the Nats have used the well-priced Sky City suites, catering and conference facilities for years. The $10k per table fundraisers, that allowed the Tobacco lobby and others to flow money to the Nats, mostly took place there.

        Sky City has a very advanced, and necessary, HD CC system that allows their large security team to monitor just about everything that goes on in the massive campus.

        I doubt Len was the only guest to be indescrete at Sky City.

        Sky’s management are very well informed.

    • nadis 3.2
      12 January 2015 at 3:16 pm

      Bear in mind the contract would have been negotiated by MBIE so good luck with the govt finding sympathetic outs. This shambles, and a donation to the next Americas Cup campaign are both a step too far for many people I know.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.2.1
        12 January 2015 at 6:08 pm

        This was always going to be a shambles because it was a corrupt deal from the very beginning. That said, the government doesn’t actually have to find sympathetic outs as SkyCity has already given them one as it’s them who are set to break the deal by refusing to build it for the agreed price.

  4. Atiawa 4
    12 January 2015 at 11:57 am

    SkyCity have the deal of the century – additional pokie machines, a monopoly, Asian tourists who love to gamble and an extended licence period (2040+).
    We were told by the government that this deal was a win – win. SkyCity said jobs would be created and the convention centre would be great for the country & especially Auckland city.
    They should be told to get on and build the place or move them on.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1
      12 January 2015 at 12:45 pm

      The Left must explain to them in no uncertain terms that future governments will not be bound by bribes accepted by the National Party.

  5. upnorth 5
    12 January 2015 at 12:28 pm

    Has anyone caught the sickening PR ad’s about how skycity cares for Auckland/workers/sport teams etc that ran pre-xmas??

    Saw one on Maori TV, was stunned at how dishonest it all seemed.

    The PR campaign to steal our money has well and truly begun. The focus seemed to be on “our Auckland” so looks like they are eyeing up the ratepayers funds.

  6. Psycho Milt 6
    12 January 2015 at 12:35 pm

    SkyCity a nightmare for the Nats

    Excellent – they’ve worked so hard to earn it.

  7. tracey 7
    12 January 2015 at 12:39 pm

    And SkyCity used Christmas to launch it’s we are good for Auckland and are kind and benevolent employers, campaign…

    They have a carefully constructed campaign to rort us, first the taxpayers, then the ratepayers and all for their shareholders.

    Auckland
    Christchurch
    Queenstown
    Wellington

    ALL building new international convention centres in a convention market that the Govt report said would struggle to make ONE viable.

    • Sacha 7.1
      12 January 2015 at 1:34 pm

      As has been pointed out before, the proposed Auckland convention centre is in a different global market because of its size. Even then it seems they are assuming only ten max-sized events each year. The other new centres are rubbish, for sure.

      • tracey 7.1.1
        12 January 2015 at 1:36 pm

        dont you believe it. Queenstown will get competition from international orgs looking to host in a great place.

        Aucklands convention centre is an excuse for Sky City to expand, nothing more. Aotea centre was the forerunner and it was a bloody white elephant too.

  8. Matthew Hooton 8
    12 January 2015 at 12:45 pm

    Any government that gets mixed up in deals like this deserves all the blowback this one is getting. Among other things, 1984 was about putting an end to this nonsense.

    • greywarshark 8.1
      12 January 2015 at 1:05 pm

      MH
      I think Orwell was onto it.

    • Once was Tim 8.2
      12 January 2015 at 1:57 pm

      Then you’ll have no problem sometime in the future @ Matthew (with 2 ‘t’s for tit and tat) when some forensic accounting is done. Nothing is permanent as they say, and as you’ve agreed in the past on “From the Right ……. and ………From the Right” – a new gubbamint is not constricted by a previous one (indeed even retro legalisms can be fair play).
      I’m just wondering which ‘side’ you’ll be on when compensation is sought (and taken if necessary by way of legislative means). I bet it’ll be the same side as the likes of Rodinus Hydus screaming “property rights and theft” whilst wondering whether trendy-high-fashion-labelled-underwear is still appropriate other than his Jockey y fronts in anything other than white [just so his skid marks don’t show].
      I’m not sure the left has got its shit together enough thus far to see the legitimacy in such a proposal (but as I say – nothing is forever as those damn pesky Murrays have learned – along with their bloody Murray Courts, and their bloody inconvenient decisions, and their bloody Murray Jujizz – they’re all getting a bit earta hen eh? Mat-t-hew/!).
      When it does all come to pass tho’ Ma-t-t-hew – please keep the hissy fit screaming down a peg (such as that regular gal even doesn’t need to feel embarrassed by the proposition; Oik can keep his “tends to agreements” to a respectable level, such that we know he’s at least A BIT Labour ), and the rest of us as an audience can actually engage – without thinking of youse fellas as complete fuckin idiots who’ve become so ‘bubble inflicted’ they’ve lost the capacity to see the BLEEDING OBVIOUS.
      I was thinking (btw) that ‘ole Croz Textor – and even that [pathetic specimen on the Kepti Carz – Croz Walsh – [shadz of that fek checka that regularly pops his gery/beige irrelevant bullshit head up on here sometimes – Pete…. Pete….. oh yes Pete George)] must be worried and thinking about the next load of spinmeistering – especially given gai Pareeeee [could be a game changer eh? ma-t-t-hew??? ]. You’ll be earning your keep pretty soon. Maybe even sooner than soon (You should maybe go back thru’ the archives to check the previous bullshit and see if there is some way in which you can reconcile it all and appear rational)
      Remember tho’ – in any good fascistic operation – you need to keep the people involved in enforcement sweet’.
      You should be proposing bonus payments for the Polis and Army Corporals maybe – and perhaps a few in the SIS and GCSB (but remember they have la famile they gotta keep sweet as well). I note Greg O’C missed out on the “on-us” list this year.
      I suspect this year @ mat-t-hew. just clipping the tukit and adding a bit of jist could ekshly be a but more chellingjing. But then you’ll have had ‘learnings’ (of the Simon Brudjizz koind) from 2014 of course.

      • Shona 8.2.1
        12 January 2015 at 3:04 pm

        Take a bow Tim,that’s some funny sh** in that rave. Having been driven indoors by the Aussie like heat we’re experiencing at present in the Far North I slump down in front of the Standard to be entertained so brilliantly. You’ve made my day mate!

        • Oncw was Tim 8.2.1.1
          13 January 2015 at 11:51 am

          Yea well …. unfortunately my visits here have to be intermittent for various reasons (child-minding duties and often unreliable access to the electronic media). When I do get the chance, The Standard is a sight worth visiting to get a glimpse of how ‘the left’ is thinking.
          It’s not my site and I have no right to make judgements – just observations. One such observation is that whenever the likes of a Hooten or a Mapp, or various others (whether dressed up in a variety of pseudonyms – as is their right) – you can be sure of an agenda.
          I’m considering a self-imposed ban because (as Paul and others have pointed out previously), wading through complete kaka and the bullshit of the ‘diversionaries’ – the Hootens, the Mapps, the Georges, etc., is really rather tedious and frustrating – but of course that’s PART of their agenda. Can’t moan tho’ eh? if we subscribe to the idea (as opposed to the principles) of ‘free speech’. (Those ‘diversionaries’ actually seek to suppress by means of running ‘flak’). I’m actually surprised I haven’t been banned, but as I say, I’ve been considering a self-imposed one. I know I’ve gotten a bit personal at times (such as with Rinny Ryan – the work-life-balanced regular gal, and the Hooten – but I always think …………. what’s source for the goose is sauce for the gandar (and if you did a basic content analysis of an Oik Williams contribution to MSM, you could be excused for thinking he is a neo-lib rat. Similarly if you did same on Natrad/Rinny Ryan’s “From the Right and From the Right” – little Matty’s hissyfits – when proven wrong to the extent they’re ekshly embarrassing go without sanction)

          So yea …….. like 50% of the population – it’s probably easier to just disengage and ignore the fucking lot of them (which is of course what they want). I’d rather use the source for the goose is sauce for the gandar option no matter what the consequence. Fuk em all – the long, the short and the tall

    • Murray Rawshark 8.3
      12 January 2015 at 3:47 pm

      Yep, that book was indeed prophetic. Having to pay more is just another boot to the face.

      • Paul 8.3.1
        12 January 2015 at 3:50 pm

        Hooton quoting 1984.
        What a joke!

        • Ovid 8.3.1.1
          12 January 2015 at 4:31 pm

          I’d hazard Hooton meant the Fourth Labour Government and its ushering in of the Public Finance Act, the State Sector Act and all the other administrative tools shepherded by Sir Geoffrey Palmer for the sound public administration of the country.

          As it happens, Orwell published his book with the title spelled out as Nineteen-Eighty-Four, although some editions do have a numeric title.

          • Lanthanide 8.3.1.1.1
            12 January 2015 at 6:43 pm

            Yip, pretty clear that’s what Hooton meant.

            “all the other administrative tools shepherded by Sir Geoffrey Palmer for the sound public administration of the country.”

            Unfortunately he didn’t also shepard through legislation to prevent the bullshitting Key and English get up to, such as the supposed decade of deficits (which they’ve now almost realised themselves), fairies at the bottom of the garden printing money, the “tax-switch”, the bollocks that only 30% (or whatever it is) of households pay tax, etc.

  9. Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 9
    12 January 2015 at 12:45 pm

    I would hate to think how much money SkyCity has been *donating* to the National Party, whether disclosed or through hidden ways.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 9.1
      12 January 2015 at 1:08 pm

      The best way is using a legitimate company, let say a polling company, lets say Curia.

      You run some market research, polling the public on various things that interest Sky City. but you pay for some extras that interest the national party at the same time.
      Kaching!. lets do this for the next 6 months. kaching kaching.
      Not that Curia would do anything involving a contra deal for National party. Would they ?

      Rinse and repeat for a public relations firm close to the national party.

      Maybe even a ‘social media consultant’ , now who could that be?

      • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 9.1.1
        12 January 2015 at 1:11 pm

        “a” social media [vomit: … ] consultant ?

      • tracey 9.1.2
        12 January 2015 at 1:36 pm

        Hosking too

        • Peter H 9.1.2.1
          12 January 2015 at 2:47 pm

          What about Paul Henry

          • tracey 9.1.2.1.1
            12 January 2015 at 2:58 pm

            I was only aware of hoskings being paid by skycity, not henry?

            http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10795215

            • Peter H 9.1.2.1.1.1
              12 January 2015 at 3:29 pm

              Google, Henry, Hosking paid by sky city, up it comes, about 50k a year each.That’s the dirty world we live in

                • Paul …
                  12 January 2015 at 3:33 pm

                  Other ‘journalists’ compromised by their dealings with Sky City

                  Herald on Sunday columnist Kerre Woodham

                  • tracey …
                    12 January 2015 at 3:42 pm

                    swaying the vote with their 1950’s “good ole boy and girl” hankering for the old and white days.

              • tracey …
                12 January 2015 at 3:41 pm

                thanks for the correction Peter… and to think TVNZ sacked someone for holding a LP meeting in a TVNZ room… as opposed to two broadcasters who can sway thousands of votes.

                • Paul …
                  12 January 2015 at 3:48 pm

                  From the Herald in 2012.

                  ‘The relationship is a win-win for all involved, but is rarely spoken about. Some of the famous faces perform MC or promotional duties; other ‘ambassadors’ just have to be seen in the casino’s 25 bars and restaurants.
                  Former Warriors captain Steve Price has a lucrative private sponsorship contract with the casino complex. The Breakers basketball team also eat and drink there, as part of a separate sponsorship scheme.
                  Some celebrities have confirmed to the Herald on Sunday that they have been paid a retainer or given a “chairman’s card” that allowed them to dine in-house.
                  The paper has been told of $2000 monthly retainers.
                  One former celebrity “ambassador”, who spoke on condition of anonymity, signed a contract with a strict confidentiality clause. The person received a “chairman’s card” but no cash.
                  In return the source had to be seen at SkyCity twice a week for anything from coffee to accommodation. “I entertained a lot of influential people there. It was a fantastic perk.” ‘

      • Weepus beard 9.1.3
        12 January 2015 at 10:09 pm

        Would not surprise me if Curia is into National Party money laundering.

        The guy in charge takes an awful lot of holidays and an awful lot of shitty pictures on those holidays…

        …then bores the skid-marks off the readers of his blog with repeated, dull tales.

    • Peter H 9.2
      12 January 2015 at 1:19 pm

      Find out how many tv ,and radio personal, sky city, are monthly paying, to spread their, and nat party rubish

  10. Macro 10
    12 January 2015 at 12:54 pm

    Talking of convention centres…..
    I was invited to lunch last friday at Waipuna Lodge …
    Waipuna Lodge is a Convention Centre when if I was asked where would I rather stay – overlooking a very attractive inlet surrounded by garden and quiet walks or stuck in the centre of an amorphous city? – there is only one answer.

    Apart from another couple we occupied the only other table in a very large restaurant.

    Ok I’m sure it was a very unbusy time, and one cannot draw too many conclusions from one observation – but just how busy are these places really?

    There is the real problem that those who promote events and event centres really overcook the benefits that will accrue. We see this time and time again, and still those responsible for consenting to the promoters demands listen to their bullshit and force the “Convention Centre”, Stadium, V8 car race, Yacht race, Sports complex, you name it upon the unfortunate – rate payers, and tax payers, and local inhabitants who are forced to pay the consequences when these “events” fail to realise the phantom benefits their promoters proclaimed would eventuate. The promoters, of course, then walk away, without a buy your leave, leaving the tab to those who did not want it in the first place.

    • tracey 10.1
      12 January 2015 at 1:38 pm

      Aotea Centre in Auckland was state of the art, we were told, for its time, to give auckland its international convention centre.

      two word

      White
      Elephant

      History is repeating because right governments dont actually dislike government in business they love it, if it is a subsidy, they hate it if it is for pesky things like safety and accountability.

      • Weepus beard 10.1.1
        12 January 2015 at 10:14 pm

        Yes, rightist ideology loves to sum up their case with the phrase: government has no business in doing business.

        Yet they adore the business elite, which has never been more obvious than when they head-hunted Key from Wall Street. And, they love nothing more than doing deals with Sky City and Peter Jackson using taxpayer funds, interests, and rights.

    • Molly 10.2
      13 January 2015 at 8:33 am

      Waipuna Lodge is a blast from the 1980’s past for me. Worked there while at school, and it catered to the locals – family buffets etc, and basic conventions. The hotel – while small, was a money maker for the Mt Wellington Licensing Trust which owned a few venues including the Duke of Wellington, Tainui Tavern and various off-licensing and bottle shops.

      The trust contributed to the walk around the basin that you mentioned, and supported a lot of local facilities (Swimarama) and were instrumental in building the bridge over the estuary (if memory serves).

      Due to series of bungles, including a fast and incomplete renovation for the 1990 Commonwealth Games the Trust was dismantled and the portfolio of businesses sold off.

      I’ve been back a couple of times and seen the emptiness that you have mentioned.

      I have no doubt that the convention centre will be this expensive emptiness for much of the time as well. I don’t think that anyone has yet provided a positive cost/benefit analysis.

  11. travellerev 11
    12 January 2015 at 1:06 pm

    Big conference centers are great instantaneous prison facilities in case of public unrest. No other reason to build them here. The Hamilton one just makes a great big loss year after year. In Chili they used football stadiums as torture centers.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 11.1
      12 January 2015 at 1:16 pm

      It only makes a loss, because the profit is directed elsewhere.
      The hospitality side of things, like food and drink would be under a management contract with another business, who might pay nominal charge for use of expensive equipment but make heaps on selling finger food and grog.

      Same goes for accommodation tie in. Pay a nominal amount to be preferred accommodation supplier and then rake in the money filling your rooms that would mostly be empty

      • tracey 11.1.1
        12 January 2015 at 1:42 pm

        and is the “profit” first redirected to pay the interest on the millions of capital outlay to build it?

    • fisiani 11.2
      12 January 2015 at 8:39 pm

      Paranoia. Close to a Godwin.

      • Weepus beard 11.2.1
        12 January 2015 at 10:22 pm

        Trolling. Close to a(nother) ban.

        When will than be? Perhaps Sky City will take the bet.

        • mac1 11.2.1.1
          12 January 2015 at 10:53 pm

          Fisiani is a very useful ‘telltale’. When he comes in, I know that the Nats are worried about the topic in question- sort of a go to pitcher for the blue team when the bases are loaded and the scores are tied in the ninth.

          David Fisher looks like he’s batting pretty well at the moment for the Journos on the Herald.

  12. saveNZ 12
    12 January 2015 at 2:06 pm

    Sky City and Joyce are so arrogant of the general public and think tax payers money is just their personal spending. Predict a bit of attack politics to get the MSM spouting their tune. Joyce is obsessed with ‘convention centres’ again another one in Christchurch too. Not sure how many people are actually going to these convention enters especially since now anyone can be surveilled for 24 hours as soon as you come into this country without a warrant. Yep expect the problems to continue well past this if it gets built and yet another white elephant. Great we can have some more zero hour jobs to encourage gambling too!!! What amazing economists and cronyists the Nats are on their pet projects!

  13. Brutus Iscariot 13
    12 January 2015 at 2:10 pm

    This is one case where i’d actually advocate nationalising the pricks as punishment for hoodwinking and blackmailing the people of New Zealand. Seize all their assets and offer them as a going concern to the highest bidder, with the proviso that the contract be honoured by the acquiring party. Then we’ll see how much value actually exists in the accommodations made for them!

  14. Treetop 14
    12 January 2015 at 2:48 pm

    SkyCity are laughing all the way. It is not cheap to take a taxi in Auckland and SkyCity hotel rooms will fill up quicker due to the lowered blood alcohol limit. (Not sure if complimentary transport is run by SkyCity).

    Not sure how profits will affect other hotels/motels in the area.

    Complimentary hotel rooms would entice gambling and not sure if this is part of the agreement/consent.

  15. BLiP 15
    12 January 2015 at 3:51 pm

    ‘

    John Key’s lies about the Sky City deal . . .

    the Sky City deal will provide 1000 construction jobs and 800 casino jobs

    all five bidders for the convention centre were treated equally

    my office has had no correspondence, no discussions, no involvement with the Sky City deal

    I did not mislead the House (8)

    I can’t remember what was discussed at my meeting with the SkyCity Chief Executive on 14 May 2009

    I have no record of the 12 November 2009 email from Treasury advising that the SkyCity deal was dodgy and needed to be referred to the Auditor General

    there was nothing improper about the Sky City deal

    SkyCity will only get “a few more” pokie machines at the margins

    any changes to gambling regulations will be subject to a full public submission process

    Sky City has approached TVNZ about the purchase/use of government-owned land

    I did not mislead the House (9)

    this government has been very transparent about all its dealings with SkyCity

    I did not mislead the House (10)

    the Auditor General has fully vindicated National over the Sky City deal

    I did not mislead the House (11)

    the Deputy Auditor General supports the view that there was nothing inappropriate about the Sky City deal

    I did not mislead the House (12)

    I did not breach the confidentiality of the Auditor General’s Report into the Sky City deal

    the Labour Government did exactly the same sort of deal back in 2001

    Labour has promised to not revoke the Sky City legislation

    Are there yet more lies to come?

    • Chch_Chiquita 15.1
      12 January 2015 at 4:29 pm

      How long will National need to be in govt before they start taking responsibility for what they do instead of using the infantile excuse of ‘Labour did it too’. Why no reporter is asking Key if he has no ideas of his own apart from doing what Labour did without giving it a minute of critical thinking (I’m optimistic maybe this will go through his thick skin).

      • Draco T Bastard 15.1.1
        12 January 2015 at 6:36 pm

        How long will National need to be in govt before they start taking responsibility for what they do instead of using the infantile excuse of ‘Labour did it too’.

        The political-right never take responsibility for their actions.

  16. Murray Rawshark 16
    12 January 2015 at 3:54 pm

    This reminds me of how the Mafia ran casinos in Cuba when it was “free”. We really are becoming a kumara republic. Gambling, commodity extraction, and private prisons are running the show. I never thought it would happen so openly. Maybe this is the transparency that Key promised us. We can all see that he is transparently not a Nixon, who definitely wasn’t a crook.

  17. Skinny 17
    12 January 2015 at 4:54 pm

    How on earth the National Government conned the public that a national convention centre setup with a casino was a good idea astounds me. Revoke their gambling license and shut them down. Labour should be calling for an immediate law change.

    • Paul 17.1
      12 January 2015 at 6:35 pm

      How on earth Sky city conned the government, more like.
      The public weren’t conned. This was driven against much popular dissent.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 17.1.1
        12 January 2015 at 7:40 pm

        The National Party made a deal with a money laundering business. “Government” had nothing to do with it.

  18. reason 18
    12 January 2015 at 6:06 pm

    I like it when Blip drops excerpts from his ever growing lists into the latest developments on subjects that the Nats and John Key have lied to us about before.

    The true story of the Sky city convention center is we have been lied to, conned and bull-shitted at every turn of this sorry saga by Key and the Nats.

    The scope of the dishonesty that has been engaged in by Key and the Nats over the sky city gambling den should by now be the focus of the story if we had a half decent press or independent media in this country.

    The whole thing has the MO and finger prints of those who play Dirty Politics all over it ……………..

  19. Cantabrian 19
    12 January 2015 at 7:49 pm

    Joyce is the main architect of this disaster. Key may be untouchable but Joyce is not. The left need to target this Machiavellian puppeteer far more effectively.

  20. philj 20
    12 January 2015 at 9:00 pm

    ” Key may be untouchable …..” You mean he has a disease ? Surely not. Please explain.

  21. fisiani 21
    12 January 2015 at 9:27 pm

    Sky City will bring down the government. The sky will fall. This really matters to people.

    • Murray Rawshark 21.1
      12 January 2015 at 9:31 pm

      It should. It obviously doesn’t worry you. You seem to love corruption and incompetence.

    • Paul 21.2
      12 January 2015 at 10:12 pm

      What the hell matters to you, if this level of crony capitalism doesn’t concern you?
      Please also speak for yourself not other New Zealanders.

  22. Weepus beard 22
    12 January 2015 at 9:43 pm

    It highlights National’s poor process and the incompetence of two of their leading players, Key and Joyce.

    This needs to be said again. Poor process = Joyce & Key. Clowns, the pair of them.

    Unfortunately, most New Cylinders don’t care.

  23. disturbed 23
    12 January 2015 at 9:52 pm

    “Key may be untouchable but Joyce is not. The left need to target this Machiavellian puppeteer far more effectively.”

    Yes you are right, Joyce is a dangerous animal and will ride roughshod over due process until as Cantabrian says must happen to put this lizard down before he turns this Country into a banana republic.

    Thank you all those amazing bloggers here today, simply brilliant.

    Funny the usual NatZ trolls aren’t here and I have forgiven Matthew Hooten on this occasion as he did add a plausible blog citing how NatZ should have used the various 1984 Labour party Acts but of course NatZ wont touch anything with Labour attached for fear of getting a case of common sense.

  24. Cantabrian 24
    13 January 2015 at 1:33 am

    What I mean is that whatever reason Joe Public loves Key but Joyce is as unelectable as Brash.

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    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    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
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

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

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

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

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

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
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    1 day ago
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