This is really awkward

Written By: - Date published: 3:13 pm, February 21st, 2023 - 63 comments
Categories: climate change, Environment, national, same old national, science - Tags:

Maureen Pugh strikes again.

She has previously sided with the anti vaccination movement, prevaricated over being vaccinated herself and then hurriedly deleting a pro protest post she put up on facebook.  She was also described as being f*&king useless by Simon Bridges three National leaders ago.

The emergence of that event caused National to take drastic steps as detailed by Heather De Plessis Allan:

Take the case of Maureen Pugh. This is the MP described by Bridges in a secret recording as “f**king useless”. As soon as that tape leaked, National took over her life. They took her phone off her. A staffer answered it on her behalf. They probably drafted the tweet she sent out accepting Bridges’ apology. They marched her out to tell TV cameras she was fine. They sent another MP for support. Or supervision.

National is probably wishing that it had kept this supervision up.  Because Maureen has yet again dropped National in it, this time two weeks after two climate change induced storms had ravaged the North Island by questioning whether or not climate change is actually a thing.

From Jane Patterson at Radio New Zealand:

MPs this morning were being asked about the cyclone and the impact of climate change. Pugh was asked whether she thought climate change had made the recent cyclones and flooding more extreme.

“Some of the impact I’ve seen, a lot of the damage that was done, especially around Auckland, was because people weren’t allowed to prune and manage trees, that have come down and taken the cliffsides with them.”

She did believe in climate change, insisted Pugh, but was yet to be convinced human activity was a contributor.

“It’s not what I think, it’s what I can prove,” she told reporters.

Pugh said she was waiting for a response from Climate Change Minister James Shaw, after “one of our local councils wrote to him and asked him for the evidence before they impacted their ratepayers”.

“I’m not denying climate change, I’ve seen the evidence of it, we have cooled and warmed, cooled and warmed over millions of years.”

Pugh’s intellect is such that I don’t think that she will ever be able to be convinced that human induced climate change is a thing.  She shows no ability to understand the science.  And her comment about the warming and cooling of the climate is straight out of the climate change deniers handbook.

As for her comment that people not being allowed to prune and manage trees was the cause of coastal slips I have never read something this ridiculous ever coming from an MP.  And there is a lot of competition.

It makes you wonder how many other National MPs think similarly but do not publicly voice these opinions.  And why the country should ever trust National with the reigns of Government again.

This is not an accident.

Climate change does not feature in National’s priorities.

There is a fine line between not accepting that climate change is a crisis and that human induced climate change is not proven.  Both views will prevent us from taking steps that we need to take now.

63 comments on “This is really awkward ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. tsmithfield 1
    21 February 2023 at 3:21 pm

    Yes. She is a total embarrassment. Right up there with the flat-earthers and the anti-vaxxers.

    The problem with people of her ilk is that she claims she wants evidence. But, whatever evidence was put in front of her wouldn't be good enough. All she needs to do is go and look at a few of our glaciers and compare then with pics from 40 years ago if she wants evidence.

  2. Peter 2
    21 February 2023 at 3:35 pm

    Maureen has been to school this morning – well, schooled anyway.

    "National MP Maureen Pugh’s about-turn on climate change after Christopher Luxon intervenes"

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/national-mp-maureen-pughs-about-turn-on-climate-change-after-christopher-luxon-intervenes/XNLAINVHSZHGBMY2LERZ6KRFQI/

    • Tony Veitch 2.1
      21 February 2023 at 4:09 pm

      From the article: Luxon said,

      In our caucus from day one we are deeply, deeply committed to climate change.

      Which can be read two ways – that Natz will continue to contribute to climate change – by, for instance, encouraging oil and gas exploration again,

      or – that the Natz are aware of climate change but will do little or nothing to combat it.

      Maureen probably has quite a few covert supporters in her party (Stuart Smith for instance) and Luxon probably thinks his god will somehow save us all (or at least the chosen few among us)!

      • Mac1 2.1.1
        21 February 2023 at 5:51 pm

        "(Stuart Smith for instance) ".

        Got some evidence for that, Tony? Love to see it. Is he a closet climate change denier or a closet Pugh supporter?

      • Drowsy M. Kram 2.1.2
        22 February 2023 at 2:43 pm

        Yep, Luxon's statement that the Nat caucus "are deeply, deeply committed to climate change" is an exemplar of his thoughtless off-the-cuff utterances.
        Mayor Brown is in over his head, and Luxon’s out of his depth wink

  3. AB 3
    21 February 2023 at 3:52 pm

    The woke mob at the head of the National Party have cancelled Maureen. Sad!

  4. roy cartland 4
    21 February 2023 at 4:03 pm

    I just love Maureen Pugh. She's my pick for the next National leader.

    • Tony Veitch 4.1
      21 February 2023 at 4:12 pm

      Maureen is truly a "national" treasure!

      Seriously, would she be any worse than “Liability Luxon?”

    • woodart 4.2
      21 February 2023 at 6:01 pm

      fun fact.. pugh claims to have been hit by lightning, three times! we are getting into the twilight zone . next nat candidate selection meeting for the west coast is going to be interesting. could be tinfoil hat territory! that area throws up some bizarre councillors as well.

      • Incognito 4.2.1
        21 February 2023 at 6:14 pm

        Surely, they can find some wealthy businessman from overseas to parachute into the unsuspecting electorate, as they did with John Key in the Helensville electorate. Even a former Manager of an airline will do.

        • Matiri 4.2.1.1
          21 February 2023 at 7:12 pm

          It's a challenging electorate is West Coast Tasman – very large and remote, stretching from Haast to Golden Bay. Maybe Pugh is the only Nat willing to take it on, but it is her home.

          • Incognito 4.2.1.1.1
            21 February 2023 at 7:17 pm

            What’s life without a challenge …

          • observer 4.2.1.1.2
            21 February 2023 at 7:50 pm

            The nightmare for National is that Pugh stands again and wins the seat. That would mean one fewer in off the list, which they want to use for "rejuvenation".

            Like Epsom, it's an electorate they would rather lose.

          • Graeme 4.2.1.1.3
            21 February 2023 at 7:58 pm

            Also the Coast cooker / denier vote is substantial, and, if they vote, mostly vote National.

            She's just playing to her constituency.

          • Maurice 4.2.1.1.4
            22 February 2023 at 7:31 pm

            Yep West Coast Tasman is a large electorate needing HEAPS of FF to get from one end to the other and back to Parliament … no wonder Pugh dotes upon the means to travel to and fro!

    • Christopher Randal 4.3
      21 February 2023 at 8:13 pm

      She may be Labour's biggest asset in October – driving votes red!

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    21 February 2023 at 4:05 pm

    Anyone that follows or participates in Parliamentary politics in some way, would know that with all the main parties selection mistakes can be made, or swings happen, and blockheads or worse sneak through and become MPs. And even some unsuccessful candidates can appear in public too–as per Northland Christian School Principal Mark Tan, whose photo appeared in the Northland Age last year, as a brick thrower (while on sabbatical for being anti vaccination) at the Parliamentary occupation.

    The Natzos sure do seem to have more than their share of such people however!

  6. observer 6
    21 February 2023 at 4:21 pm

    She doesn't need to do more reading, as Willis says. She is 65. How much longer should she spend at school? She needs to do more leaving.

    The problem is that National keep giving her an electable list position. Even in the purge of 2020, Pugh survived.

    Assuming National get a much higher vote in 2023 (which they should) then she remains a "useless" MP, or even a Minister. She should be told (sorry, "encouraged") not to stand again. Otherwise Luxon's fresh new team is looking a lot like the stale old one.

    • woodart 6.1
      21 February 2023 at 6:22 pm

      why does she get such a high list placing?is it to help the fiction that the nats arent a white male preserve? is that why she sits behind luxo in the house? surely the nats arent that woke?lol!

      • Mac1 6.1.1
        21 February 2023 at 7:55 pm

        woodart, she sits behind Luxon because she is the National party junior whip, as of 2021. Her job is to nod her head when Luxon speaks and mouth "That's right."

        • woodart 6.1.1.1
          21 February 2023 at 8:03 pm

          Ive got one of those, won it at the A and P show. surely the nats could get someone else as nodding backdrop?

  7. Incognito 7
    21 February 2023 at 4:41 pm

    Pugh’s main (…) mistake was to undermine the National Party and damage the little credibility that they have in the space of CC.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/02/national-mp-maureen-pugh-regrets-her-unclear-comments-on-believing-in-man-made-climate-change.html

  8. Johnr 8
    21 February 2023 at 4:47 pm

    I hear on natrad that Cluxon has grave concerns about Labour effectively managing this crisis.

    To misquote cluxons puppet master Donkey. " Show us the plan, show us the plan"

    Oh that's right they're the party of personal responsibility. Sorry peasants, fix ya own ; roads, houses, businesses et al

  9. Powerman 9
    21 February 2023 at 5:07 pm

    Maureen when the mayor of Westland almost bankrupted it. She is a great asset to Labour! Is Luxon ever going to run out of photo ops and different clothing for each one?

  10. Liberty Belle 10
    21 February 2023 at 6:35 pm

    So does this mean Simon was right after all?wink

  11. Patricia Bremner 11
    21 February 2023 at 7:16 pm

    I wondered if it was to remove the spotlight from Chris Hipkins.??

    Hard to believe she has not seen the science.angry

  12. Leighton 12
    21 February 2023 at 8:16 pm

    I am impressed that Luxon has so adamantly drawn a line in the sand, despite the fact that this will alienate a substantial portion of his base. The first time in his tenure that he has publicly shown what I would regard as meaningful leadership. The acid test will be whether his unequivocal acceptance of climate change means that this manages to bump "Delivering tax relief" off his list of priorities. Until he walks the talk it is lip service.

    • observer 12.1
      21 February 2023 at 8:44 pm

      He was bounced into it, though. If you watch the Newshub clip, he's asked a general Q about climate change and he re-iterates the party line, and only then gets told that Pugh has had a brain fart. So he had no choice but to back up his own words.

      There's a real issue of internal communication here. No leader should get blindsided by their own MP, so that the reporters know before he does.

  13. Thinker 13
    21 February 2023 at 8:18 pm

    I think what those of us on the left don't understand, and we have to own our past mistakes, is that climate change is caused by too much tax.

    That's why the best way to deal with climate change is by cutting taxes.

    Together, we can do this.

    cheeky

    • Macro 13.1
      21 February 2023 at 8:31 pm

      Of course! It's obvious isn't it. By cutting taxes we can afford to buy much more modern cars which will be way more fuel efficient AND the bigger the engine the bigger the efficiency! Now I understand why everyone needs a 4×4 SUV/UTE of enormous proportions to go get the groceries – they are saving the planet.

    • mickysavage 13.2
      21 February 2023 at 8:32 pm

      Haha it is clear to me now … with enough prayer …

  14. Peter 14
    21 February 2023 at 8:33 pm

    There's one thing the Pugh situation highlights as she is being attacked, ridiculed, lampooned and her deficiencies making her stand out.

    Compared to US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene? I reckon Maureen Pugh is a total amateur. Taylor Greene carries on with an almost daily splurge of stupidity, vacuity and outstanding dumbness and still garners enough votes to get elected.

    In a comparative sense Pugh is a genius, a treasure of our parliamentary system.

  15. Robert Guyton 15
    21 February 2023 at 8:34 pm

    Maureen, Maureen, Maureen, Maureeeeeeeen!

    I'm begging of you, please!!!

    • roy cartland 15.1
      21 February 2023 at 9:40 pm

      Now that deserves a send-up, it could be as good as Planet Key (remember that?)!

    • Shanreagh 15.2
      21 February 2023 at 10:18 pm

      No, no you mustn't send up this song, it is verboten even for such a good cause as Maureen's is.

      I linked to it being sung as a duet by Olivia Newton John and Dolly Parton a couple of nights ago.

      Funny as I get older I am able to reclaim my former more secret favs such as Dolly, Kenny Rogers & especially Gladys Knight & the Pips & Midnight Train to Georgia.

  16. observer 16
    21 February 2023 at 10:59 pm

    One very watchable minute, with some classic quotes:

    https://twitter.com/antihobbes/status/1627941669604831234

  17. newsense 17
    21 February 2023 at 11:03 pm

    No one really seemed to pick up on what Wayne Brown said to Kin Hill before someone did a Maureen Pugh on him too:

    Kim: ‘Is there any doubt in your mind that this is an example of climate change?’

    Mayor Brown:

    ‘It’s a bit early to ask that. Erm, you know we’ve had some major events throughout my life. [nb the mayor had just finished saying how unprecedented this event was.] …and so it’s a bit early to jump to that, let’s just fix things that we’ve got now, I’m worried about the people [safety, restore infrastructure]…it’s a bit early for that and it’s not helpful either, to be honest.’

    Kim Hill interviews Mayor Brown during the Auckland flooding

    By Monday two days later his scripted comment was “As the Prime Minister has said, this is climate change. And I agree.”

    Apology by the Mayor on Jan 30th

    Which makes you think there’s still a lot of people for whom doubting and minimising climate change is part of their identity and perhaps they haven’t yet been seriously affected yet and are thinking like Mayor Brown’s first instinct. After all we’ve seen opportunistic Cits and Rats try to blame this on intensification, someone saying we can’t afford to recover from this event and build rail to mitigate future events and all other manner of things short of trips to Cancun.

  18. Thinker 18
    22 February 2023 at 6:31 am

    I'm going to be first in the queue to get my MAGA cap (Make Auckland Great Again)…

    Based on Brown's performance to date, its sure to be in production.

  19. Mike the Lefty 19
    22 February 2023 at 7:44 am

    I think that many National MPs probably secretly agree with her. National, even now, still prevaricates about climate change; sometimes agreeing, sometimes disagreeing, and always implying that it isn't such a big deal as the political left see it.

    If National wins the next election, almost certainly with ACT gaining some important cabinet portfolios, we will see National's commitment to addressing climate change watered down (no pun intended) even more as ACT calls the shots.

    • newsense 19.1
      22 February 2023 at 11:57 am

      Oh the positions seem fairly clear.

      ’It’s terrible, but it’s too late for us to do anything and we’re insignificant against China etc.’

      Ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, rebuilding, but no holding carbon producers to account and no priority for mitigation such as public transport and significant clean power. We’ve already seen Labour tack a bit in this direction.

  20. SPC 20
    22 February 2023 at 8:34 am

    Given no one on the right denies that we contribute, science shows the how, it was a matter of her inability to even stay on script with her teams climate change inaction politics.

    (reluctantly dragged along with) Acceptance of climate change caused by man, because we get science and are an electable government

    but …

  21. arkie 21
    22 February 2023 at 11:58 am

    Luxon: Maureen Pugh 'does a really good job'

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/484655/luxon-maureen-pugh-does-a-really-good-job

    Evidence please, Mr Luxon

    • woodart 21.1
      22 February 2023 at 12:18 pm

      well, she can read and do backflips at the same time. thats got to be a circus ad.

    • Matiri 21.2
      22 February 2023 at 2:51 pm

      I am in her electorate and have a disability and she doesn't make any effort to represent me! From the RNZ item:

      "Yeah, look, Maureen's a great local MP representing the West Coast incredibly well. She's deeply passionate about her portfolios – around disability in particular – and she does a really good job.

  22. joe90 22
    22 February 2023 at 2:04 pm

    Nearly five years on and it's still as funny AF.

    Simon was right.

    I am fucking useless.

    I’m not ashamed of it. I never have been. In fact, that’s why I became an MP.

    I became an MP because I wanted to represent you, the people of West Coast-Tasman, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that you’re useless. You’re fucking useless. We’re all fucking useless.

    For too long have our politicians represented the able, the competent, the capable, the generally sentient. But why should our national representatives only reflect those of us who can do, and not those of us who cannot?

    https://web.archive.org/web/20181017100926/http://www.thecivilian.co.nz/opinion-honestly-i-am-fucking-useless/

  23. Mac1 23
    22 February 2023 at 2:21 pm

    I see, watching Parliament, that someone's nodding head is missing from behind Mr Luxon in the junior Whip's seat.

    Someone else is sitting in Maureen Pugh's pew!

  24. AB 24
    22 February 2023 at 4:17 pm

    How much reading does Maureen need to do? Wouldn't a couple of graphs do the trick? They only need to correlate atmospheric CO2 with global economic output, global population, global record temperatures , arctic ice cover and number of extreme weather events . She really doesn't need to read anything.

    The issue is that she , like many of her colleagues, is ideologically pre-disposed not to believe it.

  25. Kyle Webster 25
    27 February 2023 at 7:14 pm

    nuclear power-loving"" Maws

    • weka 25.1
      28 February 2023 at 10:58 am

      I let this comment through but I have no idea what it means.

      • Incognito 25.1.1
        28 February 2023 at 11:47 am

        Heh! I was going to send it to Trash because if I cannot parse it, it would seem a poor comment – it lacked substance or anything redeeming.

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    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
    23 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

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

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