Summer service: open mike 10/01/2012
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6:00 am, January 10th, 2012 - 30 comments
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As usual, it’s reduced service over the summer break, unless anything big happens. We hope you’ll get a good break with those dear to you, and that we’ll have some decent weather to enjoy. And if you still need your politics fix… Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Step right up to the mike…
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Today the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey announced Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) will be the first recipient of the Tourism Data Partnership Fund at the industry body’s annual conference. “Understanding how business events contribute to New Zealand’s economy will help regional tourism organisations to make critical decisions ...2 hours ago - Trade Minister heads to Canada for CPTPP
Trade Minister Todd McClay will travel to Vancouver today for the 8th Commission Meeting of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). “CPTPP is a gold-standard free trade agreement. The accession by the United Kingdom and the interest shown by other economies shows the value of the Agreement,” Mr ...2 hours ago
- Supporting rural New Zealand: one year of action
Farmers and rural communities are the backbone of New Zealand’s economy. Over the past year, the Government has delivered practical reforms to reduce costs, cut red tape, provide certainty, and get Wellington out of farming. With 80 per cent of all the goods exports coming from the primary sector and ...5 hours ago
- Speech to the Community Housing Aotearoa Annual Conference
Introduction Good morning. It’s great to be here at the Community Housing Aotearoa Conference and to see so many people dedicated to fixing New Zealand’s housing crisis. I’d firstly like to congratulate you on celebrating 20 years. Well done, and here’s to 20 more. I’d also like to thank you. ...6 hours ago
- Levelling the playing field for Community Housing Providers
The Government has agreed to a series of changes to remove barriers faced by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) in delivering social housing, Housing and Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Social housing is an important part of New Zealand’s housing market, providing affordable rental housing for low income tenants. CHPs ...6 hours ago
- Statement on Nikki Kaye
Prime Minister and National Party Leader Christopher Luxon and Deputy Leader Nicola Willis are deeply saddened by the passing of Nikki Kaye, a cherished colleague, friend, and former Minister, Deputy Leader and Member of Parliament for Auckland Central. “Nikki’s contribution to our party, her community, and New Zealand has left an ...6 hours ago
- Advisory group to focus on organised crime
Cabinet has approved the establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Group on transnational and serious organised crime, Associate Police Minister Casey Costello announced today. “This is an important step to ensuring we have a better cross-government response to fighting the increasing threat posed to New Zealand by international and domestic crime ...7 hours ago
- Funding for 50 new senior doctors, more nurses
Frontline funding by the Government will enable the employment of 50 new senior doctors, as well as additional specialist nurses and other health professionals. “This will reduce wait times, enhance patient safety and support vulnerable specialties like dermatology,” says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “Our senior doctors are key to ...8 hours ago
- Board of inquiry for Te Awamutu waste-to-energy proposal is appointed
Judge Brian Dwyer has been appointed as chair of the newly established board of inquiry for the Te Awamutu waste-to-energy proposal, alongside a group of high skilled individuals, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “I am pleased to announce Judge Brian Dwyer of the Environment Court as chair,” Ms Simmonds says. “With a ...8 hours ago
- New Police station in Auckland CBD
Today, Police Minister Mark Mitchell, alongside newly appointed Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, welcomed the announcement of a new police station in central Auckland. “Public safety is at the heart of this Government’s law-and-order programme, and increasing police visibility across our main CBDs is a key part of that. “Having a ...1 day ago
- Raising awareness of child exploitation
Customs Minister Casey Costello has praised the work of Customs’ Child Exploitation Operations Team (CEOT) for their commitment to combat the sexual exploitation and abuse of children. This specialist team in Customs features in an hour-long documentary, Unmasking the Monsters, which airs tonight on TVNZ 1. “It’s important that Customs has taken this ...1 day ago
- Prime Minister’s scholarships awarded
New Zealand is strengthening its global connections with Asia and Latin America, as 119 individual recipients have been awarded Prime Minister’s Scholarships for education experiences abroad, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Expanding New Zealand’s global engagement through world-class international education is a key government priority,” Ms Simmonds ...1 day ago
- Climate Minister to see Antarctica research first-hand
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is travelling to Antarctica on Monday to see the impacts of climate change first-hand and see New Zealand’s scientific work on the ice. “Antarctica is under increasing pressure from climate change, with rapid changes to the Antarctic ice sheet, ice shelves, sea ice, and biodiversity now ...1 day ago
- Joint Statement: Singapore-New Zealand Article 6 Negotiations reach consensus
Countries have reached a deal on carbon markets at the annual United Nations climate change meeting (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Co-chaired by Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and New Zealand’s Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts, the negotiations on Article 6 (carbon markets) concluded successfully with ...1 day ago
- Child Protection Investigation Unit established
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Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Ka mihi ki te mana whenua ko Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Kia ora and good morning everyone. Thank you Fran and Simon for inviting me here today, and importantly your leadership of this forum over several years now. I want to acknowledge David Gehrenbeck, Deputy ...4 days ago
- Record number of submissions received on granny flat proposal
Nearly 2,000 submissions have been received on the Government’s proposals aimed at making it easier to build a granny flat of up to 60 square metres without a resource or building consent, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “This is the highest number ...4 days ago
- District Court Judge appointed
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Rebecca Guthrie as a District Court Judge. Judge Guthrie was admitted to the bar in 1997 following her graduation from the University of Canterbury in 1996 (LLB, BA). She commenced her legal career in Hastings in 1997 before moving to London in ...4 days ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
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- New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
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- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...4 days ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...5 days ago
- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...5 days ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...5 days ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...5 days ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...5 days ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...5 days ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...5 days ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...5 days ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...5 days ago
- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...5 days ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...5 days ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...5 days ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...6 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...6 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...6 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...6 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...6 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...6 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...7 days ago
- Smaller brains? Fewer friends? An evolutionary biologist asks how AI will change humanity’s future
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Brooks, Scientia Professor of Evolution, UNSW Sydney Kitreel/Shutterstock What will humans be like generations from now in a world transformed by artificial intelligence (AI)? Plenty of thinkers have applied themselves to questions like this, considering how AI will alter lives ...48 minutes ago - Will Donald Trump renegotiate the AUKUS treaty or walk away? That’s the $368 billion question
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Andrews, Senior Policy Advisor, Australian National University Given the United States is Australia’s most consequential military ally, it is natural to consider what Donald Trump’s return to the White House will mean for the future of Australian defence policy – especially ...1 hour ago
- Government Lacks Vision For Health Sector: NZNO
More specialist and regional nurses are good news for patient and whānau safety and wellbeing, but $10 million represents a 0.2% increase in investment on nurses - which is even less once allied health professionals are hired out of the same fund. ...1 hour ago - Funding for Federal Street Police station coming out of Budget bid earmarked for recruitment
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The former politician went to great lengths to help others - and despite people's views, she treated everyone the same, a long-time friend says. ...2 hours ago
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The former minister and Auckland Central dynamo has died aged 44. Toby Manhire writes. I remember distinctly the 2000 interview that Nikki Kaye gave to Kathryn Ryan on RNZ that morning. It was just after the departure of Todd Muller as National leader, with the party reeling still from a ...3 hours ago - Nikki Kaye’s cancer diagnosis much poorer than told publicly in 2016 – Sir John Key
Nikki Kaye took time away from Parliament to be treated for breast cancer in 2016, but Sir John Key says they both knew the cancer had already spread much more widely. ...3 hours ago
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Protesters hung a banner from a building opposite, reading “You Cruise, We lose.” This banner has been seen draped around several Dunedin locations in order to draw attention to the harm of cruising. ...3 hours ago
- We know enough about brain development to know youth offending reforms probably won’t work
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kris Gledhill, Professor of Law, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The coalition government’s majority will no doubt ensure its proposed solutions to youth offending will pass into law. But evidence and past experience suggest these reforms are unlikely to succeed. ...4 hours ago
- Why are some babies born so hairy? Lanugo is more common in early babies but is nothing to worry abo...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rakime Elmir, Associate Professor in Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University Ivan Lonan/Shutterstock Babies are born with fine, downy, short, and slightly pigmented body hair called lanugo. The term comes from the Latin word “lana,” meaning wool. In some babies, ...4 hours ago
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By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk The election of Emmanuel Tjibaou as the new president of New Caledonia’s main pro-independence party, the Union Calédonienne (UC), has triggered a whole range of political reactions — mostly favourable, some more cautious. Within the pro-independence camp, the two main moderate ...4 hours ago
- Former National minister Nikki Kaye dies, aged 44
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"We are concerned that the problems identified with the science system, are only being exacerbated by the ongoing cuts we are seeing in the sector while the Minister continually deprioritises, delays, defers, and ignores," says Stewart. ...5 hours ago
- National Party Minister Nikki Kaye remembered: ‘One of the bravest Parliamentarians’
Politicians across the political spectrum are praising the former National Party Minister for her "tireless dedication". ...5 hours ago
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Dunedin city councillor Lee Vandervis has kicked off a delicate debate – how much of Christchurch should be rebuilt in Christchurch? And should some of the shaky city be relocated elsewhere in the South Island – Vandervis is proposing Dunedin but obviously there are other southern options.
Individuals and businesses should be free to choose for themselves – as they are – but what about public services that have been ripped out of the rest of the South Island and centralised in Christchurch over the past few decades?
Post-quake rebuild – Christchurch or Dunedin? Or elsewhere? Or not?
About time this was raised especially as the science is now saying there will be years of aftershocks and liquefaction, makes sense and something the govt should’ve suggested if they had any vision and bollocks.
From what I have read, Lee Vandervis is a right wing library and park closing crackpot, but his thoughts about this should be considered, given the stability (or lack) of Christchurch City.
For a start, the proposed ferry terminal at Clifford Bay should go ahead as a replacement for Lyttelton…
I wouldn’t even call him “right wing”. And similarity between what he says and a good idea, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
I reckon Christchurch will have a population 25% smaller than its peak, and it will be realised in the next 5 years.
Further there will be minimal rebuilding of destroyed areas in 2012 largely because no one will be able to obtain insurance on new buildings (commercial or residential) at anything like affordable rates.
The private sector has done this too.
The biting feeling on people’s rear is the privatisation of the state owned insurance companies (and the MOW) in the 1980’s-90’s…
Yep that privatisation of public sector capability has taken the resiliency out of this country and basically fucked Christchurch.
firm fucks over couple’s wedding plans – and defends its decision as being the sensible one
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10777717
I bet the prick business owner extracted a higher rate out of his bigger client as well, at the same time as screwing the young couple. This is what our society has turned into, fuck for a buck.
The business owner should have hired a couple of suitable cars from someone else and onlent them to the couple.
Or at least arranged for an alternative hire with someone else (and paid any difference if there was any) – that’s commonly done by good companies, it’s generally good for business.
Yes that would have been an alternative mikesh, but it appears that it was not given as an option. No money in it for the business owner you see. I hope he enjoys this media attention.
Film company shooting in the lower North Island…? How many films are shooting here now? Odds are on it being a Jackson production…
Thank god for Peter Jackson eh! Something commercial happening in New Zealand bringing jobs for NZs and keeping money here. Great.
Even in the most deregulated economies in the world, our business sector still has to act like arseholes to their customers (and their workers).
Great cartoon in the Herald today re privatising of state assets.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10777662
Great cartoon. Should we all get boards and back into the sea prepared for when we need to return to our original roots as we quickly turn back our intelligent civilising ‘humanising’ culture to the simple and primitive?
So Rena is sinking, oil everywhere, containers washing up down half the coast and where is John Key?
A tragedy kills 11 of us and where is John Key?
The mesmerising ‘Cheshire Cat’ phenomenon is away on holiday
and his spokesman sends you all best wishes and snoozes
… z z z Z z z z Z Z z z z …
Why the frak were there still hundreds of containers on the Rena?
It’s been too hard to remove them faster probably. I’d expect it was in the salvager’s interest to get them off as fast as they could.
I also hope that the parties concerned don’t think that if they close their eyes a magical pixie fairy is going to take the wreckage of the Rena away…
Hot news. The Swiss have just devalued their franc. Why can’t we have this ability? The Swiss aren’t dumb. We are. End of story.
We do have this ability. Announcing the gradual nationalisation of Contact Energy and Telecom would do it.
Mining industry spin
I happened across a pro mining article today, written by an obvious industry hack calling themselves Teresa Clifford. You really have to dig deep to find any truth in the article at all…
congrats to JH on the POAL post for calling Radio New Zealand to account for their lack of objectivity. their holiday coverage has been jejune, infantile and bordering on the inane.
no wonder POAL tried it on in the season. The only msm outlet with any gumption has gone to sleep.
Please direct me to the MSM outlet with gumption…..the R in RNZ stands for Right wing nowadays as the nat’s have ever so cleverly got it marching to their tune via Griffin.
The future of education in New Zealand?
http://tinyurl.com/7dcjtjy
I wonder if the curriculum taught in these schools will lead to an enlightened population or one that becomes even more immersed in neoliberal and fundamentalist christian beliefs? Heaven help us….
Three more years of a National Government may inflict more damage than we realize:
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/01/nz-report-card-reveals-much.html
A bit of Brit comedy for the punters
https://ixquick.com/do/mypage.pl?prf=719d67f6abff5e201f48e3d34b284a0b