Throw another mil on the barbie

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 5th, 2013 - 104 comments
Categories: privatisation - Tags:

National’s going to spend a million taxpayer dollars just on advertising trying to convince Kiwis to sign up to buy something we already own and just in the ‘pre-registration’ phase of the Mighty River sale. God knows what the full cost of the sale will be. They’ve wasted $26m already and seem determined to keep throwing good money after bad while ignoring Kiwis’ howls of protest.

104 comments on “Throw another mil on the barbie ”

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  1. johnm 1
    5 March 2013 at 7:20 am

    Keyshine boy is a disgrace and his government. They’re determined to keep kissing the market’s bum to the better end while impoverishing kiwis to the bitter end of being economic aliens in their own land.:-(

  2. johnm 2
    5 March 2013 at 7:22 am

    Spelling correction to above bitter not better.

  3. Don't worry be happy 3
    5 March 2013 at 7:30 am

    Where the bloody hell is Labour?

    • SpaceMonkey 3.1
      5 March 2013 at 9:22 am

      Shaping up to be National’s coalition partner next election… O.O

    • David H 3.2
      5 March 2013 at 9:25 am

      Too busy infighting, and acting like spoiled children as usual! The sooner they sort their shit out the better.

      • Tom Gould 3.2.1
        5 March 2013 at 3:48 pm

        The chooks aren’t interested. They have their $1m ad spend over a fortnight, and the marketing folks tell the editorial folks what’s up. Labour, nor the Greens, will not get any cut through, because the headlines and the copy has already been written.

        • Colonial Viper 3.2.1.1
          5 March 2013 at 3:53 pm

          Yep. It was probably all written up and signed off before Christmas.

  4. johnm 4
    5 March 2013 at 7:44 am

    “Quoted in a New York Times article on Monday that describes the current economy as a “golden age for corporate profit,” Savita Subramanian, who heads the equity and quantitative strategy for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said that despite the terrible times for working people and warnings that nearly three-quarters of a million jobs could be lost this year in the US, “the market wants more austerity.”

    “Corporate Profits Soar as Worker Income Limps

    Experts estimate so-called budget sequestration could cost the country about 700,000 jobs, but Wall Street doesn’t expect the cuts to substantially alter corporate profits or threaten stock markets. ”

    It’s the s*dding market and corporate profits and the 1% that count, the Public Sector gets sold off to make these parasites richer. 🙁

    http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/03/04-1

    Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said that despite the terrible times for working people. Who used to work for Merrill Lynch?

  5. Lanthanide 5
    5 March 2013 at 7:44 am

    This is the government’s job policy – money for advert men.

  6. Colonial Viper 6
    5 March 2013 at 8:26 am

    A million dollars here, a million dollars there. Pretty soon it starts adding up to real money.

  7. Dv 7
    5 March 2013 at 8:38 am

    AND the 80% nz ownership means that 20% of the float will/could go off shore!!!!

    Perhaps the headline should be 20% of Might river to be sold off shore!!!!

  8. Skinny 8
    5 March 2013 at 8:41 am

    A million here, ten’s of million there to the Australian bankers advising on the sale of ‘our’ assets where will it end?

    Well it should end with Labour & the Green announcing the assets will be re-nationalised back. Send a clear message that if you buy shares you will get back what you paid for them. Perhaps minus the bankers fee etc.

  10. tarkwin 10
    5 March 2013 at 8:57 am

    You could always try buying some share. I will be.

    • karol 10.1
      5 March 2013 at 9:48 am

      I could afford it, but I wont.

      The sale is destructive to NZ, and will increase inequalities… downward spiral.

      • tarkwin 10.1.1
        5 March 2013 at 10:16 am

        I personally disagree with assett sales. I also believe the worst thing to happen to this country was Max Bradford privatising the electricity industry. However, this is going to happen. So every share bought by a Kiwi is a share that stays here. I’m nothing if not pragmatic.

      • indiana 10.1.2
        5 March 2013 at 4:57 pm

        The rich get richer because they think and act about becoming richer…an opportunity exists to become richer by taking a risk and investing in a company that will pay regular dividends…inequalities will exist and increase so long as there are people who don’t act and behave like rich people.

        • Colonial Viper 10.1.2.1
          5 March 2013 at 5:11 pm

          Funny how these rich pricks have to steal our nations assets in order to put their tax cut wealth into

          Why don’t they take a risk and create some worthwhile assets for themselves instead of sponging off the work of generations of NZers.

          • Arfamo 10.1.2.1.1
            5 March 2013 at 5:48 pm

            Because the ideal investments are those that bring highest returns for lowest risk. Investing in a business that creates or sells products or services that may be out-competed is much more risky than buying into a power company that is creaming it already without having to produce anything extra than the services it already supplies.

            This makes perfect sense to a money trader like Key whose focus is on making money for themselves and their clients, and for anyone with the spare money to invest. In fact it’s vital for them to do it – accumulating financial assets is their guarantee of security – they know the merry go round will spin off its axis at some point and they want to be insulated from the crash and burn. It doesn’t make sense for a truly democratic government looking to grow an economy based on new jobs from supplying products or services to have an investment strategy that is ultimately likely to cost more jobs than it creates.

            But it’s become a me-first dog-eat-dog world which makes people concerned about their own futures, not those of the broader society, or the future of succeeding generations.

          • indiana 10.1.2.1.2
            5 March 2013 at 6:07 pm

            There is nothing illegal going on here, nothing is being stolen…a government was elected on well announced policy plans.

            • pollywog 10.1.2.1.2.1
              5 March 2013 at 6:16 pm

              It’s the future generation’s guaranteed ownership of past generation’s assets that’s being stolen.

              It may not be illegal but it sure as fuck ain’t right!

              • indiana …
                5 March 2013 at 6:24 pm

                51% is still theirs…even better it the bit that actually holds all the cards in terms of future governance.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  5 March 2013 at 6:28 pm

                  Except that it doesn’t. The laws of NZ have it so that the majority shares cannot act against the financial good of the minority which means that we’ve lost all control of those assets.

                • felixviper …
                  5 March 2013 at 7:35 pm

                  Wow, you went from “nothing” to “49%” pretty quick.

              • Arfamo …
                5 March 2013 at 6:30 pm

                It’s unethical, undemocratic, and simply unfair to provide a select group of people with the ability to buy and extract a profit from everybody using an asset they already own as taxpayers. If you want to take the line that it’s not illegal so therefore it’s ok, how far do you run with that? Much of what happened in Nazi Germany was not illegal. Legislation was passed to legitimise it. Democracy was legalised out of existence.

            • Draco T Bastard 10.1.2.1.2.2
              5 March 2013 at 6:26 pm

              Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean that it’s right.

              In the case of selling state assets that are strategic and natural monopolies selling them is down right immoral. And considering the fact that the majority of people oppose selling them then doing so is outright theft.

                • pollywog …
                  5 March 2013 at 8:23 pm

                  Yep…thats the very much a majority of dumfucks. Probably the very same majority of dumfucks that voted our current government in and the same majority of dumfucks who keep them high in the polls

                  Glad we got that sorted…cheers!

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  5 March 2013 at 8:23 pm

                  Oh, look, a RWNJ trying to use a non-scientific, self-selecting poll that supports his own delusions as evidence against reality.

                  Here, try this one:

                  A 3 News Reid Research poll shows New Zealanders remain opposed to the Government’s planned asset sales.

                  The poll asked 1000 voters whether they agreed with the partial privatisations.
                  The results showed 62 percent disagreed, 35 percent agreed and 3.5 percent were unsure.

                  • lovinthatchangefeeling …
                    5 March 2013 at 10:27 pm

                    “A 3 News Reid Research poll shows New Zealanders remain opposed to the Government’s planned asset sales.”

                    Wow. A “scientific”poll that shows asset sales are unpopular … conducted over a year ago.

                    That now looks as relevant as the 80% figure of Kiwis opposed to Partial Privitisation that Cap’n Mumblefuck pulled out of his arse 🙂

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      5 March 2013 at 10:34 pm

                      NZ balance of payments going down the tubes. The small minded and short term thinkers more than willing to press Flush.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      5 March 2013 at 11:03 pm

                      There doesn’t appear to be anything later. Probably the MSM wanting to keep the government happy by not reminding people that the government is selling out the country’s future.

                • felixviper …
                  5 March 2013 at 9:07 pm

                  lolz indiana actually believes that 61% of kiwis can afford $1000 worth of shares.

                  • Treetop …
                    6 March 2013 at 10:30 am

                    Could you imagine a person putting in for an advance of benefit (a loan for a necessary cost) to buy Mighty River shares?

                    100% uptake guarantee.

          • johnm 10.1.2.1.3
            6 March 2013 at 10:09 am

            CV
            Right. +1

      • tc 10.1.3
        5 March 2013 at 8:52 pm

        Do It Karol, everyone should. Keep them in NZ hands as it’s inevitable Shonkey’s mates will be pining for them.

        My bet would be on only so many going to kiwis regardless of how many apply so the more apply the more likely this porky will get flushed out before the next goes on the block.

  11. ScottGN 11
    5 March 2013 at 9:11 am

    What “howls of protest”? Apart from blogs like this I haven’t really heard any. Sure polling shows that the public are opposed to the sales and the petition has garnered enough signatures etc but it’s clear that whatever disquiet there is it isn’t enough to shift anyone’s voting intentions.
    Fresh from their victory in the Supreme Court (which has been reported in a way that adds a gloss of legitimacy to the whole asset sale programme) the goverment has been quick to try and move the conversation away from the politics of the thing and onto the benefits of the marvelous dividend stream that will flow from these companies.
    I hate to say it but Mighty river Power will be sold and about the only hope that the others won’t is that Bill English will run out of time to complete the programme before the next election. And regardless of what Key might say it’s obvious that if a 3rd term is achieved Kiwibank will be a goner.

  12. Karl Sinclair 12
    5 March 2013 at 9:29 am

    YOU WILL OBEY JOHN KEYS, YOU WILL OBEY JOYCE, YOU WILL OBEY BENNETT……………………Jump through the hoops little doggies…….

    ‘Obey’: Film Based on Chris Hedges’ ‘Death of the Liberal Class’
    Quote:
    British filmmaker Temujin Doran has released a new movie that is based on the book “The Death of the Liberal Class” by Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges. The film, titled “Obey,” explores the rise of the corporate state and the future of obedience in a world filled with unfettered capitalism, worsening inequality and environmental changes.

  13. Peter 13
    5 March 2013 at 9:38 am

    “Howls of protest”. Well, I’m howling of course, internally, but then again, I didn’t vote for this crap. However, just under 1 in 2 New Zealanders did!

    Hence, National does have a mandate for the sales. I hate to say it NZ, but you’ve got what you voted for. Now comes the buyers remorse.

  14. Lionel 14
    5 March 2013 at 10:07 am

    Why then is it not affecting their poll rating are they that phoney

    • Arfamo 14.1
      5 March 2013 at 10:23 am

      Yes they are phoney but people seem to prefer phoney to dense, which is how shearer comes across.

  15. Bearded Git 15
    5 March 2013 at 10:21 am

    This says it all about National’s asset sale rip off and how the rich who have money to buy in will profit and profit and profit….

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10869145

  16. DH 16
    5 March 2013 at 12:17 pm

    It’s pretty simple. The more the Govt promote it the more demand there will be for the shares. It’s a finite resource as in a fixed number of shares and unlike proper market economics the price will also be fixed.

    So if it’s promoted enough the demand will exceed the supply and the first buyers will be able to sell shares to those who missed out. At a profit of course. If the price goes up 10% mom & pop might make a whopping $200 & spend the rest of their days sunning on the Riviera. Those fortunate to get large parcels of shares, on the other hand….

    Since it’s now a fait accompli what Labour & Greens need to do is carefully follow the share registry; record subsequent share sales and the profit made on each deal, and try to match the deals with real people. Some trails may lead back to National.

  17. red rattler 17
    5 March 2013 at 12:32 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10869145

    Cartwright puts the economic case for not selling.
    He is wrong however, this is not a strategic blunder, Keys bankster class knows that renewables are the new gold.
    But its not only that coal, oil, gas etc will become more expensive to extract.
    Non-renewable and HEP and geothermal as renewables will attract a massive rent advantage.
    That’s what gives those who are stealing these assets (at half their ‘price’) the ability to screw monopoly rents from water and steam.
    The 50% above ‘price’ under SOEs will rise astronomically given their ‘price’ advantage over fossil fuels i.e. potentially unlimited so long as the ecology can sustain it.
    Putting these assets in the hands of capitalist parasites who will suck nature dry is suicidal.
    Cartwright, no radical, uses the word ‘strategic’. I suggest that the correct word is survival.
    If we can’t stop these sales or the TPPA designed to abolish our political sovereignty, we have to gear up to take them back with a social revolution.

    • Draco T Bastard 17.1
      5 March 2013 at 2:45 pm

      He is wrong however, this is not a strategic blunder, Keys bankster class knows that renewables are the new gold.

      Yep, that’s what I was thinking as I read that article. Key & Co know exactly how much they’ll be able to screw out of the poor of NZ and they’re going for every cent of it.

  18. DH 18
    5 March 2013 at 1:00 pm

    Something this share sale highlights is the astonishingly bad business nous of the sellers (or something worse)

    Mixed among prospective share buyers are the equivalent of ticket scalpers. Their intent is solely to buy shares and resell quickly at a profit. Their existence actually increases the demand which will, provided the shares are oversubscribed, cause some long-term investors to miss out and who will need to buy on the secondary market. The scalpers literally add to the demand by reducing the amount of shares available to investors.

    If these shares were put up for auction, such as a Trademe listing, they’d fetch their proper market price and there would be no profit taking by scalpers.

    Every dollar the scalper makes is a dollar the Govt, aka the taxpayer, loses. Traditionalists might think it crazy to put the shares on Trademe but if you think about it for a while it makes perfect business sense and would at least guarantee we get the best price for the shares. Trademe would certainly be keen and no doubt would negotiate a very competitive fee arrangement.

    • Colonial Viper 18.1
      5 March 2013 at 1:08 pm

      The NZ private sector has been shit at creating truly valuable assets for the financiers to speculate on. So they have to sell off our power assets in order to have something to play with and make money on.

      The usual ponzi capitalism theme – clipping the ticket without building or adding a thing to the economy.

      • prism 18.1.1
        5 March 2013 at 1:25 pm

        CV
        +1 😀

      • DH 18.1.2
        5 March 2013 at 1:50 pm

        I think so too, but there’s a need politically to keep shaping the debate to the circumstances so that others can also see it. There’s no point now, for example, arguing against the sale. It’s a done deal whether we like it or not so now’s the time to look harder at their real motives and try to expose their dodgy dealings.

        Something the media haven’t paid much attention to is one of the benefactors of the share float. The NZX. They clip the ticket on every share sale and will do very nicely out of this thanks very much. Weldon of the NZX looked to be a great mate of Keys when he was CEO of the NZX, I can recall thinking once he must have a key to the Beehive he was there so much. Shades of Sky City, too much personal dealings with vested interests.

        But also we need to start focussing on the money side of it. Why are they selling? Because they need the money (or so they say). Are they getting the best price? Well if the share price goes up after the float the answer would be an emphatic no.

        • Colonial Viper 18.1.2.1
          5 March 2013 at 3:57 pm

          Why does the sale need to be considered a done deal? Shearer making a statement that the next Labour Government will buy back the shares at cost, will sort it.

          10 second soundbite, issue sorted, move on.

          We engage around the bullshit of “are we getting the best possible market price” all you’re doing is arguing for whether or not you can sell grandma for a few dollars more.

          i.e. still politically dumb

        • Rogue Trooper 18.1.2.2
          5 March 2013 at 4:05 pm

          digging in

  19. George D 19
    5 March 2013 at 1:06 pm

    At least the KLF had a purpose.

  20. Peter 20
    5 March 2013 at 2:59 pm

    The other thing is that Labour still has the power to stop the asset sales (although it had it, up until today). Shearer simply could have said that they’ll be renationalised. But he was too afraid.

    • Murray Olsen 20.1
      5 March 2013 at 4:15 pm

      If they’re true to form, Labour will probably buy back the shares once they’ve been concentrated in a few hands, the utility has been totally asset stripped, and lack of maintenance is continually interrupting the power supply. In that case, even Shearer would find the money. I don’t think he’s afraid, he’s just hollow. He’s been imported to manage a franchise, not to be the parliamentary leader of a labour movement. He should just join ACT and take Mallard and Goff with him.

      • Peter 20.1.1
        6 March 2013 at 8:52 am

        A franchise, yeah, that’s a good way of explaining the hollowness and lack of purpose and conviction that besets the modern parliamentary Labour Party…

  21. Penny Bright 21
    5 March 2013 at 4:05 pm

    BOYCOTT THE MIGHTY RIVER POWER SHARE LAUNCH!

    MIGHTY RIVER POWER IS A SOCIALLY AND FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT!

    “Press Release, Molly Melhuish, Energy Analyst
    22 February 2013

    Prospective investors are warned

    Investors are warned that Mighty River Power is no longer a safe, utility-type investment prospect.

    For years, New Zealand’s generator-retailers enjoyed a predictable revenue stream from captive residential consumers. This enabled them to build so many new power stations that there is now a glut of wholesale electricity. Wholesale prices have fallen by a quarter or even more.

    Mighty River Power’s power purchase costs fell by 22% in the last six months, yet they hiked retail prices by 2%. They had to, to maintain the dividend stream expected by their shareholder.

    Residential consumers will no longer tolerate rising prices at a time when wholesale prices are falling. This is not market pricing, it is price gouging of captive consumers.

    Investors are warned that consumers dispute the pricing process that made our prices rise “to enable new generation to be built”, but fails to give us the benefit of market pricing in an electricity glut.

    Ends
    Contact: 04 568 4873, 027 230 5911

    Yours sincerely,

  22. Penny Bright 22
    5 March 2013 at 4:32 pm

    Some of us SEIZED THE MOMENT and protested outside the 10am launch of Mighty River Power shares!

    It’s REALLY simple folks!

    BOYCOTT the launch of Mighty River Power shares.

    BOYCOTT Mighty River Power – namely – their main retail arm – Mercury Energy!

    How can the Government ‘get a good price’ if Mighty River Power are losing customers and profits?

    DON’T be a selfish Kiwi!

    Be a principled, caring, socially responsible Kiwi, and remember all those Kiwi ‘mums and dads’, grandmas and granddads, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters who are struggling NOW to pay their power bills!

    Remember all those families, old people and little kids whose health is suffering because they can’t afford to have a heater on in winter, so their houses are cold.

    If YOU signed the petition for a referendum on assets sales, because you are opposed to asset sales – STICK TO YOUR PRINCIPLES and don’t buy into the selloff /sellout of Mighty River Power!

    Kiwis!

    The power is in OUR hands!

    Don’t agonise – ORGANISE!

    Help to spread the word!!!!

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
    A Spokesperson for the Switch Off Mercury Energy community group.
    http://www.facebook.com/SwitchOffMercuryEnergy/info

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151278679961790&set=pcb.10151278680136790&type=1&theater

  23. pollywog 23
    5 March 2013 at 5:04 pm

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/02/22/about-efeso-collins/#respond

    Wonder what this fulla thinks about the impact state asset sales will have on Pasifikan families?

  24. Herodotus 24
    5 March 2013 at 5:39 pm

    I hope the IRD are well prepared for those selling the shares in a short period of time. And least wack them with the tax applicable for trading as opposed to investing. But then is that not the day to day job of the IRD to chase up those who trade in capital gains and don’t pay the tax associated ?
    Also why advertise when the institutions have already signalled their intentions ?
    If this was for the benefit of lms and dads the institutions should only divvy up those shares that have not been taken up by all of us M&D’s not the reverse

    • felixviper 24.1
      5 March 2013 at 5:51 pm

      Goodness, do you mean mum and dad aren’t really at the front of the queue?

      Pretty sure mr Key promised they would.

  25. johnm 25
    5 March 2013 at 6:28 pm

    Hi kiwis you are key boy’s bum boys you yellow scum fuck your cowardice not that it’d make a scrap of difference you scum bastards if you got fucked up the arse you yellow selfish scum. Run off to Australia while this creep screws your puny bum, you fools.

  26. Draco T Bastard 26
    5 March 2013 at 6:35 pm

    Another Labour press release, another failure to do or say anything that will actually benefit NZ.

  27. johnm 27
    5 March 2013 at 6:36 pm

    Key is a market parasite! Sorry but true, I know he has a nice suit and wouldn’t insult a fly but still this is a ploy to suck you suckers to poverty. Kiwis are stupid any brains could have understood this parisitic scum from the start. But you bought into the hopium, fuck you stupid kiwis foe ever, you pimped scum bags, fuck you. Oh you shouldn’t say that! Well fuck your social policing system scum!

  28. Arfamo 28
    5 March 2013 at 6:52 pm

    Well, yes, I understand how you feel, and I didn’t vote for the bastards, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to stop them, and all I have that I can use against them is my vote and I haven’t got a clue at the moment who the hell I should give it to because I have no idea what the other parties intend to do about asset sales that have gone through.

  29. prism 29
    5 March 2013 at 7:13 pm

    An informed commentator on Radio nz. Checkpoint today.
    Can’t remember his name but he is from the Graduate part of one of the Universities. He’s worth listening to I just haven’t got time at present. He emphasises that the sale price is being estimated for short term value considering up to say 3 years but 7-10 years should be the basis. Things will have changed so much by then that the value of this great resource will be very high.

    Radionz Checkpoint http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint
    17:22
    Critic of asset sales says hydro stations grossly undervalued
    One critic of the sale says it’s a huge strategic blunder by the Government because the assets are grossly under-valued. (2′23″)
    Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed

  30. prism 30
    5 March 2013 at 7:36 pm

    PB
    Thanks, great.

  31. vto 31
    5 March 2013 at 11:05 pm

    I like how selling assets results in less New Zealanders owning them.

    What did John Key say?

  32. Steady Course 32
    6 March 2013 at 7:13 am

    So 80% oppose these sales huh? Must be another one of those rogue polls……

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/

    • Draco T Bastard 32.1
      6 March 2013 at 7:26 am

      BTW, that’s not a poll, it’s an entertainment for the really stupid.

    • Pascal's bookie 32.2
      6 March 2013 at 7:27 am

      Laugh.

      If you wanna show that the typical Nat supporter isn’t a bit (by which I mean to say “fucking”) thick, you’re going the wrong way about it.

  33. Steady Course 33
    6 March 2013 at 7:31 am

    and the unprecedented expressions of interest on opening day, crashing websites etc all just another coincidence??? How about opening your other eye and stop flogging this dead horse?

    • The Al1en 33.1
      6 March 2013 at 7:50 am

      “and the unprecedented expressions of interest on opening day, crashing websites etc all just another coincidence??? ”

      Thirty thousand traitors. The spivs of the modern age.
      Fuck ’em up in their pockets come nationalisation.

  34. TightyRighty 34
    6 March 2013 at 9:24 am

    How many millions was spent by labour on adveritisimg working for families? Which is a benefit, so taking money from taxpayers so that beneficiaries could take more money from taxpayers?

    I remember adshells, prime tv slots, kids with iPods (pretty expensive at the time) featured in them.

    Hint: a lot more than a million. A lot

    • Colonial Viper 34.1
      6 March 2013 at 9:45 am

      Working for families was not for beneficiaries.

      Also, please come up with sources for your numbers.

      • TightyRighty 34.1.1
        6 March 2013 at 2:05 pm

        Why don’t we try ad agency Saatchi and Saatchi of wellington for their revenue for the year, it was one of a number of public service advertising campaigns, but definitely the biggest. How is $500k in fees plus another $4mill of media, of which saatchi would have clipped the ticket for 20%. so over a mill, just in fees alone to one private media company. Quell Horreur!!!

  35. Treetop 35
    6 March 2013 at 10:08 am

    Oh the spin the spin coming from English while Key is in Mexico for 12 days.

    After most of the shares are sold overseas what will the spin be?

    NZers had a choice. Will I didn’t.

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    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    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
    17 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
    19 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
    20 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
    22 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
    24 hours 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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. ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
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    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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