Te Tai Tokerau

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 pm, June 25th, 2011 - 112 comments
Categories: by-election - Tags:

Te Tai Tokerau includes the North Shore, so there’s been a by-election in my patch today.

I had good fun participating in the Get Out The Vote effort across the Shore with many other friendly volunteers.  The polls have just closed, so soon we get to know if the effort we put in today – and over the past few weeks – has managed to get Kelvin over the line.  It looks like it’ll be close, but Maori electorates are notoriously difficult to canvas or poll, so no-one’s quite sure.

But now: we just have to sit back and wait.  What will happen to Hone’s 6,308 majority?

[99% booths in: Hone 5372 Kelvin 4582 Solomon 1003]

112 comments on “Te Tai Tokerau ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Joel Walsham 1
    25 June 2011 at 7:10 pm

    1.5% Counted

    ALP, Kelvyn OUR 10
    DAVIS, Kelvin LAB 497
    HARAWIRA, Hone MANA 728
    HERBERT, Maki ALCP 13
    TIPENE, Solomon MAOR 99

    Have to start somewhere 😉

    • Lanthanide 1.1
      25 June 2011 at 7:15 pm

      Results are going up really fast already. 8 polling places returned in about 7 minutes since these initial numbers posted.

      • Joel Walsham 1.1.1
        25 June 2011 at 7:17 pm

        The big West Auckland, North Shore and Whangarei booths wont come out until later and I suspect that will be where a lot of Kelvins support will lie.

  2. Rich 2
    25 June 2011 at 7:12 pm

    I can’t believe you felt it required to spike the previous uncontentious article, whilst Stuff has this still up

  3. Lanthanide 3
    25 June 2011 at 7:13 pm

    What happened to the post that was up earlier today? It just vanished.

    • Jenny 3.1
      26 June 2011 at 12:35 am

      Shame it looked like an interesting one too. I suppose it must have broken some electoral rule.

      Maybe Lynn might bring it back, now that the election is over.

      • freedom 3.1.1
        26 June 2011 at 10:12 am

        it did seem a bit strange, someone must have posted something naughty.

        I am more surprised at the edited reposting. Where are the original comments of this post from yesterday? I was looking forward to seeing if there were any responses on my comments about iPredict percentages being discussed throughout the media as if they are some sort of Polling mechanism and not commercially motivated manipulations of data masquerading as representational information.

      • lprent 3.1.2
        26 June 2011 at 3:34 pm

        I will be. A little later, but I have to edit the post and my comments a bit.

        I ran afoul of the interpretation of the electoral law by the chief elector because I was writing a post and commenting while I was a scruitineer. Since I was using the cell yesterday, I thought it was wiser to pull the whole post rather than trying to edit the post etc through it..

        Didn’t edit it last night because I needed to defrost after the foul weather and let my back uncramp after spending so much time in a plastic chair. In other words I got home and crashed into bed (and got up late this morning).

        This afternoon I have been doing some urgent site coding. So this is my first chance through the lower priority items like moderating and reading comments. But shopping will have to come first before I put the post back up. We’re out of some essentials (like coffee)

  5. millsy 5
    25 June 2011 at 7:15 pm

    Still think Kelvin will win. He has mana by the spade.

    Solomon Tipene has a good solid background and as a well respected kaumatua still has a lot to offer politics (even at a local body level) and I hope the MP dont drop him like a hot potato.

  6. millsy 6
    25 June 2011 at 7:18 pm

    11.2% counted:

    ALP, Kelvyn OUR 12
    DAVIS, Kelvin LAB 625
    HARAWIRA, Hone MANA 841
    HERBERT, Maki ALCP 18
    TIPENE, Solomon MAOR 135

  7. interesting 7
    25 June 2011 at 7:21 pm

    Candidates
    ALP, Kelvyn OUR 12
    DAVIS, Kelvin LAB 764
    HARAWIRA, Hone MANA 949
    HERBERT, Maki ALCP 19
    TIPENE, Solomon MAOR 173

  8. interesting 8
    25 June 2011 at 7:22 pm

    ALP, Kelvyn OUR 14
    DAVIS, Kelvin LAB 941
    HARAWIRA, Hone MANA 1,114
    HERBERT, Maki ALCP 23
    TIPENE, Solomon MAOR 209

  9. millsy 9
    25 June 2011 at 7:23 pm

    If this goes on I might be eating my words…

  10. Anne 10
    25 June 2011 at 7:23 pm

    Need to wait for the big urban booths Carol. I expect the results so far come from the smaller centres. Can’t make up my mind who I want to win. Part of me wants Hone to win because he’ll keep the pot boiling and that makes for interesting times 😉

  11. interesting 11
    25 June 2011 at 7:24 pm

    21.6% counted

    ALP, Kelvyn OUR 14
    DAVIS, Kelvin LAB 966
    HARAWIRA, Hone MANA 1,168
    HERBERT, Maki ALCP 23
    TIPENE, Solomon MAOR 223

  12. interesting 12
    25 June 2011 at 7:25 pm

    24.6% Counted

    ALP, Kelvyn OUR 14
    DAVIS, Kelvin LAB 1,060
    HARAWIRA, Hone MANA 1,234
    HERBERT, Maki ALCP 27
    TIPENE, Solomon MAOR 242

    • Lanthanide 12.1
      25 June 2011 at 7:26 pm

      Please stop posting these. People who are interested can look at the site themselves. This is just spam.

      • Anne 12.1.1
        25 June 2011 at 7:29 pm

        Sorry Lanthanide but some of us are enjoying it. It’s fun. Thanks folks and keep at it.

        • Lanthanide 12.1.1.1
          25 June 2011 at 7:31 pm

          I have no problem with actual discussions, but I think most of us viewing these threads are also looking at the site itself (link was pasted early). We don’t need to see the same numbers in 2 places.

          Sure, if big changes take place, that’s worth commenting on. But heaps of updates that show the current trend aren’t interesting.

  13. interesting 13
    25 June 2011 at 7:27 pm

    BTW the percentage count is the percentage of boths counted….not the total number of overall votes counted.

  14. interesting 14
    25 June 2011 at 7:27 pm

    ALP, Kelvyn OUR 14
    DAVIS, Kelvin LAB 1,207
    HARAWIRA, Hone MANA 1,332
    HERBERT, Maki ALCP 30
    TIPENE, Solomon MAOR 273

  15. Nick K 15
    25 June 2011 at 7:28 pm

    Davis is holding on well. As was said earlier, the big Auclkland electorates will be for Labour, so at the moment I think it’s Labour.

  16. Ian 16
    25 June 2011 at 7:28 pm

    7 minutes later the gap narrows

    ALP, Kelvyn OUR 14

    DAVIS, Kelvin LAB 1,207

    HARAWIRA, Hone MANA 1,332

    HERBERT, Maki ALCP 30

    TIPENE, Solomon MAOR 273

    Where’s the ACT and National candidates? That’s right – sensible Maori wouldn’t vote for fascist red necks!

  17. interesting 17
    25 June 2011 at 7:28 pm

    Lanthanide

    the post says PLEASE POST RESULTS HERE

    • Lanthanide 17.1
      25 June 2011 at 7:30 pm

      Yeah, the final results will be posted into the original post by an author.

      The comments are for commenting and discussing. You’re not creating any discussions at all, and the numbers you’re posted are quickly outdated.

      • weka 17.1.1
        25 June 2011 at 7:34 pm

        Have to agree. There’s likely to be alot of comments over the next few hours and trying to keep up with them when they’re interspersed with quickly outdated results will be very annoying.

        • Jenny 17.1.1.1
          26 June 2011 at 12:45 am

          I think it’s great that people are continuing to post updates as we go along. So what if they appear in several places, in the internet that is known as meme. ie a topic that has caught the imagination of so many that it is repeated all over the place. This is an expression of the interest and the excitement that people here have for this election.

          When people start forwarding me stuff several times from different sources I know it is a success. Even if it was stuff I originally forwarded myself.

  18. Nick K 18
    25 June 2011 at 7:29 pm

    30% counted.

    ALP, Kelvyn OUR 15
    DAVIS, Kelvin LAB 1,239
    HARAWIRA, Hone MANA 1,396
    HERBERT, Maki ALCP 31
    TIPENE, Solomon MAOR 277

    Davis only 160 behind now, with the big Auckland electorates to come. This could be over – for Hone!

  19. Nick K 19
    25 June 2011 at 7:30 pm

    Now Davis is only 128 behind. I’m loving this.

    • interesting 19.1
      25 June 2011 at 7:33 pm

      I will take your 118 and lower it to 109

      • Lanthanide 19.1.1
        25 June 2011 at 7:33 pm

        130.

        Edit: back to 107.

        • Jum 19.1.1.1
          25 June 2011 at 7:36 pm

          LOL Lanthanide – is this a ‘if you can’t beat ’em…

          • Lanthanide 19.1.1.1.1
            25 June 2011 at 7:39 pm

            I don’t see me copy and pasting the full table of results in that comment, do you?

            The results they were pasting were actually the less interesting ones anyway – the top section shows the leader and the margin, as well as % of booths.

  20. Zorr 20
    25 June 2011 at 7:34 pm

    I think this is interesting and even if Hone wins in the end, Kelvin has seriously contended this seat.

  21. millsy 21
    25 June 2011 at 7:37 pm

    Might not be over tonight.

    The specials may decide this one.

    • Lanthanide 21.1
      25 June 2011 at 7:42 pm

      For reference, iPredict contracts close on the preliminary results if they’re beyond doubt, in iPredicts sole judgement.

      Otherwise they use official results.

  22. Nick K 22
    25 June 2011 at 7:39 pm

    Good point Millsy.

  23. Nick K 23
    25 June 2011 at 7:40 pm

    240+ now for Hone. A good booth for him there.

  24. Brett Dale 24
    25 June 2011 at 7:42 pm

    Is their a link to follow the results?

  26. Brett Dale 26
    25 June 2011 at 7:45 pm

    cool, thanks for the link.

  27. Joel Walsham 27
    25 June 2011 at 7:45 pm

    Hone is going to have some pretty strong booths, which I suspect are the ones we are seeing come in now. But with under 7000 votes counted is is still pretty early for a 300 vote lead to be comfortable!

  28. Brett Dale 28
    25 June 2011 at 7:46 pm

    Its all over, Hone just got a hell of a lot richer.

  29. Nick K 29
    25 June 2011 at 7:47 pm

    Hone 420+, come on Kelvin!

  30. Nick K 30
    25 June 2011 at 7:48 pm

    Davis just made up 50 votes….it’s down to the wire.

  31. Brett Dale 31
    25 June 2011 at 7:48 pm

    I think its time to call it, the racist has won.

  32. gingercrush 32
    25 June 2011 at 7:49 pm

    LOL what the fuck is the turnout going to be 30% 35% 40%

    What a joke. Sooner useless Maori electorates with terrible turnout is removed the better. And if they are to continue then no more simply relying on Maori to enrol in determining the number of seats turnout should matter as well otherwise its just crap.

  33. Lanthanide 33
    25 June 2011 at 7:50 pm

    So much for 50% of votes by 8pm…

  34. gingercrush 34
    25 June 2011 at 7:50 pm

    LOL what the fuck is the turnout going to be 30% 35% 40%

    What a joke. Sooner useless Maori electorates with terrible turnout is removed the better.

  35. Anthony 35
    25 June 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Go Hone!

  36. Brett Dale 36
    25 June 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Only 40% turn out? with all the publicity??? yeppers that is freakin poor. were they like protest voters, fed up?

    • North 36.1
      25 June 2011 at 8:17 pm

      Maybe the constant over-the-top Hone-hating, which seems to come principally from wanking, know it all (I suspect Pakeha) like you Brett Dale, maybe that had a significant number of voters in Tai Tokerau say to themselves – “What do you arseholes know ? It’s not even your electorate. Piss off !”

      Wouldn’t that be richly poetic ? Mind you, it’s not over yet.

  37. Lanthanide 37
    25 June 2011 at 7:52 pm

    Looks like the Maori Party really shot themselves in the foot. They would’ve been better off not running; now they have the spectre of Mana standing in all their electorates.

  38. Brett Dale 38
    25 June 2011 at 7:52 pm

    RECOUNT RECOUNT RECOUNT, What about the hanging chads?

    • Lanthanide 38.1
      25 June 2011 at 7:55 pm

      Margin went from 410 to 450 on one of the updates. Think Hone’s won it.

      Edit: 500

  39. Brett Dale 39
    25 June 2011 at 7:58 pm

    Yep, more mug the people of Te Tai Tokerau, you get the government
    deserve, no sympathy for them.

  40. millsy 40
    25 June 2011 at 8:00 pm

    Well if nothing else, its makes for an interesting few months ahead.

  41. gingercrush 41
    25 June 2011 at 8:03 pm

    I’d love to know where these current votes are coming from as surely its the city booths coming in later?

    And if that is the case what does that say about Labour.

    • Lanthanide 41.1
      25 June 2011 at 8:05 pm

      Many of the larger places came through earlier (total vote counts jumping 500+) and generally they swung Hone.

  42. Chess Player 42
    25 June 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Am looking forward to seeing what Hone will do with his mandate, given that no-one will work with him. This whole thing is a big waste of time and money. Nothing will change….

    • Lanthanide 42.1
      25 June 2011 at 8:06 pm

      What will change is the Maori Electorates. MP could go from 5 MPs to 2-3 quite easily. That makes a National coalition less likely.

    • weka 42.2
      25 June 2011 at 8:09 pm

      Labour will work with him if it means they get to form a govt. The Greens will work with Mana anyway.

  43. Brett Dale 43
    25 June 2011 at 8:10 pm

    The greens are going to work with a racist and a sexist, yeah they are all class arent they?

    • kriswgtn 43.1
      25 June 2011 at 8:14 pm

      Dont put the nacts down like that 😛

    • weka 43.2
      25 June 2011 at 8:15 pm

      The Greens will never work with Don Brash.

      • toad 43.2.1
        25 June 2011 at 8:29 pm

        Indeed, they won’t, weka.  Congratulations, Hone.
        Hopefully Mana and the Greens together can drag Labour over to supporting tino rangatiratanga and to opposing the neo-liberal winner takes all and the devil takes the hindmost ideology that Roger Douglas bound the Labour Party into 25 years ago and from which it has never escaped.

        • Anne 43.2.1.1
          25 June 2011 at 8:38 pm

          They’re getting there toad – with a bit of help from the rank and file. I’m looking to see some major policy shifts when they get around to releasing them. I can assure you we’ve been pushing for it behind the scenes for a long time now.

      • Jum 43.2.2
        25 June 2011 at 11:46 pm

        The Greens shouldn’t work with Key either; both he and Brash of Hollow Men fame were in the great lie pamphlet about Greens 2008 election campaign.

        Key is just snakier that Brash, but they’re equally scary arch-Destiny-conservatives.

      • The Voice of Reason 43.2.3
        26 June 2011 at 8:35 am

        The Greens are working with Don Brash now, aren’t they? He leads the Act party, which is part of the Government, which whom the Greens have agreed a limited support agreement in order to get some minor policy gains.

    • North 43.3
      25 June 2011 at 8:20 pm

      Weep weep weep Brett Dale. Your mouth caused this so I’d zip it if I were you. Arrogant fool !

  44. millsy 44
    25 June 2011 at 8:13 pm

    Congratulations Hone.

    Better get some rest tomorrow. Your November campaign starts on Monday.

    • Chess Player 44.1
      25 June 2011 at 8:26 pm

      But he has no time to rest, if he’s to get all the unemployed in Northland into jobs by Xmas, as he promised on Radio Live the other day. Mind you, that was right before he verbally abused Davis for quite reasonably questioning how that was possible, so perhaps instead he should be asking his mummy what to do next….

      • millsy 44.1.1
        25 June 2011 at 8:32 pm

        Yeah, Im no fan of Hone either, but I cannot help but respect a guy who tore up his own politcal obituary.

        • Deadly_NZ 44.1.1.1
          25 June 2011 at 9:44 pm

          Yeah but it sure makes the general election just that little bit scarier for the MP and the Nats, but could be fun Hone against Brashula.

  45. gingercrush 45
    25 June 2011 at 8:22 pm

    With how utterly useless Labour have been getting Maori to vote, 2011 election should be easier for us on the right. No doubt they’ll be absolutely useless again getting South Aucklanders to vote as well.

    • millsy 45.1
      25 June 2011 at 8:27 pm

      I think you will find the imminent threat of mass evictions from the Housing NZ estates (and their subsequent transfer to Salvation Army, IHC, Te Waipaerewa Trust, etc) in South Auckland imputeus enough for people to get out there. The only question being if Labour is prepared to pull its finger out and fight for the social program that it started in response to the Auckland rack renters, slumlords and grotty boarding houses in the 20’s and 30’s.

  46. Lanthanide 46
    25 June 2011 at 8:29 pm

    Much much tighter than I expected. Currently 47.9% vs 41.1% with 97.8% polling places returned. Tipene is on 9.1%.

    So that phone poll was 41/40/15. Looks like the 6% from MP went to Hone instead. So the poll didn’t look too far off. Very low turnout though (roughly 33%) so the poll may not really coincide with people that actually voted.

  47. Chess Player 47
    25 June 2011 at 8:31 pm

    Is it just my Maths, or has Hone managed to decrease his majority by 90% ?

    • Lanthanide 47.1
      25 June 2011 at 8:35 pm

      Your maths is correct, but your stats (that is, the interpretation of the maths), is off.

      The turnout in this byelection was much lower than the general election, so the majority was always expected to be smaller.

      This is probably a lot closer than they were anticipating, though.

    • Adele 47.2
      25 June 2011 at 8:46 pm

      Chess Player,

      I read you as a capitalist so your maths ability probably does suck.

      Why quibble about the majority – a win is a win is a win.

      • Zetetic 47.2.1
        26 June 2011 at 12:32 am

        Not to quibble with your maths, but Hone won 48%. A plurality. Not a majority.

        • Jenny 47.2.1.1
          26 June 2011 at 12:59 am

          Zetetic, considering the huge amount of money, resources and time that the Labour Party put into this by-election against a party that had no funding. I would like to predict that in the general election later this year when the Labour Party machine is stretched much thinner, and the Mana Party has won it’s funding allocation, Harawira’s plurality will be turned back into an absolute majority.

          Betcha I’m right.

          • Colonial Viper 47.2.1.1.1
            26 June 2011 at 10:20 am

            Over a thousand specials to be counted yet. It might be a long shot but Hone could still get his 50%.

          • Anne 47.2.1.1.2
            26 June 2011 at 10:39 am

            considering the huge amount of money, resources and time that the Labour Party put into this by-election…

            That’s an exaggeration Jenny. The Labour Party does not have huge amounts of money and huge resources. They have operated most of their political life on a shoe-string budget. They may have had a tad more money and personnel than Hone’s new political party does at this point in time, but that’s the difference between a political party that is only a few months old and one that has been going for ninety years. What was Labour to do? Sit on their chuffs and say “nah… can’t be bothered to run a candidate in TTT” like the genuinely wealthy Nats did? I can imagine the carry-on here and elsewhere if they had..

  48. Puddleglum 48
    25 June 2011 at 8:47 pm

    Interestingly, there were 342 polling places in TTT at the 2008 general election and only 134 this time. Further to travel to vote won’t help turnout.

    • Jum 48.1
      25 June 2011 at 9:30 pm

      Puddleglum,

      That’s interesting; who organized both?

      • Puddleglum 48.1.1
        25 June 2011 at 11:21 pm

        Fewer polling places in by-elections may be ‘normal’ (it sort of pre-guesses low turnout, of course – self-fulfilling prophecy, etc.). What took me by surprise was the size of the ‘gap’ between numbers of polling booths from the election to the by-election.

        In answer to your question, I presume (hope) both were organised by the electoral commission and its proxies (or whatever its official name is).

    • Zetetic 48.2
      26 June 2011 at 12:30 am

      the reason is that at general election, every polling place in each general electorate will have a booth for the overlapping Maori electorate. Which makes sense, of course. You can’t have polling places that can’t take Maori votes. Particularly no extra cost – you just have one set of polling staff doing both general and Maori votes.

      But in an election just for the Maori seat, would be massive overkill to have so many polling places. Even 134 is a huge number but justified by size of electorate. Botany had 24.

      24 of the polling places had 20 or fewer votes. One had none. I don’t think lack of polling places was an issue.

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    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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