The time that Roger Douglas was right

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, May 21st, 2022 - 39 comments
Categories: act, Media, roger douglas, superannuation - Tags:

Brian Gaynor died this week.  He was a quite exceptional reporter and writer.  He has this very clear way of expressing himself and analysing complex situations.  He was a business reporter rather than a political reporter but his writing covered issues of wide interest.

Patrick Smellie said this about Brian:

His columns on a Saturday morning were required reading for every investor and for anyone who wanted an investor’s money.

He was the small investor’s champion, a campaigner for a fairer but also more vibrant investment environment, and very often the scourge of the top end of town for expressing views that were often unpopular, iconoclastic and emphatically expressed.

Brian was a man whose preference was to call a spade an extremely poor shovel.

There was rarely any doubt about where you stood with him. His standards were as high as his generosity to the people, causes and businesses he decided to back.

Gaynor presented a business focused view of the world but it was presented in such a community centric way.  If business served community then it was doing the right thing.

Through Twitter I stumbled on this column that Brian wrote in 2008 where he talked about the repercussions of the 1975 election and the dismantling of the Roger Douglas (yes him) Superannuation scheme.  His analysis was exceptional and very clearly expressed.

https://twitter.com/bex_stevenson/status/1527430613304676352

In the article Gaynor said this:

Sir Robert Muldoon painted Labour’s fledgling super scheme as a step on the way to turning New Zealand into a Soviet clone.

A dreadful political decision, announced on December 15, 1975, transformed New Zealand from the potential Switzerland of the Southern Hemisphere into a low-ranking OECD economy.

Without this decision we would now be called “The Antipodean Tiger” and be the envy of the rest of the world. We would have a current account surplus, one of the lowest interest-rate structures in the world and would probably rank as one of the top five OECD economies.

And what would have happened?

We would still own ASB Bank, Bank of New Zealand and most of the other major companies now overseas-owned. Our entrepreneurs would have a plentiful supply of risk capital and would probably own a large number of Australian companies.

Most New Zealanders would face a comfortable retirement and would be the envy of their Australian peers. The Government would have a substantial Budget surplus and we would have one of the best educational and healthcare systems in the world.

Roger Douglas was an early supporter and cheerleader of the scheme.  In fact it could be claimed that he was the scheme’s instigator.  His Wikipedia entry says this:

Douglas was an early and enthusiastic promoter of the government’s plans for a compulsory contributory superannuation scheme that would supplement the old age pension. In 1972, while still in opposition, he introduced a private member’s bill that provided for a form of compulsory superannuation. In Cabinet, Rowling, who was then Minister of Finance, and Douglas were largely responsible for a 1973 White Paper setting out the government’s proposals for superannuation. As well as augmenting individual provision for retirement, the scheme was intended to be a source of capital for investment in the domestic economy.[14] The scheme became law in the form of the New Zealand Superannuation Act 1974.

Muldoon killed the scheme.  National campaigned using dancing cossacks and obscure claims that worked on scaring the population.  It worked and a National Government was returned although in the days of FPP a well performing Values Party did not help.  I have not witnessed such mass electoral gullibility since then although I am worried about the current situation because National is displaying the same ideological refusal for the state to do anything.  And the same use of anger and opposition to the Government doing anything.  Progressives campaign best using hope.  For conservatives the best campaign techniques involve anger and fear.

Since 1975 National has followed a similar approach to the collective provision of security.  They opposed the introduction of Kiwisaver and the formation of the Cullen Fund.  Thankfully rather than destroying these schemes they have weakened them.  Ideologically they refuse to accept that the state has a role to look after as many of us as possible.

Douglas obviously started off as a decent human being but then degenerated.  It happens.  But for the reasons that Gaynor provides there was one occasion where I wished policy that Douglas had a huge role in introducing had been protected and sustained.

39 comments on “The time that Roger Douglas was right ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. SPC 1
    21 May 2022 at 10:39 am

    And then there was an original intent in 1983 – that the reforms implemented 1984-1987 would include an assets tax (he preferred this to CGT).

    Without a CGT, or assets tax, the reform was imbalanced and led to speculative buying rather than investment in the economy. It went even worse when National removed the estate tax (and gift duties on early dispursement) later.

    Of course the best option is a CGT, wealth taxation and estate taxation (which is common in the first world OECD nations).

  2. RedLogix 2
    21 May 2022 at 11:33 am

    When TOP launched a more sophisticated and developed scheme to achieve all of this – the left threw a big fat tribal tantrum.

    Frankly I am beginning to think the best thing we could do for NZ politics getting rid of political parties altogether.

    • pat 2.1
      21 May 2022 at 11:54 am

      I used to hold that view (still do in many respects) but always struggled with how policy would be formed….a lot a time and resources needed.

    • mickysavage 2.2
      21 May 2022 at 12:03 pm

      The right would have a field day. Just look at what is happening in Australia if you allow "ideology free" politics to operate.

    • KJT 2.3
      21 May 2022 at 12:05 pm

      "The left threw a big fat tribal tantrum".

      What is "The left". You keep talking about?

      Some on the left criticized it. Fairly in my view.

      Morgan's heart is in the right place. But his solutions are coloured by a rather conventional economics perspective.

      Parties, I.E. associations of people who want to get certain policies enacted will always coalesce together. Regardless of what you call them.

      Of course actually having Democracy would make parties less relevent.

      • Incognito 2.3.1
        21 May 2022 at 12:17 pm

        Parties, I.E. associations of people who want to get certain policies enacted will always coalesce together. Regardless of what you call them.

        Do we like or want ‘political cartels’ in the House of Representatives and have ‘political oligopolies’ dominating debates & decisions?

        Party structures are embedded in NZ Parliament and intrinsic to how it operates. Is that a good thing?

        • KJT 2.3.1.1
          21 May 2022 at 12:59 pm

          I don't think it is a good thing.

          But. It is going to happen regardless.
          Like minded groups always club together to get what they want.

          More democracy tends to ameliate the effects somewhat..

          • Incognito 2.3.1.1.1
            21 May 2022 at 1:47 pm

            Ok, but what does “more democracy” mean? Does it mean more transparency, more accountability, more consultation, more referendums, lower party vote threshold, more participation, or something else? In other words, tweaking & tinkering with the current system or a more fundamental structural difference?

        • AB 2.3.1.2
          21 May 2022 at 2:23 pm

          Parties are coalitions of similar real-world interests. We can try to pretend these interests don't exist – as we did for years in local body politics and still do to a lesser extent. When someone claims to be "independent" in local body politics it is necessary to parse their usually inane and badly-written 'bios' looking for keywords and phrases that indicate a left or right disposition. There are trigger words that indicate that "this guy's a Nat", for example. It is bad for democracy and essentially deceitful.

          A party label gives a sense of the general underlying worldview of an individual. I vote (or don't) for people based on what I take to be that background worldview – and can't make satisfactory decisions about individuals I don't know without a party label. I am not swayed by them having a nice smile or great hair. (Though to be fair, if someone has no hair combined with an ideology I detest, then the no hair does becomes an additional 'thing'.)

          Unless we are talking some form of direct democracy where we don't elect representatives at all, I think parties are on balance better than the pretense that coalitions of interests don't exist.

          • pat 2.3.1.2.1
            21 May 2022 at 3:24 pm

            "A party label gives a sense of the general underlying worldview of an individual"

            It may have once crudely…Labour the party of workers, National the Party of business, NZ First the party of nationalists, Maori Party the party of Maori interests, Greens the party of the environment, ACT the party of minimalist government.

            With the exception of perhaps the Maori Party they are now all parties of the conflicted….they are all however one thing, parties that seek power over the populace.

          • Incognito 2.3.1.2.2
            21 May 2022 at 6:24 pm

            Thanks, that’s a good comment I can do something with.

            I dread the Local Elections because I have to wade through numerous individual ‘mini-manifestos’, which are often next-to-useless to make an informed decision. I never vote for candidates with unclear ambiguous wishy-washy profiles and what they might be standing for.

    • Incognito 2.4
      21 May 2022 at 12:11 pm

      Frankly I am beginning to think the best thing we could do for NZ politics getting rid of political parties altogether.

      I have often wondered too about an alternative for party politics in so- called representative democracies and parliaments. Banding/grouping together based on ‘personal traits’ or ideologies, assuming mutual interests, comes natural to people. However, by definition this results in in- and out-group behaviour and attitudes, which also come natural to people, which, in my view, leads to artificial division between groups and polarisation of ideas and thus of rhetoric as well. Et cetera.

      MPs seem to be representing their respective parties first and foremost rather than representing the true stakeholders in a democracy, who are the people, of course; are they in it for themselves, for their respective parties (and careers within those parties), or for the people that they supposedly and allegedly represent? Same question can be asked of and about the parties: why do they (still) exist, what genuine purpose do they serve, and what real impact do they make on society that could not have been achieved otherwise and without them?

      For example, in NZ Parliament or rather in the New Zealand House of Representatives, do we have 120 MPs or do we have 5 Political Parties?

      Heresy to ask these sort of questions on The Standard?

      Fodder for OM or another Post angel

      • SPC 2.4.1
        21 May 2022 at 2:02 pm

        You could achieve it by replacing the head of state with an elected head of executive government … and thus have competent people in ministerial office and MP's operating on their Select Committees.

        • Incognito 2.4.1.1
          21 May 2022 at 2:51 pm

          “thus”?? I don’t follow the logic here, please elaborate.

          • SPC 2.4.1.1.1
            21 May 2022 at 3:17 pm

            It's fairly obvious that the talent pool is larger outside a party caucus than within it.

            • Incognito 2.4.1.1.1.1
              21 May 2022 at 3:31 pm

              It may be fairly obvious to you what you mean in both your comments, but not to me, it isn’t.

              You seem to suggest that electing a President (?) will somehow (??) result in having “competent people in ministerial office and MP's operating on their Select Committees.”

              What talent pool are you talking about? Inside a political Party or in the overall population? Are you suggesting that lack of talent in a Party caucus is the sole reason why we may not “have competent people in ministerial office and MP's operating on their Select Committees.”? If so, how would “an elected head of executive government” improve this?

              I don’t think your replies are clear at all, so please explain your reasoning.

              • SPC …
                21 May 2022 at 3:48 pm

                Surely the practice of nations with an elected head of executive government is no mystery?

                Such Presidents can choose anyone to act in Cabinet office.

                In those environs, the parliamentary MP's role (relative to the executive power) becomes that of Select Committee checks and balances on the executive. That, at its best, can result in MP's working across party lines together to hold the executive to account and formulate legislation.

                Which is what you were calling for, MP's working together rather than being divided by party political contest for executive power.

                Which is nice in theory, but apparently some things become harder than they should be ….

                • Incognito …
                  21 May 2022 at 5:07 pm

                  The ‘mystery’ was what you were talking about and what you meant unless you expect mindreading.

                  I’m not aware of examples of such political system and would never have guessed what you were going on about. I still don’t know which or whose theory this is, e.g., is it yours?

                  Can you provide real-world examples?

                  Least of all I follow how the choices & decisions of that one elected person, i.e., of the President, does lead to those alleged improvements.

  3. Anne 3
    21 May 2022 at 12:17 pm

    I have not witnessed such mass electoral gullibility since then although I am worried about the current situation because National is displaying the same ideological refusal for the state to do anything.

    Which is why I, along with many other long-in-the-tooth voters, are so exercised by recent political shenanigans. We can see similarities between the Muldoon regime and today's crop of closed minded, ultra conservative disciples of right-wing strategic thinking straight out of the Muldoon playbook.

    I remember around 6am on the morning after the 1975 election, sitting alone atop of one of Auckland's volcanic cones reflecting on what we had just lost – an assured future. I knew we were going to be the poorer under a Muldoon government. The worst aspect was the fact Muldoon threw out every progressive policy the Kirk/Rowling Govt. enacted and for no other reason than political expediency.

    His MO was to smear everything, and with the help of The Press (the word Media hadn't been invented), to demonise the Labour Govt. every-which -way. And to ensure victory, he promised a totally irresponsible superannuation scheme to every citizen from the age of 60 which was to cripple the country's economic outlook for years to come. Indeed we are still paying the price today!

    Everyone likens Luxon to John Key. He's not a JK clone. He's a re-incarnation of Rob Muldoon but without Muldoon's bombastic characteristics.

    • KJT 3.1
      21 May 2022 at 1:05 pm

      Wasn't it that election, or the next one, where Muldoon gerrymandered into power, on electoral roll votes, despite a minority of the vote.

      • Anne 3.1.1
        21 May 2022 at 2:28 pm

        I think that was 1978 KJT. There were electoral boundary changes prior to that election and the Electoral Commission (not sure it was called that at the time) chose to realign the boundaries of key seats in favour of the National Party. Whether or not Muldoon played a role was never proven, but he was a bully and public servants in particular often found themselves on the sticky end of his disapproval. It was widely believed at the time there had been 'interference' but no inquiry was undertaken to my knowledge and even if it had been, there is no way it would have found against Muldoon and his merry band of bandits – including John Slater who is Cameron Slater’s father.

        Accordingly Labour won the overall vote but did not become the government. It was to take another 15 plus years before MMP was introduced.

      • mosa 3.1.2
        21 May 2022 at 7:15 pm

        Muldoon's landslide in 1975 gave him a majority of 23 which he lost in 1978 and he held only 10.

        His last win in 1981 was tight and he retained the treasury benches with a majority of one after a recount in several seats.

        He limped on to the schnapps election after governing with the assistance of Social Credit and Kirk an independent MP.

        Marilyn Warring’s withdrawal of her vote was his excuse to go to the country early on Bastille day.

    • Sacha 3.2
      21 May 2022 at 2:59 pm

      I have not witnessed such mass electoral gullibility since then

      We have never removed Muldoon's bribe that now swallows over half of the annual welfare budget.

      https://twitter.com/SachaDylan/status/1527426966999035904

  4. Ross 4
    21 May 2022 at 1:33 pm

    I am worried about the current situation because National is displaying the same ideological refusal for the state to do anything.

    National doesn't want the State to do anything? When Luxon talks about changing tax brackets – likely preventing minimum wage earners from paying more tax via a higher tax bracket – that is doing nothing? Or how about gradually increasing the age of eligibility for superannuation? Ironically, it's Labour that doesn't want the State to intervene here.

    • Mike the Lefty 4.1
      21 May 2022 at 2:18 pm

      National talks a lot about what they WOULDN'T do but not much about what they WOULD do – besides cutting income tax and building roads, that is.
      Probably because they wouldn’t actually do anything.

  5. Mike the Lefty 5
    21 May 2022 at 2:28 pm

    The 1972 NZ Super Scheme had one thing substantially different from Kiwisaver – it was government operated and government guaranteed. And that was both its biggest strength and weakness. Its strength was that the profits would stay in NZ and people would not have to worry about what type of fund to choose, where the money was invested, etc. which is beyond the comprehension of a good many Kiwisaver investors.

    But it was also its downfall as it made it easy prey for the National Party conspiracy theory machine which claimed the Labour government was going to buy up all the land – the farms, the factories – mass nationalisation – COMMUNISM!.

    And the sheep believed it all.

    But I hardly share the nostalgia about Roger Douglas (I won't refer to him as "sir" because he doesn't deserve it). He wasn't the only one who advocated it and you can be sure as hell he would have sold it off to overseas interests in the 80s had it still been operating to pay off his and the former government's high debts.

    • pat 5.1
      21 May 2022 at 3:42 pm

      And I believe another difference was the contributions were not personalised….i may stand to be corrected….the projected outcomes may also be somewhat overstated…Norway, despite its oil/gas riches being the bulk of its SWFs is not considered a 'tiger' nor is it the wealthiest country per capita, indeed Ireland ranks higher, and we know about recent events in Ireland.

      Having said that, I think the Rowling option was probably better than Muldoon's, in the long run…..but then I have the benefit of hindsight.

      • Patricia Bremner 5.1.1
        21 May 2022 at 6:55 pm

        We were paid back our personal contribution.

        Pat I once saw Muldoon speak to his wife in the most nasty way. He had a belligerent impatient snarky manner, and he thought he was humorous.

        He tried to control everything, which made a mockery of those ads about cossacks.

        The Right despised him because they saw him as strong on benefits (super), and weak for going cap in hand to borrow from the World Bank.

        The poor were hurt by Britain dropping us for Europe's food basket. He did try to mitigate that, but his austerity mates undermined his price freezes and other efforts.

        However his megalomania grew and became the stuff of Legends.

        The failure to pass the treasury and other tools of Government to the Lange Government, meant a devaluation of 30% was announced by Douglas, was delayed long enough for money to go off shore and then be returned by the well heeled!!.

        It was a total mess.

        • pat 5.1.1.1
          21 May 2022 at 7:14 pm

          I am well aware of the history Patricia….its my life….the questions are around the motivations and outcomes….on reflection I think Muldoon's motivations were better than presented,( at the time I was as anti as most) ….the outcomes were an unfortunate result of timing and circumstance…that dosnt absolve his personality deficiencies.

  6. Ad 6
    21 May 2022 at 4:53 pm

    Australia is now our great wealth alternative history.

    • Blazer 6.1
      21 May 2022 at 7:20 pm

      Australias wealth is reliant on digging it up and selling it….mining!…a U.S satellite that should be renamed..Ausmerica.

    • mosa 6.2
      21 May 2022 at 7:26 pm

      AD very sad but true. What might have been.

  7. Hunter Thompson II 7
    22 May 2022 at 12:55 pm

    Sad to lose Brian Gaynor, as he made a massive contribution to business journalism.

    I always liked his writing for the Herald, where he often exposed the dubious financial dealings of NZ's corporate wide boys. Good too that he wasn't afraid to front them in court.

    If he said shareholders in Company X Ltd were in for an exciting ride, he was really providing a clear warning to would-be investors in carefully coded language.

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    There’s been a major setback for one Ukrainian-backed militia on the Russian border, after the group ordered a large shipment of pagers to use as improvised explosive devices. The plan was to litter the pagers throughout abandoned homes and buildings in hopes of wounding Russian soldiers. But upon arrival of ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    3 days ago
  • A constitutional shitshow

    Last month, we learned that the government was half-arsing its anti-gang legislation, adding a significant, pre-planned, BORA-abusing amendment at the committee stage, avoiding all the usual scrutiny processes. But it gets worse. Because having done it once, they're now planning to recall the bill in order to add another such ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Political Round Up

    Note: An earlier version of this article noted Levy was a “party time Health NZ commissioner” - this has been updated - forgive my Freudian slip.Dr Lester Levy is charging $320,000 a year to be a part time Health NZ commissioner. Rachel Thomas reports that Levy is still teaching 2 ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Postcard from Sydney: Southwest and City Metro extension

    This is a guest post from Sydney reader Nik Clement After 2 years in Auckland I moved back to Sydney just over a year ago. While in Auckland, I went to the opening of Puhinui station and used it a fair bit, living in Manukau Central and being able ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Tolling revolt brewing in National heartland

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 18:Locals gathered in Woodville last night to protest at the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s decision to toll the new road linking the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, saying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The doom spiral

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In his last post, Zeke discussed incredible warmth of 2023 and 2024 and its implications for future warming. A few readers looked at it and freaked out: This is terrifying and This update really put me in a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Government directs Te Puni Kōkiri to conduct Māori Language Week in English

    The coalition government has issued a directive to Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development, instructing them that – in the interests of clear communication – they are to conduct this year’s Māori Language Week primarily or exclusively in English. The directive is in line with the Government’s policy ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it a...

    At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done

    It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play

    Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Climbing out of the hamster wheel

    I arrived home with a head full of fresh ideas about mindfulness and curbing impulsive aspects in my character.On the second night home I grabbed a piece of ginger and began swiftly slicing it on our industrial strength mandolin, the one I have learned through painful experience to treat with ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • More Notes From Stinky Town

    Good morning, folks. Another wee note from a chilly Rotorua morning that looks much clearer than yesterday. As I write, the pink glow in the east is slowly growing, and soon, the palest of blue skies should become a bit more royal.A couple of people mentioned yesterday that I should ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Make it make sense: why axe valuable local projects?

    Last week, Matt looked at how the government wants to pour a huge chunk of civic infrastructure funding for a generation  into one mega-road up North, at huge cost and huge opportunity cost. A smaller but no less important feature of the National Land Transport Plan devised by Minister of Transport ...
    Greater AucklandBy Jolisa
    4 days ago
  • Driving blind at higher speeds

    An open letter by experts about plans to raise speed limits warns the “tragic consequence will be more New Zealanders losing their lives or suffering severe injury, along with a substantial burden on the nation's healthcare and rehabilitation services”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • 2024’s unusually persistent warmth

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink My inaugural post on The Climate Brink 18 months ago looked at the year 2024, and found that it was likely to be the warmest year on record on the back of a (than forecast) El Nino event. I suggested “there is a real chance ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • National plan for 2000 more Kiwis a year in prison

    Open for allYesterday, Luxon congratulated his government on a job well done with emergency housing numbers, but advocates have been saying it‘s likely many are on the streets and sleeping in cars.Q&A featured some of the folks this weekend - homeless and in cars. Yes.The government’s also confirmed they stopped ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • I Found a Note in a Tree

    Hi,On most days I try to go on a walk through nature to clear my head from the horrors of life. Because as much as I like people, I also think it’s incredibly important to get very far away from them. To be reminded that there are also birds, lizards, ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Politicians need to lift their game

    Declining trust in New Zealand politicians should be a warning to them to lift their game. Results from the New Zealand Election Study for the 2023 election show that the level of trust in politicians has once again declined. Perhaps it is not surprising that the results, shared as part ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’

    Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    5 days ago
  • A dysfunctional watchdog

    The reality of any right depends on how well it is enforced. But as The Post points out this morning, our right to official information isn't being enforced very well at all: More than a quarter of complaints about access to official information languish for more than a year, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: The threat of a good example

    Since taking office, the climate-denier National government has gutted agricultural emissions pricing, ended the clean car discount, repealed water quality standards which would have reduced agricultural emissions, gutted the clean car standard, killed the GIDI scheme, and reversed efforts to reduce pollution subsidies in the ETS - basically every significant ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vegas Baby

    Good morning, lovely people. Don’t worry. This isn’t really a newsletter, just a quick note. I’m sitting in our lounge, looking out over a gloomy sky. Although being Rotorua, the view is periodically interrupted by steam bursting from pipes and dispersing—like an Eastern European industrial hellscape during the Cold War.Drinking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Why Entrust Needs New Leadership

    I am part of a new team running in the Entrust election in October. Entrust is a community electricity trust representing a significant part of Auckland, set up to serve the community. It is governed by five trustees are elected every three years in an election the trust itself oversees. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • London Bridge is falling down

    In the UK, London is the latest of council groups to signal potential bankruptcy.That’s after Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, went bankrupt in June, resulting in reduced sanitation services, libraries cut, and dimmed streetlights.Some in the city described things as “Dickens” like.Please, Sir, Can I have some more?For families with ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Govt may kick elderly out of hospitals

    The Government is considering how to shunt elderly people out of hospitals, and also how to cut their access to other support. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Getting the nephs off the couch

    The so-called “Prince of the Provinces”, Shane Jones, went home last Friday. Perhaps not quite literally home, more like 20 kilometres down the road from his house on the outskirts of Kerikeri. With its airport, its rapidly growing (mostly retired) population, and a commercial centre with all the big retail ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • De moralibus orcorum: Sargon of Akkad, Rings of Power, Evil, and George R.R. Martin

    I have noted before that The Rings of Power has attracted its unfortunate share of culture war obsessives. Essentially, for a certain type of individual, railing on about the Wokery of Modern Media is a means of making themselves a online livelihood. Clicks and views and advertising revenue, and all ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37

    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 8, 2024 thru Sat, September 14, 2024. Story of the week From time to time we like to make our Story of the Week all about us— and ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • Salvation For Us All

    Yesterday, I ruminated about the effects of being a political follower.And, within politics, David Seymour was smart enough on Friday to divert attention from “race blind” policies [what about gender blind I thought - thinking of maternity wards] and cutting school lunches by throwing meat to the media. Teachers were ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A warm embrace

    Far, far away from here lives our King. Some of his subjects can be quite the forelock tuggers, but plenty of us are not like that, and why don't I wheel out my favourite old story once more about Kiwi soldiers in the North African desert?Field Marshal Montgomery takes offence ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Literal clowns are running the place, we must put a timeout on this stupidity… right Aotearoa?

    These people are inept on every level. They’re inept to the detriment of our internal politics, cohesion and increasingly our international reputation. And they are reveling in the fact they are getting away with it. We cannot even have “respectful debate” with a government that clearly rejects the very ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago
  • Fact brief – Does manmade CO2 have any detectable fingerprint?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does manmade CO2 have any ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago
  • Judge Not.

    Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY men and women professing the Christian faith would appear to have imperilled their immortal souls. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Managed Democracy: Letting The People Decide, But Only When They Can Be Relied Upon To Give the Righ...

    Uh-uh! Not So Fast, Citizens! The power to initiate systemic change remains where it has always been in New Zealand’s representative democracy – in Parliament. To order a binding referendum, the House of Representatives must first to be persuaded that, on the question proposed, sharing its decision-making power with the people ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.

    Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.

    The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.

    Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Winning ways

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Street architecture adjustment, KolkataShare Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years

    Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm

    The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...

    Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • In Open Seas; A Book

    The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 13

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Do or do not. There is no try

    1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Dangerous ground

    The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Tourism on the table for Pacific Ministers’ meet-up

    Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey will meet with Trade and Tourism Minister of Australia Don Farrell and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica in Rotorua this weekend for a trilateral tourism discussion. “Like in New Zealand, tourism plays a significant role in Australia and Fiji’s economy, contributing massively to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Young people report on family and sexual violence

    The Te Puna Aonui Expert Advisory Group for Children and Young People has presented its report today on improving family and sexual violence outcomes for young people, to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour.  The presentation at the Auckland event was an opportunity for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • $18 million being invested in the victims of crime

    The Government is putting more than $18 million towards improving the experience of the criminal justice system for victims, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say. “No one should experience crime, but for those who through no fault of their own become victims, they need to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Landmark phonics check in te reo Māori

    For the first time, schools can use a purpose-built tool to check how a child is progressing in reading through te reo Māori. “Around 45 schools are trialling a New Zealand first te reo Māori phonics check, known as Hihira Weteoro. It will help kaiako (teachers) focus on what ākonga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation

    Two new breakwater walls at Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour will provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in Bay of Plenty, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say. The Ministers and leaders from Tē Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea and other ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kitmap to improve access to science infrastructure

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced an online platform to optimise the use of New Zealand’s science and technology research infrastructure and to link the public and private sector. “This country is home to world-class science, technology, and engineering expertise. Kitmap is set to empower Kiwi innovators, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Driving the uptake of low emission heavy vehicles

    The Government has launched the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) to promote innovation and offset the cost of hundreds of heavy vehicles powered by clean technologies, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts say. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech on replacing the Resource Management Act

    Replacing the RMA Hon Chris Bishop: Good morning, it is great to be with you. Can I first acknowledge the Resource Management Law Association for hosting us here today. Can I also acknowledge my Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Simon Court, who is on stage with me. He has assisted me in establishing the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Replacement for the Resource Management Act takes shape

    Two new laws will be developed to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), with the enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. “The RMA was passed with good intentions in 1991 but has proved a failure in practice. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tough laws pass to make gang life uncomfortable

    Legislation passed through Parliament today will provide police and the courts with additional tools to crack down on gangs that peddle misery and intimidation throughout New Zealand, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “From November 21, gang insignia will be banned in all public places, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New levy rates set to ensure continued funding of FENZ

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the rates for the redesigned levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) from July 2026.  “Earlier this year FENZ consulted publicly on a 5.2 percent increase to the levy. I was not convinced that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Police allocate Officers to Beat and Gang Units

    The Coalition Government welcomes Police’s announcement today to deploy more police on the beat and staff to Gang Disruption Units.  An additional 70 officers will be allocated to Community Beat Teams across towns and regional centres.  This builds on the deployment of beat officers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Consultation begins on significant updates to the biosecurity system

    Proposals to strengthen the country’s vital biosecurity system, including higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, greater flexibility around importing requirements, and fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses have been released today for public consultation. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says “The future is about resilience and the 30-year-old ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Wānaka community to benefit from new overnight health service

    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says an Overnight Acute Care Service opening in October will provide people in Wānaka and the surrounding area with the assurance of quality overnight care closer to home.  “When I was in Wānaka earlier this year, I announced funding for an overnight health service – ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Preventing potholes with data-driven technology

    The Government is rolling out data collection vans across the country to better understand the condition of our road network to prevent potholes from forming in the first place, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key priority for the Government and increasing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • GDP data shows effect of high interest rates

    Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the quarter to June 2024 reinforces how an extended period of high interest rates has meant tough times for families, businesses, and communities, but recent indications show the economy is starting to bounce back, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ data released today ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ to host first Fiji, Australia trilateral trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will host Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for trilateral trade talks in Rotorua this weekend. “Fiji is one of the largest economies in the Pacific and is a respected partner for Australia and New Zealand,” Mr McClay says. Australia and New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ hosts Annual CER Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will meet with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua this weekend.  “CER is our most comprehensive agreement covering trade, labour mobility, harmonisation of standards and political cooperation. It underpins an important trading relationship worth $32 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government proposing changes to jury trials

    The Government is seeking the public’s feedback on two major changes to jury trials in order to improve court timeliness, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “The first proposal would increase the offence threshold at which a defendant can decide to have their case heard by a jury. “The second is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Business key to regional economic dialogue

    Local businesses and industries need to be front and centre in conversations about how regions plan to grow their economies, Regional Development Shane Jones says. The nationwide series of summits aims to facilitate conversations about regional economic growth and opportunities to drive productivity, prosperity and resilience through the Coalition Government’s Regional ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • More funding for Growing Up in New Zealand study

    The Government is investing $16.8 million over the next four years to extend the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) Longitudinal Study. GUiNZ is New Zealand’s largest longitudinal study of child health and wellbeing and has followed the lives of more than 6000 children born in 2009 and 2010, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tough targets for charter schools will raise achievement

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that Charter Schools will face a combination of minimum performance thresholds and stretch targets for achievement, attendance and financial sustainability. “Charter schools will be given greater freedom to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways, but they will be held to a much ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ votes for Middle East resolution at UN

    New Zealand has voted for a United Nations resolution on Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian Territory with some caveats, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand’s yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution,” Mr Peters says.    “The Israel-Palestine ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Honouring the legacy of New Zealand’s suffragists

    Suffrage Day is an opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s commitment to ensuring we continue to be a world leader in gender equality, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says. “On 19 September, 131 years ago, New Zealand became the first nation in the world where women gained the right to vote. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Foreign Minister to travel to New York, French Polynesia

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to New York next week to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed by a visit to French Polynesia. “In the context of the myriad regional and global crises, our engagements in New York will demonstrate New Zealand’s strong support for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Thanking social workers on their national day

    “Today, on Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers’ Day, I would like to recognise the tremendous effort social workers make not just today, but every day,” Children’s Minister and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says. “I thank all those working on the front line for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister of State for Trade heads to Laos for ASEAN meetings

    Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg will travel to Laos this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meetings in Vientiane.   “The Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with ASEAN,” Ms Grigg says. “With next year marking 50 years since New Zealand became ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Members appointed to retail crime MAG

    The Government has appointed four members to the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “I am delighted to appoint Michael Hill’s national retail manager Michael Bell to the group, as well as Waikato community advocate and business ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation AGM and Conference 2024

    It’s my pleasure to be here to join the opening of the NZNO AGM and Conference for 2024.  First, I’d like to thank NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku, NZNO President, Anne Daniels, and Chief Execuitve Paul Gaulter for inviting me to speak today.  Thank you also to all the NZNO members ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Improvements for New Zealand authors

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says changes to the Public Lending Right [PLR] scheme will help benefit both the National Library and authors who have books available in New Zealand libraries. “I am amending the regulations so that eligible authors will no longer have to reapply every year ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister commends Police for gang operation

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell congratulates Police for the outstanding result of their most recent operation, targeting the Comancheros. “That Police have been able to round up the majority of the Comancheros leadership, and many of their patched members and prospects, shows not only the capability of Police, but also shows ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New appointments to the EPA board

    Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced a major refresh of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board with four new appointments and one reappointment.   The new board members are Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart and Nancy Tuaine, who have been appointed for a three-year term ending in August 2027.  “I would ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Enabling rural recovery works in Hawke’s Bay

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