Steven Joyce – liar or fool?

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, September 5th, 2017 - 52 comments
Categories: accountability, economy, election 2017, labour, same old national, Steven Joyce - Tags: , , , , ,

Steven Joyce’s claim that there is a $11.7bn “hole” in Labours’ fiscal plan has been soundly refuted by multiple economists and analysts.

Brian Fallow:

‘Robertson’s right, Joyce is wrong’

Economics columnist Brian Fallow says Labour has reallocated some money, but there’s no missing money as National claims.

Bernard Hickey:

Analysis: There is no hole in Labour’s fiscal plan
…
The replays show Robertson is right about the operating balances being correctly calculated. Labour has cumulated the operating allowance figures and has included the usual inflation, just in a different place above the line.

Joyce later told me he accepted what Robertson said about the inflation that was usually in the operating allowance line actually being ‘above the line’ in the ‘Delivering Modern health and education system’ lines. …

BERL:

Economist behind Labour’s fiscal plan slams National’s claims

BERL executive director Dr Ganesh Nana has spoken out against claims from the National Party there is a “hole” in Labour’s fiscal plan.

Labour commissioned BERL to do an independent audit of its fiscal plan, which National campaign manager and finance spokesman Steven Joyce claimed had an $11.7 billion “hole”.

Labour finance spokesperson Grant Roberston refuted the allegations and said it was “a desperate act from a flailing Finance Minister”.

Keith Ng (read this one for very clever graphs showing the nature of Joyce’s error):

Is there really an $11 billion hole in Labour’s election plan?
…
Ultimately, there is no missing money. The money is accounted for. I suspect there’s some shenanigans around why Labour did it this way (to make the health/education/etc lines look bigger, basically), but it’s literally a question of whether you put the numbers on row 239 or row 228 in the spreadsheet.

Newshub:

Leaders Debate: Fact checking the leaders

Essentially Labour and its independent financial advisor BERL say National has exploited a difference in accounting methodology to misrepresent its figures. And several independent commentators are in agreement.

BERL executive director Ganesh Nana issued a statement disputing that there were errors: “The alleged ‘hole’ is a fiction arising from a disagreement over definitions.”

In The Spinoff, data expert Keith Ng said the “money was accounted for” and that Labour had recorded the missing money behind individual line items.

Writing for Newsroom, Bernard Hickey said “there is no hole in Labour’s fiscal plan”.
…
The verdict: There is no $11.7b hole in Labour’s fiscal budget, at least as far as we can tell

Those are the analysts saying that Joyce is wrong.

Is there anyone (apart from the puppet “Taxpayers Union” parroting the mistake) saying that Joyce is right?

Anyone?

Either Steven Joyce was deliberately spreading disinformation, in which case he is a liar, or he is incapable of reading a fiscal plan, in which case is a fool (for a Finance minister). Take your pick.

Naturally Bill English doubled down on this cynical rubbish during the debate. No wonder he couldn’t give a straight answer on not lying in politics.

52 comments on “Steven Joyce – liar or fool? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Barfly 1
    5 September 2017 at 7:21 am

    Steven Joyce – liar or fool?

    Liar

  2. Ed 2
    5 September 2017 at 7:21 am

    He’s no fool. He knows mud sticks and with a biased media to support the National propaganda machine, the voices of economists will be muted.
    After all Stephen Joyce knows more than they do.
    Therefore if he isn’t a fool, what does that leave?

    • bwaghorn 2.1
      5 September 2017 at 2:28 pm

      standard nat tactic tell a big lie loudly then back away quietly and their moron followers will only remember the big lie as fact

  3. Antoine 3
    5 September 2017 at 7:25 am

    Both?

  4. Incognito 4
    5 September 2017 at 7:35 am

    It really doesn’t matter how big the ‘hole’ is according to Mr Joyce. What matters is that he spreads the idea that Labour cannot be trusted with Taxpayers’ money because Labour is incompetent and/or not ready to govern and because Labour cannot be trusted full-stop. The polls have kinda neutralised many of the other usual attack lines of National.

    • reason 4.1
      5 September 2017 at 10:46 am

      It is National who are the weak ones on tax and budget constraints …. Bill English is the gate keeper for Johnny Made-offs work ….. both share Merrill Lynch ethics ….

      “They have been willing instead to see their own institutions make money out of the proceeds and to hell with the human misery caused back where the thieves are thieving.” … http://www.sarawakreport.org/2017/07/australia-and-new-zealand-slide-from-their-responsibilities-over-mass-corruption-and-malaysia/

      Through their actions NZ is aiding and abetting corruption overseas ….. And allowing our own Government revenues to be shorted … … helping the grubby jurisdiction game …. which only the rich get to play….

      Show us the money ??? …. it’s been taken off shore … In accountants ‘tax vehicles’

      Inequality is engineered …… by bankers like John Key,…. Lawyers like his trust bunny one …. and Accountants like John Shewan … All working in organisations like PwC KPMG, Mossack Fonnsenka, ANZ, BNZ, Deutch Baank Bank of America etc etc etc … http://www.corp-research.org/bank-of-america http://www.corpresearch.org/deutsche-bank

      Through Lobbying, donations, bribes and old boys networks ……Loopholes and bad laws are purposely passed …. for the rich to exploit.

      Ask yourself … why is Judith Collins in Parliament …. who is she working for ?

      “Those who can afford to pay the most, the biggest companies in the world, pay proportionately the least tax.”….

      Our Nact Governments tax haven building,…offends decent people and works against the interests of all honest workers…. it was and still is helped along by our dirty media … who do a good job in keeping citizens non-informed…..Quote : “In fact, what is even better news is that this is receiving little publicity in New Zealand – which means there is a higher likelihood the PM will nudge it through without too much meddling from the country’s left wing camp”

      But The Aussies are starting to do something about their corporate cheats ….

      Labour should take note … As the Same names use the same methods here…

      https://www.michaelwest.com.au/goldman-sachs-news-corp-tax-lowdown-as-government-claims-battle-is-won/ Were it not for increasing community awareness of multinational tax avoidance – the world’s biggest rort – and rising concern over tax fairness, things would be worse. So the positive perspective is that, yes, inroads are being made ´….

      …“It was a superb win for the the Australian Tax Office against Chevron in the Federal Court last week but there is something everyone is missing, something which will turn the art of tax avoidance on its head; a game-changer for multinationals”. …………… “Chevron’s sham tax structures were first brought to light in 2015 in a report by former multinational oil company executive Mike Hibbins. Hibbins found that Chevron’s structure of “artificially created interest payments” was designed not merely to reduce tax but to make a profit from the Tax Office. https://www.michaelwest.com.au/game-changer-for-oil-giants-and-multinational-tax-
      avoiders/

      “American Express is the archetypal multinational tax avoider. It conducts “related party transactions” with other Amex entities in a tax haven. Via these transactions, profits are siphoned offshore before tax can be paid……It produces very low profits, or losses, in Australia.” https://www.michaelwest.com.au/how-amex-paid-no-tax-in-nine-years-on-10-billion/

      Cleaning up our blue rot corruption may also be a vital component in fixing our housing affordability crisis … as well as helping honest citizens in other countries … Money Laundering New Zealand ‘shell companies send stolen money all over the world. http://www.sarawakreport.org/2017/07/pushing-prices-up-and-people-out-how-malaysian-money-is-causing-anger-in-london/

  5. Stuart Munro 5
    5 September 2017 at 7:39 am

    Our trolls will now be repeating ’11 billion dollar hole’ as they did ‘structural decade of deficits’ ad nauseam. He’s a liar and a fool – misgovernance is a pretty 3rd rate political strategy – but many that support him are only fools.

  6. peterh 6
    5 September 2017 at 7:46 am

    He has to be a fool anyone who spend over $1600 on a taxi in Sydney for one day does not know how to spend taxpayers money

  7. mickysavage 7
    5 September 2017 at 7:49 am

    Good post r0b and perfectly captured. The money is in Labour’s budget and has been accounted for. All experts confirm this. Either Joyce and English are fools or liars. There is no other possibility.

    And here is the video on the issue from last night’s debate …

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20KBI7vV_-U&t=18m25s

    • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1
      5 September 2017 at 7:57 am

      English is a fool to tell lies about sums. Even my mate who owns a calculator can do them.

      • tracey 7.1.1
        5 September 2017 at 11:28 am

        When it has worked since late 2007 and 47% of the voting electorate (+Act’s .4%), and most of the media haven’t cared, why would you stop?

  8. Bearded Git 8
    5 September 2017 at 8:00 am

    Good post r0b….Ganesh very convincing on Morning Report a few minutes ago saying that there is no hole in Labour’s accounts, in fact he said Labour’s are more “honest and transparent” in that they specify where money would be spent compared with National’s that doesn’t.

    It will be so good to see the back of Joyce as a minister. Voting starts in 6 days.

  9. One Anonymous Bloke 9
    5 September 2017 at 8:00 am

    Patrick Gower and Newshub let everyone down. They had enough time to talk to Ganesh Nana, and instead they let Bill English shit all over BERL’s credibility, rather than putting a blowtorch on him for endorsing Joyce’s lies.

    • tc 9.1
      5 September 2017 at 9:30 am

      They didn’t let their owners and media minders down, you mistakenly think they serve the public …good poodle paddy.

      A progressive govt needs to sort out the media landscape if it wants a fair go or this will continue and get worse once nact are gone from govt.

      Gut tvnz, create a public broadcaster styled tv1 using the rest to fund it. Legislate it in place like the abc act in oz does.

      Its obvious youre dicking with it when its got its own act you have to alter. Take note of what turdbulls done and legislate against that as a fine start.

      We need to start creating quality kiwi dramas, kids, comedies etc again alongside a robust stand alone news operation.

      Tvnz used to be good at it until it went SOE on us.

  10. Pete 10
    5 September 2017 at 8:07 am

    Is the question an either/or or can we pick both?

  11. Ross 11
    5 September 2017 at 8:18 am

    Being the honourable bloke he is Joyce will issue a public apology to Labour today which will be the lead story on all mainstream news bulletins. 🙂

  12. Robert Guyton 12
    5 September 2017 at 8:26 am

    Dishonest, deliberately deceptive and desperate (and other “d” words).

    • WILD KATIPO 12.1
      5 September 2017 at 8:38 am

      And here’s an ‘M’ word , – manipulator.

      John Campbell didn’t leave TV3 because he woke up one day and said ‘I’m bored of being a front man ‘…

      There’s a lot more to Stephen Joyce the ‘minister for everything ‘ than meets the eye.

      • tracey 12.1.1
        5 September 2017 at 11:30 am

        I have long called him Karl Rove.

        “Karl Rove was often called “Bush’s Brain” for his political genius in directing George W. Bush’s successful campaigns for governor of Texas and president of the United States.”

  13. Kaplan 13
    5 September 2017 at 8:40 am

    A liar for the false analysis and a fool for thinking it would work.

    • tc 13.1
      5 September 2017 at 9:36 am

      Worked before and scaremongering is all they’ve got as their gutting and destruction is too blatant for soft swinging voters to ignore this time.

  14. silvertuatara 14
    5 September 2017 at 8:49 am

    Gower, in asking the question of English about Joyce’s underhanded and completely untrue attack on Labour’s numbers, helped propagate the misinformation spread late in the piece in National’s predetermined strategy to lie publicly in a smear campaign that had no valid basis, is complicit with spreading the incorrect information.

    Gower should front foot an apology to the NZ Taxpayers, on behalf of his sloppy moderating , and on behalf of his network. Joyce’s scaremongering had already been publicly discounted well before the debate went to air by the very persons and organisations that Jacinda referred to in her response.

    In Gower asking such question of English, makes a mockery of what accurate and ethical journalism should be about. There is no doubt that the MSM should today be calling for both Joyces, English’s and Gower’s public apologies on this specific matter. I will however not be holding my breath on this matter…..If Matthew Hooton can be given National broadcasting space in the guise of providing an accurate summation of the debate, to only champion English’s and Nationals cause…..there is little hope at this stage for the media operation whom held last night’s second debate to conduct an impartial debate least apologise for placing English in a position to be able to lie, on matters that had already been clarified publicly as being made up by National’s Stephen Joyce, in true Dirty Politics style.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1
      5 September 2017 at 8:54 am

      Yep.

      “First question to Jacinda Ardern: today National falsely claimed there’s an $11bn hole in your accounts. What standard of honesty will you require from yourself and your cabinet ministers?”

      Tv3 and Gower owe BERL an apology at the very least.

      • silvertuatara 14.1.1
        5 September 2017 at 9:38 am

        You have to ask yourself why then,when this news article by Tony Wright titled Leaders Debate: Fact checking the leaders released on 4/9/17 following the leaders debate

        http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/09/leaders-debate-fact-checking-the-leaders.html

        in relation to Stephen Joyce’s/National incorrectly claiming that Labour is missing $11.7b from its fiscal budget concluded with the following assessment/verdict: There is no $11.7b hole in Labour’s fiscal budget, at least as far as we can tell

        that Newshub still have this news article by Anna Bracewell-Worrall titled Leaders debate: Ardern and English clash over Budget ‘black hole’

        http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/09/leaders-debate-ardern-and-english-clash-over-budget-black-hole.html

        which does not make it clear that Joyce’s an English’s attacks were unfounded, inaccurate and should be seen as Jacinda called English and National out for as just plain “scaremongering” which in my mind is both deceitful and clearly steeped in the National Party lying in a desperate attempt to stay in power way past their expiry date.

        NewsHub, should either immediately retract/remove Anna Bracewell-Worrall’s video and piece, or alternatively place a prominent disclaimer within the body of the article at both the beginning and the end noting that Joyce, English and National are wrong in asserting that there was over an 11 billion shortfall in Labour’s fiscal package.

  15. mary_a 15
    5 September 2017 at 9:08 am

    “Steven Joyce – Liar or fool?”

    Both apply to mischief making Herr Joyce, because Natz is sinking fast into the odious, foul swamp it created and he knows it! So it’s desperate measures for desperate times now for Natz.

  16. greywarshark 16
    5 September 2017 at 9:14 am

    Bill English is often said to be wooden in his speech. He actually could be compared to be a wall to bounce statements from. That is the reason why he would repeat something untrue that Joyless said. English is a handy squash court for bouncing the fibs of National off for never-ending return shots. A small arena, enclosed, and following rigid rules that apply to that particular game, which is separate from the outside activities of the majority of NZs.

    • tracey 16.1
      5 September 2017 at 11:33 am

      There is the other lie too. That 50,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by National’s current Families package. To date they have not acknowledged poverty exists, refuse to measure it and have no poverty policy. Talk about black holes.

    • dukeofurl 16.2
      5 September 2017 at 11:36 am

      English has decided to give up the wooden man persona, and after more acting

      lessons than you need to get a role on Shortland St, hes come out waving his arms

      – just like the wooden marionette Pinocchio

  17. One Two 17
    5 September 2017 at 9:15 am

    The real questions regarding all things fiscal and monetary are obfuscated by on every sides

    Singling out any of the ‘liars’ for special attention, is trite

    Pressure needs to raised through the open discourse about budgets et al..

    Until then, they’re all liars!

    • tracey 17.1
      5 September 2017 at 11:34 am

      At least Labour wrote theirs down and got in independently analysesd. PREFU has fucked up Bill several times in this election now… and they ar ehis numbers.

  18. ianmac 18
    5 September 2017 at 9:19 am

    A desperate fool and liar. HE can see the writing on the wall and tries an all or nothing throw. But if the Minister of Finance doesn’t understand how $11 billion is allocated he should not be MOF and what does that say about the PM ex MOF?

  19. Darth smith 19
    5 September 2017 at 10:06 am

    He’s a liar no doutime there desperate all they have after 9 years is lies

  20. savenz 20
    5 September 2017 at 12:48 pm

    Didn’t Steven Joyce fail economics at university?

    From Wiki about Joyce,

    “He helped create Auckland Transport as a council-controlled organisation for Auckland. Joyce stated that “Auckland will need a good agency focused on delivering the projects that have been agreed by council” and noting that Council had a number of ways of ensuring that the entity was accountable.[13]”

    “In May 2013, he signed a deal with casino Skycity Auckland, allowing it to install an additional 230 pokie machines and 40 new gambling tables, in exchange for building a $402 million convention centre.”

    Based on these disasters in his track record of accountability and deals for the tax payer and society, I would label Joyce as both a liar and a fool.

  21. Tricledrown 21
    5 September 2017 at 1:50 pm

    Loose you’re self Eminem.
    Pretty legal Dildo Joyce claims

  22. ianmac 22
    5 September 2017 at 2:34 pm

    A bit peculiar but I think Joyce is shifting ground and apparently saying the economists were misunderstanding what he was saying. Huh?

    “Sep 5, 2017 1:36 PM
    Stacey Kirk
    Hello all,
    I’m in our Auckland office for a bit before I check into the Jacinda Ardern camp at her next engagement this afternoon.
    But I did just tune into our livestream of Steven Joyce subtly shifting his stance on Labour’s figures, though not backing down that they leave no money for anything other than health and education.
    The crux of it is that Joyce is standing by the $11.7b hole – but he doesn’t mean that money is necessarily missing from Labour’s plan, rather, once the money goes to education and health – there’s no room for anything else.
    It may be budgeted, says Joyce. The numbers may add up, but there is no cumulative funding allocated for things like police wages, teachers wages, DOC operations and science funding.
    Joyce argued that he was misquoted by a few economists, who misinterpreted what he was presenting.
    He’s challenging Labour finance spokesman Grant Robertson to simply point out where Labour has budgeted for police wages, and general operating expenses like that.
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96496294/live-on-the-campaign-trail–tuesday
    A

  23. NZJester 23
    5 September 2017 at 3:20 pm

    National have always lied about the countries finances. The first big lie of the current National Government was when they took over the treasury from the previous Labour Government. They claimed the country was in terrible shape financially and borrowed money to give tax cuts. However, the books they actually inherited from Labour were balanced and our debt paid off with sufficient income to support the running of this country. Something Nation immediately went about screwing up. They then said they would not increase taxes and claimed G.S.T. was not a tax when they increased it (Even though the T stands for tax) to support their tax cuts for the rich. The extra money in the average workers pocket from the drop in P.A.Y.E. was lost and more to the higher prices of everyday essential good. The poor paid for the rich to get a tax break over that tax swap.

  24. Ms Fargo 24
    5 September 2017 at 5:36 pm

    Fake news, or a liar or a fool?…

  25. B__ 25
    5 September 2017 at 11:23 pm

    He is a fool, whether or not he is a liar. This is his arithmetic version of “pretty legal”. Thus, we have a Deputy PM and Minister of Police who does not understand human rights, and a Finance Minister who is semi-numerate. Bill English debated well, and there is merit in his ideas on evidence-based policy and the “moral and fiscal failure” of our prisons, amongst others. If he had the good sense to change his allegiance, there could even be a place for him in the next government.

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    2 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    2 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    3 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    4 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago

  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • JERRY COYNE: A good summary of the mess that is science education in New Zealand
    JERRY COYNE writes –  If you want to see what the government of New Zealand is up to with respect to science education, you can’t do better than listening to this video/slideshow by two exponents of the “we-need-two-knowledge-systems” view. I’ve gotten a lot of scary stuff from Kiwi ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Good news on the GDP front is accompanied by news of a $5m govt boost for Supercars (but what about ...
    Buzz from the Beehive First, we were treated to the news (from Finance Minister Grant Robertson) that the economy has turned a corner and New Zealand never was in recession.  This was triggered by statistics which showed the economy expanded 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, twice as much as ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • The Scafetta Saga
    It has taken 17 months to get a comment published pointing out the obvious errors in the Scafetta (2022) paper in GRL. Back in March 2022, Nicola Scafetta published a short paper in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) purporting to show through ‘advanced’ means that ‘all models with ECS > ...
    Real ClimateBy Gavin
    7 days ago

  • Friday's Chorus: Penny wise and pound foolish
    TL;DR: In the middle of a climate emergency and in a city prone to earthquakes, Victoria University of Wellington announced yesterday it would stop teaching geophysics, geographic information science and physical geography to save $22 million a year and repay debt. Climate change damage in Aotearoa this year is already ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Calling the big dog’s bluff
      For nearly thirty years the pundits have been telling the minor parties that they must be good little puppies and let the big dogs decide. The parties with a plurality of the votes cast must be allowed to govern – even if that means ignoring the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • The electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
     Another poll, another 27 for Labour. It was July the last time one of the reputable TV company polls had Labour's poll percentage starting with a three, so the limbo question is now being asked: how low can you go?It seems such an unlikely question because this doesn't feel like the kind ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago

  • A Womance, and a Nomance.
    After the trench warfare of Tuesday night, when the two major parties went head to head, last night was the turn of the minor parties. Hosts Newshub termed it “the Powerbrokers' Debate”.Based on the latest polls the four parties taking part - ACT, the Greens, New Zealand First, and Te ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • When The Internet Rushes To Your Defense
    Hi,You can’t make this stuff up.People involved with Sound of Freedom, the QAnon-infused movie about anti-child trafficker Tim Ballard, are dropping like flies. I won’t ruin your day by describing it here, but Vice reports that footage has emerged of executive producer Paul Hutchinson being inappropriate with a 16-year-old trafficking ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Doubts about Robertson’s good news day
    The trading banks yesterday concluded that though GDP figures released yesterday show the economy is not in recession, it may well soon be. Nevertheless, the fact that GDP has gone up 0.8 per cent in the latest quarter and that StatsNZ revised the previous quarter’s figure to show a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • The Votes That Media Dare Not Speak Its Name
    .Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..A recent political opinion poll (20 September) on TV1 presented what could only be called bleak news for the Left Bloc:National: 37%, down two points equating to 46 seatsLabour: 27%, down one point (34 ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    1 week ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #38 2023
    Open access notables At our roots Skeptical Science is about cognition of the results of climate science research in the minds of the entire human population. Ideally we'd be perfectly communicating understanding of Earth's climate, and perfectly understood. We can only approximate that, but hopefully converging closer to perfection. With ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Failing To Hold Back The Flood: The Edgy Politics of the Twenty-First Century.
    Coming Over The Top: Rory Stewart's memoir, Politics On The Edge, lays bare the dangerous inadequacies of the Western World's current political model.VERY FEW NEW ZEALANDERS will have heard of Rory Stewart. Those with a keen eye for the absurdities of politics may recognise the name as that of the ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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