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 …

    • 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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    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • No Alarms And No Surprises

    A heart that's full up like a landfillA job that slowly kills youBruises that won't healYou look so tired, unhappyBring down the governmentThey don't, they don't speak for usI'll take a quiet lifeA handshake of carbon monoxideAnd no alarms and no surprisesThe fabulous English comedian Stewart Lee once wrote a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Five ingenious ways people could beat the heat without cranking the AC

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Every summer brings a new spate of headlines about record-breaking heat – for good reason: 2023 was the hottest year on record, in keeping with the upward trend scientists have been clocking for decades. With climate forecasts suggesting that heat waves ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • No new funding for cycling & walking

    Studies show each $1 of spending on walking and cycling infrastructure produces $13 to $35 of economic benefits from higher productivity, lower healthcare costs, less congestion, lower emissions and lower fossil fuel import costs. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • 99

    Dad turned 99 today.Hell of a lot of candles, eh?He won't be alone for his birthday. He will have the warm attention of my brother, and my sister, and everyone at the rest home, the most thoughtful attentive and considerate people you could ever know. On Saturday there will be ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Open Government: National reneges on beneficial ownership

    One of the achievements of the New Zealand’s Open Government Partnership Fourth National Action Plan was a formal commitment from the government to establish a public beneficial ownership register. Such a register would allow the ultimate owners of companies to be identified - a vital measure in preventing corruption, money ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt One.

    This project analyzes security politics in three peripheral democracies (Chile, New Zealand, Portugal) during the 30 years after the end of the Cold War. It argues that changes in the geopolitical landscape and geo-strategic context are interpreted differently by small … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Tea and Toast

    When the skies are looking bad my dearAnd your heart's lost all its hopeAfter dawn there will be sunshineAnd all the dust will goThe skies will clear my darlingNow it's time for you to let goOur girl will wake you up in the mornin'With some tea and toastLyrics: Lucy Spraggan.Good ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • NLTP 2024 released – destroying pipeline of shovel ready local projects

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Waka Kotahi yesterday released the latest National Land Transport Plan (NLTP) for 2024-27. The NLTP sets out what transport projects will be funded for the next three years, including both central and local government projects. As expected given the government’s extremely ideological transport policy, it’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago
  • Can Brown deliver his roads

    The Government’s unveiling of its road-building programme yesterday was ambitious and, many would say, long overdue. But the question will be whether it is too ambitious, whether it is affordable, and, if not, what might be dropped. The big ticket items will be the 17 so-called Roads of National Significance. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • New paper about detecting climate misinformation on Twitter/X

    Together with Cristian Rojas, Frank Algra-Maschio, Mark Andrejevic, Travis Coan, and Yuan-Fang Li, I just published a paper in Nature Communications Earth & Environment where we use the Computer Assisted Recognition of Denial and Skepticism (CARDS) machine learning model to detect climate misinformation in 5 million climate tweets. We find over half ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago
  • Excerpting “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies.”

    In the late 2000s-early 2010s I was researching and writing a book titled “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Chile, New Zealand and Portugal.” The book was a cross-regional Small-N qualitative comparison of the security strategies and postures of three small … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Hating for the Wrong Reasons: Of Rings of Power, Orcs and Evil

    A few months ago, my fellow countryman, HelloFutureMe, put out a giant YouTube video, dissecting what went wrong with the first season of Rings of Power (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ6FRUO0ui0&t=8376s). It’s an exceptionally good video, and though it spans some two and a half hours, it is well worth your time. But ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: “Least cost” to who?

    On Friday the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released their submission on National's second Emissions Reduction Plan, ripping the shit out of it as a massive gamble based on wishful thinking. One of the specific issues he focused on was National's idea of "least cost" emissions reduction, pointing out that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Israeli Lives Matter

    There is no monopoly on common senseOn either side of the political fenceWe share the same biology, regardless of ideologyBelieve me when I say to youI hope the Russians love their children tooLyrics: Sting. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Luxon Cries

    Over the weekend, I found myself rather irritably reading up about the Treaty of Waitangi. “Do I need to do this?” It’s not my jurisdiction. In any other world, would this be something I choose to do?My answer - no.The Waitangi Tribunal, headed by some of our best legal minds, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Just one Wellington home being consented for every 10 in Auckland

    A decade of under-building is coming home to roost in Wellington. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday September 2:Wellington’s leaders are wringing their hands over an exodus of skilled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Container trucks on local streets: why take the risk?

    This is a guest post by Charmaine Vaughan, who came to transport advocacy via her local Residents Association and a comms role at Bike Auckland. Her enthusiasm to make local streets safer for all is shared by her son Dylan Vaughan, a budding “urban nerd” who provided much of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #35

    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, August 25, 2024 thru Sat, August 31, 2024. Story of the week After another crammed week of climate news including updates on climate tipping points, increasing threats from rising ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • An Uncanny Valley of Improvement: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power, Episodes 1-3 (Season ...

    And thus we come to the second instalment of Amazon’s Rings of Power. The first season, in 2022, was underwhelming, even for someone like myself, who is by nature inclined to approach Tolkien adaptations with charity. The writing was poor, the plot made no sense on its own terms, and ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago
  • Alcohol debris and Crocodile Tears

    I write to you this morning from scenes of carnage. Around the floor lie young men who only hours earlier were full of life, and cocktails, and now lie silent. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • When Do We Look Away?

    Hi,The first time I saw something that made me recoil on the internet was a visit to Rotten.com. The clue was in the name — but the internet was a new thing to me in the 90s, and no-one really knew what the hell was going on. But somehow I ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 days ago
  • The decades just fly by

    You turn your back for a moment and a city can completely transform itself. It was, oh, just the other day I was tripping up to Kuala Lumpur every few months to teach workshops and luxuriate in the tropical warmth and fill my face with Char Kway Teow.It has to ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: August

    Completed reads for August: Aesop’s Fables (collection), by Aesop Berserk: Volume XXV (manga), by Kentaro Miura Benighted, by J.B. Priestly Berserk: Volume XXVI (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVIII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXIX (manga), by Kentaro Miura ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Is recent global warming part of a natural cycle?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is recent global warming part ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • White Noise

    Now here we standWith our hearts in our handsSqueezing out the liesAll that I hearIs a message, unclearWhat else is there to decide?All that I'm hearing from youIs White NoiseLyrics: Christopher John CheneyIs the tide turning?Have we reached the high point of the racist hate and lies from Hobson’s Pledge, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • The Death Of “Big Norm” – Exactly 50 Years Ago Today.

    Norman KirkPrime Minister of New Zealand 1972-1974Born: 6 January 1923 - Died: 31 August 1974Of the working-class, by the working-class, for the working-class.Video courtesy of YouTubeThese elements were posted on Bowalley Road on Saturday, 31 August 2024. ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Claims and Counter-Claims.

    Whose Foreshore? Whose Seabed? When the Marine and Coastal Area Act was originally passed back in 2011, fears about the coastline becoming off-limits to Pakeha were routinely allayed by National Party politicians pointing out that the tests imposed were so stringent  that only a modest percentage of claims (the then treaty ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Honours Maori King ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • The Principles of the Treaty

    Hardly anyone says what are ‘the principles of the treaty’. The courts’ interpretation restrain the New Zealand Government. While they about protecting a particular community, those restraints apply equally to all community in a liberal democracy – including a single person.Treaty principles were introduced into the governance of New Zealand ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Only Other Reliable Vehicle.

    An Elite Leader Awaiting Rotation? Hipkins’ give-National-nothing-to-aim-at strategy will only succeed if the Coalition becomes as unpopular in three years as the British Tories became in fourteen.THE SHAPE OF CHRIS HIPKINS’ THINKING on Labour’s optimum pathway to re-election is emerging steadily. At the core of his strategy is Hipkins’ view ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • A Big F U to this Right Wing Government

    Open to all - deep thanks to those who support and subscribe.One of the things that has got me interested recently is updates about Māori wards.In April, Stuff’s Karanama Ruru reported that ~ 2/3 of our 78 councils had adopted Māori wards in NZ.That meant that under the Coalition repeal ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: James Shaw’s legacy keeps paying off

    One of the central planks of the previous Labour-Green government's emissions reduction policy was GIDI (Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry). This was basically using ETS revenue to pay polluters to clean up production, reducing emissions while protecting jobs. Corporate welfare, but it got the job done, and was often a ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Gravity

    Oh twice as much ain't twice as goodAnd can't sustain like one half couldIt's wanting moreThat's gonna send me to my kneesSong: John MayerSome ups and downs from the last week of August ‘24. The good and bad, happy and sad, funny and mad, heroes and cads. The week that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Ditch the climate double speak and get real

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The Government announced changes to the Fast-Track Approvals Bill on Sunday, backing off from the contentious proposal to give ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to August 30

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest science of changing sea temperatures and which emissions policies actually work; on the latest from Ukraine, Gaza and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • This Govt’s infrastructure strategy depends on capital gains taxes & new road taxes

    Billions of dollars in value uplift was identified around the Transmission Gully project, but that was captured 100% by landowners and not shared to pay for the project. Now National is saying value capture should be used for similar projects. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/ Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 30-August-2024

    Kia ora and welcome to the end of another week. Here’s our regular Friday roundup of things that caught our eye, in the realm of cities and transport. If you enjoy these roundups, feel free to join our growing ranks of supporters by making a recurring donation to keep the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Table Talk: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.

    “That’s the sort of constitutional reform he favours: conceived in secret; revolutionary in intent; implemented incrementally without fanfare; and under no circumstances to be placed before the electorate for democratic ratification.”TO SAY IT WAS RAINING would have understated seriously the meteorological conditions. Simply put, it was pissing down. One of ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Big Norm and Chris Hipkins

    It’s 50 years ago today that “Big Norm” Kirk died of a heart attack in Wellington’s Home of Compassion. Home of Compassion. Although he was Prime Minister for only 623 days, he has an iconic place in New Zealand history, particularly Labour history. When Labour leaders like Jacinda Ardern recite ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #35 2024

    Open access notables Arctic glacier snowline altitudes rise 150 m over the last 4 decades, Larocca et al., The Cryosphere: We mapped the snowline (SL) on a subset of 269 land-terminating glaciers above 60° N latitude in the latest available summer, clear-sky Landsat satellite image between 1984 and 2022. The mean SLA was extracted ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Unravelling the String of State: New Zealand Sovereignty and the Treaty of Waitangi

    Oh dear. Sometimes people just need to prod the sleeping dog. We currently have a parliamentary dispute over the nature of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, as signed between the British Crown and New Zealand Maori: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/526451/sovereignty-debate-split-on-party-lines Specifically, the National Government takes the traditional view that Maori ceded sovereignty ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Rigour, PLEASE

    You may have noticed I have been taking my time getting home. You may have wondered if that might have anything to do with our brave little nation being constitutionally and morally abused by this woeful excuse for a government. It does. I have enjoyed being able to turn the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Making A Difference.

    The Jacinda and Ashley Show: Before the neoliberals could come up with a plausible reason for letting thousands of their fellow citizens perish, the Ardern-led government, backed by the almost forgotten power of an unapologetically interventionist state, was producing changes in the real world – changes that were, very obviously, saving ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

    5 September 2024  The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

    On the occasion of the official visit by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to the Republic of Korea from 4 to 5 September 2024, a summit meeting was held between His Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

    Results released today from the International Visitor Survey (IVS) confirm international tourism is continuing to bounce back, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. The IVS results show that in the June quarter, international tourism contributed $2.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy, an increase of 17 per cent on last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government confirms RMA reforms to drive primary sector efficiency

    The Government is moving to review and update national level policy directives that impact the primary sector, as part of its work to get Wellington out of farming. “The primary sector has been weighed down by unworkable and costly regulation for too long,” Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.  “That is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Weak grocery competition underscores importance of cutting red tape

    The first annual grocery report underscores the need for reforms to cut red tape and promote competition, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “The report paints a concerning picture of the $25 billion grocery sector and reinforces the need for stronger regulatory action, coupled with an ambitious, economy-wide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government moves to lessen burden of reliever costs on ECE services

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the Government has listened to the early childhood education sector’s calls to simplify paying ECE relief teachers. Today two simple changes that will reduce red tape for ECEs are being announced, in the run-up to larger changes that will come in time from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Over 2,320 people engage with first sector regulatory review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says there has been a strong response to the Ministry for Regulation’s public consultation on the early childhood education regulatory review, affirming the need for action in reducing regulatory burden. “Over 2,320 submissions have been received from parents, teachers, centre owners, child advocacy groups, unions, research ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government backs women in horticulture

    “The Government is empowering women in the horticulture industry by funding an initiative that will support networking and career progression,” Associate Minister of Agriculture, Nicola Grigg says.  “Women currently make up around half of the horticulture workforce, but only 20 per cent of leadership roles which is why initiatives like this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government to pause freshwater farm plan rollout

    The Government will pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today. “Improving the freshwater farm plan system to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers is a priority for this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Milestone reached for fixing the Holidays Act 2003

    Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden says yesterday Cabinet reached another milestone on fixing the Holidays Act with approval of the consultation exposure draft of the Bill ready for release next week to participants.  “This Government will improve the Holidays Act with the help of businesses, workers, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New priorities to protect future of conservation

    Toitū te marae a Tāne Mahuta me Hineahuone, toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, toitū te taiao, toitū te tangata. The Government has introduced clear priorities to modernise Te Papa Atawhai - The Department of Conservation’s protection of our natural taonga. “Te Papa Atawhai manages nearly a third of our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Faster 110km/h speed limit to accelerate Kāpiti

    A new 110km/h speed limit for the Kāpiti Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS) has been approved to reduce travel times for Kiwis travelling in and out of Wellington, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • IVL increase to ensure visitors contribute more to New Zealand

    The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) will be raised to $100 to ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka say. “The Government is serious about enabling the tourism sector ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Delivering priority connections for the West Coast

    A record $255 million for transport investment on the West Coast through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s road and rail links to keep people connected and support the region’s economy, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Government is committed to making sure that every ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Road and rail reliability a focus for Wellington

    A record $3.3 billion of transport investment in Greater Wellington through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will increase productivity and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Delivering infrastructure to increase productivity and economic growth is a priority for our Government. We're focused on delivering transport projects ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Record investment to boost economic and housing growth in the Waikato

    A record $1.9 billion for transport investment in the Waikato through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more efficient, safe, and resilient roading network that supports economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “With almost a third of the country’s freight travelling into, out ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Building reliable and efficient roading for Taranaki

    A record $808 million for transport investment in Taranaki through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Taranaki’s roads carry a high volume of freight from primary industries and it’s critical we maintain efficient connections across the region to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Supporting growth and resilience in Otago and Southland

    A record $1.4 billion for transport investment in Otago and Southland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more resilient and efficient network that supports economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity in Otago ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Delivering connected and resilient roading for Northland

    A record $991 million for transport investment in Northland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s connections and support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “We are committed to making sure that every transport dollar is spent wisely on the projects and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Top of the South to benefit from reliable transport infrastructure

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