The Scottish Referendum

Written By: - Date published: 12:22 pm, September 19th, 2014 - 101 comments
Categories: International, uk politics - Tags:

scotland

The polls are now closed and counting is underway to see if Scotland asserts its right to be an independent nation again.

Every web site I just tried to find out details of the count is down.  There must be huge world wide interest in it.  From what I have been able to find out the turnout is approaching 90%.

Anyway this post is for comments and breaking news.

Update:  For twitter followers the hashtag #ScotlandDecides will provide updating tweets.

101 comments on “The Scottish Referendum ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. weka 1
    19 September 2014 at 12:33 pm

    It’ll be nice to have a break from the other stuff to be honest.

  3. ghostwhowalksnz 3
    19 September 2014 at 12:53 pm

    Stranger things have happened.

    In 1933 West Australia voted 66% in favour of succession from the commonwealth.

    And nothing happened. It didnt help that the anti succession Labour Party won the state election held on the same day.

  4. joe90 4
    19 September 2014 at 1:03 pm

    The Glaswegians in the street stream is hilarious, drunks and all.

    • Rosie 4.1
      19 September 2014 at 1:20 pm

      Thats a good one 🙂

      I’ve been looking at the BBC site you put up on Open Mike. So far, Orkney turned out the NO vote, 67.20% and Clackmannanshire NO by 53.80%………………just as well I just got a mini bottle of bubbly for later and not a proper one………….

      I hope this isn’t the beginning of a trend.

  5. karol 5
    19 September 2014 at 1:17 pm

    Al Jazeera are expecting the results to be known around 8.30pm-9pm our time.

  6. ghostwhowalksnz 6
    19 September 2014 at 1:31 pm

    Official turnout results in Glasgow are only 75%

    Thats 364000 voters. So much for the predictions of up to 90%.

    if Quebec couldnt do it in two tries then I dont think Scotland will and the margin will be wider than expected

  7. ghostwhowalksnz 7
    19 September 2014 at 2:07 pm

    SNP looking downcast in Aberdeenshire.
    This is one of their strongest areas.

    Its 2am in Scotland and barely results announced. I thought counting numbers was a Scottish obession.
    Are there any progress results by polling places ?

    • Colonial Viper 7.1
      19 September 2014 at 2:10 pm

      we do this election counting stuff brilliantly in NZ, in a sense I think we are spoilt. I reckon we will have a near complete count announced within 5 hrs of our own polls closing (i.e. where the Scots are right now with about 3% counted).

  8. Colonial Viper 8
    19 September 2014 at 2:08 pm

    Scotland independence is going to be a winner regardless of which way the numbers fall. Westminster has been falling over itself promising the Scots new powers and independence if they stay in the union.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 8.1
      19 September 2014 at 2:18 pm

      They can kiss goodbye to the extra 1600 pounds per head of spending if the English tories have any say.

    • Tom Jackson 8.2
      19 September 2014 at 2:23 pm

      And Tory MPs have already promised that the Scots won’t get many of those new powers.

      I think no will win, and when Cameron guts the NHS, the Scots will have only themselves to blame.

      • greywarbler 8.2.1
        19 September 2014 at 2:50 pm

        @ Tom Jackson 8.2
        You talk as if the Scots are throwing a hissy fit over nothing. There have been numerous checks to Scotland over the years. These have mounted up. I think the fascist tendency that the English have allowed to develop there has struck a warning bell for action now.

        ‘At the end of the day’ whether the Scots go independent or stay with an increasingly medieval England, there will be problems. They must apply their fine spirit and their high educational talents to overcome these working together.

        Possibly it would be more correct that Labour have only themselves to blame. Stick the middle way – go the Scots has become the ingrained slogan north o’ the border.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 8.2.2
        19 September 2014 at 3:02 pm

        The tories arent even a majority in the commons, the additional powers were a three party agreement so could go ahead even with revolt from the shires

      • ghostwhowalksnz 8.2.3
        19 September 2014 at 5:10 pm

        Please get your facts right.

        A few tories are unhappy, and Scotland controls the NHS north of the border

  9. joe90 9
    19 September 2014 at 2:28 pm

    I think no will win, and when Cameron guts the NHS, the Scots will have only themselves to blame.

    Labour and Gordon Brown have done their best to nobble the yes vote.

    Banks and other corporate giants warning that the roof will cave in; a near-hysterical media that leaves broad swaths of public opinion ignored – if the Labour leadership wants to know what to expect in the runup to next year’s election, they should regard the establishment campaign against Scottish independence as a foretaste of what is to come. But therein lies the problem, of course. Labour’s leaders have cheered on this campaign, and will be reminded of this fact at every opportunity when they complain of “scaremongering” when the same strategy is directed at them in the spring months of 2015.

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/17/fear-scottish-independence-foretaste-labour-general-election

  10. Molly 10
    19 September 2014 at 2:43 pm

    Inverclyde 49.9 Yes votes.

    Closest result as yet.

  11. rich the other 11
    19 September 2014 at 2:44 pm

    It looks like common sense is prevailing in Scotland , a good omen for Key .
    At the end of the day reality will prevail in both instances .

    • yeshe 11.1
      19 September 2014 at 4:41 pm

      You have just won a gold star in the unadulterated drivel contest for the worst and shortest sentence with three non-sequiturs.

  12. mickysavage 12
    19 September 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Dundee just came in with a 57% yes vote. Overall the count has tightened right up …

  13. greywarbler 13
    19 September 2014 at 3:00 pm

    So far the No votes are winning by a few points with 5 of 32 councils counted.
    Inverclyde I think it was, nearly even.
    But the two island groups, Shetland and Orkney are both overwhelming for staying with Britain – only about 1/3 for change. There is a majority for the No’s of about 9,000 votes for the two island groups..

  14. mickysavage 14
    19 September 2014 at 3:14 pm

    West Dumbarton votes AYE. All tied up now and I get the feeling that was an unexpected result.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 14.1
      19 September 2014 at 3:24 pm

      All tied up ? Its still only 46.9% for yes vote at this point. Only 2 of 12 councils are yes majority

    • Disraeli Gladstone 14.2
      19 September 2014 at 6:34 pm

      Not really. Every region that voted Yes was expected to (and by bigger margins). The surprises were places like the Western Isles voting no. That was one of the early places to declare and at that point, you could tell anybody reasonably informed in Scottish politics (not a whole lot of people here it seems – not knowing that the Orkneys are a unionist, Lib Dem fortress) knew the vote was already decided.

  15. Bill 15
    19 September 2014 at 3:20 pm

    Worth noting that with a veritable onslaught from pro-union media sources – (only one newspaper in Scotland backed ‘yes’), and with major financial/business circles running endless doom scenarios should the ‘Yes’ vote prevail (disinvestment/ relocation etc), and on top of that, all Westminster parties being vociferously pro-union (including Labour that had ‘home rule’ in its original constitution)… and eligible voters being (rightly) inclusive of English and people of other various nationalities living in Scotland, still half of the people will vote for ‘Yes’.

    Regardless of the final tally, the union is dead.

    I find it amusing that the ‘No’ camp accuses the ‘Yes’ camp of voting with their hearts rather than their heads, while completely overlooking the protestant-unionist mindset that pervades Scotland and that is wholly non-cerebral, borne as it is on the back of deep anti-Catholic bigotry/sectarianism.

    Anyway, ‘No’ voters should have acknowledged the inevitability of independence and voted ‘yes’. I mean that seriously. The ‘Yes’ camp – who have been the more engaged, active and informed – won’t just go away after any ‘No’ result.

    I guess on the results so far, that I might be waiting a little longer before I can shed the albatross of British citizenship and take up my legal right to Scottish citizenship 😉

    • ghostwhowalksnz 15.1
      19 September 2014 at 3:29 pm

      Regardless of the final tally, the union is dead.

      Tell that to Quebec.

      And its absurd for you to have a legal right to Scots citizenship. A big believer in hereditary rights are you ?

      • Colonial Viper 15.1.1
        19 September 2014 at 3:33 pm

        Some people actually feel a connection to their forebearers, yeah.

      • Bill 15.1.2
        19 September 2014 at 3:36 pm

        I was born there. I’m not a NZ citizen. But at the moment there is no such thing as a Scottish citizen (or an English citizen for that matter), hence the British passport etc. So yeah, I don’t quite understand your point about ‘hereditary rights’.

        Also, there are major differences between the situation in Quebec and the situation in Scotland.

      • adam 15.1.3
        19 September 2014 at 3:47 pm

        I think you’re missing the fact that now Wales, North Ireland and the Channel Islands all have issues with westminster. The debate at the very least has erupted, and indeed many from the north of england are quietly hoping for Scottish independence – they too have suffered under neo-liberalism. I think GB now has a fundamental constitutional crisis on it’s hands no matter what the result – and I think Bill nailed it – The Union is dead. It may take some time to die, but the union is dead.

      • DS 15.1.4
        19 September 2014 at 4:27 pm

        The underlying issues that drove Quebec separatism have largely vanished. Unless there is a revolution in Westminster, the underlying issues driving Scottish nationalism will linger.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 15.1.4.1
          19 September 2014 at 4:33 pm

          Quebec had issues about the French language.
          Scotland doesnt even have a separate language to be an issue.

          Clutching at straws much !
          As Cullen , educated at Edinburgh University, said. Its lost , eat that.

          • Tom Jackson 15.1.4.1.1
            19 September 2014 at 4:43 pm

            You are sadly mistaken. The UK now has to devolve even more powers to the Scottish parliament or risk a backlash. If UK Tories prevent that from happening, there will be a further backlash, which would haste independence.

            Whichever way the Scots would have voted, they gained a lot.

            And it’s nothing like Quebec. You need to get out more. Language is part of it, but there is a great deal more than that.

          • Bill 15.1.4.1.2
            19 September 2014 at 4:49 pm

            Well, apart from Gaelic being not English, there are matters such as control of natural resources (eg, oil exploration and revenue), democratic accountability,(Scotland consistently votes ‘left’ but gets governed by a ‘right’ leaning Westminster anyway) quite distinct cultural perspectives and histories, control and funding of education, health and law (already separate entities within a UK context, meaning – free University education in Scotland, state provided old folk care and no privatisation of the NHS in Scotland etc…but no monetary powers to pursue or safeguard these things), tax raising powers (lack of), job creation powers (lack of) , divergence on foreign policy matters (eg – war in Iraq), nuclear arms policy (all the UK’s nuclear arms are located in Scotland)…that’s just off the top of my head.

            • ghostwhowalksnz 15.1.4.1.2.1
              19 September 2014 at 5:05 pm

              Gaelic, the scots variety, developed out of Old Irish.

              Lowland Scots is a northern version of Old English.

              Control and funding are different things. Scotland is over funded per head compared to England.
              “The Scottish Government has the power to raise or lower the rate of income tax in Scotland by up to 3p in the pound. It is also able to vary business rates and can regulate the application of local taxes such as the council tax levied by local authorities in Scotland. The Scottish Government has full control over how Scotland’s annual block grant is divided between government departments, ..”

          • JRT 15.1.4.1.3
            19 September 2014 at 4:49 pm

            The Scottish referendum was mostly about Westminster and the neolib Tory governments. Those problems remain. If the neolibs continue to wreak havoc in the UK then there will be another referendum, the Yes side will be better prepared and the people who chickened out at the last moment won’t make that mistake again. It has taken two referendums for the Scots to get devolution, it will probably take two for them to get independence.

            • ghostwhowalksnz 15.1.4.1.3.1
              19 September 2014 at 5:07 pm

              Neolibs wreak havoc ? Maybe.
              But not in Scotland

              • JRT …
                19 September 2014 at 5:21 pm

                The neolibs in Westminster can do whatever they like to Scotland. Everything Scotland currently has is by grace and favour, and Westminster can change the rules to suit themselves whenever they like. They can take away the Scottish parliament if they so wish. Scotland remain at the mercy of Westminster, and will do so until they get independence.

                • ghostwhowalksnz …
                  19 September 2014 at 6:02 pm

                  No its not a grace and favour.

                  the Scottish government has real powers and will get some more.

                  Cameron and co arent like Stalin and do what they like.

                  • JRT …
                    19 September 2014 at 6:16 pm

                    You really need to go away and do some research. Westminster has the authority to give powers, and to take powers away from the Scots. There is a legal triple lock that means all the power is ultimately still held by Westminster.

          • DS 15.1.4.1.4
            19 September 2014 at 5:09 pm

            Quebec’s issues pertain to the language, yes. But they have been largely dealt with, both at the political and at the cultural level.

            Scotland’s issues pertain to post-1979 neoliberalism in Westminster. Unless you get a Government prepared to tear up Thatcher’s legacy, discontent in Scotland will remain.

            • ghostwhowalksnz 15.1.4.1.4.1
              19 September 2014 at 5:15 pm

              Thatcher is long dead. Doesnt mean the shipyards and coalmines are coming back.

              The NHS in Scotland is run from Edinburgh, the Education system doesnt have fee paying universities.
              What specific neo-liberal thatcherite bogeys are you unhappy about.

              • DS …
                19 September 2014 at 5:27 pm

                In case you didn’t notice, the Tory Party in Scotland is dead. It has one MP in Westminster, a reflection of how Thatcherism’s legacy is hated.

                Despite that, there is a Tory Government at Westminster, one every bit as neoliberal as Thatcher (if not more so), with plenty of powers that haven’t been devolved to Holyrood:

                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserved_and_excepted_matters

                That’s why Salmond actually wanted a third option on the referendum, the so-called Devo-Max option, whereby Scotland would be self-governing on pretty much everything apart from foreign affairs and military.

                Also, if the Tories really wanted, they could override any devolved decisions (parliament being sovereign, and all). Never underestimate the craziness of Tory backbenchers from the Shires.

                • ghostwhowalksnz …
                  19 September 2014 at 5:49 pm

                  This doesnt make any sense. Salmond has wanted independence full stop.
                  Are you saying SNP really wanted devo max, but if you insist independence is our second choice ?

                  AS for the Tories in Scotland, they were a separate Unionist party until 1965. But Unionist MPs such as Bonar Law and Douglas- Home ended up as Prime Ministers in Westminister.
                  In 1997 they were wiped out. Thats when New Labour and Tony Blair came in.

                  Thatcher policies were only part of it

                  If I were the Scottish Conservatives, I would rebrand as Unionist pronto

                  • Bill …
                    19 September 2014 at 6:14 pm

                    As I understand it, the SNP wanted the ballot paper to give three choices – one of those was ‘devo max’. In the horsetrading, ‘devo max’ was lost, but 16 and 17 year olds got to vote. (That seems to have the trade)

                    You might want to ask yourself why Salmond wanted to use the pound (I have no satisfactory answer) when he who holds the purse strings (sets interest rates etc) controls the potential of your polity.

                  • DS …
                    19 September 2014 at 9:56 pm

                    Salmond is a gradualist. He sees further devolution as a stepping stone towards eventual independence. Cameron refused to allow Devo-Max as an option though, so he had to put the case for full independence now.

                    As for the Unionists, I think you’ll find that there is already a small sectarian party called the Scottish Unionists, so a name change back to that is unlikely. Still, Scotland basically voted much the same as England until the 1970s. After that came divergence, and hence desire for independence.

  16. cogito 16
    19 September 2014 at 4:27 pm

    http://www.bbc.com/news/events/scotland-decides/results

    SCOTLAND VOTES NO

    The BBC forecasts that Scotland has voted against becoming an independent country by a projected 55% to 45%.

    Great news that the UK will remain one country!

    • Tom Jackson 16.1
      19 September 2014 at 4:38 pm

      Well, it also means that any Scot who complains about the Tories should be told to put a cork in it.

      They’re going to regret this vote in 10 years time. The UK is a bit of a craphole really.

      • cogito 16.1.1
        19 September 2014 at 4:46 pm

        Craphole – according to you…. and who are you exactly?

      • ghostwhowalksnz 16.1.2
        19 September 2014 at 4:48 pm

        Really , in what regard ?

        Most administration is devolved to Scottish Assembly or Scottish Councils.

        They have their own legal and education systems from way back.
        The NHS, policing , transport and most local affairs are done by Scots In Scotland.

        Doesnt even sound like you have even been there.

      • Lanthanide 16.1.3
        19 September 2014 at 5:49 pm

        Not sure that logic really makes sense. There is, after all, a 45% chance that any random Scot would have voted for independence. And a much higher chance than that, that a Scot who complains about tories would have voted Yes.

        By your logic, even though I voted Labour at the last election, I can’t complain about the terrible things National is doing to this country?

        • ghostwhowalksnz 16.1.3.1
          19 September 2014 at 5:58 pm

          The question wasnt one about this or that policies, such as what we will vote on tomorrow.
          It was yes or no for independence !

          Its nothing like what happened in Maggies day when a lot of decisions were made in London still.

          Same as winding back the clock here to pre Roger Douglas isnt going to happen

  17. Jeeves POnzi 17
    19 September 2014 at 4:32 pm

    I’ll be havin a wee one for you tonite Bill. Good luck mate.

    It was a real eye opener to me to see my old cuzzies the Loyalists heading back home with their Orange sashes to encourage the NO vote- these are very same party that blindly supported Thatcher through all of her reforms- reforms that callously left Scotland out in the cold to bleed an economic death- in exchange for increased police powers against the nationalist community in the Six counties of Ulster.
    I thought- Christ! Scotland- with friends like that – who needs enemies. If ever you need to know which way is forward- watch the Loyalists and run like f%^& in the opposite direction.

    Good Luck Scotland- whichever way you choose.
    Tiocfaidh ar la!
    God Save the Queen!
    Vive la France!
    Deutschland Uber Alles!
    She’ll Be Right Mate!
    Up yours Maggie !!!

  18. Sable 18
    19 September 2014 at 5:35 pm

    So far its not looking good. Seems the European portion of the evil empire will live to oppress another day. I wonder if our chances will be any better after Saturday…

    We can but hope….

  19. Rosie 19
    19 September 2014 at 5:46 pm

    There’s only the Highlands to go now but they can’t save it. It’s a NO.

    Feeling gutted on behalf of the YES voters. Really saddened, Scotland had an opportunity to govern themselves and turned it down. All those hopeful young people talking about why they voted YES on the livestream will be heart broken.

    Riot’s in Glasgow?

  20. Disraeli Gladstone 20
    19 September 2014 at 6:29 pm

    As someone who has a Scottish and English parent, a Welsh grandfather among the Scots and English, as someone who has lived, studied and worked in Scotland and England and as someone who regards themselves as British, I am so pleased with this result.

    Excellent stuff.

    I hope this leads to a profound dialogue about the nation’s constitution, a federal United Kingdom and devolved regional assemblies for not just the Home Nations, but also the regions within those nations.

    Yorkshire should be just as free from London as Fife or the Valleys.

    Going to have a nice glass to celebrate tonight.

  21. Pete 21
    19 September 2014 at 6:33 pm

    It was always going to be a case where a large number of Scots would have been disappointed with the result, regardless of which way it went. But when 45 percent of people want out, that’s a sign that something is very wrong with how the country is governed. Maybe there can be enough reform within the current system to keep people satisfied. The very worst thing would be to tell them to suck it up and make no meaningful change at all.

  22. Belladonna 22
    19 September 2014 at 7:02 pm

    So disappointing for many of us with Scottish ancestory. Let’s hope tomorrow brings us better news.

  23. Great Bear 23
    19 September 2014 at 8:02 pm

    I was quite exited for Scotland to go independent (for a minute), but it wouldn’t truly change anything would it? Realising this, who really cares, in the end! I read Elizabeth was going to remain the head of state, so they weren’t really going to be independent. Its just all bullshit really- like usual!

    • RedBaronCV 23.1
      19 September 2014 at 10:11 pm

      Perhaps she had better hand back Charlies “lord of the Isles” title to the real owner. Intellewctual property theft methinks

  24. Sable 24
    19 September 2014 at 8:16 pm

    Alas poor Scotland, they gave into fear mongering from London and the MSM. So still part of the warmongering Brit led UK. A sad day for democracy….

    I hope we fare better tomorrow but I have my doubts…..

  25. Great Bear 25
    19 September 2014 at 8:37 pm

    Sable, there is no such thing as democracy. There is ‘one’ who orchestrates world affairs and believe me he is all over the place, what the hell is he doing, even he has no fucking idea.

  26. Andrew Welsh 26
    19 September 2014 at 9:14 pm

    Nice to see the “left” showing respect to the voting will from the residents of Scotland.

  27. millsy 27
    19 September 2014 at 9:23 pm

    It was probably the promise of more powers and freedoms for the Scots that swayed the no vote. Now it is up to the Brits to hold up their end of the bargain.

    Gotta admit though. The prospect of an independent Scotland would have been history in the making. I remember watching the Soviet flag being hauled down on TV when I was a boy. Scotland raising thiers would have been just as milestoneish.

    • JRT 27.1
      19 September 2014 at 9:29 pm

      Don’t think Scotland will ever get those powers. Suddenly Cameron doesn’t have time to do anything before the next election. Imagine he’ll be too busy after it too. Scotland I think will live to regret the No vote. They are completely powerless now.

  28. Brian 28
    19 September 2014 at 10:13 pm

    That’s a shame.

  29. RedBaronCV 29
    19 September 2014 at 10:14 pm

    And my heart goes out to the bloke further down our street. Clear what he thought

  30. Andrew Welsh 30
    19 September 2014 at 10:23 pm

    JRT, IMO it’s unreasonable to make the assumption that the Scots will regret their decision. I note a number of commentators on The Standard blog advocating Scottish Independance from NZ. Just because the ideology from a resident of NZ doesn’t match the final decision of the Scots it doesn’t mean they are the “powerless” nation of individuals you think they are.
    By the way, I am politically aligned to the right, am married time an immigrant and don’t believe in hiding behind a psuedonum when posting on political blog sites

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    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

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