Summer service: open mike 29-31/12/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 29th, 2011 - 65 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

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…

65 comments on “Summer service: open mike 29-31/12/2011 ”

  1. Sanctuary 1

    Old Garth has been kicked into touch by the Herald. Probably one bit of plagarism to far led to a quiet word in his shell-like.

    Since it was NRT who pointed it all out a few weeks back, I think we can chalk Garth’s head on a pike up to Idiot/Savant.

    Cheers Bro!

    • millsy 1.1

      Yes! No more sexist, racist, homophobic bigotry poisoning the NZ Herald.

      Next, its Michael Laws, and then our resident bigot, Gordon Brown!

      • QoT 1.1.1

        No more sexist, racist, homophobic bigotry poisoning the NZ Herald.

        Now millsy, they have plenty of other writers to do that to fill Garth’s vacuum. Though admittedly not half so well.

        • logie97 1.1.1.1

          Look out for the names of Armstrong, Young and O’Sullivan (and outside chances of Farrar, and Hooten) on Jan 1st. That would be really taking the piss …

          • millsy 1.1.1.1.1

            Admittedly, I think Farrar’s name would be justifiable, given that from what I understand, he has had a lot of involvement with online/world wide web/internet community over the past 15-20 years…

      • Ari 1.1.2

        Please tell me that first sentence was sarcastic, lol.

  2. Memo from Crosby Textor

    To the RWNJ community

    It is that time of year again where the year’s outstanding efforts on the internet are remembered and celebrated.

    It has been a tough but ultimately successful year.  Despite the Teflon being chipped off him and despite the real John Key starting to show through despite huge amounts of CT resources being applied, Key and National kept sufficient support to retain power, just.  It took extreme manipulation of the ACT Party and the Epsom electorate as well as the continued support of the coiffured one but when it comes to retaining power the ends always justify the means.

    The winners of the various categories are as follows:

    1.         For the most extreme anti union belligerence to the point of obsession and for still refusing to pay his debts Big Bruv gets the bludger of the year award.

    2.         To higherstandard goes the award for the most misleading pseudonym used by a Standard commenter.

    3.         The Cyclops award goes to Gosman for consistently refusing to accept that there is any possible coherence in any left wing idea.

    4.         The Lord Monkton award for extreme refusal to acknowledge that there is any climate change whatsoever and if anything is actually happening the earth is cooling like a hocky stick goes to Clark.

    5.         But the coveted troll of the year award goes to someone who day in and day out showed an enhanced ability to stuff threads up, someone who was able to consistently post banal idiotic generalized meaningless comments, someone who was obtuse to the point of being totally indecipherable, someone who refused to even say which party he was going to vote for even though he was a United Follicle candidate.  Yes folks, the troll of the year for 2011 is Petey George!!!
     

    • Colonial Viper 2.1

      Congratulations on your well deserved ‘win’ Pete George, and have a Happy New Year!

    • mik e 2.2

      Pompus git congratulations
      I thouht Queenie deserved an award for the most persistant calculating spin

    • higherstandard 2.3

      Memo from Crosby Textor.

      To Greg Presland.

      Dear Greg

      Thanks for all the hard work in 2011.

      We couldn’t have achieved half of what we did without the work of committed activists like yourself.

      The fact that you did it all for free has added significantly to our bottom line.

      Kind regards

      CT

    • millsy 2.4

      Ah, Pete George, the right winger who assured us that he wasn’t really a right winger, honest.

    • lprent 2.5

      Hey. What about Gormless Fool aka OleBiscuitBarrel.

      I’d put him as the most good humoured operative.

      Those multiple dickheads I found running a astroturf campaign out of the political quarter in Wellington on a static IP would have to be the dumbest.

      • mickysavage 2.5.1

        The judging panel gave serious consideration to Ole and to tsmishfield for awards but they were both ruled out on the basis that they occasionally make coherent comments …

  3. Tigger 3

    Is our PM on holiday and if so who is in charge. I must have missed the ‘news’ which was buried this year since Key is looking out of touchsad it is.

  4. Jackal 4

    Anonymous survival guide

    Anonymous has released a Survival Guide for Citizens in a Revolution (PDF), which is well worth a read. Although focused on what to do in the event of a violent uprising, the document is relevant for any disaster like emergency situation.

  5. Jackal 5

    Radioactive muttonbirds

    Despite the possible contamination, there’s been no official warning about eating sooty terns (Onychoprion fuscata) that could have been exposed to Strontium-90 after the Fukushima nuclear accident.

    […]

    Adams believes that the Muttonbirds offspring will not be affected… he’s wrong! Sensitivity to radiation is elevated from conception through embryonic development… that means if the Muttonbirds are exposed, they will pass that exposure onto their offspring through maternal bone stores.

    • Ari 5.1

      On the plus side, we can all look forward to the plethora of avian japanese superheroes in the future from people getting pecked by radioactive birds. 😉

    • weka 5.2

      “Sensitivity to radiation is elevated from conception through embryonic development… that means if the Muttonbirds are exposed, they will pass that exposure onto their offspring through maternal bone stores.”

      Have you some back up for that statement Jackal?

      • Jackal 5.2.1

        It’s a reasonably well documented process in humans. I’m presuming that the effects are similar or greater in birds.

        • weka 5.2.1.1

          That’s a lot of PDFs on birds and fallout (and sorry but google is too stupid for me to start trawling the results), not on how that passes to offspring in birds and how the eating of the offspring would affect humans. I think it’s reasonable to be cautious, but also reasonable to wait until the science is done on those particular birds (next autumn). Banning harvest seems OTT. Notifying Rakiura Maori of the issues seems a better way to go.

          • Jackal 5.2.1.1.1

            Google is stupid or you’re just lazy weka?

            We should perhaps agree to disagree. Personally I think the best precautionary measure is to ban the eating of potentially contaminated food until testing is undertaken.

            I believe I’ve already answered your question re how Strontium 90 passes from a mother bird to their offspring. You might be aware that Strontium 90 enters and leaves cells easily. You also need to accept that there are numerous studies that show radionuclide uptake in the in utero period.

            A large portion of the strontium will build up in bones. Eventually it will dissolve from the bones and return to the blood. Since radioactive strontium acts a lot like calcium and is taken up into bone, the bone itself and nearby soft tissues may be damaged by radiation released over time.

            The demand for calcium to make the egg shell is very high, and so the circulating levels of blood calcium in birds are greatly elevated compared to mammals, typically twice as much. This means they are even more susceptible to radionuclide uptake and transference to offspring.

            • weka 5.2.1.1.1.1

              No I’m not lazy. I do think that it’s fine that people post opinions, but when they’re speculating from fact on something so important the facts need to be backed up some how. You obviously know more about this than I do, so it makes sense for you to spend a couple of minutes posting on that, rather than me spending an hour wading through those PDFs that don’t seem that relevant.

              As for google, what can I say? I searched for the word fallout in a string of words and I get hits that include birds falling out of nests.

              Thanks for the extra explanations. We can disagree. I think Southern Maori are quite capable of making the decision on their own about whether to harvest next year or not, and I would see the authorities’ responsibilities being to get and supply good information, rather than banning. I thought the scientist interviewed in Nat Radio was balanced in his views: he acknowledged what they don’t know, and was cautious, and said they will be doing further studies. What I’d want to know now from the govt here is how NZ will be part of that.

              I agree that the authorities here should issue a warning.

              • Jackal

                The dynamic I’ve explained is not speculation… it has been well documented since 1969 when research was undertaken into the pathologic consequences of radiostrontium in fetal and infant dogs.

                It does not make sense for me to spend my time finding research to back up my assertion when you can allay your disbelief by spending the same amount of time researching the topic yourself.

                You’re assumption that Southern Maori are capable of making a decision themselves is highly flawed. Firstly many of them will not be aware that there is a potential hazard… and like yourself, some will not be aware of the potential effects from the hazard.

                Further studies are most likely not going to be in time to ensure Muttonbirds that could potentially contain Strontium 90 and other radionuclides are not consumed. Appropriate precautions and prevention of harm is preferable… a warning will not suffice to ensure public safety.

                • weka

                  You said: “I’m presuming that the effects are similar or greater in birds.” Sounds like speculation to me. And like I said, I don’t have a problem with that, if it’s well informed then just back it up.

                  Further, I don’t disbelieve you, I just see the process differently. You are speculating, I am trying to find out how well informed you are. One of the tools I use to judge information is to look at who is saying it. I don’t know you or your background well enough to take what you say at face value. You may well be right in that the govt should ban muttonbirding until this is sorted out, I just don’t see the evidence for it yet.

                  I *am* aware of the potential risks. And my suggestion about Southern Maori isn’t flawed because I specifically said that the authorities had a responsibility to notify of the risks.

                  • Jackal

                    Fair enough weka. I believe the fourth document in that link above concerning Strontium 90 being found in cancer victims teeth because their mothers were exposed to radiation is probably where you want to start. It also references other studies that pertain to the discussion.

                    As far as I can tell, the only difference between humans and birds in the form of uptake of radionuclides is that in humans there’s evidence that the human placenta provides some protection from certain radionuclides being transfered and that birds have an increased risk of transference of maternal bone stores to their offspring because of their higher levels of blood calcium compared to mammals.

                    My speculation was entirely to do with birds offspring being more susceptible to uptake of radionuclides compared to humans… not about whether the dynamic is in effect at all. Perhaps you might like to provide some research that refutes my assertion?

                    As to whether a notification of potential risks would be adequate or not, I doubt we’ll ever find out.

      • Fotran 5.2.2

        Hands up who has ever tasted Muttinbirds ?. I did once – was not nice.

        • weka 5.2.2.1

          I’ve eaten muttonbirds, very yummy. Wouldn’t suit everyone though, and you have to have them prepared right.

        • David H 5.2.2.2

          Yes I have once and it was in a situation that it was considered impolite to refuse,  thankfully there was plenty of Beer to wash the unmentionable thing down.  Never again, and I was informed that I was lucky to have missed the cooking of said bird.

  6. just saying 6

    Dunno if anyone caught the editorial in this weeks listener. (I was away and had to read any news I could get my hands on).

    The right is strongly pushing the line that Shearer will need to be relentlessly “positive” in opposition in order to prosper. Obviously they are hoping for another three years of hapless and cheerful me-tooism from Labour.

    I suspect they will have their wish granted.

    Maybe a grand coalition is the plan…..?

    • Colonial Viper 6.1

      Three years? Shearer and Robertson have one year to make their mark. Well, more like 49 weeks now.
      And I doubt that there is anything “relentlessly positive” happening in global or regional affairs next year. It will be quite a challenge for every party in Parliament.

    • Carol 6.2

      So are Key and National going to be “relentlessly positive” too?… instead of answering every question for oral answer beginning with “after the damage done by 9 years of Labour-led governments”…?

      • Treetop 6.2.1

        “after the damage done by 9 years of Labour-led governments”…?

        I think this will be modified to after the damage done by 9 earthquakes over 5.7 and that Labour did not have enough provisions with the EQC to cover the cost.

        Never mind the zoning issues, insurance shortfalls, increased premiums…

      • just saying 6.2.2

        I think there is good reason for Key’s apparent positivity. Everything is going to plan with ‘raid NZ’ and he is quite literally “laughing all the way to the bank”. There are, I believe members of the National Party, however, who believe that their misguided policies actually will lead NZ out of what they like to call a recession, (well those NZanders who “matter” anyway) who will certainly find the next few years difficult from a ‘relentless positivity’ POV.

    • millsy 6.3

      I cant imagine if a Cunliffe-led Labour party would be any different.

      Looking back, I think the destruction of the Alliance was a huge setback for the left. Had that party still been around, there would have been a decent and powerful genuine left force in Parliament, rather than just a wish-washy ‘me too’ Labour. But, as is the case, too many people wanted their own way, and in the end, its the grassroots supporters that lost out.

      • Colonial Viper 6.3.1

        Oh yes a Labour with Cunliffe would have been quite different – but that would not have been obvious after just a couple of weeks.
         
        Agree; essentially the Left can’t get its shit together so it has rings run around it by the far more socialistic and co-operative (amongst the top 1%) NATs.

  7. randal 7

    I get really pissed off with the tory commentariat trying to micro manage the opposition.
    Labour wil stick to its knitting and expose the nashnil gubmint for the pseudo, ignorant posturers that they are.
    the thing about tories is that in their rotten little black hearts they think there is not enough to go round so they have to grab everything and enslave everyone.
    it only works when the economy is going forward (hahahahahaha) and events will overtake them this year.
    we have had enough of their bad luck and a resignation before the assets sales is likely.

  8. Jackal 9

    Cameron Slater douchebag

    The ever-repugnant Cameron Slater has been running his meaningless Whaleoil Awards in which he nominates The Jackal for worst blog of the year…

  9. randal 10

    I nominate slater as the worst thing next to poice of dog sh*t I would like to find undr my shoe.
    next is toe henry who has just tweeted that the boy arrested in Taupo is guilty of the heinous crime.
    that may be so but we have the rule of law in this country and both slater and henare think they are above it.

  10. Kiwi Saver anyone ……………… lol 😉
    What a joke we are, roll on 2012

    http://www.desdemonadespair.net/2011/12/50-doomiest-stories-of-2011.html

    50 doomiest stories of 2011
    Posted by Jim at Monday, December 26, 2011

    Here are 2011’s most profoundly doom-laden stories, chosen arbitrarily by Des. Last year, this feature was The Twelve Doomiest Stories of 2010, to evoke “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, but twelve stories just aren’t enough to capture the zeitgeist of doom that permeated the year.

    Nuclear meltdowns at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi plant and the resulting widespread radioactive fallout dominated the doomscape for months, much as BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster dominated 2010. Desdemona figures that we can count on one huge technogenic catastrophe per year, as civilization slides down the energy-production curve and loses the ability to maintain its complex, aging infrastructure.

    2011 was a bad year for the Amazon basin, with illegal deforestation spiking as farmers anticipated government pardons. The Belo Monte dam was approved, as a “green” form of energy production for Brazil; it will destroy 400 square kilometers of rainforest. Conservation activists were murdered.

    But climate disasters comprised the overwhelming majority of doom stories in 2011, with reports of species extinctions and agricultural failures from all over the globe. Record droughts and floods struck a number of nations, with La Niña getting much of the blame, and 2011 saw increasing acceptance of the idea that the global climate is changing rapidly before our eyes. Pakistan was hit with another round of record monsoon flooding, adding to the misery from 2010. More ominously, global civilization has been unable to muster the necessary humanitarian response, implying that we’ve passed Peak Humanitarian Aid. The long drought in East Africa continued to drag on, creating huge refugee flows and killing endangered wildlife across a wide swath of the continent. Texas experienced record agricultural losses and depopulation as the ongoing drought makes the center of the state uninhabitable.

    http://www.desdemonadespair.net/2011/12/50-doomiest-stories-of-2011.html

    Comment
    This list is, indeed, impressive, but for those of us who have followed the environmental news over the years, the eventual outcome of all of this irresponsible action will be neither surprising, nor unexpected. Why? Because we know how parasites act, and we also know that the vast majority of our species are parasites; those who would trample over common decency and responsibility just to enrich themselves at everybody elses expense.

    Like all parasites, they will, eventually, wind up killing their host. Our host was the Earth. So many people seem to think this thing is going to be turned around for the better, but that is not going to happen now.

    We have long since passed the point of no return, and we, as well as every other living thing on this planet will face extinction within the next 100 years; mankind’s reign ending far sooner than that. It’s only a matter of time. The larger the organism, the faster it will die off, as it requires more resources to survive than its smaller counterparts, and even an organism’s level of intelligence can not provide the rudimentary resources it needs to continue to live if they no longer exist.

    Those resources will reach critical values perhaps within the next year, and if people don’t like this projection, that’s too bad. They should have thought about this outcome 50 years ago when they had the chance to do something to curtail it, but they didn’t. Now, it is about time to pay the piper for all the music they’ve listened to for the last one hundred and fifty years.

  11. Huginn 12

    Thinking about low voter turnout:

    From the Guardian:

    Across the [US], state legislatures and governors are pushing laws that seek to restrict access to the voting booth, laws that will disproportionately harm people of color, low-income people, and young and elderly voters.

    The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund have just released a comprehensive report on the crisis, “Defending Democracy: Confronting Modern Barriers to Voting Rights in America.” In it, they write: “The heart of the modern block-the-vote campaign is a wave of restrictive government-issued photo identification requirements. In a co-ordinated effort, legislators in 34 states introduced bills imposing such requirements. Many of these bills were modeled on legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) – a conservative advocacy group whose founder explained: ‘Our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.'”

    from:
    The new wave of US voter suppression

    Rightwing state legislatures are pushing laws that seek to restrict voter access. It’s an alarming trend, and Democrats will lose out
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/dec/28/republicans-voter-rights-suppression

  12. Jackal 13

    Stratos Television closure

    I purchased my freeview decoder specifically to watch Stratos Television and not infomercials. I have also grown to like TVNZ 7. One month after my purchase, closures were announced because of a lack of government funding…

    • Peter Marshall 13.1

      Cry me river Jackass. Were these channels gaurrenteed to be on air forever? Nope.
      Fund the programmes yourself if you want them. As a hard suffering Tax Payer I draw the line at Maori TV. Get Sky, has a much greater range, CNN to nullify FOX etc.

      • Colonial Viper 13.1.1

        Sorry Peter Marshall, you’re only a tax payer, one of millions and no more special than any other person in this country. You don’t get to reduce the common wealth of NZ society for your own benefit. While pushing for increased corporatisation of broadcasting.

        Well…you shouldn’t be able to, you fucking ripe-for-the-guillotine RWNJ.

        As a hard suffering Tax Payer

        If you pay a lot of tax it means you are raking it in. Didn’t you ever get taught when enough is enough.

        • Colonial Viper 13.1.1.1

          You’re on buddy.

          (this orphaned comment was in response to Peter Marshall saying that he was a big earner and that he’d bring a bazooka in against my guillotine)

      • mik e 13.1.2

        Sky just keeps repeating its bullshit as well.
        My friend has unlimited broad band and gets tv shows from all over the world for the cost of his broad band.

      • Jackal 13.1.3

        Peter Marshall

        Were these channels gaurrenteed to be on air forever?

        That’s not the issue… they were advertised as part of the deal. “Buy this freeview unit and you get all of these free programes,” said the advertising. There was no disclaimer saying they were not going to be a part of the deal.

        There was an expectation that the services advertised would be available for a reasonable amount of time… they weren’t and that’s where the governments decision not to fund Stratos and TVNZ 7 is in breach of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

    • millsy 13.2

      And news has been filtering through that TVNZ7 is going to be turned into a shopping channel.

      Its disgusting the way that broadcasting in this country has been allowed to pan out.

  13. millsy 14

    Unnoticed by almost everyone here, but the 20th anniversary of the fall of the USSR passed on the 25th, The right has been using that as a stick to beat the left with ever since.

    I dont know about anyone else, but I am getting sick of people somehow thinking that wanting high income earners to pay a bit more tax so we can fund health, education, welfare and housing services is supporting USSR style polices.

    • prism 14.1

      millsy – Just reading Huginn at 12 (29/12 10.56 pm) and the comment about USA barriers to voting being introduced . It seems that now Russian communism has fallen the ‘free’ western countries don’t have to try to hide their fascist tendencies towards disenfranchising people and degrading living standards of the masses (the 90%).

  14. Descendant Of Smith 15

    A few of us were talking about how since the Alliance Party – and Jim Anderton in particular – vanished that no-one really talks any more about regional development or helping the rural areas.

    Interestingly – and no surprise – information has come to light about the advice given to abandon Liverpool in the 80’s cause it was their own fault.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/30/thatcher-government-liverpool-riots-1981

    The story alongside it is food for thought as well.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/30/national-archives-1981-riots-parallels?intcmp=239

    Given the attacks on long term beneficiaries – many of whom live in rural areas – where there is often little employment and the lack of job creation this government supports / encourages you have to wonder whether this is part of this government’s approach as well.

    Leave the Ruatoria’s, the Taumarunui’s, the Murapara’s, …….. to fall over and disappear and as they deteriorate to blame them for it is surely their own fault.

  15. Jackal 16

    Jackal impersonators

    A while ago I had a bit of trouble with a right-winger using my email address to steal the Jackal handle, and writing crap on left blogs in an attempt to discredit me. Thanks to quick acting moderators, this wasn’t much of an issue.

    However another right wing impersonator has now started to comment on Kiwibog using the Jackal handle. This is obviously not the original Jackal, as I’ve been banned from commenting at Kiwibog.

    As is to be expected, Farrar hasn’t bothered to moderate the identity theft. In fact it’s likely he’s had to specifically remove the jackal handle from the systems banned list to allow comments to be made by the impersonator…

  16. logie97 17

    Constance Ellen Lawn, Virginia, US, for services to New Zealand-United States relations.

    Guess this is the one who occasionally comments on The National Programme about issues American. And so she gets recognised for services to New Zealand – American relations.
    Connie Lawn, Washington Correspondent

    From Wiki
    Connie Lawn is USA Radio Network’s White House Correspondent. She is also author of “You Wake Me Each Morning”. She was awarded an honorary Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the 2012 New Year Honours. …

    • millsy 17.1

      Shes been TRN/RNZ’s Washington correspondent ever since I can remember — used to hear her voice on the radio as a kid. “Connie Lawn, Radio New Zealand News, Washington”

      This honors list seems to be largely about the National/ACT parties rewarding loyal donors and supporters.

  17. coolas 18

    2011 has nearly gone and I’d like to thank those folk who write and maintain The Standard for providing such an excellent news service and platform for discussion. I visit daily and greatly appreciate the wealth of knowledge and information available.

    Happy New Year to you all.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T19:55:24+00:00