TPP: A slight improvement but deservedly still a zombie

Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, November 13th, 2017 - 124 comments
Categories: Economy, International, labour - Tags: , , , ,

Over at the Daily Blog, Jane Kelsey summarises  

The bad news is that the Labour government has endorsed the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, with the suspension of a limited range of items, at the ministerial and leaders’ meetings in Da Nang, Viet Nam.

The good news is that the meeting failed to conclude the new deal – rebranded the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). There are four outstanding issues. The Canadian government of Trudeau – also elected after the deal was concluded by its predecessor – said it was not going to be rushed into a decision that would have a major impact on its future. Yay, Canada. Why couldn’t the Ardern government do the same?

I agree.

The basic problem that has always existed with the TPP still applies. As far as I’m concerned, it does nothing for NZ except to further enrich some already affluent largely rural rentiers, but it imposes effective direct and indirect costs on to everyone else. So what is this ‘trade’ agreement for? The very few making a profit?

NZ population is one of the most urbanised in the world, and that is where almost all of the employment lies. If you look at the effective incomes including housing costs in places like Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, except for a very small minority, there has been a significiant drop in disposable income by any measure. At the 2013 census in just these 3 urban areas alone were 2,343,900 people in a population of 4,242,048 – more than 55%. The effect of that is spilling out over into the smaller centres as the property values

So in the TPPA, TPPA-11, CPTTP, or whatever name is added to it, where are the opportunities for higher wages for the many in this crock?

That question is not only here in NZ. The same applies across most of the countries in potential agreement.  As far as I can see there are no benefits for the majorities in most countries with this agreement.

Now I’m not exactly anti-trade nor commercially illiterate. Unlike almost all of the parasitical cheerleaders that seem to flood around this undead agreement, my background is completely in private business and almost entirely in exports. The latter is exclusively where I have worked for the last two decades.

I have a MBA from Otago so I can easily read economic ‘analysis’ from the likes of MFAT and NZIER and know it for being indistinguishable from the inadequate trash written by a PR firm. Having to hawk around complete bullshit like that merely diminishes the case that this is an agreement that has anything to do with trade.

In the face of almost all evidence on the last three decades for various projects, for instance the 1990s deregulation of building industry and electricity networks to the Auckland super-city in 2010 (to take just a few examples), similar ‘analysis’ persist in the same delusions.

Even some of the analysis on the 2000’s Chinese FTA was like this. In that case it was fortunately tempered with some actual realistic analysis – even if that mostly identified risky areas.

Over optimistic and hyped analysis seem to assume that any benefits will somehow trickle indirectly down, and that any costs will be just direct ones with few side-effects. Somehow they always seem surprised when the profits are sucked up by the finance interests as interest in capital injections and speculative booms, and the obvious indirect costs come around and cause problems.

So like Jane Kelsey, who I have to say has been doing a splendid job of highlighting potential flaws, I also want some real analysis. As she says…

So, what happens now? There is no timeline for the next meeting of the CPTPP parties. That means there is now time for the new government to conduct in-depth consultations over its proposal to adopt the deal. It also needs to commission the robust analysis that Labour called for in opposition, independent of MFAT and consultants like the NZIER who basically rubber stamped the previous shonky modelling. They need to make sure it uses realistic models that also cover the broader economic implications, especially for jobs and income distribution. If the economics don’t stack up, as Labour said they didn’t with the original TPPA-12, then they have no basis for arguing that the CPTPP should proceed. Their independent review also needs to include non-economic impacts on environment, health, human rights and the Treaty of Waitangi.

But before it does that work to advance a deal they previously refused to ratify, the new government needs to give priority to its proposed full and participatory review of trade policy. All existing and future negotiations must be frozen until that is done.

The whole of the TPP negotiations has been exactly the kind of ad-hoc half-arsed decision making that I abhor. I want real risk analysis, consideration of possible downsides, and a cessation of unreasoned unclear PR driven ‘momentum’ based wankfests like the TPP and the flag referendum that it so resembles.

If someone tries to sell me on a deal that is too good to resist and needing to be closed soon before the opportunity disappears, then I assume someone is running a scam and that shortly my pocket will be lighter.  I want to know why this is a good deal for all parties and where the gotchas are likely to lie.

In the case of the Chinese FTA in the mid-90s. That was what happened as far as I was concerned. That was a far bigger deal than this one for areas across the whole economy and one with a lot more of a risky approach because of the complete unknowns. No-one knew exactly what the impacts of opening up those markets would be to either side. But there were some pretty good risk analysis going on that those who were interested could access.

In this agreement for realistic public analysis, we only have Jane Kelsey and a few others like her. That is a hell of a problem for people across the spectrum because it means that the only effective analysis before the agreement is signed, sealed and delivered comes from people working off fragments. Effectively there will be no informed consent and only some commercial illiterates in parliament and MFAT will even get a look at the full deal before it is imposed upon us.

I had quite a lot of quibbles with the downstream effects of the Chinese FTA. But I was confident that I had a good idea of the risks and benefits, and that it would offer new opportunities to diversify our exports and to enhance and strengthen our economy. It did. However there were side-effects like the excessive intensification of dairying on unsuitable soil and drainage areas, plus the flood of money into the safe speculative investments intensifying an existing housing shortage.

But during the leadup to the CFTA, there simply wasn’t the level of stupid concealment, salesmanship, and the desperate smell of scamming going on. That appears to be a hallmark of the Key government that somehow managed to spill over into the TPP as they expanded it from a normal small trade agreement to the behemoth it is still is now.

The new government, if it is interested in proceeding with something like the TPPA, should at the very least stop hunting for momentum and concentrate on transparency and analysis. Because if you can’t convince me that this agreement is anything other than a scam, then you won’t be able to convince many on the ‘left’.

 

124 comments on “TPP: A slight improvement but deservedly still a zombie ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. James 1
    13 November 2017 at 9:44 am

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2017/11/kelvin-davis-wrong-on-tpp-jane-kelsey.html

    In the papers she is saying that what the new labour government are saying is just spin. And that Davis is just wrong.

    Why won’t they just pull out if their bottom lines arnt met like they promised.

    • cleangreen 1.1
      13 November 2017 at 9:52 am

      For the first time James I have to agree with you!!!!!!

      Jacinda pull out of this (TPP 11 or whatever it’s called now,) as you referred it as a “dog” recently!!!!!

      “If it barks like a dog it is a dog.”

    • weka 1.2
      13 November 2017 at 10:01 am

      “Why won’t they just pull out if their bottom lines arnt met like they promised.”

      Is it possible there are things we don’t know about that National bound us into in the deal but which are considered confidential to the agreement and Labour can’t talk about ?

      • tracey 1.2.1
        13 November 2017 at 11:03 am

        Hmmmm, given the TPP had not reached sign or even publicly agreed, I cannot see why Labour could not pull out of anything, BUT with consequences. EG they get told to like it or lump it. Key certainly liked to paint us as effectively panting under the table waiting for crumbs cos we were small players

        • weka 1.2.1.1
          13 November 2017 at 11:20 am

          yes, I think Labour can pull out. I was meaning there may be things they’re not allowed to talk about that would make more sense of their actions. Because at the moment it doesn’t make sense.

          • Carolyn_Nth 1.2.1.1.1
            13 November 2017 at 11:57 am

            Bomber Bradbury has offered an explanation for this. That’s not to say he is correct, but it is an interesting idea – basically as he posted a couple of weeks ago, Labour are just keeping their heads down and waiting for the TPPA to fall over, as BB reckons it surely will.

            The new Government are fully aware that the reactionary rich elite of NZ who are eyeing up any reason to start destabilising the economy would immediately latch onto any definitive anti-TPPA position by Labour as their excuse to start a run on the stock market the way they did to Helen Clark when she tried to implement ‘closing the gaps’.

            Does the new Government want to start a war with those rich elites immediately?

            I don’t think they do.

            And Bradbury posted a similar explanation yesterday.

            The big question then is, will the TPPA-by-any-other-name eventually fall over. It’s not looking like it just yet, and I do think we need to keep the pressure on Labour to allow a full debate on it, with publication of what’s in the deal.

            • weka 1.2.1.1.1.1
              13 November 2017 at 12:10 pm

              Possibly, and I’ve had similar theories myself, and then I find myself trying to imagine mythical explanations for Labour’s actions and thinking that’s f*cked. If we can’t take our government at face value we’re in trouble. Sick of trying to second guess what the ulterior motives are.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                13 November 2017 at 12:30 pm

                If we can’t take our government at face value we’re in trouble.

                Well, the last government proved conclusively that we can’t take any government at face value. We should always be demanding answers and getting to fact those answers.

                • tracey …
                  13 November 2017 at 12:32 pm

                  Yes and I certainly intend being as consistent as I can be in my demands on this government. I didn’t like lying from the last lot, and I won’t be accepting it from this lot.

                • weka …
                  13 November 2017 at 12:40 pm

                  That proves that National can’t be trusted. It doesn’t follow that all governments can’t function openly and honestly, but I agree we should always be demanding answers. My problem with Labour right now is that we’re having to guess. It’s fucking ridiculous,.

              • tracey …
                13 November 2017 at 12:30 pm

                Yes @ ulterior motive guessing. Bombers theory seems to be that Labour might be lying to us right now, but in the long run we will be pleased.”?They mi

            • Bill 1.2.1.1.1.2
              13 November 2017 at 12:17 pm

              Look to the framework they are hanging other policies from and it might provide a feel for how valid that idea is.

              If everything hangs from a ne-neo-liberal framework, then I think it’s safe to assume they are happy enough to please the high priests of ne-neo-liberalism.

              • weka …
                13 November 2017 at 12:43 pm

                for me it’s a given that Labour are more or less comfortable with neoliberalism but want to make it fairer or kinder. My take on the whole TPPA thing is they are being hoisted on their own trying to have to both ways petard. I don’t see them as fully committed to death cult neoliberalism otherwise they’d just sign the thing.

                • Bill …
                  13 November 2017 at 12:52 pm

                  Seems to me from reading reports and viewing some interviews that if Canada had ‘played ball’ last Friday, it would have been signed off by NZ and the others.

                  edit – see Carolyn_nth’s comment here. NZ Labour had secured what t wanted to secure (if we can believe what they’ve said about the impact of recent legislation on foreign sales)

                  • weka …
                    13 November 2017 at 1:31 pm

                    Yes, that’s how I understand it, but I meant that if they were fully committed to the death cult they wouldn’t have been negotiating and would have been happy to sign National’s version.

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.2
          13 November 2017 at 12:27 pm

          Hmmmm, given the TPP had not reached sign or even publicly agreed, I cannot see why Labour could not pull out of anything, BUT with consequences.

          Well, Ecuador was told that there Would Be Consequences if they pulled out of their BITs. So far, no consequences have materialised and they got their sovereignty back.

          Sounds like pulling out really wouldn’t be that big of a deal. After all – we won’t actually be losing anything (can’t lose what we don’t have) and we won’t be getting anything if we sign and we will be losing a large part of our sovereignty.

    • cleangreen 1.3
      13 November 2017 at 10:02 am

      James while I watched Kelvin Davis this morning I noticed at the exact time the exquisite Kim Hill asked Kelvin Davis to explain “why did labour in opposition who was formerly against TPP 11 now thumbs up”?

      James; – Did you see at first Kelvin had to ‘swallow’ as I did before he ranted all that bullshit?

      That showed his ‘sympathetic nerves’ were reacting to an answer his brain was signalling that he knew was going to be a lie!!!!

      I studied psychology while working in Canada for a very large corporation and they taught me this halmark sign was a precurser to a lie.

      Kelvin lied for Jacinda.

      • Enough is Enough 1.3.1
        13 November 2017 at 11:28 am

        It has taken only three weeks for this new government to clock up a handful of clear lies.

        It is depressing to say the least

      • Matthew Whitehead 1.3.2
        13 November 2017 at 3:01 pm

        I can’t find the clip you’re referring to atm, but I will say that the kind of highly specific reading of body language you’re citing is generally considered pseudoscience- the best you can get out of reading body language without detailed experience reading that specific individual at the moment is generalized feelings, so Kelvin was probably nervous.

        However, being nervous doesn’t mean you’re lying, he could be nervous because he’s worried about how this issue will play out, or because it’s his first media interview as acting Prime Minister, or whatever.

    • tracey 1.4
      13 November 2017 at 11:01 am

      Good question. Answer is that the Centre in NZ has moved significantly to the Right since 1984 and this Labour Government is possibly less left leaning than the Muldoon Government (despite all the idiots calling them Socialists). So even IF you accept Labour is Left of the Centre they are still to the right of the Muldoon national Government in many ways (imo).

      Wayne Mapp is dead right when he said that the ISDS “concession” with Australia announced yesterday by Parker has been in there since 2016. If Wayne had linked to a source it would have been useful instead of choosing to make statements of his view (unsubstantiated).

      Labour on this topic are closely aligned to national, imo, despite their rhetoric in Opposition. After all that is what our main parties do. I recall when Key called WFF communisim by stealth in Opposition but kept it once in power.

      • Draco T Bastard 1.4.1
        13 November 2017 at 12:41 pm

        Labour on this topic are closely aligned to national, imo, despite their rhetoric in Opposition.

        Labour are a capitalist party – just like National. They do better in managing that capitalism but it still fails because it simply doesn’t work.

        But i doubt if Labour MPs will be changing anything soon as they like the hierarchy.

        I recall when Key called WFF communisim by stealth in Opposition but kept it once in power.

        I’m pretty sure that Key, even when in opposition to WFF, realised that it was a massive subsidy to business and never had any intention of removing it.

        • Matthew Whitehead 1.4.1.1
          13 November 2017 at 4:15 pm

          The reality that a wage subsidy inherently lowers costs for businesses may have had something to do with them deciding to eat the dead rat, but I honestly think it wasn’t their intention to keep WFF until Key took over and went on a rodent binge.

  2. opium 2
    13 November 2017 at 9:49 am

    I am very disappointed in Labour over this.Why bother to vote for National lite?

    • weka 2.1
      13 November 2017 at 10:02 am

      Because on most other things they’re going in the right direction.

      I’m also disappointed in Labour on this.

      • cleangreen 2.1.1
        13 November 2017 at 10:23 am

        weka; – TPP 11 (or whatever it is called now) may also have other tricky provisions you rightly suggest “we dont know what National signed us up to” now may put a stop to many of labour party policies.

        I for one will not allow Jacinda to break her promise made pre-election “to be a government that is fair, warm, kind, inclussive, open, & transparent” !!!!!

        To allow her off the hook here would make an erosion of ‘faith and confidence’ for labour possible!!

        So no deal if she does not ‘publically release’ all the old wording of that “dog” agreement along with all and the new changes please Jacinda.

        This is our future at stake and our right to know!!!

        • tracey 2.1.1.1
          13 November 2017 at 11:05 am

          Didn’t you vote NZF? Sorry if you di d not but that is the impression I have. Winston is in the photos too, he is acquiescing and his party was also anti TPP.

          • cleangreen 2.1.1.1.1
            13 November 2017 at 11:13 am

            Tracey we voted party-NZF & Labour -candidate, so we have a local labour MP.

            That is illelevant here, what is important is our long term future so signing us up for thirty years is not to be done lightly, as we are selling out our civilisation and country.

            I expect both NZF & Greens will not agree to the TPP 11 (or what is called now)

      • Richard Christie 2.1.2
        13 November 2017 at 10:51 am

        I’m also disappointed in Labour on this.

        I’m sorry to say that I completely expected it.

        • tracey 2.1.2.1
          13 November 2017 at 11:06 am

          I am not surprised. I want to see actions before I believe Labour has changed significantly from former incarnations. Nash and his ilk and NOT Mickey Savage labourites

  3. DH 3
    13 November 2017 at 10:27 am

    I have a lot of respect for Jane Kelsey but I think she’s perhaps being a little harsh on Labour here. I’d like to see us walk away from TPP too but, honestly, was it really an option for Labour?

    These are countries we have good relations with and they’ve all invested heavily in the protracted TPP negotiations. If NZ arbitrarily walked away they would all be, to put it mildly, seriously pissed off. Our relationships with these countries would undoubtedly suffer, I expect we’d end up worse off than before the TPP embroglio began and it could take decades to repair the damage.

    Our international reputation is that we can be trusted and if we were to walk away from TPP IMO we’d risk damaging that reputation. Trust is not easy to win back, is it a price we can afford to pay?

    Further to that the timing couldn’t have been worse for Labour. They’re a brand new Govt still feeling their way and they get landed with a near fait accompli they had no prior involvement in. It was a hospital pass.

    So, yeah, maybe we need to cut them some slack on this one.

    • Molly 3.1
      13 November 2017 at 10:44 am

      “…was it really an option for Labour? “
      It is always an option, I’m not sure if it would be a choice of Labour’s. The only presence Labour had that I recall at the Auckland protest’s was on one of the very last when David Parker did a vague, non-commital speech.

      For unpopular measures, this is the best time for Labour to make strong decisions in terms of electability. There are three years before the next election. Media and public don’t seem to have that long of a concentration span.

      “Trust is not easy to win back, is it a price we can afford to pay?”
      When will it be time for the trust of the NZ people to be considered the most valuable?

    • lprent 3.2
      13 November 2017 at 10:50 am

      I am cutting them considerable slack. They aren’t exactly responsible for the current state of the negotiation or the widespread distrust of it and its process.

      I’m also saying why there is so much distrust of the process is because there isn’t any real informed analysis on this. What we have instead is bloody useless bullshit PR.

      FFS: I just had a listen to Kelvin Davis being a complete dickhead on the subject.

      Now I rather like Kelvin when I’ve met him, at least as far as my instinctively distrustful nature for anyone who wants to be a politician allows. I’d trust him when he is talking about things he knows about. But that happens to be the education system, being a principal in Northland, and being a politician.

      In my opinion, he currently doesn’t have understanding on the commercial/economic aspects or the downstream implications on society. Eventually he could gain the confidence that I wound up giving to Clark or Cullen, or even the more limited amount that I gave Goff. But that isn’t there yet.

      • DH 3.2.1
        13 November 2017 at 11:07 am

        I certainly concede there lprent, I’m open to giving them a fair hearing & now it is up to them to explain their case honestly and openly.

        If Labour were to front up and say “Look, we’d like to pull out of the TPP but we’re just not in a position to do that so we have to make the best we can of it” I’d accept it and leave them to it. I wouldn’t like it but I’d still respect it….

        But they haven’t actually said it so I could just be barking up the wrong tree.

      • tracey 3.2.2
        13 November 2017 at 11:09 am

        I would cut them slack except they knew this meeting was scheduled back when they made their 5 bottom lines and when Ardern was firmly against it as it was then.

      • cleangreen 3.2.3
        13 November 2017 at 11:25 am

        100% absolutely right.

        We let labour fuckup last week in the first day with no ‘sane brain’ available during the “speakergate shambles” so now in the following next week are we to allow the “hasty non -intellegencia” to rule again!!!!!!!!!

        Not in your Nelle comrades.

        labour “take a breath and rest while” as ‘we the people’ try to sort out the shit we are all in now please!!!!!!!

        “Government for the people by the people” we now need to see or as jacinda said they would be “inclussive” remember?

    • Brigid 3.3
      13 November 2017 at 10:59 am

      I, for one, will not ‘cut them some slack’

      Have they declared they are bound by agreements struck by the previous government? No. So why assume they are?

      They campaigned on the need to substantially change particular clauses in the TPP and from what I can see that isn’t what happened in Vietnam.

      • tracey 3.3.1
        13 November 2017 at 11:11 am

        I suspect they are banking n TPP not mattering to those whose support they garner to be in Government? By that I mean how many of their 35% saw TPP as a die in the bunker policy? I assume they have done that analysis?

        The issue will be how many NZF were anti TPP enough to hold this against Winston. We already know almost all Green voters are anti TPP. The media and nats will praise them for this, of course, and will that be enough to keep onboard their voters who didn’t want it?

        • cleangreen 3.3.1.1
          13 November 2017 at 11:34 am

          Hold a bloody referendum for christ sake eh Tracey.

        • Draco T Bastard 3.3.1.2
          13 November 2017 at 4:06 pm

          The media and nats will praise them for this, of course, and will that be enough to keep onboard their voters who didn’t want it?

          Or the flips side: Will the Nats praising them on signing up to an agreement that the majority don’t want be enough to alienate even more of their own voters?

        • Incognito 3.3.1.3
          13 November 2017 at 9:29 pm

          The media and nats will praise them for this, of course …

          The Nats will claim credit for the CPTPP, the media will support them in this, as usual, and the public will believe them. Labour just hammered a big nail in its own coffin IMHO.

      • cleangreen 3.3.2
        13 November 2017 at 11:32 am

        I agree with Brigid,

        No we are not bound by the last government if we did not sign up to it!!!!!

        Christ what they all thinking so hold your horses and we need our Professor Jane Kelsey to intervene here to give us guidence as she is best qualified to clarify these points.

    • tracey 3.4
      13 November 2017 at 11:08 am

      Then they should not have opposed it so adamantly and put 5 markers int he ground because everything you wrote would have been true at the time they did that. Why was it a near fait accompli? It didnt get full agreement this weekend, Canada is saying they are still not fully committed?

      US and to a lesser extent, Canada just did versions of what you say we cannot.

    • Reality 3.5
      13 November 2017 at 11:14 am

      DH, good to see someone looking further ahead than one’s nose. We do need to deal with all these countries one way or another. International relations as in local politics is all about the art of the possible, not necessarily what is perfect.

      I have trust in our new PM absolutely that she will do her best for NZ in a way I never felt about John Key. He never looked below the top rung of the ladder, which does not apply to Jacinda. It doesn’t take some people here long to lose their positivity about our new government. Very disappointing.

      • Reality 3.5.1
        13 November 2017 at 11:18 am

        In fact I have come to believe some people thrive on being gloomy and negative about most things.

        • cleangreen 3.5.1.1
          13 November 2017 at 11:38 am

          Reality;

          We believe TPP is the most important danger nect to climate change as reality what do you say is the most danger, i wonder.

          • Bill 3.5.1.1.1
            13 November 2017 at 12:22 pm

            All that export orientated trade. What you reckon that does on the emissions front?

            (Maybe that’s what Jacinda meant when she said she’d be tackling AGW ‘head on’…full steam ahead and be damned?)

      • Draco T Bastard 3.5.2
        13 November 2017 at 4:09 pm

        We do need to deal with all these countries one way or another.

        And one way is to remove ourselves from the agreement and discussions. It would be the respectful ting to do to both those other nations and to the populace who don’t actually want the agreement.

        International relations as in local politics is all about the art of the possible, not necessarily what is perfect.

        Which is just a piss poor excuse to sign away our principles and our democracy.

        It doesn’t take some people here long to lose their positivity about our new government. Very disappointing.

        When they’re just continuing on with what National did is it any wonder?

    • Draco T Bastard 3.6
      13 November 2017 at 3:45 pm

      I’d like to see us walk away from TPP too but, honestly, was it really an option for Labour?

      Yes it was and is. All they have to do is say that the agreement does not suit NZ at this time and walk away.

      If NZ arbitrarily walked away they would all be, to put it mildly, seriously pissed off.

      I actually doubt it. It may be that they’d be relieved as they’d then be free to do the same thing.

      This whole thing stinks of Well, we’ve come this far so we better finish it rather than cold, calculated actions.

      Our relationships with these countries would undoubtedly suffer, I expect we’d end up worse off than before the TPP embroglio began and it could take decades to repair the damage.

      I don’t think that they would. It would probably increase the respect a number of those nations have for us in many ways.

      And please note: Ecuador was told that relationships would deteriorate and it didn’t happen.

      Our international reputation is that we can be trusted and if we were to walk away from TPP IMO we’d risk damaging that reputation.

      Walking away from an agreement where there really isn’t a hell of a lot of agreement won’t actually damage people’s trust in NZ so long as we’re open about it and why.

      Further to that the timing couldn’t have been worse for Labour. They’re a brand new Govt still feeling their way and they get landed with a near fait accompli they had no prior involvement in.

      That’s true but they knew it was coming and so should have planned for it. In fact, given that it was almost a fait accompli and that they and the populace actually disagreed with it the honest thing for to have done on day one is to say that they would be withdrawing from the agreement.

  4. marty mars 4
    13 November 2017 at 10:29 am

    Great analysis – I was waiting and hoping you’d put your thoughts down.

    • lprent 4.1
      13 November 2017 at 11:06 am

      I try when I have time. This one was important enough to cause me to have to take the car rather than cycling to work, and even then I was late.

      The reported ISDS changes are welcome (but I’d like to look at the text). NZ have fully functional court systems that allow ISDS type questions to be pursued. Moreover it comes with appeal facilities and a means of building legal precedence that the existing ISDS mechanisms in things like NAFTA completely lack.

      But the agreement still has a large number of fishhooks even if many of them are ‘suspended’.

      Moreover inside NZ it has absolutely no effective risk analysis been done. It looks surprisingly like MFAT are lemmings rushing to an unquestioned ideological endpoint with no effective public discussion.

      I’m not that secure about rushing over that cliff sight unseen.

      • tracey 4.1.1
        13 November 2017 at 11:14 am

        lprent – I posted this in another thread but it throws open the question of exactly what concessions did Labour actually secure on ISDS that didn’t already exist?

        From 2016 ( I know you have doubts about MFAT docs on this, as do I )

        http://www.tpp.mfat.govt.nz/assets/docs/TPP%20National%20Interest%20Analysis.pdf

        “There are several aspects of ISDS in TPP that are considered to provide sufficient mitigation to balance the advantages and disadvantages of ISDS as acceptable for the New Zealand Government.
        For example:
         There are safeguards, reservations (non-conforming measures) and exceptions that ensure New Zealand retains the ability to regulate for public health, the environment and other important regulatory objectives.
         A specific provision allows the Government to rule out ISDS challenges over tobacco control measures. The Government intends to exercise this provision.
         The investment obligations in TPP have been drafted in a way that would impose a high burden of proof on investors to establish that a TPP government had breached obligations such as ‘expropriation’ or ‘minimum standard of treatment’.
         Limiting the types of monetary awards and damages that can be made against the Government.
         Provisions that mean hearings will be open to the public, and which allow tribunals to accept submissions from experts and the public.
         A number of provisions that allow TPP governments to issue binding interpretations on ISDS tribunals.
         ISDS provisions would not apply between New Zealand and Australia. This means that threequarters of all FDI from TPP countries in New Zealand would not have recourse to ISDS under TPP.
         There are a number of other mitigating features (outlined in detail in this NIA). ”

        Depending on the definition of “provisions” it is good that any ISDS hearing will be public and will accept public submissions. Expensive to appear if not held in NZ. BUT I couldn’t see quickly what “provisions” means in this respect. It suggests some exceptions?

        • Bill 4.1.1.1
          13 November 2017 at 11:37 am

          That second to last one is what Parker was skiting about just yesterday in terms of there having been substantial “progress”!!! (Except the 75% has become 80%)

          And it was there all along? Quell surprise!

          SDS provisions would not apply between New Zealand and Australia. This means that threequarters of all FDI from TPP countries in New Zealand would not have recourse to ISDS under TPP (2016).

          Thank you for the link Tracey 🙂 (I wonder what other pre-existing stuff they were selling as new?)

          • tracey 4.1.1.1.1
            13 November 2017 at 11:44 am

            Exactly. And I just wish that those supporting this and other FTA (Wayne, I am looking at you) would post supporting evidence for their views, cos Wayne has been constantly asked for cost/benefit analysis type info etc and must know about this document.

            Say what you will about Kelsey but she is widely read and deeply informed on this topic. Yes, she focuses on what she sees as negatives, but she provides supporting information. I am constantly disappointed at how unable or unprepared those touting its advantages are and seem to merely repeat what others say.

            This attitude does not serve us well. Instead of name calling Kelsey, show us why she is wrong, use documents etc…

            • Bill 4.1.1.1.1.1
              13 November 2017 at 12:11 pm

              They can’t show her to be wrong. She isn’t wrong.

              So cutting off her oxygen and running with character assassination it is. (Same for any articulate dissident.)

              Though they sometimes access other media or other platforms. But then, y’know – “fake news” 😉

              And so it goes…

          • Carolyn_Nth 4.1.1.1.2
            13 November 2017 at 12:50 pm

            This from Jane kelsey on Sept 5 2017:

            Jacinda Adern recently defended Labour’s ‘bloody minded’ opposition to the agreement. But its only firm position is an objection to a single, very specific provision in the entire 30-chapter deal: the right to discriminate against foreign purchasers of residential property in the schedule on investment. Does Labour really intend to agree to the TPPA-11 if that minor matter is changed (as it has been in a leaked copy I have of New Zealand’s proposed schedule to the now-suspended Trade in Services Agreement negotiations)?

        • cleangreen 4.1.1.2
          13 November 2017 at 10:42 pm

          Brilliance there tracey,

          Caught labour in a lie here.

          Wayne Mapp today 12 noon on Newshub Car radio (I am sure heard him say) the new deal Labour has ‘in principal’ agreed to ” is the same as the one National signed up to in 2016″ so he just confirmed your position here.

        • Jan Rivers 4.1.1.3
          14 November 2017 at 9:09 am

          When he was speaking on Radio New Zealand yesterday morning Minister David Parker said that government infrastructure projects would now have to go through the courts now instead of ISDS. He may have been referring to this in the national interest analysis.

          ISDS cases can be taken against Investment Agreements “In relation to a limited range of activities, including [contracts between a commercial international party and the NZ government related to] natural resources that a national authority controls, the supply of services on behalf of the Party for consumption by the general public, and infrastructure projects.”

          He gave an example of an infrastructure case that this category belongs in. If the exclusion is more general ax all investment across natural resources management and services supply it could mean that for example that changes to mining and drilling concessions or water bottling rights would go to law rather than ISDS. If so This is Definitely A Win for the new government.

          I’m unsure what this means in terms of the TPP’s framework’s use in the legal case but presumably the case would still reference the TPP’s provisions as law that overrides NZ law.

      • marty mars 4.1.2
        13 November 2017 at 11:44 am

        Yes I agree about rushing off the cliff – I have concerns about the lack of analysis – sure Kelsey is doing it but I think we need more support and more other points of view.

  5. cleangreen 5
    13 November 2017 at 10:49 am

    “Further to that the timing couldn’t have been worse for Labour. They’re a brand new Govt still feeling their way and they get landed with a near fait accompli they had no prior involvement in. It was a hospital pass.”

    Yes exactly; Now labour has to be decisive now; – and move to play tough; – threaten to pull out now if …….///// or we will loose everything we still can save.

    Otherwise when we loose everything over the next thirty or so years, we will let our kids and their kids down!! so are you up for this?

    • lprent 5.1
      13 November 2017 at 10:56 am

      I’d settle for them just slowing down and actually trying to explain to the rest of us where there are any advantages in this for anyone apart from a very few.

      It isn’t like the audience here are exactly ignorant. Most of them appear to be excessively well educated and highly aware of situational issues.

      But it has been clear for years that this agreement appears to suck on any rational grounds. The question about why it has been persisted on by many governments is a lot less clear. Perhaps they should try to explain it.

      • Grey Area 5.1.1
        13 November 2017 at 11:15 am

        +1. The two main responses I have to this zombie deal are anger at us being sold out and puzzlement. Why? I think we know why but it would be good to have the government be more open and transparent as it has pledged to be over this most important issue and explain why it is good for NZ.

        This agreement has always seemed like madness but didn’t Bruce Jesson say “only their purpose is mad”?

        • tracey 5.1.1.1
          13 November 2017 at 11:16 am

          This is national’s national Interest Analysis prepared in 2016 (prior to US pulling out)

          http://www.tpp.mfat.govt.nz/assets/docs/TPP%20National%20Interest%20Analysis.pdf

          • Saarbo 5.1.1.1.1
            13 November 2017 at 8:50 pm

            Thanks Tracey, that is interesting. So it provides $207m in tariff savings once fully implemented to Japan alone. That is quite a big number!

            I support Labour 100% on this, a nation cant fund a decent public service without increasing exports, selling to itself wont make it wealthier.

            I hear what Jane Kelsey is saying, but it would take a brave government to leave exports on the table, when we as a nation weeed to desperately increase funding of Education, Health, etc.

            Labour have not put a foot wrong since gaining power in my view.

            • KJT 5.1.1.1.1.1
              14 November 2017 at 9:57 am

              And Japanese consumers, who are fiercely loyal to their own producers, will suddenly start buying billions in commodities from New Zealand, simply because tariffs are reduced. Yeah right!
              (Maybe that is why National have refused to make , country of origin, labeling compulsory?)

              Commodities which are already pushing against environmental limits with our current exports.

              With the TPPA forever preventing us from nurturing higher value exports, or giving local startup firms, preference.

      • tracey 5.1.2
        13 November 2017 at 11:15 am

        Ardern has said it will go to Select Committee ad there will be public submissions. Most importantly she will need to articulate exactly what concessions Parker and his troops got that were not already there. Only those differences will mitigate their 5 bottom lines promises.

        • Grey Area 5.1.2.1
          13 November 2017 at 11:41 am

          Thanks Tracey.

        • lprent 5.1.2.2
          13 November 2017 at 12:05 pm

          Ardern has said it will go to Select Committee ad there will be public submissions.

          The problem is that the only thing that needs to go to select committee are new law and changes to local laws. I can’t see any legislation in here that needs changing or adding to conform to this new version of TPP. For instance, assuming that the ISDS needs to go through the local courts, I can’t see anything that needs to change

          Furthermore the select committee rules usually preclude raising matters wildly outside of the legislation under consideration. So unless we get a bill going through welcoming the CPTPP that the government has already signed for us we aren’t likely to get any relevant context.

          The only select committee that has a mandate by convention is the foreign affairs one. Who also have a maximum of about a mere 20 working days with which to look at it, including the time to present the agreement to the public, call for submissions, have them presented… etc

          In short, without some detail on exactly what is proposed and what effect it would have on the processes of the Executive council who commits us to the agreement, it is a meaningless sop to stupidity.

          This is what I mean when I describe things as being meaningless PR. They sound good but have no substantive effect apart from pissing me and others off.

      • cleangreen 5.1.3
        13 November 2017 at 11:43 am

        Yes slow down Labour let the people speak as you promised a voice pre-election and again post election withyour Auckland town hall speech?

        Let us into the tent (as maori had in 1840) to add our position before a referendum or common place meeting please.

      • Ad 5.1.4
        13 November 2017 at 11:53 am

        Agree.

        Publish all the MFAT analyses, especially the national impact assessments.

        I am pretty happy with both the negotiating performance of Parker and his frankness to the media on CPTPP so far.

        I am also looking forward to seeing how the results for New Zealand will be measured, tracked, and made public.

        • tracey 5.1.4.1
          14 November 2017 at 8:16 am

          How do you feel about him implying Labour had negotiated the ISDS concession with Australia?

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.5
        13 November 2017 at 4:40 pm

        The question about why it has been persisted on by many governments is a lot less clear. Perhaps they should try to explain it.

        That would be nice but I suspect it comes down to this is what the corporations want.

  6. Bill 6
    13 November 2017 at 11:28 am

    Jane Kelsey writes – the new government needs to give priority to its proposed full and participatory review of trade policy.

    That’s the nub of it.

    And given that trade policy has been wholly informed by a slavish adherence to Liberal ideology these past decades, it would only be a government that was seeking to remain – I’ll say – “religiously committed” to that ideology that wouldn’t review trade policy.

    So I don’t expect any review of trade policy.

    Consider the commitment to so-called (and ideologically driven) “fiscal responsibility” and (it appears) relying on a similarly ideological ‘trickle down’ effect in the housing market, where the ratio of new build houses for sale to new build houses for rent stands at 10:1 – even though the housing crisis obviously rests most heavily on the rental sector…

    Arguably, NZ had the opportunity to unburden itself from this toxic 19thC ideology a while back (Cunliffe), but passed it by. Some might say the opportunity re-presented itself in the shape of Metiria Turei placing a “poverty bomb” at the heart of matters. That ended well too.

    So get used to people being gouged by interest payments for vehicles they’ve purchased on HP ‘deals’ because they’re that desperate to have somewhere to live (the more fortunate of the homeless).

    And get used to people, lying and cheating for the sake of just a few extra (but desperately needed) dollars on welfare going to jail.

    Our political class has seen fit that we wade through this slough of 19thC Liberalism. C’est la vie. Welcome to the foreseeable future then.

    And to all those who voted NZ Labour? Well done. Thank you, thank you. Thank you all.

    • adam 6.1
      13 November 2017 at 11:41 am

      It would seem to be that many of the devotes of this neoteric Liberalism, the TTP is the glue holding their ideological wet dreams together.

      And like anyone who questions the dominant ideology, the abuse and name calling for opposing the TTP is quite loud and persistent.

      • tracey 6.1.1
        13 November 2017 at 11:47 am

        YES! Unfortunately the revelation that Parker was being mischievous when suggesting Labour had got the Australia concession over the weekend has triggered my pet peeve when it comes to Kelsey.

        When she speaks it is from a deep understanding of the text (which is amazing when you consider she has less access to it than many of its strongest proponents) and uses documents and other evidence to back her views. In return she doesn’t get point and counter point with supporting evidence she gets name calling. By all means disagree with her but do it with intelligence and knowledge.

      • marty mars 6.1.2
        13 November 2017 at 11:47 am

        Lol most abuse if for the suppoŕters of the tppa not the other way round, at least on here and in the activist left circles I hang in.

        • tracey 6.1.2.1
          13 November 2017 at 11:57 am

          But not in MSM.

          • marty mars 6.1.2.1.1
            13 November 2017 at 12:28 pm

            I never give the msm much attention.

            • tracey 6.1.2.1.1.1
              13 November 2017 at 12:33 pm

              Good for you marty but that is the basis for most folks views/beliefs about our politics, not thestandard or kiwiblog.

              • marty mars …
                13 November 2017 at 1:05 pm

                Most folks aren’t going to have any influence in getting more transparency around this agreement or having any influence at all imo. The trade area is policy wonk and hardcore entrenched belief system driven. The msm on these things generally tells people what happened and then offers justifications for what has just happened and this is already underway in my reading of their articles and lines.

                • tracey …
                  13 November 2017 at 1:12 pm

                  I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment. Just worried for those who thought Labour might be different 😉

                  • marty mars …
                    13 November 2017 at 1:33 pm

                    Perspective is a funny thing – I love optical illusions where what people see isn’t actually what people see but the brain interpreting what they see, have seen before, and expect to see in the future. Politics is similar imo.

                    • McFlock …
                      13 November 2017 at 7:29 pm

                      Yep. Not just what they’ve seen before, but what they’ve concentrated hard on, so even if they haven’t seen it the pattern matching in the brain flips things around.

                      A non-political example being that if someone dies, there’s often that moment in the street where some random passer-by looks like the deceased person. Just because you’ve been thinking about that person a lot.

                • weka …
                  13 November 2017 at 8:26 pm

                  “Most folks aren’t going to have any influence in getting more transparency around this agreement or having any influence at all imo.”

                  Hmm, this suggests that if there had been no protest movement in the past years against the TPPA, then Labour would be doing what they are doing now based on their own values. I’m not sure I agree with that.

                  • marty mars …
                    13 November 2017 at 10:25 pm

                    No, the next sentence describes imo how ‘trade’ and their agreements are deep rooted in the progress philosophy and therefore hard to move – or at least that’s what I was trying to say.

                    I think protests are essential and the benefits of protests are wider than the issue being protested.

      • cleangreen 6.1.3
        13 November 2017 at 11:48 am

        Thanks Adam,

        Those who abuse us for speaking up are degrading our founding democracy.

      • Bill 6.1.4
        13 November 2017 at 12:03 pm

        Thinking more “necrotic neoteric liberalism” – or ne-neo-liberalism by way of a suitably descriptive (stammering death bed) abbreviation 🙂

  7. McFlock 7
    13 November 2017 at 11:47 am

    ISTR that the projections for the TPPA were something like being worth a billion dollars a year to us in 20 years time – i.e. a negligible benefit for all the effort, and quite large possible liabilities (e.g. an INCIS-style debacle or tobacco industry court case). And yes, a billion dollars in 20 years time is negligible, both as a proportion of gdp and frankly along the margin for error with projections that far ahead.

    With the new suspensions, it seems it might, big might, actually be worthwhile. But as you point out, without decent analyses we won’t know.

    On the plus side, at least Labour seem to have gained a better (for a given value of “better”) deal than national did.

    • cleangreen 7.1
      13 November 2017 at 11:50 am

      100% McFlock bang on there.

    • marty mars 7.2
      13 November 2017 at 11:52 am

      Watch out mate that is getting close to liking the deal and that is a big no no. ☺

      I hate the tppa and what it stands for and if they put it in I can deal with that because there are bigger more important issues for me like inequality, poverty and climate change. The first ww3 tsunami will null and void any puny trade agreement imo.

      • greywarshark 7.2.1
        13 November 2017 at 12:55 pm

        Is there a clause that says that any country hit with a large natural disaster, is free from any further legal challenges and will be relieved o paying any legal costs?

        Because I can imagine the legal suits taking a lien over what is left of NZ after The Big One/Two hit us, and coming over with an army of assessors to work out the depreciated value of everything left and us still owing at the end of it. Then we would be reduced to the age-old line of the desperately poor, ‘I have very nice girl here, young, or boy, plenty of fun’.

        • marty mars 7.2.1.1
          13 November 2017 at 1:09 pm

          Dunno. Perhaps the corporates could sue mother nature/earth or humanity as a whole, to get any money they lose from climate change effect mitigation.

    • tracey 7.3
      13 November 2017 at 11:57 am

      Really? Can you be specific? Cos I did some googling and found that most (if not all cos I haven’t done the detailed analysis on all Parker said) were already in there from 2016?

      Also, the analysis you refer to were pre US pulling out, so need to be redone to take account how their departure changes cost/benefit?

      • McFlock 7.3.1
        13 November 2017 at 12:08 pm

        Well, the yanks were behind the worst aspects of it, so I figured they were a net loss lol.

        As for the suspensions, I got the impression some negotiation had taken place just before APEC this year. Or did we just rubberstamp what the nats had already agreed to? I believe the nats did the no-ISDS side deal (they should have plugged that more, IMO).

        • Bill 7.3.1.1
          13 November 2017 at 12:33 pm

          Somewhere on youtube (I had a quick search but can’t see it again) there’s a lecture given on the ‘General Equilibrium Models’ as they apply to TTIP. The guy stripped out some of the more more ludicrous assumptions inherent to the models and presented the results. In the case of TTIP, the US might just about have tread water while Europe tanked. (Is that comparative advantage?)

          Anyway. Bottom line, it’s all a corporate power grab and economists in favour of these deals are bent on, as one source termed it, “managing fictional expectations”.

          NZ Labour has no more excuses than those who burnt heretics because they genuinely “believed” – ie, they have no excuse.

          • McFlock 7.3.1.1.1
            13 November 2017 at 1:55 pm

            Actually, with the agreement the US were involved in, I tend to agree.

            Most of the other parties involved seemed to be more interested in a conventional trade deal, rather than rewriting other countries’ laws.

            Now the US is out of it and most of their conditions have been suspended (and won’t be reactivated without renegotiation), it might possibly be a good agreement.

          • boggis the cat 7.3.1.1.2
            14 November 2017 at 12:26 pm

            What these agreements seem to really be is a Trojan horse to lock in corporate profits and tax avoidance. This is easy enough to figure out if you look at who is pushing for them, and the obsession with keeping the details away from independent scrutiny.

        • tracey 7.3.1.2
          13 November 2017 at 12:34 pm

          But I seem to recall some suggestion that it was breaking into Japan and USA (getting them to lower their tarrifs etc) that was a BIG reason for us wanting in.

          • McFlock 7.3.1.2.1
            13 November 2017 at 1:43 pm

            Japan yes, but the usa was also the source of the most costly conditions.

            A FTA with the USA is always the tory trade wet dream – not only do they have visions of vast wealth, but it would tie us closer to the yanks. But it’s never going to happen – Wisconsin will oppose dairy, every state offering tax breaks for movie production will oppose liberalisation in that area, etc. Too many competing interests.

          • Draco T Bastard 7.3.1.2.2
            13 November 2017 at 5:37 pm

            On agriculture.

            We need to decrease our farming as it’s having a massively detrimental effect upon our environment.

            Which tends to make me think that being able to export more primary products isn’t really any good.

            How about we build up our R&D and export some real high quality stuff that pays better and doesn’t damage the environment.

            • boggis the cat 7.3.1.2.2.1
              14 November 2017 at 12:22 pm

              We need to decrease our farming as it’s having a massively detrimental effect upon our environment.

              We should certainly look at better approaches than rushing to capitalise on whatever the latest ‘get rich quick’ scheme in the farming sector is. Turning half the available land into paddocks to shove cows onto, damn the consequences, was always a daft idea.

              There is a lot of agricultural research and expertise here that isn’t being used because of this short-sighted mentality. If we were smart we’d be producing a broad range of agricultural products for domestic consumption and export into the more lucrative markets. Commodity markets have no long term potential for a country our size, and we’ve seriously screwed the place over chasing the commodity dairy market.

              Time to wise up.

  8. OnceWasTim 8
    13 November 2017 at 2:40 pm

    “The whole of the TPP negotiations has been exactly the kind of ad-hoc half-arsed decision making that I abhor. I want real risk analysis, consideration of possible downsides, and a cessation of unreasoned unclear PR driven ‘momentum’ based wankfests like the TPP and the flag referendum that it so resembles.”

    Not a bad summary @lprent of the self-entitled WASP wankers that have been allowed to drop their sperm/pollen and infest our public service – especially over the past decade or so …. but “Labour did it too” at various times in the past.
    (I think Labour are busy with ‘learnings’ though, that’ll either see them utterly irrelevant, or reinvigorated, and in NZ, they do have the benefit of an MMP environment)
    My suspicions are that Ms. JA is aware of it, and Winnie is certainly aware of it.
    The whole thing has been allowed to fester for so long that it has become an institutionalised culture.
    Just a couple of hours ago, a mate of mine sent me pics of a very worried looking SSC commissioner(yep – probably lower-case c is appropriate) and guest. He looks as though he’d just swallowed the most bitter of lemons, and probably knows a growing number are starting to realise the Emperor’s clothes are looking a lot like a skimpy see thru’ niggled-e-jay that Kath or Kim would wear. (I’m betting Mr. Iain probably wasn’t even aware of someone’s photographic study – of an individual who looks like he’s just had to swallow a pile of his own shit that he previously thought was a filet mignon with a innovative and redolent sauce comprised of ….)

    The TPP is total shite. It seems to me that both sides are busy smelling the fear and learning their next spin lines. (By the way – for the spin meisters – such as Matty H, this morning’s effort wasn’t a good look. She gave you a hint – i.e. not to make it all about Prof. Kelsey, but you couldn’t give it up – which leads me to believe you’re either still under the influence, or that you’re ekshully a bit fik).

    Let’s not pretend that our parliamentarians aren’t aware the bullshit and spin, or that before they criticise, they need to check their own shortcomings before they throw the stones at the glasshouse.
    But let’s also be assured that the current coalition government has the moral high-ground, the mandate (in an MMP environment),, and the ability to progressively move forward.
    James James – hold the ladder steady! Paula Paula, check the ladders and the prescription, Soimun Soimun – check your ego, Chris Chris – check the walkway down to that sewer outlet in Wellington.

  9. weka 9
    13 November 2017 at 4:35 pm

    Someone has probably already covered this, but just in case not,

    PublicGood-ANZ‏ @PublicGoodANZ

    So the removal of ISDS cases between NZ & Australia announced as a new initiative was actually part of the analysis in Jan 2016 https://www.tpp.mfat.govt.nz/assets/docs/TPP%20National%20Interest%20Analysis.pdf … page 16 #TPP11 #spin #credibility

    https://twitter.com/PublicGoodANZ/status/929852667203018753

    I haven’t checked the PDF.

    • tracey 9.1
      14 November 2017 at 8:19 am

      100% correct and I posted tge link to the proof a few times in discussions on different TPP threads here.

  10. Sparky 10
    13 November 2017 at 4:51 pm

    Yes this mostly sums up my assessment of this pickled turd of an agreement. That said, I suspect Labour will push it through and I’d speculate based on this decision they are going to have a hell of a hard time labeling themselves as anything other than UK style 1990’s “new Labour” from that point on.

    Maybe this might work fro them but I’d guess probably not. There’s real anger around this so called deal. People have had to put up with over 30 years of this neo lib shit and many have really suffered.

    They should keep in mind too they did not really do that well this election and its only because of coalition partners they even scraped into office. If they ignore the wishes of those voters they may find they pressure their parties to steer clear of forming this kind of coalition with Labour in future.

    In any case the CPTPP is folly and its the long suffering public who will quite literally pay the price.

  11. bwaghorn 11
    13 November 2017 at 6:07 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11943572

    all thing tpp plus this post gets a mention and a link

  12. cleangreen 12
    13 November 2017 at 10:46 pm

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/11/nz-first-support-for-tpp-not-guaranteed.html

    Interesting NZF may jump ship also on TPP (or what else it is called for now)

    • tracey 12.1
      14 November 2017 at 8:22 am

      Interesting in light of some analysis suggesting they have less leeway cos they sit in Cabinet

      • cleangreen 12.1.1
        14 November 2017 at 8:32 am

        Tracey,
        It was an agreement in the coalition agreeement to “agree to differ” (my words) I heard it on RNZ news yesterday.

        So for labour it is a ‘coalition’ risk they face over TPP 11 (or whatever it is called for now)

        This morning Bull English was chirping “we will support labour with their version of TPP 11.

        This was predictable, but strange as National have not seen the final ‘legal text’ of the final agreement (to be signed yet)

        Only a fool agree’s to anything they have not seen so we cannot trust national at all period.

  13. Peter 13
    14 November 2017 at 9:02 am

    Sad, reading all these posts. With “friends” from the left determined to undermine this fledgling Government, Jacinda doesn’t need any enemies. Just like in the past, the left will self immolate and let the Tories back in to Government in 2020.

    IMHO, Jacinda and her team had no choice. Opt out and be irrelevant in world export markets or do her best to get some concessions, which she did. The first would have probably wrecked New Zealand’s export prospects for a generation, the second gives us a chance.

    • KJT 13.1
      14 November 2017 at 10:03 am

      Unless the “left” is actually “left”. What’s the point?

      How about looking at countries that want to trade with us. Russia, Brexit Britain for example?

      Not those where we have to give them the family silver before they will sign an agreement.

      They will, as before, trade with us if it suits them.

    • weka 13.2
      14 November 2017 at 11:43 am

      “Opt out and be irrelevant in world export markets”

      But the TPPA doesn’t cover all export markets, nor does no signing mean we can’t have other trade deals with though countries.

    • boggis the cat 13.3
      14 November 2017 at 11:49 am

      Opt out and be irrelevant in world export markets

      Yeah… What is the point of the WTO, again?

  14. boggis the cat 14
    14 November 2017 at 11:41 am

    Why doesn’t government get a second opinion on such things from academics?

    They are also experts, and also paid from the public purse (at least in most cases). I am always suspicious of any policy that is only agreed to by corporations — especially if they’re monopolists and/or multinationals — and rubber stamped by the civil service with no details available. The TPPA is a particularly egregious example of secrecy and lack of accountability that reeks of corruption.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    45 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 hour ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    19 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    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

  • 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
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T01:12:10+00:00