That eerie silence

Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, March 26th, 2020 - 69 comments
Categories: covid-19 - Tags: ,

Waking up this morning was a bit of an eerie feeling. The alarm went off as usual at 0700 (and the 0880 one just clicked over). Very little traffic noise. The quiet sound of the workstation and server fans was louder than the the remaining white noise from the traffic.

It isn’t like this place is normally particularly loud. The insulation in the walls is superb. The location is close to the centre of Auckland – 50 metres to the corner of Ponsonby and K Roads. We’re actually surrounded by commuter roads.  Have a look at the map to get an idea.

Where the servers live.

We and our machines live on the ridge that looks down the North Western motorway. But that is 250 metres away and is the blank wall of our apartment. Great North Road is about 50 metres away up on the top of the ridge. But it has a pile of high apartments and car yard between us and it.

We get most of our car noise from Newton Road which is 50 metres from us and is usually jam packed at this time of the morning – week days, weekends, public holidays – but not now. 

This morning, there are the odd cars going on all roads. But the server noise is louder. When the fridge starts up it sounds like an old DC8 flying overhead at low altitude.

Welcome to the first morning of the lock-down. Time to finish that coffee and for me to get stuck into work…

This post is here for you to share your first day under lock-down.

Update – it isn’t that quiet out the back door. This was a bit of video I did at about 0745.

 

69 comments on “That eerie silence ”

  1. mac1 1

    Just received an e-mail from an old friend in Italy. He is in his fifth week of lockdown, and writes that he and his wife have not yet killed each other. So, lovely people, it can be done, with good grace and humour, hope and a good dose of the Internet……

    • Bearded GitD 1.1

      Did you check if she was alive?

      • mac1 1.1.1

        Having a more than passing interest in Italian police fiction, I would suggest that Commissario Brunetti would first check to see that the wife had not taken over the husband's e-mails and was passing off herself as her husband whilst he slipped silently under the now cleaner waters passing beneath the Bridge of Sighs.

  2. Sanctuary 2

    I only got married 26 days ago, so I am luxuriating in the pleasure of spending a month of waking up in a leisurely fashion with my new wife rather than dashing off to work. We took the hound for a walk at 5am this morning (sticking to normal wake up times) and Sandringham/Mt. Albert was almost completely deserted. We saw one person jogging and one car.

    Every cloud has some sort of silver lining, for me it is having a nice morning with my new bride for everyday for a month.

    Struggling with focus trying to work from home, but that is slowly coming right.

    • Incognito 2.1

      Ah, the honeymoon phase! Long may it last for you. Some manage to make it last for a long period of time.

  3. riffer 3

    Been working from home since Monday as I'm high-risk category (Type I diabetes). Set up my audio capture and my video capture and editing suite. Doing some interesting capture of experiences of older New Zealanders talking about their times in the war and post-Hawkes Bay earthquake. It's been good to hear them talking about getting through tough experiences. Gives me a bit of hope. Hope everyone else is okay.

    • Anne 3.1

      Here's a story for you – short and sweet:

      My parents arrived in NZ in 1930. Newly wed with a new-born, they settled on the outskirts of Palmerston North and all was well. Then along came the Napier earthquake. My mother said the surrounding hills were rolling all over the place. New-born was now walking and had waddled off around the outside of the house. Mother could do nothing because of the rocking and rolling. When it finally stopped new-born came waddling back as if nothing had happened. Mother never ever knew what went on around the side of the house.

      They hopped on the next boat back to England and ventured out here again in 1939 just before the start of WW2. By that time they had 3 children and a few years later decided to have a couple more new-borns of which I was one.

      • riffer 3.1.1

        It's really important that stories like these aren't lost. I wonder what historians will think, in the future, of the stories of what people did during the lockdown.

  4. Carolyn_Nth 4

    We had a few tenants leave our small block of studio apartments before Christmas. A couple of new tenants, a couple of empty units still. The one below me has been being renovated in the last month. The last couple of days there's been a rush to do some work – very noisy some of the time. Carpet laying, drilling in the walls.

    The house across the other side of our car park was sold as a do-up around November. there's been on-going noisy work for months – building an extension, pneumatic drill to drill rock in the front yard, machines lifting the rocks and using it to build a wall. They also had a rush of noisy work the last 2 days.

    The property behind us has recently been sold and they had a circular saw going yesterday evening.

    This morning, all is still and quiet.

    But heard the 2 newest tenants drive out of the car park as usual this mourning – must be essential services.

    Loving the quiet.

    • Treetop 4.1

      I heard a conversation on a street while out walking recently.

      "How hard is it going to be to get a joint?"

  5. Cinny 5

    Miss 12 told me NZ cats and dogs will be so very happy because their owners will be home.

    Personally I'm feeling a strange sense of calm.

  6. I'm sitting on the deck with a coffee and it's so quiet I can easily hear an intense business related discussion from over the fence. The burglars who live next door are beside themselves. They can't easily rip off occupied houses and even if they raid now closed shops, there's a real chance they'll get pulled over by the cops while they're driving around.

    I really feel for them.

  7. Ad 7

    My own company has gone so HUT-HUT! it's like we're actually enjoying martial law.

    We are required to keep logs for ourselves and our staff of what we are working on.

    We are keeping a full operating rhythm of meetings from 8am, and using Zoom for group social gatherings.

    We do Skype individually with our staff at a specific daily time.

    All these records are far above what we would normally have to do for timesheets – but I suppose the insurers might request them at some point once our claims go in.

    Still it was great to run this morning with almost no cars and just the birds waking up .

  8. Andre 8

    As an introvert living alone, this whole lockdown thing has definite upsides.

    • Ad 8.1

      Well you sure ain't an introvert on this site, so good on you for engaging every day.

      The Otitori – Park – South Titirangi – Woontons – Titirangi Beach Road – Otitori – Wood Bay circuit was excellent with no cars this morning …

      … also at 7.10am the Manukau framed by Kauri and Nikau forest was really, really out and the whole of the harbour was like a great golden disc of complex patterns and whorls and wrinkled folds among the shining remains of tide.

      It's not an ugly place our neighbourhood.

      • Andre 8.1.1

        Here I'm dealing with a device, not actual people.

        https://dilbert.com/strip/1994-02-19

        And yeah, no airport noise, no f#$%& personal watercraft on the harbour, no buses or cars on Sth Titirangi Rd, lots of loud birds … glorious.

        • RedLogix 8.1.1.1

          … I like people, I'm just not very good at them …

          Good linky. I could never choose between Dilbert or Wal as my role model devil

        • mac1 8.1.1.2

          Andre, so you like to be left to your own devices? Couldn't help that. But, yes, the traffic noise on SH1 has hugely diminished, just the sound of gas guns firing in the distance and that will cease after grape harvest- so glad that is continuing.

          I heard the grapegrowers CEO Philip Gregan on the radio saying how they had to be very stern with grape growers who don't step up to the mark regarding protection from the virus. One can spoil it for all.

          One outcome from this time might be that we all recognise our social interdependence, and act accordingly in the future.

        • Paaparakauta 8.1.1.3

          Wellington airport is busy with aircraft taking off at regular intervals and the corner diary/news/lottery agent locked down and peering grimly through perspex to accept payment via sliding draw from customers and lottery addicted desperados.

      • swordfish 8.1.2

        It's not an ugly place our neighbourhood.

        Compared to Wellington it's little more than grotesque.

        • Ad 8.1.2.1

          The best view of Wellington is from the Days Bay ferry at the end of each working day: seeing it recede. The Kaikouras frame it well in deep winter snow through the heads.

          You'd be welcome to be toured through Titirangi's forests if you are up this way. Otherwise, I'd encourage you to look at the concept of beauty with a little generosity.

  9. observer 9

    I live not that far from Lprent, near K Road/Queen St intersection.

    I've looked outside when I hear voices raised (normally lost in the traffic and general hubbub). Most of the people I've seen from my window this morning have looked familiar: local homeless.

    They sit on their usual benches, in groups of 2 or 3, nowhere to self-isolate. Selfishly, I want them to move out of sight/mind, but far more importantly – they are at serious risk.

    I don't know what the answer is (and of course we want real long-term solutions to homelessness), but it's a worry.

  10. Lindsey Rea 10

    On the other side of the NW motorway from you Lprent, I can confirm that the traffic started at about 5.30am as usual, but at a weekend volume, rather than the weekday. There were a bunch of trucks early, and then it slowed right down – so instead of the morning rush being constant, it was quite variable. In our street, my tenants upstairs are all working from home, and most of the neighbours are in lockdown. The only movement is from the essential service workers, we have at least 3 households with health service workers, and a vet.

    • lprent 10.1

      Yeah I remember your place across the gully..

      Just had a 'stir crazy' ride (I have been at home since tuesday last week). Down the north western cycleway, off at St Lukes and up the hill on Tuarangi Road to Grey Lynn. Pinged by the speed display for riding at 48km/hr on Williamson Ave. Up to Ponsonby Rd and the back home.

      Duration 17 minutes of fast riding. Carefully avoiding the pedestrians – including the one on New North Road shared path who, as she read her phone, meandered over the most of the wide pavement as I was approaching from behind.

      The crippling bit is when I have climb the 5 flights of stairs (carrying the bike battery) to my partners eyre. She swears it will add years to my life. Personally I think that the post-ride cold drink and the daily heart pills might stave off the evil day that I have to go into a living death ( ie learn to like golf)…

  11. joe90 11

    Ventured into town very early this AM to help my SO do some work stuff. Headed home at 9am and the city centre reminded me of a Sunday morning fifty years ago but with a noticeable police presence talking to a few youngsters on foot.

    But on the way home we did see several police I cars so I reckon they'll be checking road users soon enough.

  12. Carolyn_Nth 12

    I am very aware we are living though, and a part of, a historic, and unprecedented time.

    In future, academics will research "the great global lock down"; uni students will write essays on it; school students will visit local libraries to find info on it for school projects; and many books will be written about it.

    And future generations will ask their oldies, "What did you do in The Great Lock Down?"

    • RedLogix 12.1

      True enough. And thousands of PhD proposals on the data science of epidemics are being penned at we read this. cheeky

      • Poission 12.1.1

        And thousands of PhD proposals on the data science of epidemics

        More entropy?

        As we said, when one deals with deep uncertainty, both governance and precaution require us to hedge for the worst. While risk-taking is a business that is left to individuals, collective safety and systemic risk are the business of the state. Failing that mandate of prudence by gambling with the lives of citizens is a professional wrongdoing that extends beyond academic mistake; it is a violation of the ethics of governing.

        The obvious policy left now is a lockdown, with overactive testing and contact tracing: follow the evidence from China and South Korea rather than thousands of error-prone computer codes. So we have wasted weeks, and ones that matter with a multiplicative threat.

        https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/25/uk-coronavirus-policy-scientific-dominic-cummings?CMP=share_btn_tw

    • Treetop 12.2

      The world has changed, 180 countries are now affected. How much is unknown.

  13. mac1 13

    Started chatting to my neighbour. There's a good outcome from the lockdown. He's always at work. I said to him as he paint his bargeboards and prunes his trees, this is just a preview of what retirement is like……

  14. Kay 14

    Wellington airport is incredibly quiet. I'm actually starting to miss that 6am wake-up flight to Sydney 🙁

  15. Treetop 15

    On worldometer latest affected countries and territories is 198.

  16. RedLogix 16

    My partner's passport expired at the worst possible moment and by the time we got a fresh one on Tuesday afternoon, travel back to NZ became impossible. (If you aren't on the 'essential services' list you won't get on the plane.)

    Now we're stuck here in Brisbane until at least June I would imagine. In itself this is not a bad thing, we're in an ideal spot for a lockdown. But my father, brother and daughter are all in serious need of us being home right now. And of course all my contracting work has gone to zero. Still our problems are modest compared to millions of others.

    There are a lot of kiwis here in Australia who never had any practical option to return to NZ who are going to need support if they are going to get through this. A petition is being put together urgently to raise the matter to the relevant Ministers here in Australia:

    https://www.change.org/p/give-full-centrelink-support-for-kiwis-who-live-and-work-in-australia-covid-19?use_react=false

    • Paaparakauta 16.1

      An obvious solution is dual nationality. It involves jumping through a few hoops and some waiting time but nation states have their own ways of doing things and it can prevent a lot of angst and wasted effort if you qualify.

      Queensland and West Australian conservatives have a lot to answer for in my view.

      • RedLogix 16.1.1

        You need an employer to sponsor your application, and as a contractor that's just not available to me. Nor many others working here.

        • Paaparakauta 16.1.1.1

          I did that while working in Sydney and sponsorship never came up – as did my sister. I was aware the political climate in Australia was becoming more hostile due to increased influence of Pauline Hanson and the 'National' Party in WA and Qld. The employment issue never arose, but they have since tightened the legislation.

          I would like to think that a more open-minded government will change that stance. I remember bumping into Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke outside the Lido theatre in Wellington not long after they were elected. I also saw Gough on the overpass from Sydney University theatre over Paramatta Rd. not long before he died. Those days can return.

    • Treetop 16.2

      June is a long way off. With some luck a defence force flight could occur. This is probably being organised at an official level or will be.

      Is there a place where there is a register were this to occur?

    • Ad 16.3

      I totally sympathize.

      My Significant Other is looking after her mother and family at the other end of the country from me and we will miss our wedding anniversary for the first time.

      Maybe end of April or May some time we reconnect properly.

      • RedLogix 16.3.1

        Thanks. We've had a sequence of Murphy's visit us this year, this being merely the latest. But for the moment we're safe and the internet is still on. cheeky

        But as you said a few weeks back, 2020 seems like a year with a lot of entropy about.

    • Muttonbird 16.4

      You harangue Tedros for not anticipating the speed of this virus but you yourself couldn't even anticipate travel restrictions back to NZ to assist your family.

      You can get a NZ passport in one day in NZ, probably 2-3 in Australia yet you weren't prepared for this despite asking all others to be prepared.

      Through February and March while this was building you didn’t think to look at your passports.

      Righto. Must be nice in Brisbane.

      Perhaps you were listening to Scomo's soothing voice a little too much…

      • Incognito 16.4.1

        If you would like to exchange e-mail addresses, I’ll be more than happy to assist and let you take your conversations elsewhere and away from TS.

  17. Wensleydale 17

    I'm 'essential' so business as usual for me for the most part. Have to say, driving around Auckland right now is the best — no traffic, plenty of parking, a noticeable lack of arseholes in Audis, it's great. We've all been issued with special notices to hand to the police should they feel inclined to stop us and ask what the Devil we think we're playing at trundling about during lockdown.

    I feel a bit like Bruno Lawrence in 'The Quiet Earth'. It's surreal.

  18. gsays 18

    G'day from the Manawatu here.

    The road we are on is a main route from the saddle road/gorge/Pahiatua track to the Vinegar Hill road. It is very quiet, the odd service ute and that is about it.

    As a family unit we are lining the Versatile garage the father-in-law bought us. There are 6 ceiling bays that we need to dwang out, insulate and screw 9mm ply to. I figure 2 bays a day is enough to keep progress going without the others getting snarky at the foreman.

    In the arvo if weather permits, perhaps go for a bike ride. A motorbike ride on my beloved 1987 BMW K75.

    Thinking of getting a board game going, the likes of Shadows over Camelot- a co-operative game where the players work together against the game.

    Also we both have elderly parents nearby to look out for and support.

    • mpledger 18.1

      In other times I would have suggested the co-operative board game "pandemic".

      • Treetop 18.1.1

        No bull, I picked up a book in a box on a berm yesterday day "Outbreak the epidemic rages – no-one is safe" Author Robin Cook.

        As a balance I also selected "Bend in the Road" best selling author of "Message in a Bottle and The Notebook" Author Nicholas Sparks.

  19. bwaghorn 19

    So so glad to be a work alone shepherd.

    Give me land lots of land and a starry sky above.

    Dont fence me in .

    Be nice to each other .

  20. First time since Christmas I'm not the only one in the house, so the lock-down has its upsides. Videoconference meetings from your couch at which you can turn off the video & mic so no-one can see you rolling your eyes and sighing are also pretty good.

    On the down side, the funeral for my colleague and friend who died on Sunday was supposed to be at 11am today, and instead she got unceremoniously interred with only immediate family present in time to beat the deadline, which sucks a big one. Meeting finished by 11 so I poured myself a triple whisky, turned the guitar on and belted out a bunch of hardcore riffs that she would have absolutely hated, in her honour. (Also good – when you're working from home, no-one can tell when you're drinking on the job.)

  21. Paaparakauta 21

    78 new cases, and that's just today. No wonder people at Wellington Airport were looking worried ..

    Kia Kaha, Aotearoa !

    https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/media-releases/78-new-cases-covid-19-new-zealand

    • mpledger 21.1

      It's most likely to continue going up for the next 7 days, or so, as those people were most likely infected before we got to level 4. It's what's going on 10-14 days from now that's important.

      • In Vino 21.1.1

        Precisely. I wonder how our morale will be – especially if figures don't do what we hope. Long way off yet – new experience for us all, I would think.

  22. adam 22

    Best sleep in ever. No car noise – what a difference. How bloody nice.

  23. Exkiwiforces 23

    If you think its eerie silence, I almost sit under the base leg for runway 29 at RAAF Darwin/ Darwin Airport. I hardy hear any jets, or bug smashers fly in or out Darwin atm or any of the big heavies fly over head either including out at my bush block. This yr is also when Ex Pitch Black is held as well going to be very quiet indeed.

  24. Rosemary McDonald 24

    https://youtu.be/sPLgsV_Ms3Q

    Don't touch me, I won't touch you.

  25. Grafton Gully 25

    A revelation – no idea what I'd been missing. Set up comfortably in the spare room, no air con with temperature beyond my control and odour from people farting in the corridor, no background noise, windows that open. Went for walk, did 8 hours for a day's pay, another walk, then an evening to enjoy. Bring back windows that open and minimise air con !

  26. Dawn Trenberth 26

    Quietly at home. Had a skype local board workshop on Tuesday. Husband at home. Daughter is working from home. Reports on local social media about groups of children playing on the playground. I believe neighbours have reported it. Will take a while for everyone to comply.

  27. Played Roblox online with my nephew for a few hours. Went for a walk up Parnell Road and along St Stephens Ave to the rose garden, then down to Judges Bay. Really pleasant in the sun and nice to see a few other humans wandering about.

    “Ka ora pea au i a koe, ka ora koe i a au.”

    https://twitter.com/tekawa_robb/status/1242767995341946880?s=20

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    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 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
    21 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
    23 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
    1 day 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
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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