The dynamic of vindictive winners

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, February 9th, 2017 - 65 comments
Categories: us politics - Tags:

From Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies at Duke University, Gabriel Nathan Rosenberg, one of the more thought-provoking descriptions I’ve seen for one set of dynamics behind the Bannon/Tr*mp presidency. Probably some lessons for NZ, in obvious and more subtle ways.

Needless to say there are massive socioeconomic and political factors underlying this dynamic, and one can also argue that Liberalism brings its own set of mean-spiritedness albeit better disguised.

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826127124692090881

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826127592445116416

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826128130846945280

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826128604635475968

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826129073206390785

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826129542418923520

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826130896038289408

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826131273076895744

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826132485570514944

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826132976761204736

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826133373206802434

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826133932768899072

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826134481698447365

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826134906640203776

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826135514042490881

https://twitter.com/gnrosenberg/status/826160843444338691

65 comments on “The dynamic of vindictive winners ”

  1. Carolyn_nth 1

    Ah. Will the real Paula Bennett, please stand up, please stand up?!

    And all those others behind the screen pulling the strings, of the dirty two track politics,

    Will the real Jason Ede, please stand up, the real John key, please stand up!?

    NB: on a pre- morning coffee, pop culture, mixed platform groove.

  2. Sabine 2

    The ‘left’ does not need the ‘right’ to make their lifes miserable. There are enough people on the ‘left’ – often those who might believe that they could survive something like the ‘trump years’ – that would rather punish the ‘left’ for not being ‘left’ enough that they don’t bother a. voting at all, or b. vote for a someone who has not even got a sliver of a chance winning dog catcher, but hey purity is all that matters.

    Maybe we need not analyse the right but the so called left. Especially those that believe that womens rights, rights for POC, rights for other gender identities then male/female, rights for those other sexual identities are optional or nice to have things in the scheme of larger stuff but are happy to do away with these rights cause dropping these rights would not affect them.

    I mean what was that thing that we can’t talk about reproductive rights for women in the US casue women in Syria are refugees? What was that thing about vaginas voting blindly for vaginas? That shit was not thrown at us from the right, it came from the left.

    Maybe we ought to discuss the fact that a large group of socalled lefties would take away the rights of many if it would further their own preferred agenda of something.

    • weka 2.1

      I’m working up to a post on the problems in the left 😉

      Well put (and the offer is still there if you want to Guest Post). I would add that there are the anti-IP people, and there are those who just want to consolidate power in the places where they will do best or feel most comfortable, and then there are the authoritarians. We need a Venn diagram.

    • DoublePlusGood 2.2

      The people who think the left aren’t left enough are generally those pissed off that the things you mention are considered optional or nice to have by party leaderships, and want those parties to go further left. Sometimes they give up on the usual left parties and go further left to fringe options precisely because their rights were abandoned by the left.

  3. Pat 3

    “Maybe we ought to discuss the fact that a large group of socalled lefties would take away the rights of many if it would further their own preferred agenda of something.”

    or maybe we should discuss the role of political ambition and ego, not naked but clothed in convenient ‘identity’….it would truly be disturbing if CV was right twice in a row.

    [by all means run this argument, but you need to make the effort to explain what you mean clearly and be explicit. e.g. ‘identity’ gets used in a number of different ways, so please now explain what you mean by giving several examples. If you are not willing to communicate clearly so that people can understand you please stop commenting in this thread – weka]

    • xanthe 3.1

      well said pat

    • Carolyn_nth 3.2

      You forgot the irony tag.

    • Sabine 3.3

      so we can’t discuss the vindictiveness from people on the left vs people on the left?

      so we can’t discuss the fact that every few years, in various countries of this world people have a choice to make.

      a. shit sandwich – dripping shit everywhere, swimming in a plate of shit, covered in melted shit.

      b. shit sandwich – clean plate, wholegrain bread, buttered with a thin layer of shit.

      which one do you choose?

      cause in any case there are many many on the left that will vote for shit sandwich b.

      And that in any case even here in NZ is the only choice we have. Until of course your saviour shows up and stays alive long enough to save you.

      in the meant time in the US, the Shit Sandwich A is being served three times a day, no dessert.
      And that ladies and gentlemen is the choice of two evils. Or you can just stay at home and tell yerself how fucking pure and awesome you are for having principles. One closed public school at a time principles. One closed public hospital at a time principles. One dead women (be it child birth or self abortion) at a time principles. One dead gay boy at a time principles. One oilspill at a time principles. One blown up wedding party at a time principles. Cause no one in this fucked up country of the US of A is gonna stop blowing up people that are not them and that are in the way of profit.

      the lesser of two evils is the best it gets. Choose wisely the shit sandwich that you and your children will have to eat, until next time when you get to choose again, if at all you get to choose.

      • Pat 3.3.1

        we most certainly can discuss culinary shit…as long as we discuss the kitchen staff as well.

        It is increasingly obvious however why many now choose to eat at home.

        • Sabine 3.3.1.1

          nope mate you don’t get to eat at home, cause like with Havelock North or
          Flint Michigan you might realise that the shit is in the water you need to cook and clean your dishes. That the shit is sticking to your green leafy salad cause the workers picking the salad had no port a loo to use so they did their business among that green leafy salad. And that little garden you are growing? covered in dust and pollution and you water it with shit stained water from your tap.

          Voting, and non voting for that matter has consequences.

          • Pat 3.3.1.1.1

            never said the shit was avoidable but noted that many choose not to go out and pay for it

            • weka 3.3.1.1.1.1

              Please see moderator note above.

            • Sabine 3.3.1.1.1.2

              well you could say that you don’t want to pay for it.
              let me know how you go on with not paying your taxes?

              So yeah, even by abstaining from voting, or from writing in a bogus candidate or by voting for some certified losers (not that hey don’t have a say or have good reasons and the like but the US of A is a winner takes it all so yeah, any third party in the US is a certified loser until they change their system) you will still end up paying taxes and you will be paying for the dismantling of the Health Care System, the dismantling of the Puplic School System, the bombing of people who are in the way of Profit, you will pay for the police forces who will ‘police you into complete obedience’, you will pay for orange turds tantrums on twitter and so on and so on.

              Or to use NZ terms, all of us that never voted for Dear Leader here in NZ still paid for our assets to be sold to the highest and sometime lowest bidder, we all paid for troops to be stationed in Iraq, we are all paying for the Accomodation Supplement that allow landlords to charge usurious rents, we are all paying for Peter fucking Dunnes wages so that he can deny help to dying people and so on and so on and so on.

              So yeah, go on pretending that you can opt out.You can’t.

    • Pat 3.4

      @ Weka…..think anyone who regularly reads this blog will clearly understand my original post including yourself…however i would not wish to breach posting policy and place TS at legal risk by being more explicit…if you seek further clarity i suggest the comments section of the following link.

      http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2017/02/conflicting-priorities-has-poto.html

      in the interests of a harmonic left I shall remove myself from further discussion.
      adieu

      [I don’t know what you meant, which is why I asked for clarification. We’ve been through this a number of times where you imply thing but refuse to clarify. Take it as read that from now on you are unwelcome to comment under my posts if you are also unwilling to explain what you mean. I am also warning you to not tell me what I do or don’t understand – weka]

      • adam 3.4.1

        Pat why are you opposed to civil rights?

      • Tim 3.4.2

        I love this. Pat tries to voice his or her opinion (i.e. a focus on identity politics/infighting/focusing on non-economic problems helped contribute to Trump’s win) and he gets told off by the moderator. While I think other things contributed (democratic party corruption, ignoring people’s concerns re: Islamism) I think this a pretty valid viewpoint to have. To tell a quarter of the electorate they are deplorables or that white people need to listen to black people is hugely insulting and fairly stupid politics…

        [Pat was asked to clarify and refused. This is a pattern of behaviour from Pat, and in this moderator’s experience is a waste of time. I explicitly said that Pat was free to run the line he wanted, so he clearly wasn’t moderated for his politics. You seem to be new here, so please read the Policy – weka]

        • Tim 3.4.2.1

          I’m not new here. I also find it funny that you post here looking for discussion then when you get a controversial reply instead of replying yourself you post as a moderator and threaten to take away the speaking rights of those you disagree with.

    • Carolyn_nth 3.5

      I just posted a comment on an article on “identity politics” in open mike. I was contemplating putting it here, but thought it might be more appropriate in OM.

      I think it is an inaccurate term, and used to try to separate economic and social justice issues. In fact, these are most often intertwined. They are part of one system in which a few, mainly white men, have power over diverse groups of people.

      Separating economic and social justice will not result in a more just system. It’s unlikely to change much because the two are so intertwined. But if economic justice was achieved without social justice, it would merely replace one oppressive power hierarchy with another.

      • xanthe 3.5.1

        and the pursuit of social justice without economic justice has produced exactly that result!

        [given that none of the social justice movements I’ve been involved with or observed have put economic justice aside, I am going to ask you to provide 3 clear examples of what you mean. Otherwise I will consider your comment a windup and moderate accordingly. I also suggest that you don’t sloganeer under my posts. I put time and effort into posts precisely because I want to engender better conversation and that means commenters need to take responsibility for their own communication and making sure they are understood. Please up your game – weka]

        • Carolyn_nth 3.5.1.1

          xanthe: and the pursuit of social justice without economic justice has produced exactly that result!

          How is that? Please explain?

          Because, as far as I can see that hasn’t happened. Where people pursue social justice without economic justice, we have the status quo. And the only ones who really do that, are the likes of Judith Collins, who is all for an economic system that ensures all sorts of exploitation, hardship, and social and economic damage to those with little power.

          So called “neoliberalism” has managed to water down the campaigns for economic and social justice – that push came from the right. e.g. the shift from a wide ranging feminist campaigns in the 1970s and 80s, to flashy girl power – promoted strongly by the mainstream media corporates and marketing operatives, as well as some opportunistic politicians.

          Many at the time called the process the commodification of feminism. This happened at the same time there were strong attacks from above on the class struggle: against unions, employment legislation, education systems, etc.

          The neo-cons targetted both social justice and economic justice movements at the same time. Blaming social justice campaigners fro the attacks on worker and class struggles, is allowing many on the left to be played by the new right.

          The old divide and conquer strategy, along with quite a bit of co-opting and diverting.

          • Tim 3.5.1.1.1

            A lot of feminists/feminist discourse itself nowadays comes across to many as an attack on the male identity (rather than equal rights which is what it claims to be). Even those who initially bought the whole argument about feminism being defined as equal rights for men and women are starting to see where this is headed.

            The MTV advert calling out white men is a particularly hilarious example of feminism jumping the shark.

            • Carolyn_nth 3.5.1.1.1.1

              Firstly, I don’t speak for all feminists. My views are more socialist feminist or social democrat feminist. I am concerned about all economic and social justice issues.

              From this position, there are women whose main political values and policies I’ll never support: e.g. Judith Collins, Paula Bennett, Theresa May. And there are men whose values and politics I strongly support: e.g. most of Jeremy Corbyn’s, Jack MacDonald who has not yet been elected via the Green Party list, David Cunliffe, etc.

              So, from that perspective, the problem is about a systematic power imbalance which tends to privilege white heterosexual middle-class men. However, it depends on the issue and context as to who has the most power.

              And, it is clear that the people with the most power internationally, are white men. But, of course, this power is not shared equally among men – some have more access to power than others.

              Equal rights relates to the law, and how much it enables opportunity for all.

              But we also need to look at outcomes, and whether our systems privilege some people more than others. And the culture, economic structure and organisations of social institutions tend to advantage people who are white, and/or male, and/or heterosexual, and/or reasonably well-off.

              • Tim

                I think that sometimes modern feminism comes across either as whining, jealousy or just fantasy about wanting men to be subservient to you or as stay at home dads or ballerinas or doing knitting etc etc. I’m not surprised you want more men like Cunliffe to apologise for being men. Oldschool feminists back in the day could point to things such as lack of voting rights. Nowadays instead of look at places where women truly do have no power or voice, many feminists choose instead to complain about whatever is closest to them when in reality they have it pretty well.

                We’ll succeed if we focus on things other than skin colour and sex (which we cannot change). None of this is to deny that there are truly despicable sexists in the world. But conflating that with everyone of a certain sex being sexist makes more problems than it solves. We should call ourselves equalists if that’s what we’re after given that people are always so quick to remind us of the dictionary definition of feminism

                • Carolyn_nth

                  gee, I think we need some citations for all those generalisations. It certainly doesn’t fit with my knowledge of feminism, in the past or now.

                  Early feminists didn’t just campaign for the vote. They campaigned for a wide range of social and economic changes, and there were groups with slightly different focuses. The historical memory has tended to narrow first wave feminism down to issues of the vote.

                  Been a feminist since 2nd wave days. We tended to be stereotyped as humourless and unable to have fun – didn’t match up with my experience of feminist entertainment, comedy shows, or some pretty boozy parties.

                  The left often gets stereotyped as whiny, when they criticise the status quo. Not helpful if you can’t give instances – several because one does not a generalisation make.

                  • Tim

                    I’m fully prepared to admit a lot of the stuff I say comes across as far too harsh to someone like you who is a feminist from way back. I’m talking here mostly about people growing up feminists nowadays and the type of trash we see like the recent MTV advert calling out white men. Have you seen it?

                    • Carolyn_nth

                      No. You got a link?

                      For myself, today I read this on the dilemmas for women today with respect to “feminism” – with various women taking different positions on it.

                      One of the dilemma’s is aiming for broad acceptance of feminism by being pretty tame and non-threatening, and consequently ineffective.

                      Crispin notes, accurately, that feminism’s history has been marked by a “small number of radical, heavily invested women who did the hard work of dragging women’s position forward, usually through shocking acts and words,” and that the “majority of women benefited from the work of these few, while often quickly trying to disassociate themselves from them.”

                      Sometimes feeling uncomfortable is not a bad thing. It causes people to think and debate.

                    • Tim []

                      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SBluYsydAVc

                      I think most people today believe in fairness and equal rights (not on all things necessarily, reproductive rights and war might be two notable examples) between men and women. I also disagree with the characterisation of only a small amount of women doing the heavy lifting which I think underplays the contribution made by a lot of women.

                      By all means if you think helping start riots and videos such as the one above are effective politically then continue to encourage it. I’m also very happy to debate and ‘feel uncomfortable’ but it seems again that feminists are more involved in trying to close down free speech in the U.S. currently.

        • xanthe 3.5.1.2

          “given that none of the social justice movements I’ve been involved with or observed have put economic justice aside”

          Certainly that is exactly what the green party of NZ has done. and I was there (many years ago) when they decided not to challenge or attempt to change the economic system nor have they done so since or now!

          you may perhaps have missed the irony tag or that i was responding to the comment ” if economic justice was achieved without social justice, it would merely replace one oppressive power hierarchy with another.”

          The whole point is that through all of this no party, social justice, environmental, or other has challenged the unjust economic model of money makes money and those who have and make money rent it out to everyone else. and yet many would like to carry the mantle of “social justice”

          not going to play the “three examples” game. this is my honest opinion no more no less

          • Tim 3.5.1.2.1

            Exactly. Let’s spend our airtime complaining about a certain skin colour and sex (even though we’re like, totally against racism and sexism) instead of giving airtime to arguments challenging the economic structure of our society or speaking out about societies where women actually have very little rights! Woohoo!

            • Carolyn_nth 3.5.1.2.1.1

              Well, Tim, if you scroll down the comments under this post, you will see I comment on a Monbiot article that is about changing the whole socioeconomic structure from the bottom up. I and many others here frequently argue for the replacement of the capitalist system and against the current corporate-dominated neoliberal capitalism we have now.

              Yet, one mention of social justice issues brings out the arguments that this is a distraction from the class struggle etc. It gets tiring to repeat the same kind of arguments and evidence in response.

              • Tim

                It’s just a bit depressing knowing that your remodelling of the structure consists of replacing one skin colour and sex with another rather than rewarding the biggest contributors and hardest working.

              • xanthe

                “Yet, one mention of social justice issues brings out the arguments that this is a distraction from the class struggle etc. It gets tiring to repeat the same kind of arguments and evidence in response.”

                these arguments and evidence in response are….?

          • weka 3.5.1.2.2

            Thanks for offering *something xanthe.

            “given that none of the social justice movements I’ve been involved with or observed have put economic justice aside”

            Certainly that is exactly what the green party of NZ has done. and I was there (many years ago) when they decided not to challenge or attempt to change the economic system nor have they done so since or now!

            Pretty narrow definition of economic justice you have there. So not so much that they don’t work on economic justice, but that they don’t do it in a way you agree with.

            you may perhaps have missed the irony tag or that i was responding to the comment ” if economic justice was achieved without social justice, it would merely replace one oppressive power hierarchy with another.”

            There was no irony tag, and I did see what you were responding too.

            The whole point is that through all of this no party, social justice, environmental, or other has challenged the unjust economic model of money makes money and those who have and make money rent it out to everyone else. and yet many would like to carry the mantle of “social justice”

            Feminism has plenty of anti-capitalist work. So does the Deep Greens. There are many other examples (see Carolyn’s comments). You appear to be talking specifically about political parties, so again we are getting somewhere now.

            not going to play the “three examples” game. this is my honest opinion no more no less

            No, it’s a dishonest opinion. You assert something and then refuse to back it up (although, again thanks for offering even a small amount here). So here’s the thing, the Policy here says,

            What we’re not prepared to accept are pointless personal attacks, or tone or language that has the effect of excluding others. We are intolerant of people starting or continuing flamewars where there is little discussion or debate. This includes making assertions that you are unable to substantiate with some proof (and that doesn’t mean endless links to unsubstantial authorities) or even argue when requested to do so. Such comments may be deleted without warning or one of the alternatives below may be employed. The action taken is completely up to the moderator who takes it.

            I consider that anti-identity politics rhetoric without meaningful discussion is indeed language and tone that excludes others. I have seen this repeatedly on TS especially in the past year. From now on if someone wants to argue against identity politics under my posts they will need to be willing to engage and argue their position. No sloganeering, no “I’m not playing that game”. If anyone won’t abide by that, they are not welcome to post here.

            I will also moderate for direct anti-feminist attacks or any other framing against the politics of marginalised peoples that is likely to put them off from commenting in my threads. Yes, I am saying that it’s more important for marginalised people to comment here than people who want to attack identity politics.

            I’d like to build bridges between the various groups on the left that are entrenching into their own positions currently, and I would certainly welcome you in those conversations. However I will use what power I have to make those and other conversations here safer for all people to take part in. Please note I am not banning you from discussing your views on IP, I am just setting some boundaries to make the conversations more fair for everyone.

            I would appreciate it if you could reply to this comment so I know that you have read it and don’t have to chase you up next time I see you onsite, thanks.

            edited to add, this of course is not just about you and I will use this comment to set the boundaries for others too.

            • xanthe 3.5.1.2.2.1

              Thank you weka for responding out of moderation!

              I am rather offended by my opinions being called “dishonest” they are my opinions and if you have a different definition of “economic justice” , one that does not include changing the fundemental dishonesty of the our present situation then lets have that discussion. but that does not make me dishonest. Yes I agree that Corbyn probably does represent the closest thing to the “economic justice” in mainstream politics as do the beliefs of some of my closest friends who also call themselves “feminists”

              I do believe that a very real and robust discussion needs to happen around “identity politics” and the roll that it (may have) played in the takeover of “the left” by neoliberal policy. Considerable care and restraint would need to be shown by both posters and moderators for such a discussion to be held here. I believe that discussion will occur regardless somewhere so there could be some value in allowing it here but that is not up to me and frankly I am not at this point confident it can

  4. locus 4

    i think there’s an irony in that much of the hatred for the left is created by dirty politics, lies and smears about the left.

    But some of the righteous anger towards ‘the left’ is also due to an understandable fear that the societal changes introduced by liberals threaten the conservatives’ moral and religious beliefs and the perceived safety of the world they live in.

    What makes Rosenberg’s analysis particularly worrying – is that if he’s correct, all who are seen by the right as not in full agreement with them are so deserving of punishment, that it doesn’t matter how evil or dishonest the inflictor of the punishment is.

    • Carolyn_nth 4.1

      There’s been a long right wing campaign against the left – smearing the most positive and humane policies of the left.

      In my living memory, broad left wing values (supporting both economic and social justice) were gaining momentum in the 1960s and 1970s. Gradually the neoliberal myths and ideologies were spread throughout society and its institutions, especially via the corporate media, and through some parts of the economic system.

      Political Labour and Democrat parties were on the back foot. After some defeats in the UK and US, these parties gradually began to compromise with the neoliberal agenda.

      It’s going to be a hard road back: but a combination of campaigns for economic and social justice is essential, as the neoliberal agenda crumbles.

      • Tim 4.1.1

        Economic justice is social justice. Complaining about skin colour and expecting special treatment on that basis isn’t.

    • weka 4.2

      “What makes Rosenberg’s analysis particularly worrying – is that if he’s correct, all who are seen by the right as not in full agreement with them are so deserving of punishment, that it doesn’t matter how evil or dishonest the inflictor of the punishment is.”

      That’s certainly how I took it.

      One factor is the evil that neoliberalism has inflicted on poor and working class people. Another is the conservative values issue. I’m resisting the narrative that it’s all the fault of the nasty Liberals in the same way I’m resisting the narrative that it’s all about racism/misogyny. There are actually humans who are happy to be vindictive and see it as an appropriate response to their oppression. I think this applies across the political spectrum, although no doubt there are values-based reasons why it’s more prominent on the right.

      • Tim 4.2.1

        What you’re seeing in the U.S. at the moment is a lot more vindictive behaviour from the political left.

  5. Sabine 5

    some parts of the ‘right’ are not vindictive they think and truly believe that punishment is what one gets for not doing gods work.
    so you have radio hosts that blame hurricanes and tornados that cause human loss of life and endless destruction on the ungodly behaviour of teh gays, the uppity women having sex and abortions, the atheists or other heathens and that if we could just rid the world of these abominations there would be no devastating Hurricanes and Tornadoes.

    And that is a mind set you can’t really win against as it gives full absolution to those taht are ‘godly’ (and betcha they decide who is godly) and lays the fault with all those that don’t conform.

    And you have since the inception of Roe vs Wade a culture war in the US that is funded by cynical billionaires who would like to continue doing unfettered buisness, who would like a mis-educated and under educated populace and that preach teh prosperity gospel.

    and thus you have instances where girls are at fault for their rapes, cause why was she not at home like good virginal girls are, where a sickness is a punishment from god, where lack of funds to pay for health care is lack of love of god for some previous devious behaviour and oh of course people of colour are also on gods list other wise they would be white.

    So i would not call it vindictiveness but rather just some absolute religious assholery that is very good at keeping poeple in their place lest they loose their place in heaven and worse still, they will be left behind in the second coming of Christ.

    Look up Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Tim la Haye and such. These guys are not ‘vindictive’ but they preach the wrath of god and fear works. it works all the time.

    The left has an issue of unabashedly standing up for what its believes, and it has issues finding common grounds among the splinter factions of the left. This allows the lock step marching right to divide the left very easily. And the need for a pure, untainted saviour on the left is quite bothersome. People are people, they are no saints. And we should look at finding people instead of wasting time waiting for Godot.

    • Carolyn_nth 5.1

      Maybe the way to break this dynamic, and enable some sort of positive working relationship across the left, is indicated in a couple of recent articles by George Monbiot. [H/T to Paul who posted a link to one of the articles on Daily Review last night. Only just got round to reading it].

      Monbiot’s big idea is not new. It’s about working from the ground up, rebuilding the commons and grass roots’ collaborations and networks. He gives e.g.s like Men’s Sheds and transition towns.

      The earlier article talked about the need to regain the commons: managing common resources for the good of all.

      The most recent article is about the left regaining control by rebuilding communities from the bottom up.

      Monbiot mentions some of many examples of separate grassroots activities, that could work together, in a kind of snowballing way, to regenerate public services.

      My only quibble is my concern about the way capitalists would rather use voluntary unpaid work to replace publicly funded social and public services. Predatory capitalism always tries to subvert good community initiatives, commodify them, and turn them into profit making ventures for the few.

      Monbiot writes:

      When enough of such projects have been launched, they catalyse a deeper involvement, generating community businesses, co-operatives and hybrid ventures, which start employing people and generating income. A tipping point is reached when between 10% and 15% of local residents are engaging regularly. Community then begins to gel, triggering an explosion of social enterprise and new activities, that starts to draw in the rest of the population. The mutual aid these communities develop functions as a second social safety net. The process, the study reckons, takes about three years. The result is communities that are vibrant and attractive to live in, which generate employment, are environmentally sustainable and socially cohesive, and in which large numbers of people are involved in decision-making. Which sounds to me like where we need to be.

      • weka 5.1.1

        Is he theorising in that quote or did he give actual examples?

        If you pick out the best piece of his I can put up a post on it.

        • Carolyn_nth 5.1.1.1

          He is drawing on some research and does give examples.

          This quote explains (with embedded links), though this quote maybe longer than you want to use in a post:

          There are hundreds of examples of how this might begin, such as community shops, development trusts, food assemblies (communities buying fresh food directly from local producers), community choirs and free universities (in which people exchange knowledge and skills in social spaces). Also time banking (where neighbours give their time to give practical help and support to others), transition towns (where residents try to create more sustainable economies), potluck lunch clubs (in which everyone brings a homemade dish to share), local currencies, Men’s Sheds (in which older men swap skills and escape from loneliness), turning streets into temporary playgrounds (like the Playing Out project), secular services (such as Sunday Assembly), lantern festivals, fun palaces and technology hubs.

          Turning such initiatives into a wider social revival means creating what practitioners call “thick networks”: projects that proliferate, spawning further ventures and ideas that weren’t envisaged when they started. They then begin to develop a dense, participatory culture that becomes attractive and relevant to everyone rather than mostly to socially active people with time on their hands.

          A study commissioned by the London borough of Lambeth sought to identify how these thick networks are most likely to develop. The process typically begins with projects that are “lean and live”: they start with very little money and evolve rapidly through trial and error. They are developed not by community heroes working alone, but by collaborations between local people. These projects create opportunities for “micro-participation”: people can dip in and out of them without much commitment.

          This section comes before the quote in my earlier comment.

          He also gives an example of where this process happened in Rotterdam,

          where in response to the closure of local libraries in 2011 a group of residents created a reading room from an old Turkish bathhouse.

          This snowballed into a range of community activities.

          He gives other examples, including this one that may interest you:

          Incredible Edible”, which began as a guerrilla planting scheme in Todmorden West Yorkshire, growing fruit and vegetables in public spaces and unused corners, has branched into so many projects that it is credited with turning the fortunes of the town around, generating startups, jobs and training programmes.

    • weka 5.2

      “some parts of the ‘right’ are not vindictive they think and truly believe that punishment is what one gets for not doing gods work.”

      The one the scares me at the moment is the fact that there are people in the US president’s team who literally believe that the armageddon is upon us and are welcoming it because it means the end of the heathens. These are the people close to the nuclear launch codes. That alone is enough to make me have less than zero respect for people running pro-Tr*mp/anti-IP lines. They either don’t believe there is a risk, which makes them fools, or they do but they think the risk is worth it to make gains in their political agenda. There is vindictiveness there too, even outside of the US stuff. I think in NZ there are lefties emboldened by Tr*mp’s victory and the nasty just raised a notch.

      • emergency mike 5.2.1

        Bannon has been telling his listeners for years that the entirety of Islam is at war with the West, and we need to hurry up and war them back. Plus we’ll need to war China within a few years – just inevitable apparently. But the sooner we start the warring the sooner we can start rebuilding the world in Bannon’s image, so that’s the silver lining. Whether he really believes this lunacy I don’t know. But he’s been sowing the seeds as hard as he can.

        This blogger is a higher ranked adviser to Trump than actual military and intelligence officials. I bet it pisses the lefties right off. Yay! See: self-fulfilling prophecy.

      • Tim 5.2.2

        There are many good arguments against Trump and Bannon and there is cause to worry. Here’s the point though: the democrats fucked up. They called their opponents deplorable, they got caught out for corruption, they focused overly on matters of skin colour and sex. They were found sorely wanting when it comes to strong, smart leadership. Trump talks tough, and he was given zero percent chance by the pundits of the left but despite that managed to steadily improve his odds throughout the campaign by playing the media – this is not the hallmark of a stupid person. You’ll claim it’s reawakened white supremacy (lol) but this is the same electorate who voted in Obama twice. Sure, focus on Trump’s policy problems but the media is feeding this fire further by making virtually every article about him a negative one.

        The left in the USA is in complete disarray and should focus on improving their own lot as much as attacking Trump. The democrats just kicked someone out of their leadership race for questioning another candidate’s view on LGBT issues because he is muslim. The person who made this decision was involved in helping Hillary Clinton cheat. The democrats have a serious free speech problem.

    • Tim 5.3

      You make a lot of good points here. What do you say to the criticism that the political left in some cases seems to treat political Islam with kid gloves compared to its treatment of fundamentalist Christians? Are the left in some cases too willing to accept anyone as an ally or a spokesperson and thus not only dilute its message but make itself an easy target for political opponents? If as you say people are people and we just take what we can get then why not just vote for other guy? At least those crazy Christians nail their colours to the mast (not to mention the flag). Islamists and fake feminists like Linda Sarsour just hide their true colours. Why not take the declared views of Trump over the duplicitousness and corruption (while calling others deplorable) of Hillary Clinton?

      • emergency mike 5.3.1

        I’ll go on the last question. “Why not take the declared views of Trump over the duplicitousness and corruption (while calling others deplorable) of Hillary Clinton?”

        Because a) I find his declared views to be regressive, ridiculous, childlike dog-whistles that will divide and otherwise harm his nation as badly or worse than what awful ‘more of the same’ Clinton would have done, and b) On duplicitousness and corruption I don’t see an improvement here, it’s like you’re replacing The Joker with Godzilla. Trump lies and makes stuff up pathologically, constantly, he just threw $25m at a fraud case, he used ‘charity’ money to by a self-portrait for his casino, documentaries have been made detailing his past of ripping off contractors and generally stepping on the little guy. He knows no boundaries or ethics, and now thinks he’s above the law. I don’t doubt Clinton is slimy and corrupt but I don’t see her as a special case in that regard by Washington DC standards. Trump is above and beyond. Give him a chance. You think he’s not angling for a slice of that same yummy Saudi money pie that he demanded the Clinton Foundation return? Or taking bids for favours for corporations? He’s a quid pro quo guy. What has he done so far to drain the swamp? Surrounded himself with billionaires, donors, Goldman guys, CEOs, and bankers to an extent that previous administrations would never have dared, and said that banks need to be able to lend ‘to his friends’ more, and that corporations are going to get what they need. Mmm watch out swamp! He’s gold plating the swamp. Trump is for Trump, and he thinks he’s the boss rather than a public servant.

        History has plenty of examples of the people getting so sick and tired of corrupt, out of touch elites, that they kick them out hard. In almost every case they are so focused on getting rid of them that they don’t pay much attention to what they will replace them with. Anything’s got to be better than those guys right? It’s often something worse.

  6. Adrian Thornton 6

    I really wanted to read a thought-provoking description of Trump/Bannon, but I just can’t do this tweet thing, having serious conversations, especially serious political/philosophical conversations in tweets just doesn’t feel right…I guess I thought we were evolving, and for some reason tweeting seems more of a devolutionary process to me.

    But then what do I know.

    • weka 6.1

      Not a huge fan of the Twitter format myself (and it’s a pain to put up as a post). Would it have made a difference if I had cut and pasted the text into paragraphs rather than posted the Tweets?

      • Adrian Thornton 6.1.1

        No thanks, I don’t want to make any extra work for you, and I am sure most people aren’t as grouchy and weary of the new as me, it was just a personal observation really.

        • weka 6.1.1.1

          I meant for next time 🙂 (it’s probably no more time doing text than putting up the tweets).

      • lprent 6.1.2

        From memory if you grab the link from the date of a tweet, then paste tje link text directly into the text tab of the post – you get the tweet in the post.

        • weka 6.1.2.1

          That’s what I did, but in a twitter thread it posts the tweet and the tweet it was a reply to, so I have to make sure I grab every second link otherwise there will be lots of doubled up tweets.

          Might try a cut and paste of the text next time and see how it looks in a post.

    • Carolyn_nth 6.2

      I find twitter very useful. But it depends a lot on who a tweeter elects to follow. All the tweets of an account I follow appears in my timeline.

      I find it helpful because it alerts me to some current issues and debates. I also follow several people who provide links to excellent articles and sources.

      Expressing an argument in a small number of words is a useful skill. It is possible to go from one tweet to see all the responses from others, which helps to build up a picture of a debate.

      This can be useful in posts, but probably needs some extra explanation of context and the wider debates and sources being drawn on.

  7. Stunned Mullet 7

    “Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies at Duke University”

    snort….

    [don’t troll my posts. Read the moderator notes above about communication. 2 week ban – weka]

  8. emergency mike 8

    I also saw Trump’s EOs as largely a continuation of dog-whistling. I have some faith though that large chunks of his popular support are not alt-right brietbart readers for whom ‘liberal tears’ are their primary goal. Plenty thought he could bring positive change by simply being not an establishment politician. These people are not going to be impressed with divide and conquer, pitting Americans against their neighbours. Plenty bought the line that they shouldn’t take his loopy campaign pledges too literally, that was just a vote getting thing, now they are being told not to be surprised that he’s doing what he said he would. His record low incumbent approval rating is already falling.

    Unfortunately they rolled the dice on an unhinged con man who told them what they wanted to hear. It’s going to have to get a lot worse before it gets better. What worries me is what desperate distraction measures Trump will resort to once his support starts really tanking. A nice big war comes to mind.

    • weka 8.1

      It strikes me as an opportunity for the left to build bridges between the left and economically disenfranchised people. Unfortunately I’m not seeing much of that, and instead a big focus on liberal values. I don’t have a problem with liberal values, it’s just that the socioeconomic bridges need to be built as a priority.

      The risk being that if those bridges don’t get built, there will be more people joining the Bannon crowd for some revenge.

      • Tim 8.1.1

        You’re hilarious weka. What liberal values are you seeing a focus on? The Democratic Party removed someone from their leadership race for questioning another candidate on Islam’s history with LGBT rights… And it was Donna Brazile who was involved in cheating for Hillary Clinton who did it… So you can’t be taking about the liberal values of free speech, respect for LGBT rights or tolerance of others with different opinions than yours can you?

        • weka 8.1.1.1

          “What liberal values are you seeing a focus on?”

          Much of the resistance to the advancing authoritarianism in the US is based in intersectional politics e.g. the Women’s March. Those are good and important things and need to happen, but there is still something missing. Too many of the people support those things still believe that Bannontr*mp are there because of racism and sexism alone.

      • emergency mike 8.1.2

        I also think about how the US public can be awoken to the realization that they’ve been taken for a ride by two faces of the same neo-liberal coin since Reagan. That left vs right differences have been blown out of proportion for the purposes of power and politics. That the dark evil left that alt right bloggers refer to are your neighbours.

        Unfortunately Trump was elected on division, so it’s going to get a lot worse. I hope that will lead to some kind of reaction in the other direction. But the realist in me says it’s much harder to fix than destroy, and that broken and divided societies tend not to form lovely governments.

  9. Incognito 9

    It seems to me that what Rosenberg is describing is what’s called political terrorism. The tactics are well-known, unfortunately, and aim to invoke strong emotive states and responses and to further separate (physically segregate and psychologically polarise) people between good vs. bad, us vs. them (“the enemy”). The more opposition they meet the more they stick together and close ranks and the stronger their resolve. Not surprisingly, there are often semi-religious overtones at play as well. Once the fire has started, long after the igniting match has gone, it will keep burning and destroying, always looking for more fuel, new fuel to burn. Is to fight fire with fire the answer? Most definitely not! But what is then?

    • weka 9.1

      The main think I am thinking of is to build better relationships at the community level (as well as the usual resistance/protest). But I’m not in the US.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    39 mins ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    59 mins ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    1 hour ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 hour ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    2 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    7 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    9 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    9 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T04:27:51+00:00