Transmission Gully PPP

Written By: - Date published: 10:46 am, May 7th, 2020 - 56 comments
Categories: corruption, Politics, Public Private Partnerships, Simon Bridges, transport, uncategorized - Tags:

No Right Turn has a piece on the Transmission Gully project – which appears to be turning into mush. The title “A death-knell for PPPs?” says it all.

When the then-National government approved a public-private partnership (PPP) funding model for Transmission Gully, it claimed it was all about building it quicker and cheaper. Paying a private company’s profit margin would supposedly give “certainty of delivery and… better value for money”. So how has it turned out? The cost has blown out by $191 million, a third of the road has failed quality checks and needs to be torn up and re-laid, the project is now delayed until 2021, and rather than face these costs, the PPP contractor is planning to walk away and dump everything back on the government:

That last NewsHub link indicates that NZTA said in February that a cost overrun of more than a fifth would push the total cost up to over a billion dollars and have a delay in completion from May to December. Now, presumably as a result of missing crucial periods during lockdown before the winter months and the inability to fly staff back in from overseas, they appear to be saying that it will complete some time in 2021.

But the NewsHub article also suggests that the primary contractor CPB HEB may be looking to pull out of the contract. That it has already dropped sub-contractors and that equipment is already being moved off-site. The urgent negotiations could be that or or could be who is going to have to pay for the costs related to the pandemic.

No Right Turn’s conclusion is that..

The entire project looks to be an expensive failure. Rather than transferring risk to the private sector, it turns out to be the usual scam of privatising profits and socialising losses. And its hard to escape the impression that we could have built it quicker and cheaper and without the quality issues caused by the contractor shaving costs and using substandard materials to increase its profits by just getting the government to do it in the first place. And hopefully it will be a death knell for PPPs in this country.

It is hard to disagree about the lack of public value with PPPs. At least if you aren’t a blind ideological idiot with delusions that the private market is always more efficient. While there must have been the mythic ‘good for the public’ PPPs. But I have never observed them when looked retrospectively from 20 years in a developed non-corrupt country. The best that I have seen have been ones that would be about the same what would be expected if the government agencies built it themselves. Except those always look like lowball build to get higher toll profits.

I’d also observe that just having PPPs appears to correlate pretty well with increases in public servant corruption – even if you just look at aussie. The way that PPPs cover themselves in ‘commercial sensitivity’ and highly prejudicial contract clauses disguises from the public the true risk costs of public projects.

The worst one I saw was for a toll motorway in Sydney that if the toll revenue wasn’t sufficient, would cause the state government to close the free roads to drive revenue to the private operators of the toll road – the roads that were meant to provide a non-tolled alternative. There are quite a few examples listed in this NSW state government report in particular Chapter 3.

When you look at the cost overruns and delays on commissioning projects compared to the government builds after the fact. It’d be interesting to find if any one has done a decades after analysis of comparable projects. But to my eye the results really don’t look different, and certainly don’t indicate any real advantage in private involvement.

In effect, as No Right Turn states PPPs seem to be designed to “be the usual scam of privatising profits and socialising losses”. They also seem to be perfectly designed for politicians to take lowball bids and push the true costs into the future. But which also allow them to view with alarm at a later date. Cue our ex-minister of transport Simon (no) Bridges.

While the current circumstances with the pandemic of this PPP are pretty unusual for NZ, I suspect that we’re going to see the other unfortunate effect of PPPs. A discontinuity in the build whilst the parties have a legal obligation and who bears the costs disagreement – that further delays the project.

As Jenny Michie said here back in 2011 in “Are PPPs the best we can do?“

PPP is privatisation with a better name. It’s no surprise that National is in favour of them: getting rich on the public purse is in their DNA. What is more concerning is that people like Len Brown want to use them to help build infrastructure in Auckland.

Are we really so bereft of ideas as a nation that PPPs are the best we can come up with?

56 comments on “Transmission Gully PPP ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Dukeofurl 1
    7 May 2020 at 11:27 am

    Wasnt the situation the Same for the PPP for the Holiday Highway project north of Auckland , Fletchers were the main contractor partner but its was turning out to be an expensive mistake for them (like a lot of their other big jobs.)

    This was 2018

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/04/17/105267/more-bad-news-as-fletcher-plans-750m-raising-asset-sales

    In a real world , the contractor losing money is only a problem for the PPP partners including the financial backers, who have a very long term out look.

    One thing made me smile about Transmission Gulley , was the comment of one commuter 'who had sold up and moved to Otaki on the prospect of a quicker run on the motorway driving into Wellington'. This is exactly why these sorts of projects dont stack up as commuters move further out negating the 'saving time cost benefit' in BCR

  2. Andre 2
    7 May 2020 at 11:41 am

    Here's the Treasury sales weasel snow job on how PPPs are supposed to work.

    The Greater Auckland piece linked below includes a good graph on how the payments are supposed to work. (h/t Ad)

    https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2020/05/06/times-up-for-ppps/

    • RedLogix 2.1
      7 May 2020 at 2:48 pm

      Maybe the devil was in this not so little detail:

      The contract guarantees unprecedented certainty for a highway project, as Transmission Gully must be delivered for a set price, and must perform to measurable performance standards for the full 25 years.”

      Maybe someone decided that the road was never going to go the distance and the potential maintenance costs were going to blow any potential profit into the weeds.

      • Ad 2.1.1
        8 May 2020 at 8:56 am

        25 years uninterrupted use and access on a fault line with a major event return period of, shall we say, Wellington, is bodaciously bold.

  3. Pat 3
    7 May 2020 at 11:49 am

    PPPs nothing more than a pointless accounting trick that fools nobody….the problem is we have reduced state capability so much over the decades we have almost removed alternatives.

    • Andre 3.1
      7 May 2020 at 12:18 pm

      It doesn't look like a pointless accounting trick to me.

      It looks like a very successful accounting trick to transfer more public money to private interests in a hidden fashion while allowing devious weasel politicians to lie that they've improved the country's financial situation through innovative financing of major projects.

      Reduced state capability is a separate issue to PPPs. Getting rid of PPPs and going back to old-skool procurement of paying private contractors for a project as its built would give much better outcomes by improving transparency on how much it really costs and possibly get pollies to think a bit harder about which projects actually deliver value.

      • Pat 3.1.1
        7 May 2020 at 12:28 pm

        Its a pointless accounting trick in terms of the justification used for it…..reduced gov debt.

        Reduced state capability is not separate issue to PPPs….that lack of capability directly impacts the governments ability to assess any proposal, any design, and any costings….not to mention quality control and oversight once contract is awarded, PPP or not.

      • Gabby 3.1.2
        7 May 2020 at 1:40 pm

        Egg Zachary, best siphon ever.

    • Tricledrown 3.2
      7 May 2020 at 1:52 pm

      Subsidizing donors of the National Party kick backs and graft.

    • Marcus Morris 3.3
      7 May 2020 at 4:01 pm

      Bring back the Ministry of Works

      • Pat 3.3.1
        7 May 2020 at 5:56 pm

        Yes…except to rediscover that which was lost will take many years…the problem is sadly more immediate

  4. Ad 4
    7 May 2020 at 12:06 pm

    The Ministry of Transport Value For Money composting unit is going to sprout the stinkiest shitflower bouquet delivered for the Minister of Transport to clasp to his electoral chest.

    Betcha the new Infrastructure Commission runs a mile from the ppp turdblossoms that many in there advocated nurturing.

    I smell High Court for damages against NZTA on Transmission Gully, and High Court for Judicial Review against the Minister for light rail.

  5. Dennis Frank 5
    7 May 2020 at 1:19 pm

    No problem. Twyford will just bang a few heads together, everyone involved will gulp & get things back on track. In an alternate universe.

    It's also possible there’s a taniwha hidden there, and the local Maori haven't noticed. Te Ara says they have lairs in "pools, caves, or dangerous waterways". Any of those in the gully? If it got word of how successful its colleague was in the Waikato it may be using the same strategy.

    • Incognito 5.1
      7 May 2020 at 1:28 pm

      Why are you mocking Māori culture and beliefs?

      • Dennis Frank 5.1.1
        7 May 2020 at 2:12 pm

        Didn't realise I was, actually. `Tis true that I've always been non-pc tho, so it wouldn't surprise me at all. Did you notice that I was mocking Twyford? Perhaps you think it's okay to mock some folk & not others??

  6. Gabby 6
    7 May 2020 at 1:42 pm

    What's the liability of the ceo and board when things are managed so incompetently? Is it fraud to use materials of lower quality than specified for instance?

    • Dukeofurl 6.1
      7 May 2020 at 1:51 pm

      You seem to be mistaken , the CEO and Board of NZTA are hands off , the design , construction and financing is in the hands of the PPP

      " The contract will see WGP design, build and finance the project, as well as operate and maintain the road for 25 years after the expected five-year build finishes in 2020.

      The Wellington Gateway Partnership consists of:

      • HEB Construction Ltd
      • Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd
      • Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
      • InfraRed Infrastructure General Partner Ltd
      • Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd (BTMU)

      ​

      • Ad 6.1.1
        7 May 2020 at 3:23 pm

        While that's true in theory Duke, if Transmission Gully does go tits up, the restructures inside NZTA will come thick and fast. It's the public service way.

      • Gabby 6.1.2
        7 May 2020 at 4:29 pm

        I meant the ceo and board of each of the private 'partners'.

  7. roblogic 7
    7 May 2020 at 2:32 pm

    I imagine that the Nat administration treated this project like they did Novapay — by ignoring quality concerns, cutting corners, slashing key public servants, pressuring management to hit unrealistic deadlines. Result: burned out staff, half-arsed job, waste of public money, endless litigation

  8. Dean Reynolds 8
    7 May 2020 at 4:17 pm

    And National are whining about the Transmission Gully outcome, having set up the fiasco in the first place. Another example of 'free market' failure.

    FFS, re-establsh the Ministry of Works & just bloody get on with it!

  9. Gosman 9
    7 May 2020 at 5:49 pm

    Where was the government oversight on this project? This should not be a surprise to the Ministry of Transport. They should be all over this.

  10. peterlepaysan 10
    7 May 2020 at 11:00 pm

    There is silence from the national self entitled politicos about this debacle. I wonder why?

    Whose idea was it for ppp?

    Simon has some bridges to cross.

    • Sacha 10.1
      8 May 2020 at 8:42 am

      Some in Labour also favour PPPs. This is not a partisan thing, more of a neoliberal one.

    • infused 10.2
      8 May 2020 at 9:08 am

      Because it's nothing to do with the PPP as to why this has gone to shit.

      • KJT 10.2.1
        8 May 2020 at 2:39 pm

        Sure.

        Have I got a bridge to sell you!

        • infused 10.2.1.1
          8 May 2020 at 11:07 pm

          its mostly weather related. look into it

          • KJT 10.2.1.1.1
            9 May 2020 at 8:42 am

            Contractors that didn't realise there is such a thing as weather.

            Give me a break!

            They underbid to get the contract, knowing that the dimwits in the National Government and NZTA, would pay for the overruns.

  11. Sacha 11
    8 May 2020 at 8:13 am

    PPPs are very popular with global financiers and their lackeys in the ratings agencies. That's who this sort of rort is designed to suck up to, in exchange for letting us borrow so much beyond our means.

  12. Wayne 12
    8 May 2020 at 8:15 am

    Going by the rest of the big roading and infrastructure projects, an increase in cost by 20% does not seem so extraordinary. The CRL has just about doubled price in the last four years. Most of the other big projects have cost overruns in the order of 20% and take at least a year longer to complete. For instance the southern motorway has taken more than 2 extra years to complete. A lot of them have do over work.

    The PPP aspect does not seem to be the problem, rather New Zealand contractors have generally not had sufficient experience to properly manage and cost projects of this scale. They have had to learn on the way. And the longer a project takes, the more it is affected by things such as increased cost of materials and increased wage costs.

    As I recall (and I am old enough to do so) the MoW was beset by these kinds of issues as well. Over time it got worse rather than better, so that by the 1980's the MOW was the byword for inefficiency.

    • Ad 12.1
      8 May 2020 at 8:20 am

      It's not led by local contractors. They are in the mix but not the leads.

      I'm mulling a post about this romantic notion of bringing back the Ministry of Works.

      • roblogic 12.1.1
        9 May 2020 at 1:41 pm

        The private construction sector in NZ hasn't exactly covered itself in glory. Leaky homes, corporate collapses, cosy cartels, crappy materials, lowball quotes followed by doubling the price later down the road.

        A few shareholders are laughing while subbies and muggins taxpayers are left with a mess to clean up.

        NZ to too small for some markets to operate properly, hence the need for proper state oversight or even ownership. The Rogernomics notion of private sector efficiency is a shoddy scam exploited by grifters

        • Ad 12.1.1.1
          9 May 2020 at 1:47 pm

          There are no shareholders laughing now at anything. Even our largest remaining construction corporations have been brought low.

          It was the private construction sector that built all those state houses you still see around the place in the 1940s and 1950s. The state specified them.

          Lowball quotes are generated by the entire public sector preferring the "lowest cost conforming" bid for decades. That's the fault of the public sector, and that's still the case mostly. There's a big Construction Accord in place trying to shift these past sins.

          The public client binds itself in the same jam with respect to quality and price: everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die.

          • roblogic 12.1.1.1.1
            9 May 2020 at 2:01 pm

            Glad to hear the public sector is re-thinking its approach. The cost cutting mentality costs lives. e.g. Cave Creek tragedy

          • RedLogix 12.1.1.1.2
            9 May 2020 at 2:55 pm

            Lowball quotes are generated by the entire public sector preferring the "lowest cost conforming" bid for decades.

            I remember getting a RFI over my desk from a district council for an upgrade and consolidation of their existing water supply control system. Now most council staff had the wit to try and minimise the different generations of equipment and vendors they used … but these guys (and I recall counting them with incredulity) had no fewer than 34 different and mostly incompatible platforms.

            All installed by the contractor who'd made the biggest fuckup on price that day.

            We looked at it closely, talked to the client, decided their lowest price mentality hadn't changed much … and figured we didn't have a barge pole long enough to touch this one with. Sure enough one of our competitors went on to lose a satisfyingly large sum of money pursuing it.

            About a decade later my successor went in and cleaned up nicely … but only after certain senior council staff underwent radical face transplants.

    • ScottGN 12.2
      8 May 2020 at 8:29 am

      The CRL hasn’t just about doubled costs actually. The 2014 estimate was 3.4 billion dollars. That’s increased to 4.4 billion by last year. Almost all that increase is due to the common sense decision to lengthen the platforms at the new stations to accommodate longer trains and provide an alternative entry for K Rd station at Beresford Sq. These were included in the original designs for the line but were stripped out at the insistence of the National govt when they finally agreed to allow the project to progress. Typical National penny pinching a la the Harbour Bridge design shortfalls. The CRL, alone, of all the big projects underway is actually pretty much being delivered on its time line and within its budget.

      • Sacha 12.2.1
        8 May 2020 at 8:38 am

        The cost figures bandied about by the previous govt for CRL were all in future dollars whereas the roading ones were not. Never a level playing field and no agencies resisted the lying.

      • Wayne 12.2.2
        8 May 2020 at 1:11 pm

        The revised design also drops out the station at Eden Terrace on the grounds of costs. Yes, stations have lengthened, but a whole station (1 of 3 underground stations) was dropped.

        There is no way it is being delivered on the original time line. It was originally going to be built by 2021/22, and by that I mean after work started in 2016. Now that is more like 2024/25. They have not even built and delivered into NZ the tunnel boring machine.

        • Sacha 12.2.2.1
          8 May 2020 at 1:40 pm

          The Mt Eden Station replaces the former Eden Terrace one a few hundred metres away. That design change was ages ago. However the delays in starting were caused by the government of which you were part. Only lobbying by business interests overturned Joyce, Brownlee and English’s resistance.

          • Wayne 12.2.2.1.1
            8 May 2020 at 3:37 pm

            Sacha,

            You are mixing up the timing of the original decision to proceed with the CRL with the delays once the contract was commenced.

            Yes, it took time for National to be convinced that the CRL was a good idea. The government formally agreed with the Auckland Council to go ahead with the CRL around 2014. The agreement with the Council meant the govt would pay 50%.

            The construction contracts were completed around 2015 and work started in 2016. It was expected to take 5 years to do the whole job. Instead it will take a minimum of 8. I personally think it will take 10 years, given that the boring machine has yet to be delivered to NZ.

            What do you think that the Albert St retailers have been complaining about? It is the fact they have had to suffer disruption for twice as long as they were originally told. As a consequence some of them went broke.

    • KJT 12.3
      8 May 2020 at 9:33 am

      Even a cursory Google this morning, showed up the myriads of problems with PPP, projects all around the world.

      Some of the worst, have been with contractors who were, supposedly, experienced, like Serco in the UK.

      Almost all PPP, projects have ended up costing more than other models.

      In New Zealand, we also have the issue of lack of skills and competency in the State agencies managing it. With the deliberate, " shrinking of the State sector" in years of privatisation mania.

      The MOW, may have been famous for shovel leaners. But now we have simply transferred the inefficiency to invisible ticket clippers, in back offices.

      • JO 12.3.1
        8 May 2020 at 11:04 am

        And the famous shovel leaners of the MOW will be there for all those shovel-ready projects – as if it's been decreed, cometh the need, cometh the deed.

      • Dennis Frank 12.3.2
        8 May 2020 at 1:43 pm

        The MOW, may have been famous for shovel leaners. But now we have simply transferred the inefficiency to invisible ticket clippers, in back offices.

        Which hits the nail on the head. Everyone agreed socialism had discredited itself via bureaucratic bungling & bloating back then. Now everyone will be obliged to agree that the alternative we switched to has failed due to the various reasons given (bureaucratic bungling being the common factor).

        Caveat: someone may be able to identify ppp models that have actually worked according to plan. Analysis must then identify the factors present that weren't in the other models – if we are to proceed with usage confidently by means of trial & error.

    • left_forward 12.4
      8 May 2020 at 11:05 am

      Haha, right Wayne good try- the neolib / PPP / LATE / privatisation stuff was meant to be, according to the RW rhetoric, significantly better, not as bad as it used to be under the ol' MOW. If there was ever any public value in adding private profits on top of the cost of public works, it was to be that PPPs were able to give price certainty, efficiency, and risk management.

      Now you are defending this disaster by desperately calling equivalence with the ol' days!

      Rational dissonance!

  13. Wensleydale 13
    8 May 2020 at 11:21 am

    Can you trust the private sector to not attempt to enrich themselves by cutting corners wherever possible? Probably not. ("It's not enough that we're being paid millions of dollars to do something! We'll use cheap labour and substandard materials to do it, because… money!") If the profit motive is their only real consideration, as opposed to, you know, building a decent fucking road for the taxpayers of the nation to drive on… then yeah, that seems to be a problem right out of the gate. The ONLY thing you can trust the private sector to do in situations like this, is to make a ton of money for themselves. It's pretty much their sole reason for being.

    • Ad 13.1
      9 May 2020 at 5:29 pm

      If you want the work done you haven't got any choice.

      We make 5-6% margin if we're lucky on the big jobs if we're lucky, which is a couple of points above inflation.

      And no, profit isn't the only consideration, but it comes in handy if you want to get paid.

  14. roblogic 14
    26 May 2020 at 10:26 pm

    Damn. The Herald published this at 6:15 pm today (26 May)

    Almost 100 redundancies proposed at Transmission Gully

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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
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