The Freedumb Protesters give protesting a bad name

Written By: - Date published: 8:43 am, November 10th, 2021 - 58 comments
Categories: community democracy, covid-19, democracy under attack, health, human rights, Peace, poverty, racism, racism, uncategorized - Tags:

Advantage has written this very principled post on how as a matter of protection of an important principle the freedom protesters yesterday should be respected.

I agree as a principle that the right to protest is important.  But my view is that the tolerance shown to them by the forces by the state is more than fine, in fact overly generous.

I have been on many protests in my time.  I agree that the right to protest is necessary and important.  The ability to broadcast generally unacceptable messages has changed humankind’s history for the better.

I watched the live feed yesterday.  It felt very familiar.  Impassioned speeches using the rhetoric and phrasing and passion of many protests I have been on.

But instead of protesting against apartheid or nuclear war or global warming or poverty they were protesting against the expectation that to decrease the spread of a deadly virus they wear something flimsy on their face and they get jabbed twice with something which has worked and is remarkably free of side effects.

They plagiarised progressive messages such as “my body my choice”.  They talked about rights as if they are an absolute and not a feature of a civilised society which together with a number of other features, such as necessary health measures and minimum levels of pay and benefit support, are required to keep our society functioning.

And there was the frankly bat shit crazy stuff.  Refusing to be vaccinated because a US billionaire has snuck computer chips into the vaccine should attract the attention of your health provider.  Claiming that the Italian Army is going to invade or that this was all part of a UN sanctioned global takeover by shadowy forces is bonkers.  Thinking that the Governor General is going to intervene is bizarre.  Thinking the media are puppets of the Government and calling them terrorists is completely overblown.

And the threats of violence deserve an official response.  The events of January 6 in Washington show what happens when you let deranged rhetoric circulate for too long.

The organisers are cruel grifters who prey on the disillusioned and the misinformed.  People like this guy who took part in the Auckland protest and then a few days later tested positive for Covid.  If he cannot understand how risky it is to have super spreader events using concentrated numbers of people who have not been vaccinated then he has no right to organise anything.

By all means there should be respect for freedom of speech although threats of violence should not be accepted.  And I similarly have the right to express my strongly held view that the protesters are completely wrong and the organisers should be ashamed of themselves for plagiarising the language of the left for their own tawdry purposes.

58 comments on “The Freedumb Protesters give protesting a bad name ”

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  1. Hunter Thompson II 1
    10 November 2021 at 9:08 am

    "It's all the government's fault"

    There you are – a reusable protest banner suitable for every occasion.

  2. lprent 2
    10 November 2021 at 9:11 am

    Pretty much my view – especially the grifter part.

    What gets me with the protests and in a large part with the post by Advantage is that they seem to assume that viruses and pandemics are susceptible to being diverted by human preferences.

    When you read any history at all about the course of infectious diseases in human populations, this is a theme that pops up over and over again. And again and again it has been shown that praying from relief from an infectious disease is of no therapeutic value. Taking arbitrary nostrums seldom yields significant clinical results apart from a lot of faked results by someone hoping to profit from them.

    It is a slow grind killing off epidemics and it is invariably done by social restraints of preventing bags of water, some protein, and a bit of calcium from acting as part of the breeding cycle of an organism too small to see without a microscope. There are few to no shortcuts. Which I suspect is the primary issue for this particular group of protesters.

    They are too lazy to do the hard grind to control this pandemic. As a group it appears that the only thing that they would prefer is that a virus breeding in humans would obey the power of their collective dislike of change and just go away. Plus they really don't seem to give a shit on how many other people that will infect, maim or kill. It was noticeable that none of the clips I looked at even referred to the potential victims of their ‘policies’.

    Consequently, they aren't going to get listened to. Certainly not by me. I prefer workable plans and polices that have some grip in reality. And not ones inspired by grifters.

  3. ianmac 3
    10 November 2021 at 9:15 am

    The range of different "causes" during the protest is a bit reassuring. In the same way the Groundswell "protest" lacked identifiable cause. And in both cases it seems that dark forces are capitalising on the unease of the anxious in order to undermine our democracy perhaps.

    But why?

  4. Dennis Frank 4
    10 November 2021 at 9:30 am

    Had a prolonged catch-up by phone with a friend who's 69 now, currently antivaxer due to conspiracy theorising. We explored the various dimensions of the issue from the perspective of being part of alternative Aotearoa since the 1960s, knowing that the state has always been the enemy of progress.

    Couple of lines from him indicated the general mindset: `it's just like another flu' and `the hospital wards are mostly empty'. Like me, he's a university graduate. His professional career was electronics engineer and lecturer.

    The stats are interesting. Some who are antivax in principle are allowing themselves to be coerced into getting the hit for the common good, I suspect.

    Antivax sentiment seems to run at 20% of the electorate in western countries, but google won't validate that easily. I just had a look at a couple of reports of poll results in other countries and was bemused by their failure to cite the actual stats. Instead they tried to distract readers via a focus on how the poll supports the majority view. No wonder hostility to the media is escalating!

    https://www.cp24.com/news/irresponsible-and-selfish-new-poll-finds-rising-tension-between-vaccinated-and-unvaccinated-canadians-1.5601596

    https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/81121

    https://www.salon.com/2021/06/08/millions-of-americans-view-being-anti-vaccination-as-a-part-of-their-social-identity-poll/

  5. Pete 5
    10 November 2021 at 10:10 am

    Hostility to the media can escalate a million fold. That still won't explain or justify the limitations in thinking of your friend.

    The comment, "The hospital wards are mostly empty," as an indication covid is nothing special and certainly nothing to worry about is just plain dumb.

    It is likely people use that reasoning in lambasting the Government for its handling of the pandemic.

    "The Government did everything wrong, see, thousands didn't die, the ICUs are not all full, the hospitals are not in crisis."

    Let's use that logic, "See, the hospitals coped in a so-called crisis situation, therefore we don't need to put more resources into hospitals. If they could handle the 'crisis,' they are fine."

    • Dennis Frank 5.1
      10 November 2021 at 11:00 am

      Hi Pete, you know you could have used the reply button? Anyway I agree with your reasoning. My response to mostly empty wards point was `yeah but overseas hospitals are overwhelmed with patients with Covid'.

      What you tend to get with folks addicted to a world-view is slip-sliding away from any evidence to the contrary. Seems a natural tendency of human nature to be unwilling to change one's mind. I don't argue with folks – just explain why I have a different view. Sometimes they go away & think about it. When you next discuss the issue they've adopted your point of view & have forgotten that they ever disagreed! laugh

      • Pete 5.1.1
        10 November 2021 at 11:56 am

        That someone who has had to use thinking in his working life demonstrates such inability to think logically or past the surface, is astonishing.

        I appreciate that positions are often taken because of politics and appearances. Logic is purposefully benched.

        I've posted before about the Texas Immunization Requirements for Schools. People there accept those requirements but there is mass demand for choice with the covid vaccine. Compulsion is not acceptable. (62% have had one dose 54% had two doses.)

        Unvaccinated Texans make up vast majority of COVID-19 cases and deaths this year The political position of freedom of choice and 'my body my choice' is prevalent.

        To cap it all of course there are dictates counter to that when it comes to abortion: "Your body, our choice."

        • lprent 5.1.1.1
          10 November 2021 at 4:12 pm

          That someone who has had to use thinking in his working life demonstrates such inability to think logically or past the surface, is astonishing.

          Doesn't astonish me. I spend a lot of work time with hardware engineers of various types. I notice two things about them as a group.

          Fundamentally don't seem to understand the concept of deliberately falsified information – it is foreign to the ethos. Mistakes in data sheets – yes. Absolute bullshit no. So they often treat crap information with the same weight as being approximately the same as solid info. For me I find this rather weird because I started in science – where outright scepticism about other peoples results is the culture. I seldom believe anything until I test it myself.

          Hardware engineers aren't particularly good at dealing with pretty standard human behaviours. They seem to have an ideal world built into their genome – and especially when designing for human behaviours. A predisposition against hardening.

          I started in production management, and eventually moved to writing software with frequent excursions into installation and support. I learnt to defensively operate as if every human is a dangerous innovator. Because that is how they destroy systems.

          Humans invariably work out an easier way for themselves to operate anything – which usually means that there is a monumental fuck-up coming around the corner with the impetus of unexpected consequences.

          Trying to explain this to hardware engineers when you're looking from the perspective of how to reduce downstream support levels is an interesting exercise in mutual incomprehension.

  6. dottie 6
    10 November 2021 at 10:28 am

    We have a small number of NZers who choose to be ignorant.

    • roy cartland 6.1
      10 November 2021 at 11:43 am

      This.

      It's like a white-hot defiance of being asked to use logic and reason. Now they're telling us to think, what are they, the thought police?

      'My right to think (and by extension say, and do) whatever the hell I want' to is the ultimate refuge of the continually oppressed.

    • Peter 1 6.2
      10 November 2021 at 12:44 pm

      We have a small number of NZers who choose to be ignorant.

      Yes and they vote national.

      • Herodotus 6.2.1
        10 November 2021 at 1:23 pm

        Not sure taht the Mongrel Mob, Nomads and Head Hunters or Destiny Church would vote national or that they would be a target sector that would be catered for. I thought Destiny Church had Vision NZ as an option.

  7. Gezza 7
    10 November 2021 at 10:34 am

    Judith Collins, interviewed by Corin Dann of RNZ on the protest – & other matters – this morn, babbles on, sounding non-committal, vague and waffly, as is her wont & normal modus operandi. National's policy (on vaccine mandates, I think) is being announced this morning.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018819903

    If Ardern blows it now & loses the country's support over their frankly bewildering traffic lights and step level "freedoms" system, still hard for me to envisage Collins' party garnering enuf votes for HER to become PM. Woman's a fruit loop, imo.

    • Patricia Bremner 7.1
      10 November 2021 at 10:43 am

      Hi Gezza, Yes Him indoors said the same. Plus, "Judith does not have to do anything, just sound like she could do better" "Could she?' His answer, "No, just NO"

      • Gezza 7.1.1
        10 November 2021 at 10:57 am

        Him indoors is clearly not slow. 👍🏼

      • Gezza 7.1.2
        10 November 2021 at 11:03 am

        I might add, Patricia, that when Collins was elected leader, I thought, as a non-politically tribal voter, that this was perhaps finally her chance to demonstrate that she had the goods, could be a great PM – that she has always had hidden depths which she could now openly display.

        Turns out Judith has only hidden shallows, & those are what she openly displays.

        • woodart 7.1.2.1
          10 November 2021 at 4:51 pm

          'hidden shallows" comment of the day!

          • Gezza 7.1.2.1.1
            10 November 2021 at 6:20 pm

            ☘ Shot bro! 🐧

            Thank you, woodart. ❤️

            Wish I could claim it’s original. But a phrase I purloined from a late good lady friend who absolutely & definitely would’ve used it for Judith. 😀

    • Tricledrown 7.2
      10 November 2021 at 2:41 pm

      Collins supports mongrel mob, bike gangs and Brian Tamaki's protests .

      New less aggressive attitude from Collins but she hasn't the message .whinge whinge whinge.

  8. Enough is Enough 8
    10 November 2021 at 10:35 am

    This is 2021. I thought we would have moved past using ableist language and describing people with offensive disability terms. They are terms that have historically been used to label people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

    For someone who preaches how understanding and inclusive the "progressive" left is, it would be great if you could be consistent, and think about the way you use language to describe those people you disagree with.

    • woodart 8.1
      10 November 2021 at 10:47 am

      hard to be consistent describing a group,no, collection, no, a rabble of people ,who arent consistent with their messages, or aims. do a little bit of homework and you can see that many of these people actually disagreed with each other! a proper? protest has similar gripes, but yesterdays mob was all over the place. possibly should have been forced to spend the night together to exchange conspiracy theories and argue amongst themselves.

      • Enough is Enough 8.1.1
        10 November 2021 at 11:16 am

        Just don't use offensive disability terms, in the same way you don't use offensive racial or gender terms.

    • Macro 8.2
      10 November 2021 at 10:54 am

      I call them "anti-vaccination pricks" – which is what they are.

    • Peter 1 8.3
      10 November 2021 at 12:48 pm

      A fuckwit is still a fuckwit no matter how you put it.

    • mickysavage 8.4
      10 November 2021 at 8:11 pm

      Apologies but I completely lost the urge to be polite.

      • weka 8.4.1
        11 November 2021 at 10:00 am

        the problem isn't not being polite, it's the ways language use impacts on people outside of the context the word is being used in.

  9. Tiger Mountain 9
    10 November 2021 at 10:57 am

    Substantially agree with Micky’s take on this.

    Yes, freedom of assembly, speech and association is a big deal and it does have to be supported to a large extent even for a pack of wankers like yesterdays motley crew. As well as the mislead there seems to be a handful of dark manipulative types involved given the claimed Trump links, Eftpos Christians, and the well worn tactic of co-opting dissenters from bona fide existing movements.

    The nexus of neo nazi, green, conspiracists, “Crystal Karens”, alienated Māori, Tractor mob, “gen. never vaccinated” and ACT NZ types, while interesting for politics fans is unstable to state the obvious. COVID is an immediate existential problem for human society and this lot are not helping.

  10. francesca 10
    10 November 2021 at 11:53 am

    Absolutely agree Micky

    The recent protests are miles away from the protests I marched on

    These recent ones were a collection of nutty individualistic mantras, spoling for a fight, a muddle of complaints and Qanon type tall tales , as well as the quite genuine complaints against the vaccine mandate.

    Who is trying to gain ground with all this ?Has Tamaki joined forces with some dangerous wannabe like Steve Bannon?

    • SPC 10.1
      10 November 2021 at 12:43 pm

      We have all probably seen pamphlets in the mail box quoting the Outdoor Party leader Sue Grey about "vaccine" safety and as a lawyer about your rights. They organised the gathering at Waitangi to connect the issue to the one of sovereignty (not just Maori, but anti-UN agenda and the sovereign citizens movement).

      https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/sovereign-citizens-movement

      • francesca 10.1.1
        10 November 2021 at 1:15 pm

        libertarianism/anarchism courtesy of the USA

        They'll be invoking the second amendment next.

      • lprent 10.1.2
        10 November 2021 at 4:23 pm

        We have all probably seen pamphlets in the mail box …

        Hard for anyone to get to my mailbox. It has been in the foyer of locked up apartment block for most of the last few decades. NZ Post and some courier companies have access. No junk mail unless someone pays NZ Post to deliver it.

        When the mailboxes were outside, we used to have to clear a full rubbish bin next to them at least once a week for the 60 mailboxes. It was a bloody relief when we moved them inside away from the mailbox stuffers. These days we're unlucky to get more than 2 bits of mail in a week.

        • woodart 10.1.2.1
          10 November 2021 at 4:58 pm

          bizarrly enough, I have been getting hand written one full page ,signed letters from a member of the local doorknocking religion(dont ask which one ,because I dont take notice). mentioned this to a n other and was told it was a combination of dog fear(I dont have any) and covid , so these serial pests have gone back to sending letters!addressed to occupant. phew,

  11. UncookedSelachimorpha 11
    10 November 2021 at 12:34 pm

    Wanting to have all your rights without any thought to responsibilities isn't freedom – it's adolescence.

    • Gezza 11.1
      10 November 2021 at 12:54 pm

      Got a grin from for that one. Damn straight! 💪🏼

      I had to wonder whether there were quite a few overdue, underdeveloped cerebral cortexes on display in that rather disturbing chaos of a event yesterday.

      • Gezza 11.1.1
        10 November 2021 at 12:56 pm

        🙄 *from me for that one

      • woodart 11.1.2
        10 November 2021 at 5:06 pm

        go back and have a look….large amount of mature females … ." you may think what you like ,but I couldnt possibly comment" francis urquhart .

        • Gezza 11.1.2.1
          10 November 2021 at 6:28 pm

          Just heard on 1ewes at 6 that the four people killed in a dreadful car crash at Levin yesterday were ALL teachers from Devon Intermediate School in New Plymouth – my turangawaewae.

          They were returning home from the day’s big messy antigov protest in Wellington.

          Both teaching staff & pupils are being provided with as much support as the school & authorities can muster.

          So bloody sad. Such a fking waste! Makes me both sad & angry in equal measure.

  12. JO 12
    10 November 2021 at 12:56 pm

    Watching the online Stuff video of the throng's brave walk behind their Harley marching band, I wished I was there with a very loud megaphone. You only need the beat and the vowels for that chant, it's an involuntary pantomime chorus after that.

    'Wodderya Got?' ('Freee-dum!')

    'Wenuvyer Got it?' ('NOW!')

    If we don’t have a clue, William James gave us this: The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

  13. DukeEll 13
    10 November 2021 at 1:03 pm

    You might be right about the protests yesterday mickey, flipside of that is some of those people felt that your protests were juvenile, unenlightened and consisted of nothing more than lay-about rent-a-mob activists who'd protest the opening of an envelope if they felt someone listened. I guess those are the dice you roll when you feel protests en masse is a viable option

  14. observer 14
    10 November 2021 at 2:56 pm

    I encourage everyone to read Toby Manhire's comprehensive coverage in the SpinOff today.

    This is not yet another idle keyboard reckon, it is a collection of evidence based on what these people themselves say and do. It is not good enough to just look away any more. If you don't know what is happening on Telegram and Facebook, there is no excuse not to know. It is only a click away.

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/10-11-2021/protest-covid-vaccine-wellington/

    • woodart 14.1
      10 November 2021 at 5:11 pm

      two conflicting thoughts . protesters re-arrecting barriers. second thought, S.I.S. would have been watching and taking photos. good. GOOD! phuck, Ive joined the thing I hated all my life! conflicted… .nah

    • Anne 14.2
      10 November 2021 at 9:18 pm

      Thanks for the heads up observer. TM is not exaggerating. It is indeed a profoundly ugly turn of events.

      I saw a photo today of Jacinda Ardern stepping out of… what looked to me like a large bullet proofed SUV. So sad to see it come to this.

      The SIS and the Police have got their work cut out for them. I sincerely hope they succeed in their endeavours to keep people safe.

  15. observer 15
    10 November 2021 at 3:38 pm

    On the lighter side, they really do keep up with the news …

    https://twitter.com/SamSachdevaNZ/status/1457876898248155138

  16. Stuart Munro 16
    10 November 2021 at 7:07 pm

    You're on the mark Mickey – and I'm not only disappointed at the danger to our democratic system from the thralls of fourth rate demagogues, but I am disappointed in the quality of wingnuttery. No mention of the orbital mind control lasers or the robot sea monsters! What's wrong with these people? We need better moonbats.

  17. barry 17
    10 November 2021 at 7:15 pm

    Apart from the lunacy of the message, it is the anger that gets me. I have been in lots of protests in many countries with some very committed people, and I have never seen anything like it. I think the government is right to take precautions, some of the crowd could easily be worked up violence.

  18. joe90 18
    10 November 2021 at 7:34 pm

    You used to be someone, Naomi. What happened?

    https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1457886144784310272

  19. Corey Humm 19
    10 November 2021 at 9:36 pm

    This happens to every second term govt key had the same exact crowd of "rent a mob" burning effigies of him in his second term. Clark called them "haters and wreckers" when they did it to her.

    Bolger/Shipley had people burning effigies of them and much larger protests over austerity and union cutting.

    Everyone protested Lange in his second term

    And everyone protested Muldoon (but he would show up and punch them over)

    Like the TPPA yesterday was less to with the actual issue and a motely crew of assorted groups whose only similarity is they all hate the incumbent.

    Look at the crowds outside parliament yesterday vs the crowds outside parliament for tppa. Look at the signs apart from a couple Trump flags is the same rent a mob of haters and wreckers.

    All it is is a good old fashioned bugger the establishment tantrum. When this anger is channeled against the Tory's the Tory's say it's a bunch of "far left anarchists and Commies" when it's channeled at us we cry "facists"

    All it shows is were in the second term of a govt and that governments no matter how popular initially don't last forever, people get sick of whoever's in power.

    Four years in is where people start to get sick of you. Doesn't mean they won't begrudgingly give you a third it just means you don't excite them and they are "keeping options open" fortunately for labour, there's not a lot of options.

    It's no big deal and yes the glory days of this govt are over but the govt is not, it's now time for Ardern to start giving mp's who came in from 2017/2020 elections cabinet experience, so that when the time comes in 2026 there's a lot of mp's with ministerial experience in opposition, the current cabinet is the old guard and most will resign when the govt changes , we do not want a situation like in 2017 where we have next to no mp's with cabinet experience.

    • observer 19.1
      10 November 2021 at 9:58 pm

      Sadly, that is exactly the kind of complacent "nothing new here" response that is the problem. Plenty of links to these people and their aims and actions have already been posted here. Inform yourself.

      If you don't want to examine them more closely, that is of course your right. But please don't presume to dismiss those of us who have made the effort to find out what is happening. The concerns are based in reality – the one you choose to avoid.

      Social media in its current form did not exist for the previous governments you mention. No Facebook, no Telegram, no 4 chan etc. It simply is not the same world. The Christchurch massacre should be all the wake-up call anybody needs. Online misinformation and conspiracies kill.

      • Anne 19.1.1
        10 November 2021 at 10:16 pm

        And let me add to your excellent response:

        I don't recall Muldoon, Lange, Palmer, Moore, Bolger, Shipley, Clark and Key being chauffeured around in bullet proof vehicles.

    • roblogic 19.2
      11 November 2021 at 8:30 am

      Whoosh!

      That is the main point of this post going completely over your head. This protest is not like the others.

      They are neo-fascists colonising the language of progressive movements like Rangatiratanga, in order to legitimise their batshit insanity.

  20. georgecom 20
    11 November 2021 at 10:21 am

    any freedom protestor might like to take up the option of a one way ticket to china and experience how parts of that country are handling a covid outbreak and try and organise some marches there

  21. Ave Helios 21
    11 November 2021 at 1:18 pm

    A little story from my personal scrutiny regarding some of the perspectives mentioned in the article above.

    While quarantined at the boarder I phoned the lab at Grafton Hospital, inquiring what they would do with my swab sample. The second time I phoned, reception was vacant, and a lab scientist answered. Having gained some detail on the testing method, I was able to confirm the test methods here in NZ where not comparable with results and methods used in Europe. This correlated with my European nursing family who where saying, "significant false positives – hospital quiet now with elective surgery cancelled." Meanwhile the nations hospitals did look very busy on TV news that evening, but that footage was being broadcast internationally, and later confirmed to be from a hospital in another country.

    These personal experiences and others have opened me to alternative perspectives which often differ from the official understanding as directed by the state. The last 12 months have been challenging and self-reflective, a journey of healing, as I have gained awareness of the confliction between my emotional and cognitive responses. Where ever you are on your personal journey, best wishes and God's blessings.

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    Tonight’s six-stack includes: writes via his substack that’s he’s sceptical about the IPSOS poll last week suggesting a slide into authoritarianism here, writing: Kiwis seem to want their cake and eat it too Tal Aster writes for about How Israel turned homeowners into YIMBYs. writes via his ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • The media were given a little list and hastened to pick out Fast Track prospects – but the Treaty ...
     Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Just trying to stay upright
    It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • “Unprecedented”
    Today, former Port of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson went on trial on health and safety charges for the death of one of his workers. The Herald calls the trial "unprecedented". Firstly, it's only "unprecedented" because WorkSafe struck a corrupt and unlawful deal to drop charges against Peter Whittall over Pike ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Time for “Fast-Track Watch”
    Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on fast track powers, media woes and the Tiktok ban
    Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • The Government’s new fast-track invitation to corruption
    Bryce Edwards writes-  The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    1 day ago

  • Maori push for parallel government structures
    Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An announcement about an announcement
    Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • All the Green Tech in China.
    Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Western Express Success
    In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick ‘n’ mix of the news links at 7:16am on Monday, April 22
    TL;DR: These six news links stood out in the last 24 hours to 7:16am on Monday, April 22:Labour says Kiwis at greater risk from loan sharks as Govt plans to remove borrowing regulations NZ Herald Jenee TibshraenyHow did the cost of moving two schools blow out to more than $400m?A ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to April 29 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #16
    A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Government’s new fast-track invitation to corruption
    The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Thank you
    This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Determining the Engine Type in Your Car
    Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Become a Race Car Driver: A Comprehensive Guide
    Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Many Cars Are There in the World in 2023? An Exploration of Global Automotive Statistics
    Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Long Does It Take for Car Inspection?
    Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Who Makes Mazda Cars?
    Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Often to Replace Your Car Battery A Comprehensive Guide
    Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Can You Register a Car Without a License?
    In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the Rule If you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Mazda: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Reliability, Value, and Performance
    Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • What Are Struts on a Car?
    Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • What Does Car Registration Look Like: A Comprehensive Guide
    Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Share Computer Audio on Zoom
    Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Long Does It Take to Build a Computer?
    Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Put Your Computer to Sleep
    Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • What is Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)?
    Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • iPad vs. Tablet Computers A Comprehensive Guide to Differences
    In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Are Computers Made?
    A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Add Voice Memos from iPhone to Computer
    Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Why My Laptop Screen Has Lines on It: A Comprehensive Guide
    Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Right-Click on a Laptop
    Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Where is the Power Button on an ASUS Laptop?
    Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Start a Dell Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide
    Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
    Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
    In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
    A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    “You talking about me?”  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • A crisis of ambition
    Roger Partridge  writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
    Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
    Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    4 days ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    4 days ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
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