Statistic of the Day

Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, August 13th, 2013 - 79 comments
Categories: john key, radio - Tags:

Number of times in 2012 that John Key appeared on Radio Sport: 44

Number of times in 2012 that John Key appeared on National Radio: 4

79 comments on “Statistic of the Day ”

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  1. Sanctuary 1
    13 August 2013 at 10:59 am

    So that’s why he thinks snapper quota is more important than the GCSB bill.

    • Anne 1.1
      13 August 2013 at 11:06 am

      +1

      Says it all.

      • Greywarbler 1.1.1
        13 August 2013 at 11:22 am

        Jokeyhen staring into tv cameras and not answering questions.
        No GCSB – I know my constituents, and they are not interested in this matter, they are practical people and what they are interested in is snapper.
        Snapper? What? How?
        Yes snapper (stutters but follows the delivery advice from advisors – just refuse to respond to questions by inserting your own choice of topic and stick firmly with it).
        The quotas and amounts they are allowed to catch is the real matter they are concerned with.

        What a red herring!!! So bloody blatant with it too – I am a rock star and can say anything and the girls will shriek! What a lot of male and female groupies.

        Rod Oram now saying what other country leader would apologise in another country for a fault of his exporters. He thinks that the Chinese would be alarmed as if Key’s apology indicated something more serious than already revealed. Rod thinks that either Tayro or Wilson Chairman should go. It seems to me that it looks as if Key is a flunkey of Fonterras if he goes.

  2. James 2
    13 August 2013 at 11:02 am

    To some people it is.

    Personally I dont care about the GCSB bill. I dont care that the majority of people that were spied on were done by labour – I can appreciate why it happened.

    A lot of people (despite what a lot on here may think) feel this way. Its a non issue for me.

    Snapper quotas on the other hand … grrrrr. I really hope that they work on the commercial quotas and Foreign flagged boats also.

    • BM 2.1
      13 August 2013 at 11:09 am

      I agree:

      “Leave the snapper alone”

      Hopefully Key backs downs and listens to the people.

      • Pascal's bookie 2.1.1
        13 August 2013 at 11:12 am

        nah ‘three’ was always a false start. You fuckers’ll roll over and say ‘thanks daddy’ when he does you over though.

        • McFlock 2.1.1.1
          13 August 2013 at 11:21 am

          Yep – threaten three, “compromise” to seven, what a great guy he is.

          • BM 2.1.1.1.1
            13 August 2013 at 11:27 am

            It’s what’s being a great Prime Minister is all about.

            Float an idea, get feed back from the people and go with what they say.

            Democracy in action.

            • McFlock 2.1.1.1.1.1
              13 August 2013 at 11:54 am

              fuck you’re gullible. Key’s model is “threaten do something extreme so they thank you when you only go half way”. That’s not a prime minister – that’s a mugger.

            • North 2.1.1.1.1.2
              13 August 2013 at 1:31 pm

              BM at 2.1.1.1.1 – “Democracy in action”. Even you don’t believe that BM. Worrying thing is that you don’t care that it’s not true. Cut the shit mate.

            • Tim 2.1.1.1.1.3
              13 August 2013 at 2:25 pm

              Does the ‘B’ in BM stand for baiter? I suspect you’re simply an ideologically-driven fcukwit with limited powers of logic and an ego the size of a bus that delights in baiting people – simply as a way of exercising you’re ego. It’s just that I’ve watched your contributions in recent months and its hard to draw any other conclusions – oh …. other than you’ve probably got a small

            • Paul 2.1.1.1.1.4
              13 August 2013 at 8:06 pm

              You really believe that, do you?

    • Pascal's bookie 2.2
      13 August 2013 at 11:10 am

      Classic Illiberal then?

    • ghostwhowalksnz 2.3
      13 August 2013 at 11:30 am

      The GCSB is probably spying on more people than there are recreation fishers reaching the daily bag limit

    • Tigger 2.4
      13 August 2013 at 12:17 pm

      Thanks James. Interesting search history on your computer. Men in jackboots will be breaking down your day at 2am to discuss it with you.

  3. ghostwhowalksnz 3
    13 August 2013 at 11:28 am

    The medium is the message

  4. Sanctuary 4
    13 August 2013 at 11:30 am

    The deeper thing here is Key runs the country for his people, and who he thinks is “his people” is betrayed by where he appears in the “optional” media. Radio Sport’s audience is largely middle aged white jocks who think that having the option of working hard for sixty hours a weeks for $50 an hour net, owning a late model Hilux to tow your 7m fishing boat and spending three weeks over Xmas/New Year at a bach up north is just “living the average kiwi lifestyle”.

    The tragedy of our nation is the myth that this is an “average” lifestyle in an egalitarian land has attained the status of a religious talisman of national identity, when really it is the lifestyle of the top 20% in a country with huge income disparity.

    It is the central myth that allows John Key and the National government to claim they rule in the interests of “the average Kiwi”, which is why he spends so much time playing to his support base.

    • BM 4.1
      13 August 2013 at 11:36 am

      Yep NZ is now a meritocracy, 20 years of US influence has done that.
      National realizes that, especially Key.

      Unfortunately, The left is still stuck in the days of when the UK influenced everything and haven’t realized those days are long gone.

      • karol 4.1.1
        13 August 2013 at 12:13 pm

        Key also likes to be seen meeting David Cameron and various UK royalty.

        Radio Sport callers are as likely to be royalists as pro US.

        I have listened to it in the past – I do also like to watch some sports and did like to play sport for fun in my younger days. But too many Radio Sport followers seem to think anyone outside a narrow demographic is not welcome – the standard line about “PC, tree hugging, hairy legged, sandal wearing lefties lesbians”.

      • geoff 4.1.2
        13 August 2013 at 12:45 pm

        NZ is not a meritocracy. It’s an increasingly corrupt, right wing outpost, under the control of incompetent, selfish arseholes who love nothing better than to fleece the population to the nth degree.

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.3
        13 August 2013 at 1:02 pm

        I don’t think word “meritocracy” means what you think it means.

        Yep NZ is now a meritocracy, 20 years of US influence has done that.

        You do realise the US is sliding backwards into a hole don’t you? Unable to maintain streets and street lights, having to layoff teachers and police?

        • Tim 4.1.3.1
          13 August 2013 at 2:30 pm

          It’s a word he picked up at a Neshnool party sponsored seminar once teaching people how to be entreprenooooers and esprayshnul. Possibly even one of those real estate things.
          Oh, btw CV – he’s ‘considerably richer than you’

    • srylands 4.2
      13 August 2013 at 12:23 pm

      “owning a late model Hilux to tow your 7m fishing boat and spending three weeks over Xmas/New Year at a bach up north is just “living the average kiwi lifestyle”.

      Yes it is average – or at least unremarkable in the context of a discussion about public policy. Owning a yacht and staying in a lodge is top end. But honestly a second hand boat and a bach are hardly luxuries. Totally unremarkable, and plain silly.

      • North 4.2.1
        13 August 2013 at 1:34 pm

        Crap Srylands. Look around you and stop talking utter shit. The rubbish you come up with borders on the wilfully dishonest.

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    13 August 2013 at 11:30 am

    Key is way more comfortable with backbuster ‘Vietchie’ and various other boofheads than with the wider New Zealand public let alone the more searching enquiries likely on RNZ.

    Snapper catchers are a small sub set indeed, symbolism aimed at the the tory turd and aspirational ‘other’ catchment. As a Far North resident there is much accuracy in Sanctuary’s comment above.

  6. Rupert 6
    13 August 2013 at 11:56 am

    Source? I don’t doubt that he’s been on Radio Sport more times than NatRad, but four seems a little light…

  7. Step Doh 7
    13 August 2013 at 12:05 pm

    One thing that sits under this stat is that his apperances are mainly on The Farming Show, which is rural affairs rather than sport per-say, just happens to the broadcast on that network (which I think is more down to the wider reach of AM than anything else!)

    • Step Doh 7.1
      13 August 2013 at 12:59 pm

      PS, not being an apologist for JK here, by the way, just thought the stat was a bit of an oversimplification.

  8. Scott 8
    13 August 2013 at 12:07 pm

    With all due respect, Key had a regular slot on Radio Sport, talking about sport. The fact that he appeared 44 times is irrelevant.
    It’s definitely disappointing that the PM was only interview 4 times on National Radio – but let’s not jump off the deep end on these particular figures.

    • lprent 8.1
      13 August 2013 at 12:33 pm

      I believe that John Key has been offered many more opportunities to do interviews on NatRad. He usually declines. The PM also seems to set the tone amongst his fellow ministers.

      They prefer to avoid current affairs programmes with intelligent interviewers and questions about policy. Instead they go for soft media who rarely understand what they’re mouthing off about. That is in questions like “what music do you prefer”, and they rarely ascend to asking him questions about what he is actually doing for voters.

      • fender 8.1.1
        13 August 2013 at 12:41 pm

        Barely a day goes by without RNZ saying: when asked to comment PM Key declined to be interviewed.

        • Anne 8.1.1.1
          13 August 2013 at 3:22 pm

          Correct. Its’ been going on for the past 3 years at the least. I had to laugh when he agreed to be interviewed by Kim Hill when she filled in on Morning Report a month or two back. I could sense the cogs turning over in his brain…”she’s a woman so she’ll be a pushover”. He’s such an ignoramus in reality, he probably didn’t know she is one of our most intelligent and incisive radio journalists.

          • Tim 8.1.1.1.1
            13 August 2013 at 4:04 pm

            Yep! Oh how wrong he was. One roll of the dice too many. Is it any wonder he won’t go near anyone he thinks has an intellechool capabulty.
            Phil Stein, with a band of arse lickers watching his beck.

    • Lanthanide 8.2
      13 August 2013 at 12:42 pm

      Don’t you think it’s important that the PM of a country spend their time running the country, not having a regularly scheduled appointment on a radio station to talk about sport?

      • BM 8.2.1
        13 August 2013 at 12:56 pm

        In the old days radio was one of the only ways apart from news print to keeping the public informed, so had a very important role.

        Modern day, not so important, there’s a plethora of information around on what the government being up to what they’ve got planned, etcetera.
        People just have to be interested to take a look.

        I’d say the main reason Key appears on the radio is to have a laugh and show that the government is listening and working for the people of NZ.

        Radio sport provides that platform, radio NZ does not.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 8.2.1.1
          13 August 2013 at 1:12 pm

          Information about what the government is up to and “what they’ve got planned, etcetera” is much easier to digest if you have the chance to hear an informed debate about it. Radio is an ideal medium for that debate.

          Oh, and get real, Key avoids informed debate because his word isn’t worth anything and his policies don’t stack up against the evidence; cf. Hardtalk.

        • Lanthanide 8.2.1.2
          13 August 2013 at 1:13 pm

          “I’d say the main reason Key appears on the radio is to have a laugh and show that the government is listening and working for the people of NZ.”

          So Key goes on Radio Sport but doesn’t talk about Sport. Surprising. I think you’re full of bs.

        • Colonial Viper 8.2.1.3
          13 August 2013 at 1:14 pm

          Questions on Radio NZ too serious and too critical for Key to deal with

          Shit’s getting real though, smile and wave isn’t going to cut it as a strategy in 2014

          • BM 8.2.1.3.1
            13 August 2013 at 1:20 pm

            Exactly who’d want to put up with that sort of nonsense, especially when you’ve got choices.

            If Red Radio wants the PM on their station they’re going to have to be a bit more neutral.

            Maybe they should get Jim Hopkins to interview the PM, he’d do a good job.
            Both him and Key both like to crack a joke, it would be ratings gold.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 8.2.1.3.1.1
              13 August 2013 at 1:32 pm

              What does that even mean? “Neutral”? Does that mean they shouldn’t subject Key to questions about his faith-based policies and flexible attitude to honesty?

              What part of “debate” don’t you understand?

              • fender …
                13 August 2013 at 1:38 pm

                All of it obviously. BM clearly sees the “mandate” race as the be all, end all. If you win the “mandate” you should just get a free ride for 3 years, no (hard) questions asked.

                BM, we don’t need a PM to “crack a joke”, there’s far funnier people around. Your idea of “ratings gold” sounds like propaganda to me.

              • BM …
                13 August 2013 at 1:45 pm

                Lets be honest, Radio NZ aren’t really big supporters of the PM.

                The main goal of any interview on that station would be to trip up the PM and try to make out he’s shifty, a liar etc.

                Sure he could go on radio to debate policy but he’d probably have to spend hours and hours brushing up on facts and figures and going over what he said to who ever.

                He hasn’t got time for that.

                • fender …
                  13 August 2013 at 1:52 pm

                  “Sure he could go on radio to debate policy but he’d probably have to spend hours and hours brushing up on facts and figures and going over what he said to who ever.”

                  Exactly! Much easier to go on some shit sport station and just make shit up and not be questioned about the mis-information and lies.

                  “He hasn’t got time for that.”

                  Well resign then.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  13 August 2013 at 2:00 pm

                  So, first the benchmark is “neutral” but whoosh, the goalposts have now shifted to actual support.

                  The fact that they offer him airtime isn’t good enough eh. What other crutches does this fluffball need?

                • Lanthanide …
                  13 August 2013 at 7:22 pm

                  “The main goal of any interview on that station would be to trip up the PM and try to make out he’s shifty, a liar etc.”

                  Um, yes. That was also the main goal of the station when they interviewed the former PM, Helen Clark. The interesting thing with her, though, is that she almost always fronted for the interviews, and was very rarely tripped up.

                • Magnus McManus …
                  14 August 2013 at 8:49 am

                  “Sure he could go on radio to debate policy but he’d probably have to spend hours and hours brushing up on facts and figures and going over what he said to who ever.”
                  That’s his fucking job.

            • North 8.2.1.3.1.2
              13 August 2013 at 1:40 pm

              Hopkins…….that boring not-funny though thinks he is ACT prick ? Get real. All you’d hear on that interview’d be loud slurping and excited girly giggles.

            • Colonial Viper 8.2.1.3.1.3
              13 August 2013 at 1:45 pm

              Don’t think you’re even in the same country as the rest of us. Ex National Party staffers run Radio New Zealand.

        • Tracey 8.2.1.4
          13 August 2013 at 10:59 pm

          I agree with you that he uses it as a form of advertising for himself. It’s just he does it while we are all working and paying his wages, and other bills. It’s NOT what he was elected to do. He was elected (in his own words) to be transparent and accountable. When he speaks on Radiosport do they still run the ads for the mens clinic, the strip clubs etc???

  9. karol 9
    13 August 2013 at 12:30 pm

    David Fisher (NZ Herald journo, on Twitter is asking for confirmation of these stats.

    Is this true?
    John Key on Radio Sport in 2012: 44 times
    John Key on National Radio in 2012: 4 times
    http://thestandard.org.nz/statistic-of-the-day/ …

  10. Rosie 10
    13 August 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Key. Sigh. Some days he’s a little bit George Dubya, some days he a little bit Silvio Berlosconi. On any other day one thing he is definitely NOT, is a P.M capable of or inclined to have an intelligent discussion with state radio interviewers. Or anyone for that matter. That would be too threatening.

    Keep that BBQ hot John, keep that beer cold, and just hang on and don’t think too hard. Hawaii’s getting closer, day by day.

    • fender 10.1
      13 August 2013 at 1:56 pm

      ” Some days he’s a little bit George Dubya, some days he a little bit Silvio Berlosconi. On any other day one thing he is definitely NOT, is a P.M ……….”

      Comment of the day for me so far, spot on.

      • Rosie 10.1.1
        13 August 2013 at 2:31 pm

        Cheers Fender:-) He is though isn’t he? I thought after all these long years I’d be immune to his most royal cringe worthiness but it just, gets more painful as the days and weeks go by. E.G, Jenny’s point at 12 below……..

  11. alwyn 11
    13 August 2013 at 2:01 pm

    I suspect that John Key goes where the audience is, and that means Radio Sport.
    Now please don’t take this as simply a case of “They did it to” but when Paul Holmes was on TVNZ Helen Clark would appear every time she could. On that station he had an enormous audience and it was worth spending her time appearing.
    Paul then switched to Prime, and his audience was essentially nil. Did Helen appear on his program? No way, it wasn’t worth it to her. Paul was apparently quite shocked that he was no longer the flavour of the month. He seemed to think people appeared on his show because they liked him.
    John Key is no doubt exactly the same. It isn’t worth it to him to waste his time on Radio National with its small audience when he can spend the same time on a show with a much larger set of listeners.

    • Bunji 11.1
      13 August 2013 at 2:21 pm

      In New Zealand, Radio New Zealand National’s cumulative audience of 522,000 people makes it number one in terms of audience size nationwide. Its station share of 11% makes it number one in terms of station share in New Zealand (among people 15+, nationwide in the year 2011)

      (wiki)

      RadioSport’s share of commercial radio (excluding Radio NZ National / Concert) is 2.2% in Auckland, average will be similar nationwide (most places less, except Wellington surprisingly high 4.2%). Including RadioNZ, average will be ~2%.

    • karol 11.2
      13 August 2013 at 2:22 pm

      Helen Clark also fronted up regularly to Radio National.

      Different audiences on Radio sport and Holmes on TVNZ – I would say Radio NZ had a far less diverse audience.

      And John Key turning down appearing on 3 News? Wouldn’t it have a big an audience as Radio Sport?

    • lprent 11.3
      13 August 2013 at 4:10 pm

      Not exactly a small audience on NatRad. In actual fact it is the largest radio audience in NZ radio (and has been forever). Radio Sport has a teeny weeny (in all respects) audience by comparison. I guess that is why Key likes it.

      Perhaps you should actually read some viewer stats BEFORE making a fool of yourself?

      • Lanthanide 11.3.1
        13 August 2013 at 7:24 pm

        I actually tried to find those stats and couldn’t, Lyn. I managed to google up some results from radio NZ that made it look like it only had 10% of all radio listeners at any time; I’d previously been under the impression that they had 50% of all listeners and the commercial channels divided up the rest.

    • Saarbo 11.4
      13 August 2013 at 7:46 pm

      Yes I understand RNZ has the largest audience but suspect that Key/National know it tends to be the intelligent/left…not National supporters who are right and a bit thick.

  12. Jenny 12
    13 August 2013 at 2:24 pm

    A few months ago I was changing stations on the dial, and by chance landed on 1ZB, to hear John Key say “Most Kiwis agree with me that saving jobs is more important than saving the climate.”

    Since he is doing neither, this statement has no validity at all. But knowing that he could get away with it on 1ZB was obviously tailoring his remarks to his audience.

    It is doubtful that Key could have got away with such irresponsible idiocy in any other public forum

  13. Richard Christie 13
    13 August 2013 at 3:55 pm

    Gee, I didn’t know there was a radio station dedicated to sport.

    • Tracey 13.1
      13 August 2013 at 11:09 pm

      It’s dedicated to people opining about cricket, rugby, league, rugby, motorsport, rugby and occasionally someone from another sport who did something world class… so it’s not really dedicated to sport.

      You can work out its demographic by its main advertisers…

      Mens clinic for vasectomy
      Calendar Girls
      NZ Girl
      Impotency supplements
      Wet n Forget
      (not sure if the last two are connected in some way)

  14. tracey 14
    13 August 2013 at 4:41 pm

    Wait til customs or coastguard use the fisherfolks emails to fine them for exceeding their recreational snapper quotas

  15. BrucetheMoose 15
    13 August 2013 at 10:15 pm

    You should hear him on More FM every other week trying to spread the ‘good’ word with waffle buddies Si and Gary. It is so cringy that you have to listen with a stick between the teeth. Pays to have a barf bag handy just in case.

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    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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 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
    23 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
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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