The new successful revolution we are seeing

Written By: - Date published: 1:54 pm, June 28th, 2020 - 55 comments
Categories: Donald Trump, political alternatives, Politics, racism, Revolution, uncategorized, us politics - Tags:

We’re now seeing a revolution.

While many expect logic to prevail and capitalism to overcome, a really successful and very modern revolution has already started in just the last few weeks.

It’s not the revolution we expected. It’s morphing, and its changes are unpredictable.

It’s not climate change. It’s Black Lives Matter, and the reaction to the death by Police of George Floyd just a few weeks ago.

Excellent agit-prop art on the way.

Could anyone imagine that the idea of the modern Police force in the United States would be put in question? Or even that a major city would vote to defund it?

This revolution has started the previously unthinkable, deep questioning about how crime and order and justice is actually organised. That’s not going to go away, whomever becomes the next U.S. president.

Could anyone imagine that President Trump would have to engage hard with history, deep into history?

We haven’t had a decent challenge to the way history itself is valued in a long time. The idea of statues about people is up for grabs – literally.

Two monuments to order: the Police, and our elders. That’s a revolution in progress.

And now for the billionaires, the tech billionaires who now rule our every identity-breath, value-expression, and transaction.

Facebook have reacted to massive advertiser pressure from major advertiser corporates and will now tag all harmful political posts.

Those corporates were reacting to pressure from Black Lives Matter protesters.

That prick Zuckerberg had resisted doing anything of note after our own massacre of our Muslim community.

This is also the guy who justified at length keeping President Trump’s inflammatory comments about the George Floyd protests up.

Zuckerberg wrote:

We looked very closely at the post that discussed the protests in Minnesota to evaluate whether it violated our policies. Although the post had a troubling historical reference, we decided to leave it up because the National Guard references meant we read it as a warning without state action, and we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force. Our policy around incitement of violence allows discussion around state use of force, although I think today’s situation raises important questions about what potential limits of that discussion should be.”

He also criticised Twitter:

Unlike Twitter, we do not have a policy of a warning of posts that may incite violence because we believe that if a post incites violence, it should be removed regardless of whether it is newsworthy, even if it comes from a politician.”

Then came Black Lives Matter organising on the energy of the death of George Floyd, hitting those corporates hard, and look what happened. Zuckerberg said two days ago that Facebook would remove content – even from politicians – if it determines that it incites violence or suppresses voting.

Shares of Facebook and Twitter both fell more than 7% straight after that decision.
Tempting to project what that 7% value fall represents of the shareholders.

The President of the United States and the most powerful corporate leader in the world are bending to the revolution of Black Lives Matter.

The revolution is being televised, and it’s being Facebooked, and it’s Twittered too.

It’s rolling.

55 comments on “The new successful revolution we are seeing ”

  1. Tiger Mountain 1

    BLM is an uprising, brewed and organised for a long, long, time. BLM has achieved breakthrough for many reasons, not the least of which is white, black and brown are uniting as an unofficial opposition to the US ruling class–neither Republican or Democratic or even Independent affiliated.

    Technically, a revolution in marxist terms, involves a fundamental shift in class power, particularly the ownership and control of production, science, culture and state force. BLM has not got to that level anymore than the “Arab Spring” did a decade ago. But, Black Lives Matter by generally pursuing a “unite all who can be united” approach is getting damn close to a pre revolutionary situation. The streets of Washington DC being painted in supportive slogans in type big enough to see from the President’s chopper is an indication of that!

    • Ad 1.1

      Well overdue to redefine the term "revolution". Plenty of uprisings of the current century don't fit.

      The BLM change is real and hard to unwind.

  2. Incognito 2

    I’d encourage anybody to parse carefully Zuckerberg’s criticism of Twitter quoted in the OP, as it is a true beauty of semantic slippery. If you blink, you’ll miss it.

  3. Tricledrown 3

    Remember the Panama Papers those in power say they will change then just sweep everything under the carpet.

  4. common sense 4

    Black lives matter will not achieve what you wish it to in regards to long term positive change.. There may be some change but it will be far from a revolution. At present the response has been subtle and the cause suits a political party that offers support for its own selfish political agenda.

    The reason the protests get traction in certain cities is because democrat governors are allowing blm to break the law because they have orders from above. The democrats dont honestly care for the people protesting they just want their vote and want anything that pushes back against trump.

    Where are the large protests in republican states?? There arent any , which means that the people are divided. A true revolution will require a collective agreement amongst all people .

    Tribalism or isolated portions of the species will not result in positive change, only more fighting and segregation . If you go to birthplace of the labour party what does it say on the walls everywhere you look? That same slogan is what will cause a revolution, anything else just wont do it

    Many people have supported the blm correct, gun purchasing has also risen 500% in some states. Does that sound like everyone is on board?

    The most simple and effective strategy for a revolution is right under everyones noses. It will require no violence and would offer everyone a better quality of life.. It has only just become possible in recent times .. It is the end all and only way we can truely resolve our problems. DREAM BIG

    BLM will do in the rest of the world what it has done in New Zealand, lose momentum and fizz out. Was there any large protesting done in nz over the weekend? The attention span of the masses needs to be constantly focused to achieve change .

    Im not trying to be negative or a pessimist, simply a realist. Some people will always be selfish , come to terms with this and navigate so that even these people are pert of the revolution.. A revolution requires all hands on deck

    • Incognito 4.1

      Yeah, nah.

      Just as Braxton-Hicks contractions are a prelude to real ones and ultimately delivery of something new in the world, these movements are necessary steps to something else too. It does not require attention span and in fact can be over-analysed and over-thought. It is an entirely natural process that humanity has to go through in order to grow, develop, and evolve. Nothing is going to stop it, not even common sense.

      • common sense 4.1.1

        I disagree and would happily accept a wager on the matter. If you look at google trend search you will see a spike the same as present just before the 2016 election in regards to blm google search https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=black%20lives%20matter

        Its a tool for the democratic party to drum up support. please name the republican states that are participating at the same level of democratic states? There are black people in republican states too no?

        There has been no force applied in resistance to law breaking, does that not seem odd to you? Nancy pelosi cares so much she cant even remember floyds last name.

        The moment regular law and order is imposed the movement is toast.. you have to operate within the confines of acceptable behaviour of the collective or have more force available than the state to make progress in the fashion that blm has adopted. neither requirement has been met

        What does it say on the walls at the birthplace of the labour party??The answer is right under everyones noses DREAM BIG

        There is only truely one way forward anything else and the same issues will always be present.

        Heres a hint left and right are simply the oldest and most reliable form warefare. devide and conquer. its only called the opposition to provide an illusion/delusion of choice

        • Gabby 4.1.1.1

          Clearly an issue your people feel strongly about cs.

          • common sense 4.1.1.1.1

            I feel strongly gabby, Strongly for all, be it people, animals or nature.. we are all connected and all affected

        • Incognito 4.1.1.2

          I disagree and would happily accept a wager on the matter.

          Again, I have no idea what you’re on about and I’d refer you to a TAB.

          And then this:

          What does it say on the walls at the birthplace of the labour party??The answer is right under everyones noses DREAM BIG

          There is only truely one way forward anything else and the same issues will always be present.

          Heres a hint left and right are simply the oldest and most reliable form warefare. devide and conquer. its only called the opposition to provide an illusion/delusion of choice

          What is this supposed to mean? Cryptic, vague, innuendo, dropping hints??

          You seem to be all over the place and maybe you should try comment in a more rational way, if you can? But please don’t sweat it because I’m going to listen to some more music tonight. It helps to formulate my thoughts more clearly when I’m relaxed.

          • common sense 4.1.1.2.1

            Fairplay incognito , sometimes people are so invested in their position its easier to ask questions rather than confront there position , A mind that is looking for itself is far more content than a mind that is told a conclusion that defies its belief system . ill be more direct with you in the future

            The answer , the reason the labour party was so successful was that it directly in its mission statement included everyone , united we stand divided we fall in its essence said lets band together for a better quality of life for all. The left and right have different views but if we dont all come together then we are doomed to kill ourselves and the planet? maybe? The left and right paradigm is divisive and outdated, I believe it will be very hard to address the pressing issues under our current constraints

            I believe there are better alternatives

    • McFlock 4.2

      There have been over 2,000 protests throughout the fifty states.

      Sure, some were bigger and longer than others, but it's not quite so isolated as you seem to imply.

      I don't expect major federal change until January 20 2021. But municiple change is happening now, and that's revolutionary for those neighbourhoods.

      • common sense 4.2.1

        Really you see change?? You see people with a better quality of life?? You have seen resolve?? I have seen pointless violence and destruction of property..

        Perhaps if you look at the broader picture you will see the true problem and not focus your attention on a complexity that will detract from greater progress.

        What is the true problem??

        • McFlock 4.2.1.1

          I see some changes, yes.

          I see municipalities choose the people over their police departments, several initiating major changes.

          I see more diversity in the crowds.

          I see groups that sought to change the police putting their support behind groups seeking to defund the police, rather than trying to protect their turf out of reflex.

          I see corporations following their dollar and supporting the movement, and then getting pushed to support it even more.

          I see gang tags sorry "statues of racists" being torn down. That in itself is a removal of power.

          And, yes, I see this in Republican states like Alabama.

          Now, none of this might meet your approval as a true leftist, undistracted by little things like people being murdered by the police. But this change is a wedge for wider change. It shows people that things can change. And hey, if it stops the cops murdering people, that's cool, too.

          • common sense 4.2.1.1.1

            I am not questioning your kindness or intent. It is obvious your heart is in the right place but i think your frustrations are effecting your perception..

            Now that monuments being toppled is being addressed by force you will see far less topple. 10 year sentence anyone? I dont like the police brutality either but lets not let a little thing like 100 shootings in one chicago weekend enter the conversation

            I have only ever voted left but i am no longer left or right . I will not have my emotions or tribal allegiance blind my perception.

            You were so blinded by your frustration you never addressed my question.. What is the true issue? Democrats have had forever to fix the problem. A black president made how much difference? Always promises made but never kept

            • McFlock 4.2.1.1.1.1

              I saw your question. Your question is the distraction. There is no "true" issue.

              There are many issues revolving around the power structures in society. Class is a big on, but it is not the root of all of them. Capitalism is a big one, but is not the root of all of them. Then there are all the issues dismissively reduced to "identity politics" by people who wish to avoid them for whatever reason.

              Looking for a single problem to answer is an eternal naivety. But it's simplistic.

              • common sense

                My question is not a distraction. It is a broad and all encompassing perception.

                We could be living in a totally different social construct.

                simplistic yes KISS

                There is only one issue . the REST are all distractions . While some people are pushing for change others are buying large amounts of arms to defend themselves against the same people.. That really sounds like an amazing change that will stand the test of time

                The labour party was formed under UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL. Information fields are responsive to emotional context.

                • McFlock

                  You haven't actually answered your own question.

                  • common sense

                    Mcflock its not that blm is too narrow, I completely support equality and fair play but to me its like putting a band aid on a chainsaw wound, Its an extension of a bigger problem. The other fault i find is its very hard to take the system on , infiltration is much smoother than head on

                    yes you are correct , electronic voting being tampered with is a very reasonable concern.. Solution a paper printout of total talley at conclusion. The total fors and against should match the digital version.. this will then be audited in physical form . Ie 10 names at random are contacted from the printed list and there position on the matter is verified. To conserve paper small fonts could be used. The electronic part is for convenience and ease of use .

                    I have spoken to my cousin who is a software developer , its a no brainer , tax number , name and age for sign in. Click on the concern that bothers you and cast your vote or position.

                    There would need to be laws passed that no person may knowingly give false information or knowingly mislead the public on matters that are up for legislation and very harsh penalties for anyone attempting manipulate the outcome in a nefarious manner

                    Yes direct democracy has its flaws but once bitten twice shy. we would have to learn as we go.. The current system gets it wrong all the time and we accept that

                    Each person would have say 10 points a year , if minorities want to push hard on one law they could burn 1- 10 points on the issue. they could push hard on say climate change but have to refrain from other issues? That bit would probs wiggle a little in prototype stages

                    thanks for the decency of at least hearing me out rather than just shutting it down

                    • McFlock

                      Oh, so 2 million votes say five times a year, that's individually calling 1.5million people to ask how they voted in a secret ballot. Per year.

                      Here's how it works today: representatives watch every vote being put in a box, each box being sealed, each ballot box beingcounted, and each ballot paper is individually linked to having been authorised for use.

                      One can fake a trivial amount of votes, but will probably be caught and can't skew an election. Stacked ballot boxes won't tally with the papers legitimately used and the count for each box, andd shenanigans can be called.

                      Electronic voting: how do you really audit that? How do you tell if someone is lying about a true vote because they changed their mind, or is telling the truth that their ballot has been changed? How do you know their vote has been changed at all?

                      You do know data breaches occur? As soon as you have five million people using something, bad actors will find the flaws, even if your cousin thinks it's fine. You can replace a few hundred thousand e-votes with a usb stick. To replace and destroy a hundred thousand paper ballots is a much less trivial task. The physical barrier adds another layer of difficulty to the voting fraud task.

                      Besides, pretty sure my cellphone won't run the app. I guess I don't get a vote.

                      btw, a bandaid is too narrow for a chainsaw wound.

                • solkta

                  Like McFlock i am wondering what your answer to your question is?

                  • common sense

                    Hello solkta . the issue is the governance

                    Most of the problems in society could have easily been fixed many times over , the game is rigged in my eyes , lets come to terms with it and move forward

                    We are experiencing the information renascence , we have an ability to self govern through electronic means. There would definitely be teething issues but we could also address the issues that should have but never have been addressed

                    I believe politicians walk a path that makes them slightly detached from the daily life of the average new zealander. I would like to see a party where the people are pulled from society straight to parliament with no grooming. A broad and fair representation of society , be it a little rough around the edges there would surely be some diamonds in the rough

                    Collective participation through electronic means to decide on legislation. If a clear majority of new zealand wants law change , make it so. I had my delusion of democracy shattered with the smacking referendum , when 88% of people agreed but the state legislated in the opposite direction i knew we were living in a dictatorship that was wearing the clever disguise of a democracy

                    electronic self governance is worth a try , we could always revert to the status quo if it failed. It would remove the left , right paradigm and unite all those who wish to participate. It encompasses all and unites the country in way where all could contribute , all classes, races, genders would be equal

                    If the people decide legislation then it removes corruption and individuals belief systems controlling the many..

                    • McFlock

                      Electronic voting will work as well as the electronic census or novopay did: mostly good, but the other bits might cause problems.

                    • solkta

                      smacking referendum , when 88% of people

                      No, half of voters didn't participate in the referendum because the question was idiotic. And most importantly children, those most affected, were not able to vote.There is also the issue of the rule of law. Denying children the basic rights that everybody else has leaves an inconsistent system. You can't claim to have human rights and then deny them to some humans. Fuck, you can't even claim to have animal welfare laws if you deny children the same protection.

                      It encompasses all and unites the country in way where all could contribute , all classes, races, genders would be equal

                      In your system minorities would not be equal because they are minorities. The majority could choose to withdraw from them their rights, as you would have done for children. What if it was put forward that the Treaty should be annulled? Would you like to see this country go down the road of Northern Ireland during The Troubles?

                      While i think the US electoral system is in major need of an overhaul, doing so will not in itself address racism. Your choice of change would in many jurisdictions make the problem worse.

                  • common sense

                    solkta you are completely missing the point.. It wasnt the question in the referendum it was the governments response to the publics decision. They in essence said we will listen to you and then get fucked in the same sentence.. Do you remember the protests? Remember the kickback. The decision by helen wasnt for good legislation it was because it kept sue bradford happy..

                    You are missing the point completely.

                    At least the minorities would have some voice.. what traction do they get at present?

                    It would change the whole way people see the world..The collective would engage differently.

                    Do you think the current system works? to me its like standing into wind taking a piss. we are just wearing it..

                    I havnt gone into the complexities , there is a point system for minorities also to level the playing field.. the main thing is the status quo dosnt work

                    I despised john key for what he did to this country but under labour my region has suffered from poor governance in a way i have never witnessed

                    Question .. do you think that the majority would approve of a decent bill of rights .. i mean actual decent fundamental human rights?

                    Yes mcflock there would be teething issues . I have spent much time and could right a book on the ways to navigate the issues .. Somebody tell me a way that society can move forward as a whole in a better sense than making its own decisions, the words how great thou art spring to mind if one thinks they should decide all our fate instead of us

                    Another question . would you rather decide your own future or endure another 9 years of national some time in the future..

                    Another question what was the point of that or any other referendum then?? If we are told by the people who are supposed to be our representatives that our voice dosnt matter.. The referendum was legally citizen initiated because society didnt want it , be it right or wrong its our right as humans to make mistakes. we are fellable

                    Last question , do you think maori are fairly represented at present. the status quo you are defending..

                    • McFlock

                      lol "teething issues".

                      It's not the teething issues I have a problem with – it's the idea that an electronic voting system wouldn't be subborned or corrupted to enforce a pseudo-democracy with no direct voting verification.

                      Paper votes can be challenged and audited. Electronic votes cannot.

                      Additionally, direct democracy has its own flaws, like people thinking that "smack as part of good parental correction" is anything other than gibberish. It was slightly more clear than the bullshit sentencing referendum an election or so earlier, but still bunk. And then you get people voting for conflicting propositions and tanking the state economy, like California did at one stage.

                      One thing I will say is that BLM seems to be making progress, even if it is an issue too narrow for your approval.

                      How will you achieve your electronic direct democracy?

                    • solkta

                      The decision by helen wasnt for good legislation it was because it kept sue bradford happy..

                      Grow up. It passed 113 votes to 8. Can't see that John Key had any inclination to keep Sue happy.

                      It's your right to deny others their rights whether that is right or wrong or a mistake or not? Yeh good one. I think i'll leave it there.

            • Dennis Frank 4.2.1.1.1.2

              It's weird, eh? People see a bubble and assume it's substantial – dunno where that kind of thinking comes from. I remember all them media assertions & blog comments agreeing that the Occupy Movement was gonna defeat capitalism, even if the others have forgotten them…

              • McFlock

                So compare the difference between BLM and occupy.

                How diverse was occupy?

                How scared were the cops of it?

                How many city councils changed the cops or wall st because of it?

                • common sense

                  The cops arent scared in the slightest . They are simply pitbulls on a leash.

                  Soon they will be allowed off the leash. The poor souls in their path will be mincemeat. You can not take the state on with force.. especially the usa . They just have too much force at their disposal

                  • McFlock

                    lol

                    Not entirely sure your assessment of police confidence is entirely accurate, there. Job security in Minneapolis is way down, for a start.

                  • Foreign waka

                    CS, I agree with many of your comments.

                    I think the fallacy is that many "assume" that the environment, attitudes in the US is similar like NZ. It is absolutely not. The US is firstly not a democracy but a hegemony. Secondly, their culture and tradition has not one iota of social responsibility included. Hence, "defending" what is the culture and the right to take as much as one can even at the expense of the greater good is seen as patriotic and admired. Some infer that the folks in the US who have not learned about the concept of social responsibility will do this because it is "right" and from the "heart", it will be a hell of a disappointing experience.

      • common sense 4.3.1

        Im not labeling them as racist shitholes , im saying there isnt enough unity to inspire true change

        • Incognito 4.3.1.1

          So far, your comments have largely been waffle. Stop beating around the bush, define the issue as you see it, stop waffling about “long term positive change”, “some change”, “true change”, “true revolution”, and “DREAM BIG”, and say what you mean. Please. Thanks.

          Take this, for example, which is just meaningless and self-contradictory non-sense:

          Im not trying to be negative or a pessimist, simply a realist. Some people will always be selfish , come to terms with this and navigate so that even these people are pert of the revolution.. A revolution requires all hands on deck [sic]

          • common sense 4.3.1.1.1

            Its not meaningless . Its the boundry that blm faces. A revolution requires the whole collective and needs everyone on board. Yes black lives have been treated badly but so were the chinese in early new zealand history as an example.

            There isnt enough kindness or compassion in society to get everyone on board the blm movement. The movement needs to empower and improve the quality of life of the nation, everyone must benefit. Then the selfish people will join the cause.. Is it shit that this is the case .YES definately but it is the case

            I think we all agree that society as a whole could be much better. most who participate here would agree i think.. whilst my input may not serve directly to your current thoughts perhaps some debate/brainstorming is still being contributed

            The labour party was founded on united we stand divided we fall, How far do you think it would have got on westcoast lives matter

            For the first time in recorded history we have the electronic infrastructure to self govern.. I believe this is the direction we should be going. Where we as a collective hold each other accountable and progress forward as one unit. All political parties always let us down in some shape or form. I could deal with collective fuckups but i have no patience for millions of lives at the disposal of a few

            • Incognito 4.3.1.1.1.1

              Ok, I have a mobile phone and so has everyone else and therefore we’re ready to make and change Laws as we see fit and this you call self-governance? I think it is a pretty long bow from BLM and the immense influence of Social Media on our daily lives, thinking, and political actions. Inequality, in all its forms, is inextricably connected to personal freedom. We cannot self-govern if we are not free and as long as we are not free, there will be inequality. Electronic infrastructure has given us an illusion of freedom and I’d go as far as to argue that in some ways we’re less free. Our electronic footprints and tracks can be traced and monitored and current and future employers as well as authorities can monitor our past and present online activities. In the past, did you show your personal diary or letters to your best friend to your boss? I thought not. Rant over and time for music. Bye.

      • common sense 4.3.2

        Those protests look nice and peacefull , no fires , no death , hmmmmmm

    • Gabby 4.4

      Or they realise the only way they'll get to reform the police is if an angry mob runs the union boss (nazi Bob Troll) out of town on a rail.

  5. AB 5

    BLM is not a complete revolution in itself – it's another eruption of discontent, like Occupy, the Sanders/Justice Democrats phenomenon and the Corbyn candidacy. (The last of these you, strangely, despise). Occupy and the Corbyn candidacy were ruthlessly put down, the Justice Democrats roll on with some recent victories despite losing the presidential primary, and BLM is at its peak.

    BLM is likely to be the most successful of these strands in the short-term – because its core demands about policing come from the perspective of identity, and make no direct challenge to the architecture of economic power (who has it, who doesn't, and how it is obtained and maintained). Some of the analysis we have seen out of BLM on the historical purpose of policing touches on these matters – but the joining of the dots that would signify some actual revolution is not there yet.

    • roblogic 5.1

      The UK media are villainous scum and they turned on Corbyn like a pack of rabid dogs. Even the Guardian betrayed its purported liberal leanings by joining in the smear campaign. A disgusting display that shows they work for the 1%, not the people

  6. Pat 6

    "Could anyone imagine that the idea of the modern Police force in the United States would be put in question? Or even that a major city would vote to defund it?"

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018751499/how-police-reform-changed-one-of-us-s-most-violent-cities

  7. Morrissey 7

    The revolution is rejuvenating the Democratic Party too. There's hope in America still, praise the Lord.

  8. Maurice 8

    The red necks and deplorables have not started shooting – yet

    and the Left is now buying guns as fast as they can to be able to shoot back

    If this goes 'HOT" it will be very very messy

    Surely something no one Left or right wishes for?

  9. sumsuch 9

    If you clamp down on the people demo-cracy farts out from strange corners. As long as you don't make a fetish of the corner, and do of the rule of the people.

    Yankland isn't a social democracy. Gave too much leash to the rich. Or, more succinctly, didn't ever leash them. All the other Anglophone countries did it. With that base you can adjust, whereas America is facing war.

  10. Maurice 10

    May have posted too soon: https://abc7ny.com/18-shot-in-24-hours-nyc-shootings-new-york-city-brooklyn-shooting/6275513/

    At least 18 people were shot in less than 24 hours across New York City as a two week long spike in gun violence across the city continued.

    Police said a total of 70 people were shot this week, compared to 26 the same week last year.

    Interesting – as concealable firearms have generally been unlawful to possess in New York since the passing of the Sullivan Act …. in 1911

  11. greywarshark 11

    Edit
    After Floyd this is a stunner, literally. From yesterday and to be remembered always – an explicit example of a country that has lost its head.

    Thanks Joe 90 for getting this to us https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-28-06-2020/#comment-172371 it is hard to see but we must. If you are taken to just the head of the post, then flick down to the bottom, it’s one of the last at Number 32.

    If a picture can tell a thousand words, then each frame of this makes up a tome of torment for people being attacked brutally in the USA. This in Florida, a Republican stronghold, that was in Jeb Bush's hands, one of the famous Bush's.

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    Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    20 hours ago
  • Taking Tea with 42 & 38.
    National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    21 hours ago
  • Beware political propaganda: statistics are pointing to Grant Robertson never protecting “Lives an...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”. As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    21 hours ago
  • Winding back the hands of history’s clock
    Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    22 hours ago
  • Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
     Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    22 hours ago
  • Business confidence sliding into winter of discontent
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    24 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the coalition’s awful, not good, very bad poll results
    Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
    1 day ago
  • New HOP readers for future payment options
    Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: April (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
    2 days ago
  • At a glance – Clearing up misconceptions regarding 'hide the decline'
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    2 days ago
  • Road photos
    Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
    The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • NZDF is still hostile to oversight
    Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Winding Back The Hands Of History’s Clock.
    Holding On To The Present: The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
    2 days ago
  • Sweet Moderation? What Christopher Luxon Could Learn From The Germans.
    Stuck In The Middle With You: As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
    2 days ago
  • A clear warning
    The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Poll results and Waitangi Tribunal report go unmentioned on the Beehive website – where racing tru...
    Buzz  from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example.  This shows National down ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Listening To The Traffic.
    It Takes A Train To Cry: Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
    2 days ago
  • Comity Be Damned! The State’s Legislative Arm Is Flexing Its Constitutional Muscles.
    Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
    2 days ago
  • Ending The Quest.
    Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
    2 days ago
  • Will political polarisation intensify to the point where ‘normal’ government becomes impossible,...
    Chris Trotter writes –  New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, April 30
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:30am on Tuesday, May 30:Scoop: NZ 'close to the tipping point' of measles epidemic, health experts warn NZ Herald Benjamin PlummerHealth: 'Absurd and totally unacceptable': Man has to wait a year for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Worst poll result for a new Government in MMP history
    Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Pinning down climate change's role in extreme weather
    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
    2 days ago
  • Serving at Seymour's pleasure.
    Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Webworm LA Pop-Up
    Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • “Feel good” school is out
    Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
    Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic plan, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    3 days ago
  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
    3 days ago
  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
    3 days ago
  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
    3 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
    4 days ago
  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • 25
    She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8.  The universe was ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
    5 days ago
  • Policing protests.
    Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    Peter Dunne writes –  The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • More tax for less
    Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Real News vs Fake News.
    We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
    5 days ago
  • Cutting the Public Service
    It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious:  we live in a troubled ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • This is how I roll over
    1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”…
    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes –  The High Court ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same? Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • One Night Only!
    Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • What did Melissa Lee do?
    It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #17 2024
    Open access notables Ice acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment: In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
    7 days ago
  • Maori Party (with “disgust”) draws attention to Chhour’s race after the High Court rules on Wa...
    Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • Who’s Going Up The Media Mountain?
    Mr Bombastic: Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
    7 days ago
  • “That's how I roll”
    It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • “Comity” versus the rule of law
    In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
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