“The purists can weep”

Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, November 3rd, 2013 - 105 comments
Categories: Economy, Privatisation - Tags: ,

Labour’s new KiwiAssure policy has been welcomed by John Armstrong as good politics. And it is. But it’s also good policy – at the same time we’ve got a government hell bent on making sure electricity profits flow to overseas investors, David Cunliffe’s policy is about giving Kiwi’s the ability to ensure that any money made from their insurance stays in the country and pays for hospitals, schools, and New Zealanders’ retirement.

But back to the politics. As Armstrong points out:

When it comes to honesty and ethics, the public ranks insurance companies only slightly above used-car salesmen.

So David Cunliffe cannot really go wrong in committing Labour to setting up a state-owned general insurance firm, KiwiAssure – especially at a time when private companies’ premiums are soaring through the roof and their cover is falling through the floor.

There’s a couple of other threads to this too, one is the close ties National have had with the insurance industry over the years (note how muted Gerry Brownlee has been about recalcitrant insurers in Christchurch), the other is that this policy is another milestone in the return of the Labour party to its roots – the last state insurance company was privatized in the dying days of the neo-liberal fourth Labour government. Which is why Armstrong’s comment that “the purists can weep” is so piquant.

David Cunliffe has brought the Labour party back. Not just to the members of the party but to New Zealanders. There could have been no more appropriate walk-on music as he approached the stage to deliver this policy than a song called “Aotearoa”. “We are New Zealand”. Indeed.

105 comments on ““The purists can weep” ”

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  1. Lanthanide 1
    3 November 2013 at 9:15 am

    Wonder if Labour will be using that song as the anthem for their 2015 campaign.

    I’ve always thought Minuit really wrote themselves a winner in terms of royalities with that song. TV4 used it for advertising for a while a couple of years ago.

    • Saarbo 1.1
      3 November 2013 at 9:49 am

      wow, powerful video…great.

      That is New Zealand to many of us who proudly live in diverse communities. but I reckon half of National voters live in mono cultural environments (I was in Takapuna recently, ewww), we know from research that 70% of them dont know anyone who is unemployed, so wont appeal to them.

      • Lanthanide 1.1.1
        3 November 2013 at 9:52 am

        It’s actually not really that representative at all: the photos are from Minuit fans who sent them into their facebook page back in 2009 when they made the music video.

        So it skews heavily young.

        • IrishBill 1.1.1.1
          3 November 2013 at 10:08 am

          I don’t know about that. I’m pretty sure I saw a couple of old mates in the tour footage.

        • Saarbo 1.1.1.2
          3 November 2013 at 9:02 pm

          Well Lanth, it may be perfect if you consider this from the SST today.

          “Yet, from young people, there’s been barely a whimper.

          The point has been raised before – young people are bearing the brunt of decisions made in the name of necessity, so why aren’t they taking to the streets? More than that, many don’t vote. Although eligible voters aged 18-24 represented 13 per cent of the total voting age population in the 2011 general election, they accounted for nearly half of the total who did not bother to enrol.”

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/9356042/New-lending-criteria-labelled-unfair

    • Just Like Tiger Woods 1.2
      3 November 2013 at 12:46 pm

      Twee “we’re all just like each other” socialist pap.

      Some people contribute. Some people don’t. Some people destroy. Whoever you think the destroyers happen to be, should they be treated just the same as the everyone else?

      If you think not, then you don’t believe in social equality regardless of input.

  2. Tat Loo (CV) 2
    3 November 2013 at 9:34 am

    Great that Armstrong came out with some fairer comments today, unlike the bizarrely one side piece yesterday which basically criticised Labour for doing things the Labour way.

  3. Sacha 3
    3 November 2013 at 9:45 am

    Brownlee muted? The clown was defending the insurance industry vigorously on the radio.

  4. Anne 4
    3 November 2013 at 9:49 am

    Just watched a petulant display of the sulks by Matthew Hooton and Claire Robinson on Q&A. Hooton was his normal self… using the language set out by Crosby/Textor. That is, lie, distort, misrepresent and don’t give your opponent a chance to respond.

    Claire Robinson berated Labour for no policy announcements and then contradicted herself later by praising Cunliffe for announcing KiwiAssure even though she had previously criticised it. When Williams (rightly) pointed out that her “years of statistical evidence” were nothing compared to his “years of political experience”, I thought she was going to dong him one!

  5. Rogue Trooper 5
    3 November 2013 at 10:03 am

    speaking of ‘purists’, Shane Jones appeared to have diluted his his cocktail, toasting the gender remit; “the capacity of the women in the party should not be underestimated” – 3News

    Gower also drew out a couple of tensions from the conference;
    -retirement age
    -TPP- increasing skepticism within the party, outright opposition by the unions.

    KiwiAssure- Excellent

    Ditching the monarchy-Even more Bodacious

    • Paul 5.1
      3 November 2013 at 10:05 am

      Grower was looking for tensions.
      He is not a journalist, but a propagandist.

    • Sanctuary 5.2
      3 November 2013 at 10:25 am

      “…Gower also drew out a couple of tensions from the conference;
      -retirement age
      -TPP- increasing skepticism within the party, outright opposition by the unions…”

      Party membership of NZ political parties collapsed during the era of Douglas and Richardson. Now, I know Labour is a long, long way from the halcyon days of tens of thousands of members but by the sound of things a bit of sap is running into long dormant political roots.

      That mean if Gower was born around 1970 he will have no memory of what a mass membership party looks like and how it operates, so for him & the rest of the media amnesiacs – brought up on and used to a normality of husk parties going through a charade of annointing the decisions of a central cadre – seeing delegates debating issues and arguing vigorously over remits must look very strange indeed.

      • Macro 5.2.1
        3 November 2013 at 1:01 pm

        Agreed… They have no knowledge of what the Labour movement – it never wanted to call itself a ‘party’ in those days looked or felt like. The Party of recent times has been a poor image of the robust debate that formed the policy of the early movement.

      • Rednex 5.2.2
        3 November 2013 at 1:04 pm

        Nice one! I got that feeling watching him and that other fella interviewing Davo on TV One this morning. It looked like they really didn’t understand what was going on..

      • Rogue Trooper 5.2.3
        3 November 2013 at 1:06 pm

        😉

  6. tricledrown 6
    3 November 2013 at 10:37 am

    Brownlee defending the insurance companies ripping off New Zealanders,
    If not for Campbell live Gerihatric brownoselee would have not done one thing to push
    Insurance companies into paying out.
    The profits these insurance companies are extacting from NZ now is criminal.
    Brownlee is wrong on saying kiwisure requiring the govt to bail it out they can get reinsurance just like the other insurance co’s.
    Kiwibank isn’t covered by the govt taxpayer either but has forced down bank charges for every one.
    Kiwisure will break the cartel that is in the insurance market.

  7. Wayne 7
    3 November 2013 at 10:47 am

    KiwiAssure is a bit of an indifferent policy. It will have as much impact as KiwiBank. Now I know a lot of people like the idea of KiwiBank, but has it really led to a dramatic change in NZ banking?

    Interesting item on Q&A on poverty this morning. It seems to me the biggest impact on child poverty (apart from jobs) would be to have more state houses. Dr Wills own research confirms that. Which is why I asked the question in post a few days ago about the numbers of poor children in state houses as opposed to private rentals.

    It is surely easy (and popular) Labour party policy to build an extra 3,000 to 5,000 state house a year over the next 3 to 5 years.

    Interesting speech by David Cunliffe yesterday. A lot of clever rhetoric to appeal to the party faithful (including the left), but rather less actual policy that would be different to what Labour has already announced.

    And as I suspected, he was taking a careful line on TPP on Q &A this morning. In my view he would almost certainly support (or at least not seriously oppose) TPP if it comes to Parliament next year which is not so likely given that I imagine a deal won’t be done till sometime in 2014.

    Mind you I suspect the Nats would quite like Labour to oppose TPP in election year (if TPP is done soon), since they could paint Labour as not being ready to be responsible guardians of the economy. Which is never a good space for a major party trying to win an election. But I imagine David Cunliffe is alert to that risk.

    • Lanthanide 7.1
      3 November 2013 at 10:54 am

      “Now I know a lot of people like the idea of KiwiBank, but has it really led to a dramatic change in NZ banking?”

      Yes. Prior to KiwiBank, all ‘everyday’ bank accounts had fees. After KiwiBank started up, all of the big banks introduced various accounts with no monthly fee – there are strings attached, like no chequebook and some require online statements etc, but happily none of those strings are of any inconvenience to myself.

      • felix 7.1.1
        3 November 2013 at 12:24 pm

        It’s worth noting that in Wayne’s world 20 or 30 bucks of bank fees is “indifferent”.

        • Lanthanide 7.1.1.1
          3 November 2013 at 1:19 pm

          A lot of the alternative ‘flat-rate’ options are $5/month, so $60 a year. Which actually is pretty sizeable if you think about it in terms of interest on savings: equivalent to $3,000 in a bank account earning 3% and paying tax at the 33% rate. Then again maybe $3,000 sitting in a savings account isn’t much to Wayne, either.

          Or you can go with one of the old-fashioned “pay as you go” accounts that charge you fees for using EFTPOS etc, as if it’s some fan-dangled new technology that “kids these days” are hip with.

  8. Populuxe1 8
    3 November 2013 at 11:46 am

    Except that New Zealand First passed KiwiSure as a policy remit at thier convention several weeks ago and it’s virtually identical though perhaps better thought out

    • Curwen Rolinson 8.2
      3 November 2013 at 12:09 pm

      I have to say … I may be biased, but “KiwiSure” just rolls off the tongue easier than “KiwiAssure”.

      Cunliffe certainly seems to think so – he keeps dropping the “A” when he says it in interviews!

    • insider 8.3
      3 November 2013 at 12:49 pm

      Better thought out? Really? Exactly how will it work, how is it going to be funded? How will the risks be managed? What will it cost? I’ve seen nothing on that in Cunliffe’s speech or media release. For a so called major policy I’d expect a bit more than a clichéd name and it will be sold through post shops (no doubt furtHer lengthening the queues). Kiwi bank is struggling so is hardly a great model. I note Cunliffe’s hedged his bets with a discrete ‘subject to a business case’.

      • Macro 8.3.1
        3 November 2013 at 1:06 pm

        Of course State insurance was always a dog…As is ACC… I mean you twist your ankle – go see the doc – all those forms and stuff .. pay thru the nose…. Govt insurance has never been tried before and is bound to fail…

        • insider 8.3.1.1
          3 November 2013 at 1:08 pm

          So are you saying acc is the model? They are going for compulsory insurance?

          • Macro 8.3.1.1.1
            3 November 2013 at 1:45 pm

            compulsory insurance! What a bloody good idea!
            Of course public health isn’t insurance and look how poorly that works.. compulsory health insurance.. maybe Obama should have thought of that… Bloody governments get their fingers in the insurance pie…

        • Rogue Trooper 8.3.1.2
          3 November 2013 at 1:09 pm

          lol

        • Curwen Rolinson 8.3.1.3
          3 November 2013 at 1:10 pm

          “Government insurance has never been tried before and is bound to fail”

          Well with an attitude like that …

          Also, no, I think you’ll find if you open a history book that New Zealand used to actually HAVE government insurance. Why did you think State Insurance was called State..?

      • Curwen Rolinson 8.3.2
        3 November 2013 at 1:09 pm

        You would appear to have misread my party comrade’s comments. We are not Labourites.

        We are from New Zealand First, and we are praising *our own* KiwiSure concept, not heaping opprobium or praise on Labour’s “KiwiAssure”.

        • Lanthanide 8.3.2.1
          3 November 2013 at 1:23 pm

          I wonder if KiwiSure was the name Labour had initially cooked up and NZFirst snatched it up first.

        • greywarbler 8.3.2.2
          3 November 2013 at 2:11 pm

          Good to know that Labour and NZFirst agree on this insurance scheme. What other matter are they in parallel on.

          • Curwen Rolinson 8.3.2.2.1
            3 November 2013 at 2:16 pm

            Well we don’t like asset sales … but it remains to be seen whether Labour will join NZ First’s call for renationalization, or endorse our stance of retaining a 65 age of retirement.

      • felix 8.3.3
        3 November 2013 at 1:14 pm

        “Kiwi bank is struggling so is hardly a great model.”

        Yeah, KB is totally failing to suck kiwis dry like the foreign banks do. 🙄

  9. tricledrown 9
    3 November 2013 at 12:02 pm

    Wayne has found his brain .
    But the Tpp will not be in place anytime this side of 2020.
    As it requires govts to drop agricultural tariffs.
    Conservative govts rely on the rural vote for power they will cut off the hands that feed them!
    Korea Japan The US will not give one inch on farm subsidies!

  10. tricledrown 10
    3 November 2013 at 12:04 pm

    Populuxe that will mean it will be a good fit for NZ1st as a coalition partner.

    • Curwen Rolinson 10.1
      3 November 2013 at 12:16 pm

      pledge to renationalize assets first.

      Then we may talk.

      Rest assured NZ First has many awesome ideas for you to pirate. We don’t even mind giving a few away for free for the good of the Nation 😀

      • Tat Loo (CV) 10.1.1
        3 November 2013 at 12:21 pm

        Bearing in mind that any sertious talk of the govt bulk buying back shares is likely to cause the share price to dramatically rise, giving the big institutional investors an instant win fall.

        It’d have to be done smart, were it to be done.

        • Curwen Rolinson 10.1.1.1
          3 November 2013 at 12:38 pm

          lol, who said we’d be renationalizing at the market rate? That WOULD be a problem.

          NZF policy’s the state reacquires the shares at no more than the purchase price. Turns asset sales into an effective zero-percent-interest-loan.

          (although we really must introduce you Labourites to the PowerBond scheme we passed at our last Convention 🙂 Ain’t gonna be no large institutional investors loving it)

          • Rogue Trooper 10.1.1.1.1
            3 November 2013 at 1:10 pm

            Fawking funny Guy! 😀

            • Curwen Rolinson 10.1.1.1.1.1
              3 November 2013 at 2:22 pm

              you wait till you see the actual policy. It’s hilarious.

              (Provided you’re not a foreign pension fund, investor or carpet-bagger)

              • Rogue Trooper …
                3 November 2013 at 2:29 pm

                I’ve always maintained, Winston earns that constituency which is there for the taking. All credit to him for a man who perpetually rends the english language asunder. Now, time for a cuppa-tea.

              • MrSmith …
                3 November 2013 at 9:12 pm

                What’s funny is by the sounds of things NZ First won’t be involved in any coalition with National after the next election.

              • Tat Loo (CV) …
                3 November 2013 at 10:38 pm

                Mr Rolinson. Random question for interests’ sake.

                Does your ordinary membership take a vote on who NZF would enter into coalition with, if anyone?

                Or is it a purely NZF caucus decision, divorced of input from your members?

                • Curwen Rolinson …
                  4 November 2013 at 8:00 am

                  Legit question, Tat.

                  I’m given to understand that the official way we do things is the Parliamentary Caucus gets a say, and the Board of Directors (which I’m on, by some bizzare piece of happenstance) gets a say. The Board is supposed to represent the wishes and will of the Membership in this equation.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    4 November 2013 at 8:10 am

                    Thanks for your reply. And, congratulations Curwen, I’d read about that.

                    • Curwen Rolinson …
                      4 November 2013 at 8:29 am

                      Ahaha. Thanks. Well if you’re referring to what I think you’re referring to, congratulations may be a little premature. I believe I find out the outcome tonight.

                      Depending on how it goes, solidarity and support may prove more appropriate.

            • bad12 10.1.1.1.1.2
              4 November 2013 at 8:26 am

              As seen on TV, Backbenchers i do believe…

  11. Paul 11
    3 November 2013 at 12:10 pm

    KiwiBank
    Kiwi Assure
    Kiwi Build

    • Rednex 11.1
      3 November 2013 at 1:08 pm

      I don’t like Kiwi Assure (the name that is not the policy) just doesn’t trip of the tongue well. Should run a competition on it…

      • Curwen Rolinson 11.1.1
        3 November 2013 at 1:11 pm

        Lol. NZ First came up with “KiwiSure” two weeks ago as a name. How does that sound to you?

        • Tat Loo (CV) 11.1.1.1
          3 November 2013 at 10:38 pm

          Labour couldn’t possibly use that mate. It might make it look like we were copying policy off you, or something…

          • Curwen Rolinson 11.1.1.1.1
            4 November 2013 at 8:01 am

            Lol, we’re always more than happy to provide progressive … inspiration 😀

            • bad12 11.1.1.1.1.1
              4 November 2013 at 8:28 am

              By the way, welcome to the Standard, a NZfirst perspective will be an ‘interesting’ addition to the debate…

              • Curwen Rolinson …
                4 November 2013 at 8:53 am

                Thanks. There’s been a few of us NZF people who’ve occasionally inhabited the comments-threads of The Standard for awhile now (Hello Populuxe et al), but it’s nice to have a more formalized welcome 🙂

                I’m sure you’ll find we’ve got creative contributions to the national conversation.

                • bad12 …
                  4 November 2013 at 9:14 am

                  Lolz, i am finding NZFirst now has 3 policies that i agree with, taking back the power generators,(should wait for the Labour/Green single buyer to kick in first which will have them begging to unload the proceeds of such theft),

                  65 as the age of retirement Full Stop, (although i would entertain a look at an abatement rate for those who choose to work and collect the pension),

                  The insurance biz,(can’t find any objection in my bones,Government has a role in business especially where manufacture can lead to a more valuable export commodity for our primary goods, the super-fund should be the beneficiary of all such Government business)…

                  • Curwen Rolinson …
                    4 November 2013 at 9:34 am

                    😀

                    #Renationalization’s awesome, yeah. You’re also correct to note there’s a potential synergy between NZPower and Renatioanlization – although it may potentially be a little unfair to some of the actual mum & dad investors (yes, there are some out there) to renatioanlize for *too* terribly much less than the price we sold them for.

                    Will have to tell you about the PowerBonds policy remit we just put through our own Convention on a related note 🙂 (oh, while on power, I do note a cabinet paper prepared by David Parker in iirc 2006 which declared the case for nationalization and amalgamation to produce arguable efficiency gains over single-buyer)

                    65’s legit, and I’m glad we’re exerting electoral gravity (so to speak) by having made that a bottom line. How do you feel about Compulsory National Savings?

                    And yeah, you’re right – KiwiFund and KiwiBank (along with, surprise surprise, Kiwis) ought to be the main beneficiaries of government business and transactions.

                    Here’s another NZF policy you’ll agree with : doing everything in our power to ensure government banks with Kiwibank rather than foreign owned ones 😀

                    • bad12 …
                      4 November 2013 at 10:17 am

                      Definitely agree on the banking, it will tho take a serious cash injection and some robust IT work to bring KiwiBank up to such a capability but there is plenty of time to accomplish both while the clock ticks away the time left on the Westpac contract,(doing so as far as IT goes might need the setting up of an IT campus where one company is not of such robustness as to be able to carry out all the necessary work but a number of IT companies working together probably could),

                      The other leg of this policy has already been signaled by Labour/Green in that all Government spending should be examined line by line and Favor given to those firms based in New Zealand employing Kiwi’s and paying their fair share of tax,

                      The areas of policy agreement across the Labour/Green/NZFirst spectrum seem to be piling up in such a fashion as to out-weigh the disagreements and as far as i can see such disagreements are more to do with the means of achievement and the extent of the policy reach than the actual policy outcomes…

                    • Tat Loo …
                      4 November 2013 at 10:34 am

                      How do you feel about Compulsory National Savings?

                      It’s got to be kept well away from the private investment banking and hedgefund sector, for starters.

                      Idea:

                      The government puts your money into your own KiwiBank national savings account, which sits there as a massive cash asset on the government’s balance sheet, to which it electronically credits 1.0% interest per month for the first $10,000 invested. This is new money, electronically generated, designed to push the circulation of money into the economy from the ground up, and benefiting small savers the most.

                      No need for it to be invested in speculative markets.

                • karol …
                  4 November 2013 at 9:15 am

                  Hi Curwen.

                  Are you claiming Populuxe as one of yours? Or as a strong critic of NZFers?

  12. Foreign Waka 12
    3 November 2013 at 12:19 pm

    Q&A this morning: Paula Bennett is so below par that it is astounding that even a National Party welcoming all the rhetoric and denying poverty, is keeping this person in her job. On the question of whether her department should actually do the research instead of private funding via the Children’s commissioner – her answer is no! My god, why is she paid in the first place. Even the business lobby knows that what you cannot measure, you cannot manage. Perhaps this is what quintessential the issue is: National does not WANT to measure as it would become quite clear that NZ has now outpaced the British from last century by far. I admire Dr Russel Wills for his professional approach and his commitment to change the situation. Perhaps he should be in charge of that issue and his recommendations binding. 265 000 children in poverty – NZ shame on you!

  13. Fisiani 13
    3 November 2013 at 4:53 pm

    So correct me if wrong but nationalised electricity, nationalised insurance and nationalised building. More tax, more borrowing , more government spending. The North Korea of the South Pacific. And there will be still more bribes to come. 1,000,000 votes to come apparently from raising minimum wage and paying even teenagers working for the government a wage dreamed up for a family of four despite these policies costing at least 50,000 job losses.
    There come a point when no amount of emotive language and crocodile tears will be able to con the public. They are not that gullible.
    If I am wrong and they are that gullible and believe in the money fairies then the Labour/Green polling should be over 50% next poll.

    • Paul 13.1
      3 November 2013 at 5:22 pm

      Fisiani, are you:
      a) a disciple of neo-liberalism and so indoctrinated you believe in the cult of selfishness as proposed by Ayn Rand ..despite all the evidence now apparent.
      b) a paid puppet of the corporates who write their spin.
      c) a member of the 1% yourself who actually benefits from the present paradigm.

      Just wondering what motivates you to write the rubbish you do.

      • Fisiani 13.1.1
        3 November 2013 at 6:43 pm

        no to a b and c. Simply stating the truth Paul. I believe that the public are actually quite intelligent. They want prosperity, higher wages and more jobs, all of which are guaranteed by the proven success of National rather than the monstrosity of a Green/Labour/Mana/NZF ungovernable job destruction coalition.

    • Puddleglum 13.2
      3 November 2013 at 10:35 pm

      “So correct me if wrong but nationalised electricity, nationalised insurance and nationalised building.”

      Hi Fisiani, yes you are wrong. NZPower, KiwiAssure and Kiwibuild do not involve the nationalisation of those industries.

  14. Tracey 14
    3 November 2013 at 5:15 pm

    You may stand corrected. You are wrong. Yes 47% of new zealanders are gullible. In the same way you continue to swallow the lies of the nats dangling the possibility of future prosperity so you will vote for policies that actual keep you stagnant and the 1% rolling on. Like you many cling to the idea that they are doing good because you would rather be foolish than admit they have duped you on so many fronts.

    • KJT 14.1
      4 November 2013 at 10:38 am

      I wouldn’t say that New Zealanders are gullible on the whole. Misinformed is nearer the mark.

      • Tracey 14.1.1
        4 November 2013 at 10:49 am

        sure, but I was referring to those who voted for national in the last election. Make a fool of me once shame on you, make a fool of me twice, shame on me type thing…

  15. Tracey 15
    3 November 2013 at 5:19 pm

    Fisiani

    creating a new state insurance entity is not nationalisation. The dictionary can be your friend.

  16. lolita bother 16
    3 November 2013 at 6:34 pm

    Hey Fisiani at 4:53 pm

    ”
    So correct me if wrong but nationalised electricity, nationalised insurance and nationalised building. More tax, more borrowing , more government spending. The North Korea of the South Pacific. And there will be still more bribes to come. 1,000,000 votes to come apparently from raising minimum wage and paying even teenagers working for the government a wage dreamed up for a family of four despite these policies costing at least 50,000 job losses.
    There come a point when no amount of emotive language and crocodile tears will be able to con the public. They are not that gullible.
    If I am wrong and they are that gullible and believe in the money fairies then the Labour/Green polling should be over 50% next poll.
    ”

    You print that on an Lprint or Karol entry you get banned for two weeks pal. You lucky Eddie not so extreme

  17. Psycho Milt 17
    3 November 2013 at 7:31 pm

    Would it kill them to either call a thing what it is (eg, State Insurance) or use a bit of fucking imagination? It feels like the current Labour incumbents think naming something involves sticking “Kiwi” on the front of it. Two terms into the next government we’ll have Kiwiair, Kiwicops, Kiwihealth, Kiwischools and Christ alone knows what the fuck else. Kiwinationallibrary, anyone?

  18. Dumrse 18
    3 November 2013 at 8:44 pm

    “The purists can weep”. The only weeping will be the policy holders when the kiwiasure goes tits up because it can’t cover the first tsunami let alone a half decent shake.

    • Tracey 18.1
      4 November 2013 at 10:50 am

      you mean like AMI needed boosting from the government????

    • KJT 18.2
      4 November 2013 at 11:44 am

      Like AMI and all the Christchurch private insurers that people are still waiting for payments from.

      The ones that took our money for decades and suddenly cannot afford to pay out without doubling premiums.

      Yeah right.

  19. tricledrown 19
    3 November 2013 at 10:34 pm

    Dumrse all insurers use reinsures to cover their arse.
    But there is no cover for being dumb unless u vote for National or Act you can become a right wing policy consultant all you have to do is tell lies and act dumb.
    Perfect fit 4u dumrse.

  20. One Anonymous Knucklehead 20
    4 November 2013 at 8:23 am

    Throwing words around equals critique, apparently, in right wing land.

    Is there any criticism of this policy that isn’t frothing at the mouth?

    I guess that’s why Cunliffe wants to see the business case; the local Tea Party doesn’t have the chops. Better wingnuts please.

  21. Crunchtime 21
    4 November 2013 at 3:47 pm

    Please fix your rogue apostrophes…

    “David Cunliffe’s policy is about giving Kiwi’s the ability to ensure…”

    should be

    “David Cunliffe’s policy is about giving Kiwis the ability to ensure…”

    An apostrophe is used for abbreviation or ownership. No other reason. You do not put an apostrophe before an s for a plural. Ever.

    I’m sure we want things to a professional standard.

    Love,
    The Grammar Nazi. 😉

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    Good old WD40. Is there nothing it can't do?Door squeaking? No problem, WD-40.Chewing gum stuck to the carpet? No worries, WD-40. Crayon marks? Spanner rusted up? Zipper won't undo? WD-40. WD-40. WD-40. It can even waterproof your shoes, I hear.(More Than A Feilding makes no warranty as to the efficacy of WD40 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    13 hours ago

  • Taxpayers might be piste off, as govt lending to ski field is lifted to $50m – but more corporate ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The distributions of two dollops of corporate welfare have been proudly announced in government press statements today, but neither mentions or relates to the further taxpayer funding for ski fields on the skids. The government’s official website tells of $7 million being provided to boost aerospace ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    14 hours ago

  • The police know they suck at the OIA
    In recent years I've done a long series of posts poking into police OIA data and how it hides how badly the police suck at carrying out their obligations under the Act. And in a response to a recent request, it seems the police have been doing the same. A ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    14 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s disdain for the Press debate
    Christopher Luxon evidently thinks this election is SO in the bag that he can afford to spurn the still-undecideds, the entire South Island, and the old Christchurch money that still reads the Press and shops at Ballantynes. We should all shed a tear for the National Party candidates across the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    16 hours ago

  • ELIZABETH RATA: Two Treaties of Waitangi – the Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Elizabeth Rate writes – There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly, the parliamentary ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: When it's ok to borrow to invest
    Mayor Wayne Brown, a Northland land-banker himself, appears relaxed about borrowing to invest in land but not in, for example, transport infrastructure and services. File photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: You couldn’t make this stuff up. A mayor determined to cut council debt by selling shares in a monopoly business because ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago

  • How well do our Rapid Transit Stations perform
    As we invest in our public transport network, it’s critical that we not only invest in transformative projects like the City Rail Link, but that we also get as much use as we can out of the network we already have – which will also maximise the outcomes of those ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    22 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Ten reasons Labour’s support has halved
    The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. Most polls have Labour on about 26 per cent. And the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    22 hours ago

  • Elizabeth Rata: Two Treaties of Waitangi: The Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    22 hours ago

  • Climate Emergency!
    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    23 hours ago

  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    24 hours ago

  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    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:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    1 week ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    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
    1 week ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
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