The cross-party inquiry into homelessness is under way

Written By: - Date published: 1:04 pm, August 22nd, 2016 - 48 comments
Categories: greens, housing, labour, leadership, maori party - Tags: , ,

Early this year National blocked a proposal for an official inquiry into homelessness.

…Little said the decision was disappointing, as there needed to be a “cross-party consensus” on the issue. “No New Zealander feels good about children sleeping rough and families living in their cars…this is such an important issue that politics should be put aside and parties should work together to find solutions.” Little claimed that National MPs on the select committee supported an inquiry but “appeared to have been slapped down” by Key. …

Labour, The Greens and the Maori Party decided to go ahead with their own cross-party inquiry, which kicked off today:

Cross-party inquiry into homelessness kicks off

A cross-party inquiry into homelessness kicks off on Monday, with the first hearing being held at Te Puea Marae.

The perfect venue.

After the Government blocked their attempt to open an official investigation, the Green party, Labour and the Maori Party decided to go it alone.

Green housing spokeswoman Marama Davidson says they are ready to hear the cold, hard truth. “We want to give people a chance to talk to us face to face and tell us directly what is happening so that we can hear their solutions,” she says.

The group will also be heading to Tauranga, Wellington, Kaitaia and Christchurch to hear submissions.

Ms Davidson says it’s “abhorrent” the inquiry is not backed by the Government. “New Zealanders know that it’s wrong to have people sleeping in cars, squashing in garages, crowding in homes. Our Government should have been leading and wanting to end this, but they can’t even admit that there is a crisis.” …

The Inquiry has its work cut out for it:

Social agencies helping Kiwi homeless ‘at crossroads’, cross-party inquiry to hear

Social agencies helping New Zealand’s growing homeless population are “at a crossroads” when it comes to tackling the problem, a cross-party inquiry into the issue will hear.

In a joint written submission to the inquiry, Community Housing Aotearoa and He Kainga Oranga, Otago University’s housing and health research programme, said the Government needed to fund and provide more emergency housing.

“We are at a crossroads – only recently has an additional $41 million of funding for emergency become available from the Government [announced in May]. “While that has been well received from both people facing homelessness and from emergency housing providers, we need to look longer term and build a sustainable approach that brings everyone on board.”

The organisations said a “housing first” approach, where people were given a place to live before their other issues were addressed, was the best way to tackle homelessness in New Zealand.

Labour housing spokesman Phil Twyford said the idea of an official inquiry had been “kicking around” at the social services committee for more than a year, before the attempt to launch it was blocked by National.

While homelessness had been an issue in New Zealand for some time, the “deepening” housing crisis meant many unlikely people, such as those in work and families, were now being affected. “There is this almost universal public disquiet to see families living in cars and government agencies referring people to slum landlords…people I think are profoundly disturbed by that.”

Twyford said around 450 submissions had been received from a range of people and organisations, including “deeply moving” letters from those who were homeless or had been in the past. …

The Inquiry will no doubt come up with useful recommendations. But to see them implemented we will need to change the government.

48 comments on “The cross-party inquiry into homelessness is under way ”

  1. adam 1

    Good to see the next government in action.

    • Lanthanide 1.1

      Except NZFirst aren’t there, and there’s a reasonable chance depending on how the vote falls, that the Greens won’t be in government.

      • Sabine 1.1.1

        NZ First could have been there but choose not to. Same as with the National Party.
        Winston Peters needs to decide if he wants to keep his voters in the dark until after the election or if he actually wants to do something to help this country.

        • weka 1.1.1.1

          Well he did spend all those elections going on about how wrong it is to tell voters his intentions before an election 😉

        • weka 1.1.1.2

          “NZ First could have been there but choose not to.”

          Ae, and the setting up of the inquiry and Peters’ refusal to join comes after the Labour/Green MOU. I’m betting there are politics at work here.

        • Lanthanide 1.1.1.3

          If you like NZFirst’s policies, then vote for them, and they can hopefully form a government.

          If you like NZFirst’s policies, but want a Labour-led or National-led government, then vote for those parties instead of NZFirst.

          Winston’s refusal to state who he will work with is a little annoying, but if you follow the above guide, then you shouldn’t have a problem.

          It doesn’t help for people who want a Labour-led government if and only if NZFirst are also part of it – such people should probably vote for National instead. Swap it around for Labour. I would expect such people to be a pretty small minority though.

          • Sabine 1.1.1.3.1

            Homelessness is an issue that should be above Party and Voting.
            This is an issue that is costing the country millions every year in taxpayers funds that could other wise be spend better.
            So yeah, Winston should have come and he should have listened to what the people have to say and he could have turned this into something good.

      • G C 1.1.2

        Peters has stated he doesn’t need an inquiry to tell him what he already knows, this is reasonable in some ways.

        Unlike National who won’t admit there are real problems. I have to hand it to Peters … after Paula said she was at the ‘coal face’ of poverty everyday, Peters pointed out that the local dali didn’t count.

        Is it just me or are the National MPs getting much fatter. At this rate of growth both Gerry and Bennet won’t make it to the 2017 elections.

        What we could ask ourselves is who will National sacrifice as the fatted calf coming into the 2017 general?

      • G C 1.1.3

        Peters has stated he doesn’t need an inquiry to tell him what he already knows, this is reasonable in some ways.

        Unlike National who won’t admit there are real problems. I have to hand it to Peters … after Paula said she was at the ‘coal face’ of poverty everyday, Peters pointed out that the local dali didn’t count.

        Is it just me or are the National MPs getting much fatter. At this rate of growth both Gerry and Bennet won’t make it to the 2017 elections.

        What we could ask ourselves is who will National sacrifice as the fatted calf coming into the 2017 general?

  2. Ad 2

    Excellent political work.

    No media downside, and every speaker humiliates National.

    Hopefully they do a roadshow-repeat of the findings this time next year, for the election.

    • Sabine 2.1

      the next winter is going to be even worse.

      • Lanthanide 2.1.1

        This last winter was pretty damn mild, in Christchurch anyway.

        • Sabine 2.1.1.1

          well then why don’t you go with a little pack tonight and see if you can rough it?

          You will see how mild – 2 degrees or even +2 are. And also don’t forget your toilet paper. Cause you know Nature calls and if you can’t wipe yourself off after three days you start to stink. And food. Mind you know if you don’t eat for a few days that should beat any diet. 🙂

          I am eager to hear your stories about how ‘mild’ it was.

  3. Macro 3

    Winston reckons he knows why people are homeless. So is not joining the inquiry.

    Mr Peters says National’s reduction in the number of state houses and the loss of effective support such as state-assisted mortgages for people to buy their first homes has had disastrous long term effects.

    “We know why people are homeless. It is because there are not enough homes for them to live in at affordable rates. You will always get the odd drop out. We had that in the halcyon days of the New Zealand economy. But I am talking about thousands of people now, and we don’t need some sickly white liberal inquiry into homelessness,” he says.

    Mr Peters says the lack of housing will create long term health, education and social problems, especially for Maori and Pacific Island communities.

    Even so very disappointing that he has not considered it important enough to show some support for this initiative. The main purpose of which is surely to bring pressure on Nact to respond to the problem.

    • weka 3.1

      I would have thought the other purpose was to listen to what actual homeless people had to say, because that’s where the answers lie.

      But hey, that’s just a sickly white liberal thing, why bother with that when you can stick a know-it-all authoritarian with a dog in the manger complex on the tele.

    • Sabine 3.2

      I can guarantee you that Winston Peters and any and all of the blokes of the National Party do not have an iota of an idea what it means to be

      a. homeless on a rainy night at about 4 pm with no shelter anywhere
      b. homeless at 16 years old not being able to relate to peers cause homeless and as such also lifeless.
      c. homeless while female having her menstruation, toilet paper shoved in the undies hoping to not start leaking before she finds the next public toilet
      d. homeless irrespective of gender and trying to find a hidey hole to slip in so as to prevent assault and sexual assault
      e. homeless without food for a few days

      so yeah, Winston and the others could have come and listen to what homeless actually means.

      But i guess some are just too good to actually listen to what people have to say, cause they know it all and they have heard it hundreds of times and they still refuse to listen and act.

  4. Leftie 4

    Phil Twyford has said there is still quite a lot of heat in the debate with the Maori party, because the Maori Party have voted for in parliament the legislation that enables that National party’s state house sell off.

  5. Richardrawshark 5

    Just LOL.

    Pathetic. With all that’s going on this is the best they can do. This is a prime example, in fact one of superlatives, that encompasses everything the actual common voters HATE about Labour and Greens, The incessant need to have expensive dialog on obvious issues that we all know what needs doing to fix them.

    This is a joke and a big thumbs down from me.

    and before you round on me about homelessness, I certainly wish for a better NZ, and National gone, Winston’s right.

    Bunch of lazy Mp’s living off the taxpayer in comfort trying their didly umptious to look like they give a hoot. If it wasn’t in the media not a single one of them would even be raising the subject.

    • weka 5.1

      You think the voices of homeless people aren’t necessary at this time?

    • Garibaldi 5.2

      Winston can certainly be relied on for a great turn of phrase and is a master of retorts to the media. However, don’t forget his roots – he is Muldoon reincarnate! I hope like hell he founders in the election because of his track record but because of his populism he will do OK. If he gets in with more than three or four MPs it will be another debacle like the last time. He’s a one-man act and his health is ailing. Time he retired gracefully ( like many in the Labour caucus). If Winston is replaced by Ron Marks there’ll be no siding with the left.

  6. Siobhan 6

    Hopefully this extends to people under Housing Stress…for every homeless person there must be hundreds/thousands(who knows) of people just keeping off the street one pay packet at a time.

    This is the problem when a society starts to collapse, suddenly a previously extreme situation (homelessness) becomes the focus, making the hoplessness and shittyness of so many lives seem acceptable, because ‘at least you aren’t homeless’.

    • Sabine 6.1

      it is primarily an inquiry into homelessness, but in saying that before one is homeless one is under Housing Stress. That stress can be not enough funds to pay for a rental, domestic violence, sexual abuse at home, substance issues, lack of mental health care etc etc etc.
      So the call for submission was a broad call to people to contact the parties with their stories of homelessness, or their ideas on how to combat it. And i bet you a dollar to your dime that the sale of the state houses, the cut in mental health care, the lack of resources for those in need of treatment from substance abuse, the lack of shelters for women/men/children suffering form domestic abuse were mentioned more then once.

      homelessness is the last step, and believe me when i say that some hopeless and shitty situations are some what preferable on a cold night when the only option for a safe place is survival sex with some really disgusting geezer who would other wise not get laid. And that is the reality for many of our very young homeless people be they male or female.

    • Chris 6.2

      Hope they also talk about the tens of thousands of dollars of debt beneficiaries have been lumbered with by qualifying for help from Work and Income for emergency housing. Really does beggar belief.

      • Sabine 6.2.1

        People including me have been emailing the Labour Party and demanded the debts to be waived on FB for Phil Twyford.

        I have put the links for contact to the commission below and can only hope that would email the group asking them to waive the debts created by the policy created of Paula Bennett.

        If there are many many of us something may happens.

        • Siobhan 6.2.1.1

          Waiving Homeless debt, bringing back nightclasses.
          Two very simple and affordable policies, that have no down sides and many social benefits.
          And they don’t mess with peoples house values so Labour wouldn’t lose any votes..

          They would send a very positive Labour message.

          So why aren’t they already on the table??

          • Sabine 6.2.1.1.1

            So why don’t you ask the Labour Party?
            I have posted below the dates the commission meets elsewhere in the country, i have posted the link for submission and the direct email for easy convenience.

          • Chris 6.2.1.1.2

            Yes, that’d be a great start for Labour in so many ways but their track record suggests that this mightn’t be part of Labour’s plan for benefits and beneficiaries. While Labour can talk the wonderful broad brush stuff that’s aimed at appeasing its die-hard devoid of critical faculty support base, they’re completely bereft of detail hence the pretty strong suggestion that regardless of the result in 2017 we’ll be seeing more of a Clarkesque approach to welfare in the future, which of course is in many ways indistinguishable from what we’re getting from the current government.

            Another reason might be that Labour’s a tad embarrassed given that it was them that got rid of the special benefit which had the effect of preventing the cost of emergency accommodation from being met with a lump sum special benefit. Another thing, too, is that Labour supported the nats legislation that removed the discretion that gave Work and Income the ability not to recover debt so they might see it as a bit rich for them to be calling for the debts not to be recovered. Stupid bastards.

            • Sabine 6.2.1.1.2.1

              so have you send them an email or are you just telling me they are not doing enough and cause of that you are doing nothing?

              have you emailed them? shown up at any of their meetings? Nope? Well then i hope you do.

              • Chris

                There’s only been one meeting so far and yes, I have made a submission. What’s eating you? I was responding to Siobhan with reasons why I think Labour hasn’t nailed its position to the mast on this. You’re not another one of these Labour-can-do-no-wrongers, are you?

                • Sabine

                  no i am just tired of these Labour-can-only-do-wrongers? You are not one of these are you?

                  • Leftie

                    It’s all Chris ever posts about.

                    • Chris

                      Because Labour-can-only-do-no-wrongers represent everything that’s wrong with the left in NZ today and are responsible for the extent of the damage that the current government has exerted on the poorest of NZ’s poor and for that reason alone must be eradicated. So don’t expect anything to change soon, you little weasel.

                    • Leftie

                      Thanks for proving my point.

                    • Chris

                      It’s probably the only point you’ve made that resembles a skerrick of a modicum of truth. I think I’ve commented on other things from time to time, perhaps as recently as today, but yes, dealing to Labour-can-only-do-no-wrongers like you is a very important role, so expect more of it, you destructive little Labour toadie.

                  • Chris

                    Are you and Leftie the same person? Fuck, being on here’s like that tv show The Walking Dead. They just keep coming.

                    • Leftie

                      We are not the same person, so don’t be so stupid Chris. Nats like you are so sensitive and paranoid.

                    • Chris

                      Yes, a lot of people have described me as sensitive.

                      Despite that, and as always, I’ll leave you with this:

                      Hey, hey!

        • Chris 6.2.1.2

          That’s good. There was a spokesperson for the Auckland Action Against Poverty on RNZ a couple of months ago who said they’re taking those large debts through the appeal process as well. Tolley and Bennett et al need to be attacked on all fronts over this.

  7. By-passing/ignoring/sidelining National as if they are of no consequence, as if their opinion is of no importance or interest?
    Priceless.
    This is the way it’s done.

    • Siobhan 7.1

      “Early this year National blocked a proposal for an official inquiry into homelessness.”

      How can they be included?? Dragged by their little ears to the inquiry?? An inquiry into an issue John Key thinks is just ‘something that’s been around for a very long time”.

      Though I think Mr Key would be a great guest, he could give an impassioned speech about how he benefited from State Housing.

  8. Sabine 8

    These meetings are going to be held in Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Kaitaia and people can join to participate if they care so

    the schedule is under this link

    http://www.homelessnessinquiry.co.nz/meetings

    if people think that more meetings are to be held or still would like to contact the commsission feel free to do this here

    http://www.homelessnessinquiry.co.nz/submission

    or email directly homelessnessinquiry@parliament.govt.nz

  9. b waghorn 9

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11698404

    I put this in om but it fits here. It would be far better for the council to work with the people that have converted garages to get them up to grade cheaply than to kick people out on the street to make a point.

    • Sabine 9.1

      actually the councils should protect its state houses that are empty, boarded up sitting there waiting to be sold to some National Party stooge / developper. When these empty houses are full we can talk about converting garages build on concrete with no insulation, plumbing and the likes to be converted into housing.

  10. smilin 11

    If we want change get national out no compromise Winston Greens and Maori
    The opposition needs to face facts to get the majority of worth they are going to have to declare their desire to work together for the common good of NZ
    They all need to realise that the country needs massive change to progress out of the insane stituation national has created
    We dont have a democracy if national can do what they have done on housing and get away with it
    It is an arrogant crime

  11. Dave 12

    This is one of classic signs of bad management blame everyone but yourself this shows the key government is on the ropes .problems are building if this blame game fail key will move to the shoot through before the collapse to escape the blame

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    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • A Time For Unity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Only Other Reliable Vehicle.

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    1 week ago
  • A Big F U to this Right Wing Government

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    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago

  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

    Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

    Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.  “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    5 days ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Top of the South to benefit from reliable transport infrastructure

    A record $479 million for transport investment across the top of the South Island through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will build a stronger road network that supports primary industries and grows the economy, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “We’re committed to making sure that every dollar is ...
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  • Government delivering reliable roads for Manawatū-Whanganui

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  • Restoring connections in Hawke’s Bay

    A record $657 million for transport investment in the Hawke’s Bay through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support recovery from cyclone damage and build greater resilience into the network to support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “We are committed to making sure that ...
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  • Transport resilience a priority for Gisborne

    A record $255 million for transport investment in Gisborne through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support economic growth and restore the cyclone-damaged network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “With $255 million of investment over the next three years, we are committed to making sure that every transport ...
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    1 week ago
  • Prioritising growth and reduced travel times in Canterbury

    A record $1.8 billion for transport investment Canterbury through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will boost economic growth and productivity and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Christchurch is the economic powerhouse of the South Island, and transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and ...
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