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The plan for Monday

Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, April 18th, 2020 - 30 comments
Categories: Economy, Free Trade, Globalisation, health, health and safety, labour, trade, uncategorized - Tags: ,

Even if New Zealand gets out of the immediate Covid-19 infection better than most other countries, the result is still a wrecked world and a slow recovery.

What we face is something like an Australian firefighter with a hose and a tanker facing an onrushing wall of flame: they successfully dampen down a defined circle a few metres around the truck, but when the dark smoke clears what remains is a lonely circle of green among a vast landscape of charred smoking black.

Even our most reliable trading partners whose populations buy our goods will be very slow to start spending again on any scale as they themselves deal with everyone else’s uncertainty. Confidence requires trust, and that’s gone for a while.

The economic fallout defies calculation. Many countries face a far deeper and more savage economic shock than they have ever previously experienced. In sectors like retail, already under fierce pressure from online competition, the temporary lockdown may prove to be terminal. Many stores will not reopen, their jobs permanently lost – they will be our friends, relatives and neighbours up and down our street. Millions of global workers, small-business owners, and their families are facing catastrophe.

In response we are witnessing the largest combined fiscal effort since World War 2. Our own government has already spent over $10 billion on direct wage subsidies to businesses since it started just a few weeks ago.

What we are now waiting for from government after the announcement on Monday is the near-impossible upon the near-impossible: when we get out of the health disaster, how do we get out of the economic disaster – and retain our social fabric and the governments’ social license to do any more. How much chemotherapy can we take?

What we are now waiting for, then, is quite unreasonable to expect – but we must.

If the response by our businesses and households is risk-aversion and a flight to safety, it will compound the forces of stagnation. It is unlikely that the public sector response to accumulated debt will be austerity.

So Monday’s Prime Ministerial announcement must only allow us a mere moment to appreciate how we avoided the worst of a global fire.

Monday must signal how we will be collectively organized to rebuild our country.

30 comments on “The plan for Monday ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Treetop 1
    18 April 2020 at 9:58 am

    Employment lawyers are going to become the busiest they have ever been as I predict that there is going to be a rise in employment disputes when it comes to safety.

    I am not sure if employees will get ACC cover for exposure to Covid-19.

    • Ad 1.1
      18 April 2020 at 10:16 am

      The rules in that respect haven't changed.

      The Health and Safety Standard Operating Procedures – across all industries – have certainly changed.

  3. Adrian 3
    18 April 2020 at 10:40 am

    Your firefighter example is interesting. A matter of a few weeks after the fires Eastern Australia was drenched in rain and within days most of the place was greener than anywhere in NZ has been for 4 months. For an example look up Russell Crowe's before and after shots of his NSW farm. Now replace the rain for the huge financial stimulus that most countries are about to do and I wouldn't be surprised if we are not saying in a few months "How the bloody hell did that happen ?" I hope so anyway.

    • Ad 3.1
      18 April 2020 at 11:23 am

      A lot were expecting a so-called "V" shaped recovery out of China.

      None of the commentary now says that's happening.

      In fact since reinfections are likely, it could easily be "W".

      The firefighter thing was a simile, nothing more – let's not over-extend it.

      • RedLogix 3.1.1
        18 April 2020 at 12:30 pm

        A lot were expecting a so-called "V" shaped recovery out of China.

        The Chinese economy is highly dependent on trade and right now their customers are all on an enforced holiday. And when they come back many will be taking their business elsewhere.

        This is three crisis at once for China; their insane debt bubble (think sub-prime in every economic sector all at once), their rapidly ageing population that precludes a consumption based recovery, their huge dependence on exports, and a fatal blow to their credibility all bode very poorly for the CCP right now.

        I do wish the best for my Chinese friends and family, but in this I'm really only conveying the concerns they are telling me.

    • RedLogix 3.2
      18 April 2020 at 11:29 am

      The eucalypt species is remarkably fire adapted.

      It's quite remarkable to drive through an area that burned less than a year ago and see how fast it recovers. The tree actually sprouts millions of tiny temporary leaves directly from it's trunk, allowing the core of the plant to collect just enough energy to sustain it's recovery. It's quite a sight, blackened trunks everywhere, covered in bright green leaves.

    • Gabby 3.3
      18 April 2020 at 6:05 pm

      Let's wait and see how long that green lasts.

  4. RedLogix 4
    18 April 2020 at 11:16 am

    I've been using this site to track the numbers right from the beginning. Not because I have any reason to believe it's veracity over any other, but because it's been consistent and transparent.

    The number that I'm scared of is the one in the headline banner, where it calculates the CDR (Case Death Rate). A month back when China dominated the data it was close to 3.4%. Now it's double that at 6.8% … and this is now based on much larger numbers.

    Of course both the numerator (the number of deaths) and the denominator (the number of proven cases) are subject to substantial uncertainty. The data is not being collected uniformly and reliably across all nations. But however you cut it, the CDR trend is rising slowly and inexorably, it looks like this damned virus is more lethal than expected.

    In this NZ's plan to eradicate, even on narrowly utilitarian grounds, will prove to be the right one. And this is even before we consider the long term impact of what I suspect will be a long fat tail of chronic medical issues arising in the survivors.

    Australia looks on track to eradicate as well; their govt is just as committed as ours, just taking a somewhat less draconian Level 3 style approach that seems to be working well enough so far. In a few months the two nations will likely open up to travel again as a regional bubble … but the rest of the world looks like being off-limits for the foreseeable future. Worst case it could be years of highly restrictive travel.

    China and the USA are both going to go through substantial turmoil, although there are good reasons to expect the Americans to emerge in a few years time regenerated and resurgent economically. But it looks increasingly likely that CV19 is going to be the event that brings this second major phase of globalisation that started in 1945 to an end. The US will accelerate it's process of regionalising back into it's continental shell; the rest of the world will be largely left to it's own devices … for both good or ill.

    The ANZAC entity will perforce have to regionalise as well. The US may not totally ignore us, but we can no longer assume their implicit security guarantee. While this may not seem very important at the moment, the very powerful question of food security in our region may well become the next acute question.

    While our tourism industry has gone away and is unlikely to return in any similar form soon, our agriculture is about to resume it's place as our crown jewel. But the ground is shifting rapidly which means some agile and tough minded diplomacy is necessary. We must repair our political relationship with Australia and play our part in the security of both nations.

    Then we'll need to consider fresh trading relationships within SE Asia. Singapore is the established player here, but Taiwan and St Korea have even greater potential. Plus these are all nations who have well managed CV19. If NZ and Australia both approached this challenge as partners rather than rivals it's entirely possible to make this work well.

    To borrow your firefighter metaphor … yes as the immediate firefront passes over us we will find ourselves isolated as a nation on the tiny patch of green we managed to save. But the eucalypt forest recovers fast, and in very clear stages the green starts to return. The world will likely not return to a fully globalised form for many years, but there is no reason to think a lonesome NZ will remain stranded at the far end of the world. We have the great good fortune as a nation to have good strategic partners and potential friends in our neighbourhood.

    • Ad 4.1
      18 April 2020 at 11:31 am

      Cheers Red I try not to sound too pessimistic. Just hungry for the actual plan.

      The nations we have close trade ties with in Asia are also the ones recovering fastest. It's as if health recovery defines our new de facto trade-preferred group.

      It's impossible to see trade barriers not going up from the EU, UK, and US. That part of globalization is in decline and we will be damaged through it.

      Both New Zealand and Australia will have comparative advantages to many countries which will get stronger:

      – Media freedom

      – Reflexive democracies, low corruption

      – Strong health, police, and judicial systems

      – Stuff people will always want in very high quality food and minerals

      – Attractive places for skilled and wealthy migrants to live

      – Relatively low regulations, ease of doing business, and now the one to emphasize:

      – Safety and cleanliness and low people-density

      So we have some things to reposition on.

      • Tricledrown 4.1.1
        18 April 2020 at 11:57 am

        If the govt is prepared to spend enough we can come through this reasonably well off compared to the rest of the world.We had massive shortages of IT ,Construction,Caregivers if the govt pushes money and training in these areas it will soften the blows.

        • New view 4.1.1.1
          18 April 2020 at 7:50 pm

          Tricledrown
          “If the govt is prepared to spend enough we can come through this reasonably well off compared to the rest of the world.”

          don’t loose sight of the fact that the Government has no money of its own. It’s yours and mine and what this Government borrows will be paid off by you and your children maybe even our grandchildren.
          Some people talk like the Government is Father Christmas. Yes this money has to be spent but it will be at a huge cost to our future.

          • Tricledrown 4.1.1.1.1
            19 April 2020 at 8:39 am

            Rear View you have no idea how economies work you have been sucked into the economy works like a household budget right wing propaganda pushed by the like of Reagan and Thatcher who both ran up massive debts. We have had much higher debt in the past .We have come through levels of debt at 260% the economy grew and debt went down. Read a little about the economic history of NZ.

            The US has grown with debt levels at 130% ,110% higher than us.

            Economies can sustain high levels of debt.

            Spending that money on projects that increase productivity is the best option.

      • RedLogix 4.1.2
        18 April 2020 at 12:16 pm

        Exactly. There are moments when the horror of what is happening on the other side of the world leaves me despairing. It's not just the personal tragedies and grief, but you just know the world as we have grown up with has gone away. There is a deep sense of loss in that.

        But you are also perfectly correct, NZ and Australia have so much to be thankful for, your list covers the fundamentals well. The really interesting challenge from the left wing perspective is inequality … how to re-position and re-balance ourselves in the world in a manner that reduces inequality and enhances social cohesion.

        In this I keep returning to the fundamentals of nation building, strong external security, strong internal transport and communication, strong governance, balanced demographics, energy and food security, and a balanced economy. The Eco-Modernist ideal that leverages evolving technologies to progressively decouple human development from it's impact on nature is the shining progressive light. In this we cannot retreat into isolationist autarky, we will always depend on trading partners to some degree.

        As a nation we first have to decide what we want. Only then can we put together a plan to get there.

        • Ad 4.1.2.1
          18 April 2020 at 12:49 pm

          Your EcoModenist link is several posts in itself. It's confident and often non-intuitive in its optimism. Hence refreshing.

          Pope Francis did one five years ago which was less optimistic and sought to integrate alleviation of poverty with alleviation of environmental damage in all its forms.

          http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

          I've got a post on New Zealand's declining water quality coming up – I'll have a think about the Eco-Modernist manifesto in that context and see what else I come up with.

          • Poission 4.1.2.1.1
            18 April 2020 at 1:42 pm

            You have read the report on the study week from the pontifical academy of science.Where the worlds experts on catastrophe theory (and complex systems) reviewed the problems and science to allow better decision making ie policy.

            Premise
            The problem. The world is facing major threats caused by the expansion of human activities, among them the deterioration of the environment, the depletion of natural resources, and the destabilization of economies and social order. The long-term threats (in the scale of decades) to the sustainability of our planet, like global warming, are accompanied by the immediate dangers of natural and man-made disasters; our vulnerability to them is greatly magnified with each passing year, and this undermines our ability to maintain a sustainable and productive world into the twenty-first century and beyond. Human society has increasingly recognized such threats. Throughout the world, huge resources, hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars, are being spent annually to counteract them. While these efforts are commendable because they prevent part of the potential damage, on the whole they have reached a kind of stalemate: the destabilizing factors prevail, and the scale of possible catastrophes is rapidly growing. Both history and common sense tell us that basic research is pivotal to breaking such a stalemate. Indeed, since ancient times, basic science has repeatedly rescued humanity, providing "new solutions to old problems". The present study-week will engage in the search for such new possibilities, focusing on the major responsibility of today's scientific community. At the same time, we recognize that scientific initiatives can be useful only if they can be implemented as a public policy and are acceptable to society from moral, ethical and spiritual points of view. These issues are also included in the programme.
            How will this study-week differ from the escalating multitude of scientific meetings, from technical discussions to global forums, that are already dedicated to these problems? The distinctive features of this study-week will be:

            brainstorming discussion without any formal limitations;
            – a small number and a high level of participants;
            – a focus on cutting-edge basic research;
            – a focus on what can be done, rather than simply alerting the audience to growing threats.

            In combination these features are unique, so that this study-week will not duplicate other meetings devoted to similar subjects, but will complement them.
            Why the Pontifical Academy of Sciences? Since hardly anybody else has the capacity to set up such an unusual meeting, with a potential for affecting the global agenda, we believe that the Academy has a responsibility to do so.

            Keilis-Borok et al.

            http://www.accademiascienze.va/content/accademia/en/publications/scriptavaria/scienceforsurvival.html

        • woodart 4.1.2.2
          18 April 2020 at 3:11 pm

          its already happening. the $25 a week increase in benefits and doubling the power payout will be a big leveler. it slid through without whingeing because of the looming lockdown. never would have happened otherwise. very shrewd move by grant and jacinda. now we have even have righties calling for top end tax increases. shock,horror! they are even recanting(some of them) trickledown.!dont forget we even had an increase in the minimum wage in the middle, and because suddenly essential workers like supermarket staff were one of the big winners, it went through with nary a whinge. ceo's are falling over each other in their haste to take a salary cut, last one to do so looks like a piker. at the beach I live , airbnb houses are suddenly up for rent at nearly reasonable prices . commercial landlords will have to sharpen their pencils as many big office dwellers have suddenly realised they are paying rent for no good reason.

          • RedLogix 4.1.2.2.1
            18 April 2020 at 4:17 pm

            All welcome and helpful (at least for some) developments. When a crisis hits strong societies respond with more social cohesion not less.

            Still the crisis always passes and we revert back to the mean. What people here really want are pivots that take us in another direction altogether.

    • Poission 4.2
      18 April 2020 at 12:12 pm

      In this NZ's plan to eradicate, even on narrowly utilitarian grounds, will prove to be the right one. And this is even before we consider the long term impact of what I suspect will be a long fat tail of chronic medical issues arising in the survivors.

      Two more weeks of level 4,will enable NZ better to sustain the winter.

      With regard to the issues such as the impacts of CV, where x is cv ,f(x) and f is the ICU lack of appropriate PPE (and use) etc ,it is imperative to invoke the precautionary principle.

      we cant have a rainbow,without a little rain.

  5. Jum 5
    18 April 2020 at 12:06 pm

    Two more weeks. But, loosen for infrastructure projects in usually high density areas, stalled at present, while 4 remains in place. Any work that can take place while the streets and public buildings are practically empty could be enacted under this advantage.

    When two men can sue the Prime Minister during this pandemic, for daring to close down the country for the safety of all its citizens, and it now goes through the usual judicial process, requiring the PM to defend her/her government's and scientists' expertise and advice, with all seriousness, we'll most certainly survive this crisis and come out so much the better for it, because hopefully we’ll be following a greener path – people and profit, despite current fears and serious money issues for many.

    To accuse her of taking those actions to enhance her political chances is just political nonsense and the accusers are political stooges for moneyed interests.

    https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/jacinda-ardern-is-sued-over-coronavirus-lockdown-and-is-accused-of-imposing-strict-measures-in-new-zealand-for-her-political-gain/ar-BB12MG82?li=BBqdg4K&ocid=SK2MDHP

    • Foreign waka 5.1
      18 April 2020 at 1:55 pm

      I agree, 2 weeks we were given to go into lock down it will take 2 weeks at least to get out of it. Preferably in stages that make logistical sense.

      To have schools opening first is a bit odd as every parent knows that these are the hot beds of spreading any illness at the best of times. As results of learning are universal, tempering with this by having pupils attend voluntarily only serves some adults being sick of having to be parents all day long. Logistically a nightmare with social distancing not enforceable.

      The schools have been closed for weeks now and no one could enter. The budget was removed for cleaning/sanitising. Imagine the mayham if this has to happen within 24 hours! Schools should be told that within 2 weeks they have to be ready for teaching. Maybe it has to be that some subjects are still another week or two further out to make sure distancing and resources are in place to be operational (the important word in all of that). Any school holidays should be cancelled until December to allow for a catch up of the curriculum teaching.

      Roading and building projects – not many cars out there and distancing is certainly not an issue. So why not start with that?

      This is not the time to ponder to interests but to make sure to get the country back onto its feet as safely and quickly as feasible.

      I think so far our leaders did a fantastic job, lets hope that will continue.

    • patricia 5.2
      19 April 2020 at 8:21 pm

      Yes Jum agreed.

      • Anne 5.2.1
        19 April 2020 at 8:46 pm

        Ditto, but I have to say that – like Ad – I'm at screaming point for a session at the hairdressers so I hope our mental well-being is regarded as an early necessity. wink

        • Jum 5.2.1.1
          20 April 2020 at 9:37 am

          Someone I know is a lone hairdresser and received a very quick financial response from Government for cover of lost custom. The family backup for her is also excellent. That appears to be the best outcome for an individual under these trying business conditions. Certainly, in keeping a longer lockdown re strengthening tracing arrangements, especially, I imagine Government can then start zooming in on the businesses, without backup systems, which need that bit extra, financially.

          • Anne 5.2.1.1.1
            20 April 2020 at 9:50 am

            Yep Jum. I know. I was being a bit naughty..

            I'm not referring to you in any way, but there are a tiny handful of commenters here who don't seem to understand 'tongue in cheek' even with the obligatory emoticon and it keeps me entertained. Yeah, naughty. But I'm not the only one.

  6. georgecom 6
    18 April 2020 at 7:30 pm

    Level 3 for a couple of weeks and reassess. if things are looking fine move cautiously to level 2 and monitor. keep boarders shut.

  7. Sacha 7
    19 April 2020 at 10:18 am

    The bigger plan will come in May. Next week will be more tightly focused on getting us all from 4 to 3 in another fortnight.

  8. R.P Mcmurphy 8
    20 April 2020 at 3:57 am

    so there will not be a hardly davison, jetski, chainsaw and leaf blower for everyone?

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    Floating offshore wind turbines offer incredible opportunities to capture powerful winds far out at sea. By unlocking this wind energy potential, they could be a key weapon in our arsenal in the fight against climate change. But how developed are these climate fighting clean energy giants? And why do I ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • The next Maori challenge
    Over the past two or three weeks, a procession of Maori iwi and hapu in a series of little-noticed appearances before two Select Committees have been asking for more say for Maori over resource management decisions along the co-governance lines of Three Waters. Their submissions and appearances run counter ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Secret “war-crime” warrants by International Criminal Court is mischief-making
    The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue war crimes arrest warrants for the Russian President and the Russia Children Ombudsman may have been welcomed by the ideologically committed but otherwise seems to have been greeted with widespread cynicism (see Situation in Ukraine: ICC judges issue arrest warrants ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    3 days ago

  • How to answer Drunk Uncle Kevin's Climate Crisis reckons
    Let’s say you’re clasping your drink at a wedding, or a 40th, or a King’s Birthday Weekend family reunion and Drunk Uncle Kevin has just got going.He’s in an expansive frame of mind because we’re finally rid of that silly girl. But he wants to ask an honest question about ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • National’s Luxon may be glum about his poll ratings but has he found a winner in promising to rai...
    National Party leader Christopher Luxon may  be feeling glum about his poll ratings, but  he could be tapping  into  a rich political vein in  describing the current state of education as “alarming”. Luxon said educational achievement has been declining,  with a recent NCEA pilot exposing just how far it has ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: More Labour foot-dragging
    Yesterday the IPCC released the final part of its Sixth Assessment Report, warning us that we have very little time left in which to act to prevent catastrophic climate change, but pointing out that it is a problem that we can solve, with existing technology, and that anything we do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Te Pāti Māori Are Revolutionaries – Not Reformists.
    Way Beyond Reform: Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have no more interest in remaining permanent members of “New Zealand’s” House of Representatives than did Lenin and Trotsky in remaining permanent members of Tsar Nicolas II’s “democratically-elected” Duma. Like the Bolsheviks, Te Pāti Māori is a party of revolutionaries – not reformists.THE CROWN ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • When does history become “ancient”, on Tinetti’s watch as Minister of Education – and what o...
    Buzz from the Beehive Auckland was wiped off the map, when Education Minister Jan Tinetti delivered her speech of welcome as host of the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers “here in Tāmaki Makaurau”. But – fair to say – a reference was made later in the speech to a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Climate Catastrophe, but first rugby.
    Morning mate, how you going?Well, I was watching the news last night and they announced this scientific report on Climate Change. But before they got to it they had a story about the new All Blacks coach.Sounds like important news. It’s a bit of a worry really.Yeah, they were talking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What the US and European bank rescues mean for us
    Always a bailout: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Government would fully guarantee all savers in all smaller US banks if needed. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: No wonder an entire generation of investors are used to ‘buying the dip’ and ‘holding on for dear life’. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Who will drain Wellington’s lobbying swamp?
    Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in Guyon Espiner’s in-depth series published by RNZ. Two of Espiner’s research exposés ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • It’s Raining Congestion
    Yesterday afternoon it rained and traffic around the region ground to a halt, once again highlighting why it is so important that our city gets on with improving the alternatives to driving. For additional irony, this happened on the same day the IPCC synthesis report landed, putting the focus on ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Checking The Left: The Dreadful Logic Of Fascism.
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    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Good Friends and Terrible Food
    Hi,From an incredibly rainy day in Los Angeles, I just wanted to check in. I guess this is the day Trump may or may not end up in cuffs? I’m attempting a somewhat slower, less frenzied week. I’ve had Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new record on non-stop, and it’s been a ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – What evidence is there for the hockey stick?
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Carry right on up there, Corporal Espiner
    RNZ has been shining their torch into corners where lobbyists lurk and asking such questions as: Do we like the look of this?and Is this as democratic as it could be?These are most certainly questions worth asking, and every bit as valid as, say:Are we shortchanged democratically by the way ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • This smells
    RNZ has continued its look at the role of lobbyists by taking a closer look at the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton. He used to work for liquor companies, opposing (among other things) a container refund scheme which would have required them to take responsibility for their own ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Major issues on the table in Mahuta’s  talks in Beijing with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has left for Beijing for the first ministerial visit to China since 2019. Mahuta is  to  meet China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang  where she  might have to call on all the  diplomatic skills  at  her  command. Almost certainly she  will  face  questions  on what  role ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • Inside TOP's Teal Card and political strategy
    TL;DR: The Opportunities Party’s Leader Raf Manji is hopeful the party’s new Teal Card, a type of Gold card for under 30s, will be popular with students, and not just in his Ilam electorate where students make up more than a quarter of the voters and where Manji is confident ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Make Your Empties Go Another Round.
    When I was a kid New Zealand was actually pretty green. We didn’t really have plastic. The fruit and veges came in a cardboard box, the meat was wrapped in paper, milk came in a glass bottle, and even rubbish sacks were made of paper. Today if you sit down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how similar Vladimir Putin is to George W. Bush
    Looking back through the names of our Police Ministers down the years, the job has either been done by once or future party Bigfoots – Syd Holland, Richard Prebble, Juduth Collins, Chris Hipkins – or by far lesser lights like Keith Allen, Frank Gill, Ben Couch, Allen McCready, Clem Simich, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  Te Pāti Māori’s uncompromising threat to the status quo
    Chris Trotter writes – The Crown is a fickle friend. Any political movement deemed to be colourful but inconsequential is generally permitted to go about its business unmolested. The Crown’s media, RNZ and TVNZ, may even “celebrate” its existence (presumably as proof of Democracy’s broad-minded acceptance of diversity). ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politics
    Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who believes vested interests shouldn’t have a place at the centre of decision making. Chris Hipkins’ newly appointed Chief of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Auckland Council Draft Budget – an unnecessary backwards step
    Feedback on Auckland Council’s draft 2023/24 budget closes on March 28th. You can read the consultation document here, and provide feedback here. Auckland Council is currently consulting on what is one of its most important ever Annual Plans – the ‘budget’ of what it will spend money on between July ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Talking’ Posey Parker Blues
    by Molten Moira from Motueka If you want to be a woman let me tell you what to do Get a piece of paper and a biro tooWrite down your new identification And boom! You’re now a woman of this nationSpelled W O M A Na real trans woman that isAs opposed ...
    RedlineBy Admin
    5 days ago

  • More Māori words make it into the OED, and polytech boss (with rules on words like “students”) ...
    Buzz from the Beehive   New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti is hosting the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers for three days from today, welcoming Education Ministers and senior officials from 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, and from Australia. Here’s hoping they have brought translators with them – or ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Social intercourse with haters and Nazis: an etiquette guide
    Let’s say you’ve come all the way from His Majesty’s United Kingdom to share with the folk of Australia and New Zealand your antipathy towards certain other human beings. And let’s say you call yourself a women’s rights activist.And let’s say 99 out of 100 people who listen to you ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • The Greens, Labour, and coalition enforcement
    James Shaw gave the Green party's annual "state of the planet" address over the weekend, in which he expressed frustration with Labour for not doing enough on climate change. His solution is to elect more Green MPs, so they have more power within any government arrangement, and can hold Labour ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • This sounds familiar…
    RNZ this morning has the first story another investigative series by Guyon Espiner, this time into political lobbying. The first story focuses on lobbying by government agencies, specifically transpower, Pharmac, and assorted universities, and how they use lobbyists to manipulate public opinion and gather intelligence on the Ministers who oversee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Letter to the NZ Herald: NCEA pseudoscience – “Mauri is present in all matter”
    Nick Matzke writes –   Dear NZ Herald, I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. I teach evolutionary biology, but I also have long experience in science education and (especially) political attempts to insert pseudoscience into science curricula in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • So what would be the point of a Green vote again?
    James Shaw has again said the Greens would be better ‘in the tent’ with Labour than out, despite Labour’s policy bonfire last week torching much of what the Government was doing to reduce emissions. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Green Party has never been more popular than in some ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Gas stoves pose health risks. Are gas furnaces and other appliances safe to use?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah Wesseler Poor air quality is a long-standing problem in Los Angeles, where the first major outbreak of smog during World War II was so intense that some residents thought the city had been attacked by chemical weapons. Cars were eventually discovered ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Genetic Heritage and Co Governance
    Yesterday I was reading an excellent newsletter from David Slack, and I started writing a comment “Sounds like some excellent genetic heritage…” and then I stopped.There was something about the phrase genetic heritage that stopped me in tracks. Is that a phrase I want to be saying? It’s kind of ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Radical Uncertainty
    Brian Easton writes – Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s Middle East strategy, 20 years after the Iraq War
    This week marks the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War. While it strongly opposed the US-led invasion, New Zealand’s then Labour-led government led by Prime Minister Helen Clark did deploy military engineers to try to help rebuild Iraq in mid-2003. With violence soaring, their 12-month deployment ended without being renewed ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago

  • The motorways are finished
    After seventy years, Auckland’s motorway network is finally finished. In July 1953 the first section of motorway in Auckland was opened between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway and Mt Wellington Highway. The final stage opens to traffic this week with the completion of the motorway part of the Northern Corridor Improvements project. Aucklanders ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Kicking National’s tyres
    National’s appointment of Todd McClay as Agriculture spokesperson clearly signals that the party is in trouble with the farming vote. McClay was not an obvious choice, but he does have a record as a political scrapper. The party needs that because sources say it has been shedding farming votes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • As long as there is cricket, the world is somehow okay.
    Rays of white light come flooding into my lounge, into my face from over the top of my neighbour’s hedge. I have to look away as the window of the conservatory is awash in light, as if you were driving towards the sun after a rain shower and suddenly blinded. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • So much of what was there remains
    The columnists in Private Eye take pen names, so I have not the least idea who any of them are. But I greatly appreciate their expert insight, especially MD, who writes the medical column, offering informed and often damning critique of the UK health system and the politicians who keep ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 12, 2023 thru Sat, Mar 18, 2023. Story of the Week Guest post: What 13,500 citations reveal about the IPCC’s climate science report   IPCC WG1 AR6 SPM Report Cover - Changing ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Financial capability services are being bucked up, but Stuart Nash shouldn’t have to see if they c...
    Buzz from the Beehive  The building of financial capability was brought into our considerations when Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced she had dipped into the government’s coffers for $3 million for “providers” to help people and families access community-based Building Financial Capability services. That wording suggests some ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Things that make you go Hmmmm.
    Do you ever come across something that makes you go Hmmmm?You mean like the song?No, I wasn’t thinking of the song, but I am now - thanks for that. I was thinking of things you read or hear that make you stop and go Hmmmm.Yeah, I know what you mean, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • The hoon for the week that was to March 19
    By the end of the week, the dramas over Stuart Nash overshadowed Hipkins’ policy bonfire. File photo: Lynn GrieveasonTLDR: This week’s news in geopolitics and the political economy covered on The Kākā included:PM Chris Hipkins’ announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but ...
    The KakaBy Peter Bale
    1 week ago

  • Saving Stuart Nash: Explaining Chris Hipkins' unexpected political calculation
    When word went out that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins would be making an announcement about Stuart Nash on the tiles at parliament at 2:45pm yesterday, the assumption was that it was over. That we had reached tipping point for Nash’s time as minister. But by 3pm - when, coincidentally, the ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago

  • Radical Uncertainty
    Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go on to attack physics by citing Newton.So ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • Jump onto the weekly hoon on Riverside at 5pm
    Photo by Walker Fenton on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kaka for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on Riverside (we’ve moved from Zoom) for our chat about the week’s news with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • The Dream of Florian Neame: Accepted
    In a nice bit of news, my 2550-word deindustrial science-fiction piece, The Dream of Florian Neame, has been accepted for publication at New Maps Magazine (https://www.new-maps.com/). I have published there before, of course, with Of Tin and Tintagel coming out last year. While I still await the ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago

  • Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua
    Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little has delivered the Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua for its historic breaches of Te Tiriti of Waitangi today. The ceremony was held at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton, hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua, with several hundred ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with Chinese counterpart
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has concluded her visit to China, the first by a New Zealand Foreign Minister since 2018. The Minister met her counterpart, newly appointed State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, who also hosted a working dinner. This was the first engagement between the two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Government delivering world-class satellite positioning services
    World-class satellite positioning services that will support much safer search and rescue, boost precision farming, and help safety on construction sites through greater accuracy are a significant step closer today, says Land Information Minister Damien O’Connor. Damien O’Connor marked the start of construction on New Zealand’s first uplink centre for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges.  Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New project set to supercharge ocean economy in Nelson Tasman
    A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • National’s education policy: where’s the funding?
    After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment.  “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Free programme to help older entrepreneurs and inventors
    People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government target increased to keep powering up the Māori economy
    A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Continued progress on reducing poverty in challenging times
    77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech at Fiji Investment and Trade Business Forum
    Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government investments boost and diversify local economies in lower South Island
    $2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government future-proofs EV charging
    Transport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • World-leading family harm prevention campaign supports young NZers
    Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • First Chief Clinical Advisor welcomed into Coroners Court
    Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Next steps for affected properties post Cyclone and floods
    The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New appointment to Māori Land Court bench
    E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government focus on jobs sees record number of New Zealanders move from Benefits into work
    113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Vertical farming partnership has upward momentum
    The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote Address
    E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patients
    The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Second Poseidon aircraft on home soil
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Community voice to help shape immigration policy
    Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.  “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for Taranaki
    Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of Police
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government confirms vital roading reconnections
    Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in Aotearoa
    Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone Gabrielle
    A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
    Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability services
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