The daily critics whinge

Written By: - Date published: 4:09 pm, April 16th, 2021 - 22 comments
Categories: business, Economy, internet, Media, news, newspapers, Politics, Social issues - Tags:

I was just reading a post by Bryan Gould, ex-politician and ex-university vice-chancellor on his current perspective on news media in “The Government v. the people“. It resonated because frankly the news and opinion media are getting increasingly tedious.

We can all agree that a free press (and free media more generally) are important factors in a well-functioning democracy. But I am beginning to wonder if they provide us with an unalloyed benefit.

I am an avid consumer of daily news – whether delivered by the press or by the broadcast media. And I have begun to notice what seems to be an increasing trend. What is regarded as “news” seems increasingly to fall within a particular category.

Most news bulletins these days seem to comprise items of one particular kind. It seems that any individual or organisation can guarantee coverage as an item of “news” if they make a complaint – any complaint – to the effect that “the government” has somehow failed – has somehow done something that it should’t have, or has not done what it should have, or has acted, but “too little, too late”, or has listened to the wrong people, or has spent too little or too much, or has displeased them in some way.

Complaints about the government seem to be manna from heaven to the news reporters. They require very little work – that can be left to, and has presumably already been done by, the complainant. All that is necessary is to offer the complainant a platform and – hey presto! – you have a news story.

And there is always the even more welcome opportunity to put a government spokesperson on the spot, and to require them – whether or not the complaint has any substance – to account for themselves.

I should make it clear that, although I am a supporter of the present government, the trend seems to have established itself over recent years, whatever colour the government of the day might be.

This is exactly the case for what passes as for most of our written local political news and even in large chunks of our ‘business’ news.

I can’t say much about other NZ media apart from text online sites. I don’t watch broadcast news any more. It is simply too shallow, too slow, and a waste of my time. Radio isn’t much better except on the odd occasions when you get a skilled interviewer asking intelligent well-informed questions of someone interesting. Since you never know when this is on, I usually listen after the fact by picking up a link in a comment or post by someone who I know has good instincts. Usually on headphones when I’m on the bike on even in the car and I can find the stream.

The kind of critical bitching the Bryan is describing is just tedious. Especially when the critics do what critics do. They can criticise, but seldom, if ever, offer a alternate viable solution. Usually they’re notable for saying what is wrong with whatever, bringing nothing to the table of debate, and being about as thin skinned as it is possible to be when criticised themselves. They frequently bring some appalling self-entitled personality traits and slaver over their heros with similar traits.

You only have to look at the perennial critic Mike Hosking for the epitome of that. In my opinion, as well as having an simpleton’s view of what politics and business is about, he appears to alternate between being a metaphorical brown-nosing arselicker with someone that he likes (eg John Key or Stuart Nash), and obviously misogynist neanderthal trying to dominate with self-obsessed nonsense with every women that he disagrees with. All in all a pointless waste of time as a journalist or even as an opinion-writer. Like a number of others, he is a unproductive and pretty useless parasite in the dialogue that is our society.

When you compare him and his ilk with journalists like Rod Stock, Jenny Ruth, Jamie Morton, Andrea Vance and even the sometimes slightly odious but interestingly slanted Henry Cooke (and many more), personally I wonder at why in the hell they’re in media. I can only guess that it is for their entertainment value?

Back to Bryan Gould…

But, you might say, isn’t that the role of the news media, to hold those who govern us to account?

Yes, of course, but if it becomes the mainstay and staple diet of the news media, it can deliver an unwelcome injury to our democracy and convey a mischievous, damaging and inaccurate picture of its operation .

It can offer, all too easily, a view of public affairs as, essentially, “the people” against, and the victims of, “the government” – and that would do no one any good. The proper functioning of democratic government is subject to quite enough challenges, not least from the social media, without concocting a false dichotomy between the popular will and the functions of government.

The USA offers us an uncomfortable picture and warning of what happens when large numbers lose confidence, not just in a particular government, but in the whole concept of government in general.

Indeed. I’d like to think that over the 13 years and 8 months this site has been running while we don’t mind kicking the shit out of whoever is in the current government and opposition, most of the authors posts have also spent time saying how they think whatever they’re criticising could and should be changed to.

With the news media, it is a little different. They tend to be more thin-skinned and don’t seem to take criticism very well. There were some notable exceptions especially after some realised just how much they were being used, manipulated and scammed by Cameron Slater and his offsiders.

But realistically the most effective signal to media seems to be to just walk away from crap media. I decided years ago that I didn’t like time wasting advertisements and restrictive licensing. Because I had the resources to do it, I walked away to having a thick data pipe and large storage. These days the storage is quiescent and I pay for a wide range of streamed media.

Increasingly, I’m doing the same with news media. I don’t use facebook or twitter much. But I pay for decent quality streams of news. The price of the donations and even the paywalls is still steadily falling, and increasingly the costs of production of providing a media stream are falling as well. I still have no idea where the balance point is. But selection of news media by the technically savvy is now becoming more normal, as their usage or lousy curated tools like facebook and twitter diminishes. I’d expect that trend will feed out into the rest of the world over time.


For peoples interest and to explain from where I’m talking, the image below is my phones news folder. I read most of these each morning in bed after waking and before coffee. Then each evening before dozing off. Sometimes I even read it during the day – especially during long tedious compiles of linux disk images and the like.

I have subscriptions to the pay walled items in here. It is a moving feast because when I don’t like something, I stop the subscription and throw the link away. This gets shuffled periodically according to the value I find from the link and is slanted towards the early morning read . It is roughly in the order of essential to not-completely-useless.

For NZ news I’m pretty much orientated towards long-term politics (who really gives a stuff about the daily beltway gossip?), business, actual legislation (mostly I read the parliamentary notification emails), and the other more serious structural issues. I read world news first in the morning and then skip world news in the local media.

When you look at NZ sites these days for me with my politics and business focus, it is BusinessDesk for detailed in-depth on the things I like to know about, Stuff for straight news across the country, RNZ for more in-depth on specific topics.

The NZ Herald is rapidly trending towards useless – primarily because of a preponderance of the kind of clip-the-ticket criticism for column lines articles that Gould described. Promotional waffle from the property market, and stupid puff pieces about sport and TV shows that I never watch really don’t do much for me and wading through it on a phone is tedious.

I’d have dumped the Herald already if it wasn’t NZ news. Most of the ‘political’ news, opinions and commentary is just the kind of repetitive whining that Bryan Gould is referring to. Much of which when you walk back a couple of months was complete trash in the light of subsequent events. Their campaigns for open up the borders rapidly switching into close the borders to complaints about the borders is about as useful as a ditherer trying to decide on a business plan.

As it is, I have to drop straight into the business news to get realistic political information. You really notice the difference when the best main articles in the NZ Herald are from other offshore news papers – and where I have already read those usually in the original site. The difference between Stuff and the Herald – at least Stuff has the regional news that gives a broader picture than just the conservative middle class in Auckland.

Poilitik is more of an occasional publisher as is The Standard. I apologise to my fellow authors here, but I have to say that I often read The Standard in the morning simply to get the updated RSS feed on other sites and blogs. Like me, I suspect that most of the authors have a lack of time coupled with a writers fatigue. I get paid for writing verifiable code, not for blathering on in something as imprecise as English. All our authors have other priorities.

Newshub fell off my list a long time ago as a useless mainly trivia site. It is almost an exemplar of the simple critic of government site and seems to display the same moral and legal standards as talk back radio. The Spinoff specialises in a shallow inconsistency and appears to mainly about a something or another cultural element that I have never seen nor done – with just a few excellent pieces that someone will .

Someday I must have another look around. A possible guide is the News Publishers’ Association awards just published in the last couple of days.


22 comments on “The daily critics whinge ”

  1. mac1 1

    "The USA offers us an uncomfortable picture and warning of what happens when large numbers lose confidence, not just in a particular government, but in the whole concept of government in general."

    Very true, and why I hate the meme "Don't vote. It only encourages them".

    Instead, the message should be, "Get involved in politics. Engage. Join a party. Help forge policy. Select worthy candidates. Attend meetings. Vote."

    That way we get mass participation, mass buy-in to our democracy, better politicians and policies.

    On Tuesday I'll attend a meeting held by our local branch with visiting speakers on local housing- a chance to be informed, talk politics, even give a message.

    What the media have in essence been doing with lazy, gotcha journalism is to create disrespect and distrust in politics. We don't need that especially in crisis times.

    As Gould finishes, “Without an effective government, we are all at the mercy of the powerful, the selfish and the ruthless.”

    Thanks for the post and the direction to Gould's piece.

    • RosieLee 1.1

      Instead, the message should be, "Get involved in politics. Engage. Join a party. Help forge policy. Select worthy candidates. Attend meetings. Vote."

      Tried that. Hasn't worked.

    • Foreign waka 1.2

      mac 1 – I think the train has left the station, we are at the mercy of the powerful for quite some time. People who are new to the parliamentary system have to find out and its a slow process. But look at those who proclaimed what they will do and now…… only the ones who are truly inept are left to talk.
      If you look across the social landscape, all you hear is failure in housing, infrastructure, income inadequacy, medical provider neglect and schools are in no better state. Needless to say that all these headings are core government functions.

      As Gould finishes, “Without an effective government, we are all at the mercy of the powerful, the selfish and the ruthless.”

      • mac1 1.2.1

        The train is still on the tracks, though, with a load to haul. We just need to ensure the driver is a good unionist, the Railways are in public hands, and the signals remain green (it's a bugger the analogy breaks down there as I would like the proceed signals to be red).

        As Robert Johnson sang, "When the train left the station, it had two lights on behind x2 The red light was for my baby and the blue light was my mind. All my love's in vain".

        It's never in vain. The fight continues. It always will, human nature being as it is.

  2. AB 2

    Gould (and you) are bang on. What makes the whole thing even sillier, is that most of the complaints being aired are just the normal 'noise' (minor stuff-ups, inconsistencies, delays, marginal oddities) you get with large, complicated systems or initiatives. If people don't expect some of these they are naive, if they do expect them and complain anyway for political purposes, they are disingenuous.
    In part it’s because political debate now shies away from ideology and ethics, and prefers to focus on bogus arguments about supposed ‘competence’.

  3. Anne 3

    And just to prove Brian Gould's points – and indeed yours lprent – here is today's link to a suspiciously bullshit opinion piece courtesy of one, Derek Cheng, NZ Herald columnist:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/covid-19-coronavirus-opinion-labours-indefensible-cynical-behaviour-leaves-us-all-poorer/LSGZQAECEDACYVT63PJKLH36OY/

    Don't ask me exactly what he's on about because it's behind a paywall and I don't subscribe to paywalls. Suffice to say, I have read the paper version of some of his past contributions and to say they have sometimes left me gasping with disbelief is an understatement.

    • Rosemary McDonald 3.1

      Don't ask me exactly what he's on about ….

      Pretty much along the lines of this…https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/04/chris-bishop-chl-e-swarbrick-unite-in-criticism-of-labour-s-patsy-questioning-of-officials.html

      ….only Cheng describes the behaviour of the Labour members of the Health Select committee as "indefensible". I am inclined to agree.

      Did you know returnees spend 14 days in MIQ after they arrive in New Zealand? Or that Covid-19 can be transmitted via air particles as well as droplets?

      The Labour MPs on Parliament's health committee apparently have such an insufficient grasp of such issues that they needed a 20-minute "idiot's guide" presentation from the heads of Health and MBIE this week.

      Such was the parade of inanities that Speaker Trevor Mallard penalised his own party the following day, giving National MP Chris Bishop four extra supplementary questions for Question Time – even though Mallard has no jurisdiction over select committees.

      it's behind a paywall and I don't subscribe to paywalls.

      I find myself regretting having signed up last year during Lockdown, especially when some of those paywalled articles feature loud advertisements that can't even be muted. However. I enjoy reading the news…and while its taken a while for me to catch on to the idea…not paying something seems akin to stealing a newspaper from the dairy.

      I am seriously considering subscribing to Stuff.

  4. Pat 4

    Yes Gould had a good point to make however for it to hold more water the political class needs to considerably up their game and stop giving the media (and their opposition, not just political) so much ammunition to use against them.

  5. Tiger Mountain 5

    Well, Mr Lprent seems to have a few Gouldist ‘culprits’ as regulars going by his screen–as many perhaps do.

    Being interested in local Govt. affairs, and into community action (note to some: away from keyboard), https://www.rnz.co.nz/ldr/about is a great initiative imo.

    Who knows yet if it has worked, but I can say that local media online comments have certainly become more positive. Councillors no longer can keep matters in meeting rooms.

    • greywarshark 5.1

      edit
      I agree with the value of local reporting on Radionz. I can't see anything but a deterioration in reporting quality, style, content etc if there is an amalgamation with television. As was a catchphrase from a tv show of the past, 'Never mind the quality, feel the width' will be the covering quote by those responsible when the deficiencies become apparent.

      Our government members of either type seem inadequate for the job of making reasoned, practical decisions. Another saying is about sending boys (girls) to do a man's (woman's) job. If they aren't going to do anything about the important tasks staring them in the face, it would be better if they didn't drive us to distraction by messing with things that are actually working satisfactorily.

  6. Ad 6

    One can't help but point out that the Government proposal to merge TVNZ and RNZ into an amalgamated entity could assist in raising public discourse. We are little closer to this proposal than when Labour came in.

    It would also help if this government generated public discourse worth raising. Outside of Covid response it's one of the most timid and least effective governments since Holyoake's second term.

    • Incognito 6.1

      Heh! Arguably, some people are not afraid of failing, but they’re afraid of succeeding.

  7. Stuart Munro 7

    Stuff lifted its game subsequent to its change of ownership, and my hope is that whatever brute beast emerges from the merger of TV1 and RNZ, it prioritizes quality journalism and leaves uninformed opinion to tabloids like The Herald.

    I too have given up on local tv – the presenters aren't up to informing, nor are the idiot panels entertaining. Perhaps they could draw some kiwis back from Al Jazeera – where some few went when local services cut back on quality journalism.

  8. Incognito 8

    Thank you for that, in more than one way.

    Bryan Gould’s second-to-last sentence:

    There is all the difference in the world between holding government agents to account for failures on particular issues, and allowing an anti-government sentiment to take root.

    QFT

    I think this is definitely happening; both the Opposition and a segment of the commentariat on this site are sliding down the slope of antagonistic anti-government sentiment with their nihilistic sloganeering and acerbic negativity for the sake of it. The media are just playing to these sentiments, as they know what makes people tick and click. Yes, it is corrosive, erosive and destructive in the long-term; the worst consequence is that it sows distrust in fellow humans and breeds alienation and xenophobia.

    • Pat 8.1

      For the "sake of it: or because its justified.?….it increasingly looks to me like the later.

      • Incognito 8.1.1

        Of course, people who do this can and do ‘justify’ their “antagonistic anti-government sentiment with their nihilistic sloganeering and acerbic negativity for the sake of it”. It typifies their senseless rants that translate into nothing but impervious inaction; perpetual whingers, as per the OP.

  9. left for dead 9

    Thank you for this OP,I was starting to think I was alone with these sentaments.

    P.S how can I spellcheck,being dyslexic(I have it written beside my computer)Can drive one mad and slow, if not completely stymie writing.

    • Incognito 9.1

      In the TS text editor, you can see squiggly red lines under words that may be misspelt.

  10. Doogs 10

    Lprent – no space on your phone for AlJazeera? I like it for a world perspective. Also, I have to agree with you about The Spinoff. It really seems to be a rather motley collection of blogs and, yes, lots of cultural and artsy fartsy stuff. I also note you make no mention of Newsroom. News wise they are quite good and they often have really good long form investigative articles.

  11. left for dead 11

    mispel does not support is what pops up @Incognito. I'm running Linix, Kabuntu some thing or other.

    Cheers for the reply though,regards Alex

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  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Oh, the irony
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Appointed by new Labour PM Jacinda Ardern in 2018, Cindy Kiro headed the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms to the welfare system. Kiro had been Children’s Commissioner during Helen Clark’s Labour government but returned to academia subsequently. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Transport Agencies don’t want Harbour Tunnels
    It seems even our transport agencies don’t want Labour’s harbour crossing plans. In August the previous government and Waka Kotahi announced their absurd preferred option the new harbour crossing that at the time was estimated to cost $35-45 billion. It included both road tunnels and a wiggly light rail tunnel ...
    4 days ago
  • Webworm Presents: Jurassic Park on 35mm
    Hi,Paying Webworm members such as yourself keep this thing running, so as 2023 draws to close, I wanted to do two things to say a giant, loud “THANKS”. Firstly — I’m giving away 10 Mister Organ blu-rays in New Zealand, and another 10 in America. More details down below.Secondly — ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • The Prime Minister's Dream.
    Yesterday saw the State Opening of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne, and then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s dream for Aotearoa in his first address. But first the pomp and ceremony, the arrival of the Governor General.Dame Cindy Kiro arrived on the forecourt outside of parliament to a Māori welcome. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • National’s new MP; the proud part-Maori boy raised in a state house
    Probably not since 1975 have we seen a government take office up against such a wall of protest and complaint. That was highlighted yesterday, the day that the new Parliament was sworn in, with news that King Tuheitia has called a national hui for late January to develop a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Climate Adam: Battlefield Earth – How War Fuels Climate Catastrophe
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). War, conflict and climate change are tearing apart lives across the world. But these aren't separate harms - they're intricately connected. ...
    5 days ago
  • They do not speak for us, and they do not speak for the future
    These dire woeful and intolerant people have been so determinedly going about their small and petulant business, it’s hard to keep up. At the end of the new government’s first woeful week, Audrey Young took the time to count off its various acts of denigration of Te Ao Māori:Review the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Another attack on te reo
    The new white supremacist government made attacking te reo a key part of its platform, promising to rename government agencies and force them to "communicate primarily in English" (which they already do). But today they've gone further, by trying to cut the pay of public servants who speak te reo: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • For the record, the Beehive buzz can now be regarded as “official”
    Buzz from the Beehive The biggest buzz we bring you from the Beehive today is that the government’s official website is up and going after being out of action for more than a week. The latest press statement came  from  Education Minister  Eric Stanford, who seized on the 2022 PISA ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again
    There was another ETS auction this morning. and like all the other ones this year, it failed to clear - meaning that 23 million tons of carbon (15 million ordinary units plus 8 million in the cost containment reserve) went up in smoke. Or rather, they didn't. Being unsold at ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Assault On Maori
    This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that ...
    5 days ago
  • Rising costs hit farmers hard, but  there’s more  positive news  for  them this  week 
    New Zealand’s dairy industry, the mainstay of the country’s export trade, has  been under  pressure  from rising  costs. Down on the  farm, this  has  been  hitting  hard. But there  was more positive news this week,  first   from the latest Fonterra GDT auction where  prices  rose,  and  then from  a  report ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago
  • ROB MacCULLOCH:  Newshub and NZ Herald report misleading garbage about ACT’s van Veldon not follo...
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  In their rush to discredit the new government (which our MainStream Media regard as illegitimate and having no right to enact the democratic will of voters) the NZ Herald and Newshub are arguing ACT’s Deputy Leader Brooke van Veldon is not following Treasury advice ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Top 10 for Wednesday, December 6
    Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Eleven years of work.
    Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    6 days ago
  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago
  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    6 days ago
  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    7 days ago
  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    7 days ago
  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    7 days ago
  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    1 week ago
  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 week ago
  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • COP28 National Statement for New Zealand
    Tēnā koutou katoa Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. An island nation at the bottom of the Pacific, New Zealand is unique.          Our geography, our mountains, lakes, winds and rainfall helps set us up for the future, allowing for nearly 90 per cent of our electricity to come from renewable sources. I’m ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Post-Cabinet press conference
    Most weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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