The Price Isn’t Yet Right To Invade Ukraine

Written By: - Date published: 12:32 pm, January 26th, 2022 - 59 comments
Categories: energy, International, Russia, uncategorized - Tags:

The entity making the most money out of threatening the Ukraine is the Russian Federation government itself. Follow the money.

The Russian Federation owns Gazprom, Gazprom is the leading supplier of gas to the whole of Europe. Europe has had the Russian threat to the Ukraine the whole of winter (indeed since 2014), gas prices have soared. Gazpom and the Russian state are doing well thank you.

Russia as a petro-state needs to make as much money out of its remaining gas reserves as possible. To whom else will Germany turn when it shuts down all its nuclear and coal plants? NordStream, owned by Gazprom. And about a third of Russian gas supplies route through the Ukraine.

Gazprom’s share in the global and Russian gas reserves amounts to 16% and 71% respectively.

So this is yet another case of Russia leveraging energy exports, making it much less likely that Russia would launch a full invasion and much more likely Russia will just prolong the threat and sustain the super-high prices.

And in the reverse: if Russia needs to act to NATO armament moves, Gazprom needs only shut down or limit the gas, and just cream it as they scream from the cold. The 2020 shortages would pale quickly. Nothing the United States or any NATO member could do about it either.

Much has been made of the moral basis for action by NATO; that it is framed as a struggle between rival authoritarian, state-controlled systems and democratic ones; something as high-minded as a grand axis of evil between Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean worlds, quite antithetical to Western Enlightenment values and all those virtuous NATO members (ahem). I’ve even seen Churchill and Thomas Jefferson quoted.

What we saw in Kazakhstan a few weeks ago is pretty simple: protect the petro producers, ensure the leading oligarchical families get what they need to sustain that, and for God’s sake keep it flowing. Extend the era of petro-money as hard and as long as possible.

Europe needs to focus less on building its own standing army, less on expanding NATO, and a whole lot more on building total energy dependence from petroleum and gas. Or Russia will do this again.

That is also the approach that in the short and long run will do the least damage and most good for the world.

Too late for now however. But there’s less need to invade the Ukraine when NATO pays Putin through the gas bill every day.

59 comments on “The Price Isn’t Yet Right To Invade Ukraine ”

  1. Dennis Frank 1

    Yeah that all makes sense to me. Maximising regional leverage.

    In an era in which states use their interdependence against one another, power is no longer defined by control of land or oceans, or even the normative influence of “soft power”. It is now defined by control over flows of people, goods, money, and data, and via the connections they establish. As states compete to control such connections and the dependencies they create, these flows cut across overlapping spheres of influence – shaping the new map of geopolitical power. Only those who see this map clearly will be able to control the modern world.

    The purpose of this atlas is to describe the key terrains of power. The European Council on Foreign Relations commissioned seven essays that explore these seven terrains: economics, technology, climate, people, military, health, and culture. By studying each of the terrains closely, one can see how various states are already trying to seize what they view as the high ground, as well as what this means for the future of conflict and relative power. https://ecfr.eu/special/power-atlas/#introduction

    Russia has become the ‘disruptor in chief’. In the last few years, its foreign policy has shaped the behaviour of its neighbours and other powers through tactics including gas cut-offs, sanctions, the expulsion of workers, cyber-attacks, disinformation and propaganda campaigns, and attempts to gridlock Western-led international organisations ranging from the UN Security Council to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

    In parallel, the country has worked to establish new organisations to extend its power, such as the BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the Eurasian Economic Union. But because Russia has not done enough to strengthen and diversify its economy – which relies overwhelmingly on hydrocarbon exports – its share of the global economy has declined. This will limit its ability to project power over time. https://ecfr.eu/about/

  2. Macro 2

    Hmmm and here was I thinking that actually Putie was after my bickies!

    Slavica Bakery Crunchy Sultana Biscuits 280g

    Made in Ukraine and packed in Hamilton NZ.

  3. Jenny how to get there 3

    Follow the money

    "Politics is the most concentrated expression of economics" Lenin

    Germany wants cheap energy.

    Russia wants to sell it to them.

    The US does not want Germany to become reliant on Russian gas, which would weaken US economic and political influence in Europe.

    Meantime the meteor is approaching.

    In the age of climate change fighting over a fossil fuel, approaches the stupidity of bald men fighting over a comb.

  4. joe90 4

    Shit kicks off and Poots is gonna go for the goolies.

    https://twitter.com/MacSDavid/status/1484882882808233986

    An undersea fiberoptic cable located between mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean has been put out of action in a still-mysterious incident. The outage on the subsea communications cable — the furthest north of its kind anywhere in the world — follows an incident last year in which different cables linking an undersea surveillance network off the Norwegian coast were severed, a story that we covered in detail at the time.

    https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43828/undersea-cable-connecting-norway-with-arctic-satellite-station-has-been-mysteriously-severed

  5. McFlock 5

    Fair assessment. Money is always a motive.

    • Blazer 5.1

      Follow the money usually works,but on this occasion Ad is wrong.

      Gazprom has contracts with european energy companies.

      It is the energy companies who hydraulic the prices as resellers.

      • Ad 5.1.1

        In late December the Ukrainian head of the state gas transmission operator said Gazprom had reduced daily gas transit across Ukrainian territory to 87.7 million cubic metres (mcm) from 109 mcm:

        "The reduction in gas supplies to the European Union at a time when prices reached $2,000 suggests that these are not economic decisions but purely political ones, aimed at increasing pressure on the EU to launch Nord Stream 2 on terms of the Russian Federation."

        Putin himself of course said the same as what I'm saying and blamed EU policy for not approving Nordstream 2 fast enough:

        "The additional gas supplies on the European gas market would surely reduce the price on an exchange, on the spot (market)," Putin was quoted as saying by news agency RIA at a joint meeting of the State Council and a council on science and education."

        Putin says Europe only has itself to blame for surging gas prices | Reuters

        The politics of this is energy politics, not NATO.

        • Blazer 5.1.1.1

          Last year Russia increased gas supply by 15% …Putin explains the correlation between gas and international oil prices…and how the market works with contracts and..resellers..4 mins in.

          https://youtu.be/nT3TYZ8iTZ0

          • Ad 5.1.1.1.1

            Putin telling his audience that it is merely the market setting prices is unbelievably trite. Gazprom is the dominant supplier. It's best not to take the words of that kind of politician at face value.

            The gas supply crisis that hit Europe due to Gazprom limiting gas supplies is well attested and gripped European economies for months last year and is continuing – forcing the shutdown of factories, the collapse of major energy suppliers and one of the fastest rises on record for home energy bills . With that occurring, Gazprom has enjoyed its highest ever profits.

            The company reported a record net income of 582bn rubles (£5.86bn) from July to September compared with a net loss a year ago, and the company expects “even more impressive results in the fourth quarter”.

            • Blazer 5.1.1.1.1.1

              So buyers relying on the spot price instead of long term contracts are not a factor…and neither are oil prices (up 60%).

              So supply/demand, push/pull does not apply to Russias gas!

              Nordstream 2 is still awaiting certification…Germany want it…the U.S hates it.

  6. francesca 6

    contrast and compare

    "Russia, under international law, can take military exercises in international waters, but the fact they are choosing to do it on the west borders of the EU, off the Irish coast, is something that is in our view not welcome and not wanted right now, particularly in the coming weeks."

    Over 2,000 forces and 30 ships are taking part in exercise Breeze 2021 in the Black Sea. The Bulgarian-led maritime exercise, which began on 12 July and wraps up today (19 July), involves forces from 14 NATO Allies and partners – Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States.

    • Macro 6.1

      Over 2,000 forces and 30 ships are taking part in exercise Breeze 2021 in the Black Sea.

      You have got to be kidding! Suppose each country in the world had 4 Forces – Police Navy, Army, Air – Oh! and the US has an extra one – Space Force! Now there are apparently around 168 nations world wide so (4 x 168) +1 would make 673.. But many wouldn't have any military to speak of – So how come so many different forces all crammed into 30 ships?

      Maybe aliens?

      • Gezza 6.1.1

        They obviously meant armed forces personnel, not separate defence forces.

        NATO ships are taking part in Exercise Breeze 2021 in the Black Sea. The Bulgarian-led maritime exercise, which began on 11 July and wraps up on 19 July, involves forces from 14 NATO Allies and partners – Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. Two of four NATO fleets are participating – Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2).

        https://www.natomultimedia.tv/app/asset/654704

        Not the first time I’ve seen or heard “forces” used to describe the number of military personnel. The US often refers to moving its forces when it means troops.

        • Macro 6.1.1.1

          Well having spent half my working life in the Forces I must say that I have never heard that usage. "Personnel" yes – but never "forces".

          BTW 2000 people in a military exercise is relatively small beer. Compare that to the estimated 100,000 Russian military exercising on the Ukrainian border.

          • Gezza 6.1.1.1.1

            The Americans have their own military shorthand phrases. It’s not unusual for them to announce they are pulling their forces out of somewhere or sending forces to somewhere. They generally mean troops & warfighting equipment.

            BTW 2000 people in a military exercise is relatively small beer

            It’s teeny. A US Nimitz class supercarrier alone has around 6,000 personnel on board.

            • Macro 6.1.1.1.1.1

              It’s teeny. A US Nimitz class supercarrier alone has around 6,000 personnel on board.

              Yes being a retired Naval Officer I'm well aware of the capabilities of the USN and other forces. Those supercarriers are immense.

      • francesca 6.1.2

        Marco says "You have got to be kidding!"

        Yeah, I would say that too

        Take it up with Nato

        It's a direct quote

        https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_185879.htm

    • joe90 6.2

      Bulgaria and invited friends will conduct their exercises off the Bulgarian coast and in proximity to Bulgarian Black Sea territorial waters. Russia will be exercising nearly 2000 kilometres from their territorial waters off the coast and in proximity to whose territorial waters?

      • Blazer 6.2.1

        I believe the Black Sea is quite close to Russia and quite a way from the U.K and the Netherlands.'

        'Additionally, ‘CSG21’ will participate in NATO exercises such as Exercise Steadfast Defender, and provide support to NATO Operation Sea Guardian and maritime security operations in the Black Sea.'

        • Gezza 6.2.1.1

          The Black Sea is bordered by 2 NATO countries – Bulgaria and Romania (as well as Russia, Georgia, Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine). So they can argue it’s within the NATO defence zone.

          It does make Russian complaints they’re constantly provoked by potential adversaries valid though.

        • lprent 6.2.1.2

          Turkey, is a NATO member with a significant economic and military interest in the Black Sea has a enormous interest in naval defence issues in the Black Sea. They control both sides of the only sea exit from the Black Sea.

          NATO is a defence alliance with participating members committed to repelling aggression against any member state with all required force.

          In an event of naval warfare involving non-NATO states (say Russia as the only non-participating Black Sea nation in that exercise) attacking NATO members, Russia want to get their warm water navy out of the Black Sea into the Med. The only way that they could do that outside of diplomatic means is to fight their way through Turkish waters.

          So the whole of NATO naval forces often do exercises in the Black Sea, usually with other interested NATO members and nations bordering the Black Sea. Just as they do in the Baltic and North Seas where the same military conditions apply.

          It isn't the geographical distance from NATO members that is the criterion for where NATO exercises happen, it is to know how to interdict actions against NATO members in potential conflict zones.

          It isn’t provocative – it is just military common sense.

          • francesca 6.2.1.2.1

            Talking about provocation

            It's difficult to see this in any other way.

            https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/30/putin-us-britain-black-sea-497162

            • lprent 6.2.1.2.1.1

              Sigh. Read the piece.

              The episode was the latest to raise tensions between Russia and the West since Russia's annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, a move not recognized by most countries but one that gives it access to a long Black Sea coast.

              Merely thieving by military force a chunk of territory from a neighbour without the permission of the country does not give a de facto right to claim that it changes international law.

              Britain has insisted the Defender was making a routine journey through an internationally recognized travel lane and remained in Ukrainian waters. The U.K., like most of the world, recognizes Crimea as part of Ukraine despite the peninsula’s annexation by Russia.

              Any destabilisation was done by Russia in their unlawful act of annexation in 2014. Which is why the most of Russia's non-dictatorial neighbours tend to view them like this..

              https://twitter.com/Ukraine/status/1468206078940823554

              • francesca

                Sigh

                Whereas when Russia sails through international waters like the English channel , the alarm! the outcry!

                When Russia conducts exercises in legitimate international waters, the jingoistic clamour , the threats of very serious sanctions.

                Yet when British warships manoeuvre in a clearly contentious and sensitive zone very close to Crimea it's "routine"

                Of course it was provocative .Quoting a loyal mouthpiece of the British establishment doesn't explain anything

                Read Richard Sakwa, his academic career has been been immersed in this subject

                • lprent

                  I didn't even remark on the Russian exercise south of Ireland.

                  I just pointed out the misconception that some people obviously have that NATO has no business doing routine operations under international law in the Black Sea just because a nation local to it has indulged in a some unlawful thievery.

                  Or that other evident misconception NATO doesn't have compelling strategic interests in the Black Sea when one of their long-time full members borders far more of the coast than Russia does.

                  Noticeably you were so puerile, that you haven't addressed either of those in your reply. Instead you just continued on a silly 'poor Russia' line. Rather boring and completely silly.

                  There is no provocation. That has been a pretty routine manoeuvre for NATO vessels since the 1950s, using established international procedures. The only provocation was Putin suggesting that the Russian navy might fire on a NATO vessel.

          • Gezza 6.2.1.2.2

            Embarrassing. Totally forgot that Turkey’s in NATO. Mixed up their being in NATO with their not being in the EU. Should’ve remembered Erdogan’s stoush with Trump over Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system that saw them kicked out of the F-35 programme.

  7. Stuart Munro 7

    Putin is a complicated fellow, and I fancy money alone will not satisfy him.

    There are a lot of folk expecting war on his side, and disappointing them may fatally injure his already flagging popularity.

    Europe has woken up to the threat too. Putin's flimflam isn't going to fly so well internationally for a good long while. Extracting himself, if he manages it, will be quite a trick.

    • pat 7.1

      Putin’s world dosnt require anything of him….dont make the mistake of thinking your world is his.

    • francesca 7.2

      Zelenskiy's ratings, Bojo's and Bidens are all falling way below that of Putin

      Zelenskiy at about 23%

      Putin round about 60%,

      I suspect they need the sabre rattling more than Putin does

      • Stuart Munro 7.2.1

        Putin's ratings follow a different path to those of western politicians.

        A despot has no friends – only faithful subordinates and bitter enemies. The trick is telling them apart.

        You can see something of the pattern in Belarus – Lugashenko evidently received 80% of the vote, which would have made him more popular than Jacinda – but he was somehow the object of mass street protests. A bit amateurish really. The first rule of made up percentages is not to use round numbers – they're a dead giveaway.

        • francesca 7.2.1.1

          Not really

          At it's peak Putin's ratings were 88%

          They've dropped to 60 .Are you saying that Putin is now not able to manipulate the ratings?

          The contortions Putinophobes go through to keep a consistent story!

        • Blazer 7.2.1.2

          Interesting Stuart…'A despot has no friends – '

          Reminds me of Kissinger…'America has no friends or enemies,just interests'

          and….'to be an enemy of America is…dangerous…to be a friend..is fatal'!

          • Stuart Munro 7.2.1.2.1

            Kissinger is a fanboi of Metternich – nothing good was ever going to come of him.

            The economy and living standards have improved.

            I'm not sure that's very different from the 'Hitler made the trains run on time' argument. Putin stifled Russia's nascent democracy and put it back on the path to isolation, a negative nationalism, and unparalleled corruption. The real issue is that you have to put that in context of soviet era incomes and economy. The last Russian ship I worked on (early 90s) had a crew of 80. I was making more money than all of them put together, and I was only on about $30k. It didn't take much to make things better than what went before, and by no means all of the improvement is down to Putin.

      • lprent 7.2.2

        It probably helps if you can easily toss pollsters into jail on spurious charges or prevent them entering the country to poll.

        Plus of course being able to close any media and jail journalists that are critical of you. It means that you can control the debate – something like what happens here if you deal with any of the NZME empire.

        Not to mention the obvious caution that people being polled will tend to show under the same threat.

        • francesca 7.2.2.1

          I'm very surprised that the pollsters of Levada haven't been thrown into jail for reporting such a drop in approval.The West was crowing when Putin's approval rates dropped over raising the pension eligibility age.They believed the polls then!!

          Disbelieve when the polls are up, believe when they're down .Who's the dupe?

  8. Subliminal 8

    It's kind of interesting really. Nato/EU/US stage a coup in the Ukraine. The Russia hating idiots they install as the government attempt a blood bath against ethnic Russians in the East. Russia steps in and forces the Minsk agreement as well as taking back control of the Crimean Peninsula. The Nato/EU/US blob scream about and implement sanctions. Biden calls their leader a murderer. But just like Aussie with China, for some reason, they think Russia should increase supply of gas above and beyond what they have contracted to supply on long term agreements. Gazprom says they will even make new long term agreements. But no, the EU is arrogant enough to believe that even given their support of ardent Russia haters in Ukraine they should be free to buy on the spot market and Russia should supply?? The question must be asked: who is sanctioning who? It's no wonder Lavrov can barely keep the grin off his face every time he sees Blinken. And the lifting of sanctions is a simple matter too. Stop arming the Ukraine and support international law by enforcing the Minsk agreememts. Everything will follow from there.

    • Scud 8.1

      Before you go bumping your glum’s at the Minsk Agreement, you need to read up on these two agreements that Ukraine signed when it gave on its Nukes after the Cold War and which Russia also signed as well. That Russia will also respect Ukraine’s borders & it’s right to self determination to make its own decisions.

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon_Protocol

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum

      • aj 8.1.1

        IMO Lavrov is a more important figure in Russian foreign policy that Putin. A very intelligent man with more charisma than Putin.

        The political chess team they present as a pair is pretty formidable

        • Scud 8.1.1.1

          When you throw in their love of Chess & Maskirovka (Russian Military Deception), Vlad & Lavro have got the West dancing to Swan Lake.

          My gut feeling Vlad will move on Ukraine, but not this yr as his window to mount the necessary Operation is closing very fast if wants to avoid clashing with Xi’s Winter Olympic Games.

          But it will happen one day, probably when everyone is sick & tired of the West calling out the Ukraine is about to be invaded. Just like the boy, who Wolf to many times which fits in with the Principles of Maskirovka. Which is worth reading & along the Chinese PLA Modern Interpretation of Sun Tsu.

  9. tsmithfield 9

    Nice article Advantage. Not much to disagree with.

    I understand there is a reasonably small window for an invasion due to the fact the ground is only frozen for so long, and it is difficult to mount an invasion when the ground gets slushy.

    Also, the Ukraine won't be a push over for the Russians due to them being equipped with a lot of American weaponry now. So, will be interesting to see if Putin is prepared to pull the trigger on this.

    • Blazer 9.1

      Would most certainly be a pushover.

      Large % of Ukrainians have Russian sympathies and the Ukraine is not a big economic success story.

      • Scud 9.1.1

        Ukraine has plenty of time to plan it’s Defensive Lines to fall back on (there are plenty of Rivers/ River Crossings, Rolling Country that can seriously f**k attacking Army Groups up ie the world’s biggest Tank Battle happened in 1943 in the Kursk Area in Ukraine & before that Manstein’s Winter Defensive Battles which concluded with one the most outstanding Counter Attacks in Modern Military History which is still taught today at all levels of Command) . It’s one thing for the Russian Army to break into the Ukraine Line but it’s a completely different story if Russia can maintain momentum when it breaks out of the 1st initial Defensive Line and keep sustaining to whatever the Vlad’s endstate is. If Russia starts losing momentum, Ukraine will have the upper hand & this would allow NATO/ the West to mobilise resources & or political means against Russia.

        Russian will attack in the Winter & defend in the Summer in order to negate the technology deficit that Russia has with certain aspects of the Russian Military still has with a Peer vs Peer Conflict.

        Also the Younger generation of Ukraine ie the X, Y & Z outnumbered the older Soviet Ukrainian Generation & if Vlad doesn’t move soon. Then Vlad is going face a very hostile environment and the clock is ticking as he has about 5-10yrs because there will no left who remembers life under Soviet USSR.

        At the moment Vlad ,holds all the cards. But if he attacks & it stalls he’s toast & if he’s successful there will a lot of losers from the US, to Western Democracies incl little old NZ & in the short to medium term Vlad will be the winner but ultimately it’s China who will be the real winner out of this unfortunate shit sandwich.

        • Blazer 9.1.1.1

          You dismissing Russian air power altogether.

          FWIW I don't think Russia is interested in invading Ukraine at…all.

          • Ad 9.1.1.1.1

            It already did in 2014, and the eastern Donbass war has only decreased but never stopped.

            Looks remarkably like they've been interested for 6 years.

          • Scud 9.1.1.1.2

            The much vaunted Russian Tactical Airforce, has got a few problems since the start of the Ukraine Conflict.

            The Ukraine is Airforce had barely any serviceable Aircraft & what Aircraft they had the operationally suffered from lack of Pilots training & sustainment issues. Thence the Russian Tactical Airforce was able to support its Ground & Naval forces at the start of Ukrainian Conflict, until the very limited Ukrainian Ground Base Air Defence Units got their act together as it overcome its morale & sustainment issues when it suddenly retired its BUK SAM’s some yrs early after a couple very nasty accidents involving Civilian Aircraft.

            But now it’s a different story, The Ukrainian Airforce is a lot better now, with increasing serviceability rates, Pilot training hrs are almost on par with its Western/ NATO counterparts and more importantly is its now sustainable.

            Where is Russia’s Tactical Airforce is now got some big issues, since the of the Ukrainian Conflict:

            1, Pilots are still only achieving about a 40-50% less Training than its Western/ NATO Counterparts vs the Russian Tactical Airforce Mandated Task and this is also reflected at training of the maintainers as well. Note: we have been to access those countries who fly Russia Aircraft, who reported that it’s getting hard to get Russian Maintenance maintainers to provide the necessary Training or for them to send its SNCO’s & Engineering Officers to Russia to provide the necessary Train the Trainer Courses.

            2, There appears to be a sustainment issues across the Russian Tactical Airforce atm, it appears that only about a 1/4 to 1/3 of the Russian Tactical Airforce is currently available for Operations & more importantly ongoing training. Again this data is reflected by those countries who use Russia Aircraft, who are experiencing similar sustainment problems compared to the Western Aircraft they also operate which are
            achieving 70-80% serviceability rates.

            3, The Russian Tactical Airforce, has far less exposure to Smart Weapons/ PGM’s and in fact China is well ahead of the Russians in this. What Smart Weapons that Russia have using in a number of Conflicts its currently involved with, 90% of all Smart Weapons/ PGM’s have failed. But in saying that all of it’s Dumb Weapons dropped have achieved a 90% success rate & there is still a concern that it’s still using Conventional Anti Area Denial Weapons. In plan English Cluster & Anti Personal Munitions.

            • Blazer 9.1.1.1.2.1

              You are very knowledgeable about this topic.

              yes

              • Scud

                No worries, I try to be helpful on most things in regards to Military Affairs here on The Standard as it’s not everyone cuppa tea as lefties like me are a rare bred within the Left Wing Spectrum.

                Plus it keeps me busy, by going back over what’s left of my notes & diaries that have survived since my laptop crashed & burned pardon the pun.

                Oh, here’s a H/T for you keep an eye out for this wee beastie the S400 & it’s latest variant the S500. When the S400 deployed to Syria under Russian Control on what ended up to be my final trip to the Sandpit when I finally lost my marbles etc.

                This Ground Base Air Defence System (GBADS) was actually Targeting our Air to Air Tankers, Airborne Early Warning & other such type as Air Transport Aircraft. Which put the willies up among the Coalition Airforces within the Sandpit including a few other Air Assets that I won’t mention incl one that has been around for a few decades.

                https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-400_missile_system

  10. Stuart Munro 10

    Robert Patman has a few words on the subject: What Putin really fears about Ukraine | Stuff.co.nz

  11. Blazer 12

    the lovely Palki on U.S sanctions…looks like Biden is running out of…gas.

    https://youtu.be/8-4BoIOxNTc

  12. Stuart Munro 13

    I don't want to put words in Shirvan's mouth, but recent events have him meditating on a Russian collapse: What would happen if Russia collapsed? – YouTube

  13. Ad 14

    A pertinent question from Al Jazeera examined here:

    Can Europe be weaned off Russian gas?

    Can Europe be weaned off Russian gas? | Inside Story – YouTube

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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
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