Truthiness or Ignorance*

Written By: - Date published: 10:09 am, June 10th, 2022 - 53 comments
Categories: Deep stuff - Tags:


The world is a scary place. Good things, bad things, things happen all the time and it seems at a rapidly increasing rate. Life seems to want to confront us with big complex problems for which nobody seems to have solutions. No more than ever we feel we’re not in control, losing control, over our own lives and our grip on what’s happening around us, with us, and to us.

In the good old times we could rely on religion. But those statues have been toppled and smashed to pieces. Then we relied on science. But science has proven that it cannot prove everything and look in at the mess we’re in thanks to all that science and technology with all that wonderful progress it has enabled and the economic prosperity we’ve given (some of) us.

As with religion, science proved to be not absolute, objective, and eternal, and not all the answers were correct and helpful to us. Science is not perfect either, never has been, not omniscient and not omnipotent. Scientific studies and data are conducted and generated by people, respectively, which makes the foundations of science a human construct with outputs that sometimes are of such questionable quality and veracity that these data and conclusions, at least, should be ignored and discarded in the nearest bin or shredder. So, science is rapidly losing its foothold on the pedestal of public trust.

So, what’s left? It seems that in this post-modern world the only truth left standing is that nobody knows and that anything goes, which kind of means that nothing goes, because of the inevitable contradiction and uncertainty leading to more conflict and confusion.

The authorities and experts, in lock-step when it suits them, try their hardest to provide some guidance away from the chasm of chaos that’s looming large in our individual and collective minds. But authorities don’t have all the answers either and cannot and should not be trusted – the cycle is almost complete.

We used to think that the grass is always greener at the other side of the hill. Nowadays, we know that the bushfire on the other side of the hill is worse and more ravaging and devastating than where we are. So, we stay on this side and warn, laugh, and yell at the few fools who want to have a peek over the top and to the other side.

It is crystal clear that nobody has the answers to complex issue of our time and of our generation. The economy founded on capitalism and over-inflated by neo-liberalism, inequality & poverty, climate change, pandemics, et cetera. It all blows our minds, literally. So, what can we do to regain some sense of control and normality? We look for answers, we look for support, we look at others.

There’s nothing more comforting than finding others who feel the same. It gives us the much-needed support that we need and crave. Kinship and belonging have always been essential to our survival as a species and the sense of safety and wellbeing is much more than just a feeling, it’s more than a placebo effect, it’s a real effect with an impact on our physical and mental status as individual members of the species collective.

Social isolation and disconnection from the collective, whether real or perceived, it doesn’t really matter, has profound negative effects, as we know from some of the more excessive examples in human history. However, those insidious effects are much more common than we care to admit and may play a more important role in the mental health pandemic that seems to plague the Western world, mostly still. The antidote is social cohesion and individual compassion (which is much more than, but does include, kindness).

In this atomised, fractured and fragmented world we feel like lost souls without purpose, without deeper meaning in and of life, and in many ways we are lost souls. We know that genuine understanding, in the deeper meaning of the word, is out of the question and beyond our reach. Even AI will take forever to figure it out. Thus, we do what has always worked for us, seemingly, we go for what feels good or right. The brain doesn’t know the difference anyway, the stupid little glob of grey matter inside our thick skulls. Hearing things that align with our pre-existing prejudices and that confirm our biases feels good. Likeminded people who agree with us make us feel good, about ourselves and about life in general. We regain a sense of control and feel we might actually have a grip on life after all, or again. This feeling is vital for our wellbeing, it is existential at a personal level. It shapes and re-shapes not just our views of and on life and the world, at the same time it moulds us and our identity.

Now we know again who we are and where we’re going, we embrace this (new) identity like a lover or a baby (whichever you prefer, irrespective of your sex/gender, of course). Thus, we are proud to tell the rest of the world about who we are and about our answers, certainty, and control. We don our mantles, our badges and patches, and make ourselves known to the world as proud members of such and so tribe, kin group, or cult. And nobody is going to take away this from us and threaten our small little world of newfound meaning, understanding, belonging, and love.

But is there still a place for authorities and science? Should we just ignore that imperfect data & science and sub-optimal governance & state are still preferred over anything goes, an entirely subjective world based on feels, emotions, and reckons? Because science is too complex – even Einstein rejected quantum mechanics – and because politicians are humans like us and cannot be trusted? Should we give up on striving for better answers, better solutions, better future arguing that this is as good as it gets (aka TINA)?

Curiosity has been one the main drivers of human evolution and development. Paradoxically, fear of the unknown is one of the main brakes on human progress.

Is it truthiness or ignorance to not even want to peek over the top of the hill to see what might be on the other side? You’ll be the poor judge of that.

*

53 comments on “Truthiness or Ignorance* ”

  1. weka 1

    I would disagree with the premise that we don't have answers to complex problems. Think regenag for farming and climate/ecology, or doughnut economics. It's clear that we have the solutions to climate technically, but not politically, so we can solve one of those problems but not the other. Yet.

    Certainly people's perception that there are no longer good solutions is a big issue. Is fear stopping people from seeing the way through? It's easy for some of us because we've long been part of the subcultures where creative solutions and sustainabililty/resiliency responses to the big issues is the norm. There's something here about the human brain being hardwired to follow the negative that has energy in it, hence people would rather argue about what National is doing than create new left/progressive pathways.

    If religion and science are no longer sufficient, perhaps a focus on relationship is. I count maintaining functional relationships with the VFF people in my community to be essential political work, because if the shit hits the fan we have to be able to talk to each other. And to prevent the shit hitting the fan we have to be able to talk to each other. Relationship is also the centre of religion, and science.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 1.1

      It's clear that we have the solutions to climate technically, but not politically, so we can solve one of those problems but not the other. Yet.

      Imho behavioural change is needed en masse (Unite!) – maintaining and building relationships will help, but I have such doubts that 'we' can develop the collective will to disentangle civilisation from the resilient growth engine of late stage capitalism in a timely and/or controlled manner.

      Capitalism is killing the planet – it’s time to stop buying into our own destruction [30 October 2021]
      You might expect an intelligent species to respond to these signals swiftly and conclusively, by radically altering its relationship with the living world. But this is not how we function. Our great intelligence, our highly evolved consciousness that once took us so far, now works against us.

      So the disentanglement will likely be delayed (indeed, some will resist with every fibre of their being), and the inevitable break with growth will be uneven and harsh.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societal_collapse

      Hope I'm wrong – meanwhile, be the change you want to see on spaceship Earth.

      Decapitalising our minds: the key to addressing climate change
      [12 January 2022]

      Envisioning the Transition to an Ecological Economy
      [20 March 2022]

      Why We Have To Give Up On Endless Economic Growth
      [3 March 2022]
      Sustainability efforts are scaling and speeding up — but the treadmill of global economic growth is still faster.

      Today, degrowth is poised to become a much more salient political movement, one that is gaining strength from new economic theories — like Kate Raworth’s doughnut economics, for example, which seeks to rethink economic activity as finding a “safe and just space” for humanity between social minima and planetary maxima. Such theories are being put into experimental practice by city governments in places like Amsterdam and Barcelona.

      Mainstream liberals, and many ecoliberals, continue to laugh them off. But the laughter is increasingly nervous, a recognition that degrowth is likely on the horizon one way or another: either through collapse of the current civilizational trajectory or through some of kind of managed transition to widespread industrial and economic downscaling. In a fundamental way, liberalism finds it difficult to imagine, let alone to embrace, such a future. Liberalism has historically always been about the quest for “more.” It has no idea what to do with “less” as a rallying cry.

      • weka 1.1.1

        If you doubt it can be done, then this will affect how you act, which makes it less likely.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 1.1.1.1

          Weka, I do doubt it can be done, and acknowledge that my genuine concerns about how global warming will play out for this iteration of civilisation may be misplaced.

          My doubt has not affected my small contributions to environmental and GenLess-style causes – I'll continue to do the best that I can with my dwindling resources.

          However, in consideration of the possibility that expressing my doubt here might undermine the efforts of others, I will cease and desist on this topic. Others (see @1.1) are speaking with much greater clarity, and a good deal more hope than I can. Wouldn't want to muddy the waters on this crucial topic, but hope my position is clear, i.e. to doubt, and carry on regardless.

          • weka 1.1.1.1.1

            it's not about what you say here, it's that if you cannot see pathways through the mess it will affect how you act. Not just you, anyone who believes it's not really possible to change will act in accordance with those beliefs.

            Personally, I don't see the point in believing that, given what is at stake.

            • Drowsy M. Kram 1.1.1.1.1.1

              Maybe just a matter of thinking differently. You, I and others see pathways through the mess clearly enough. My doubt centres on whether human behaviour will prove too great a barrier to travelling those pathways at the speed and in the numbers required to avert large-scale societal collapse.

              My doubt leaves room for (some small) hope, at least for me smiley

              • weka

                I was talking about the seeing pathways to change for the problem you name. How can humans step up and do the right thing in time? We cannot predict the future, and that includes pessimism. When we look at the ways in which humans can change rapidly* we better see the pathways and when we better see the pathways we can walk them and show others. Showing others primarily doubt is self defeating.

                *the most obvious example is the way NZ responded to the pandemic in 2020.

                • Drowsy M. Kram

                  Showing others primarily doubt is self defeating.

                  Don't know about "self-defeating", but I'll keep doubts about the feasibility of implementing effective global CC responses to myself from now on.

                  Most Kiwis responded well to science-informed strategies to protect public health during the first two years of the pandemic, so it's certainly possible that most Kiwis would also step up for two or more years of CC-related sacrifices, given the right messsaging. Here's hoping.

                  • weka

                    I feel you have missed my point.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      I feel you have missed my point.

                      It's possible. Can't deny my reserves of rational optimism and hope that civilisation will transition to something sustainable in a timely and controlled manner are nearly depleted. A few more years (god willing) and I may be ready to embrace the 'promise' of uncertainty.

                      The climate progress narrative is the newest tactic of global warming denialists [30 April 2022]
                      Suggesting that we’ve made significant progress when we are nowhere near on track is climate colonialism in action

                      I didn’t write this piece in an effort to dispel climate hope. A better world is possible. But claiming that we’ve made progress when we’ve done anything but serves primarily as a discourse of delay, a new form of climate denialism designed for an era when open science denial is no longer palatable. This narrative is a political tool aimed at silencing the climate movement and mollifying a public that is increasingly concerned about climate catastrophe.

                      The fact that civilisation's CC responses are "nowhere near on track" has caused me to double down on personal actions (no flying, less meat, less driving, less energy use, less stuff) to decrease my carbon footprint. Despite being an atheist, I have a favourite saint – Jude.

  2. Anne 2

    “Scientific studies and data are conducted and generated by people, respectively, which makes the foundations of science a human construct with outputs that sometimes are of such questionable quality and veracity that these data and conclusions, at least, should be ignored and discarded in the nearest bin or shredder. So, science is rapidly losing its foothold on the pedestal of public trust.

    What you have described there is “science” and “pseudoscience”. Real science is based on many years (sometimes centuries) of knowledge and research that have been peer reviewed and accepted by the international scientific community as verifiable fact. There may at times be updates based on new found knowledge, but they rarely change the overall outcomes.

    Pseudoscience is the reckons of individuals which are usually based on either political or religious influences. They are liberally sprinkled with figures and 'concepts' which sound impressive but are not supported by internationally accepted fact. In other words they are mindless drivel.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoscience

    It is my view this is the fundamental cause of the lack of trust and animosity currently enveloping the planet and it can best be resolved by preventing the pseudoscientific material from spreading arund the world. How you do it God only knows but until such a time it can be achieved, we will be fighting a losing battle against a tide of division, violence and hatred where outcomes could – and probably will – become catastrophic for everyone.

    Everything I’ve said is common knowledge, but sometimes it helps to link them together and create an over-all picture.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1

      "Peer Reviewed" . Absolutely. Scientists face no harsher critic….than their Peers.

      • weka 2.1.1

        Peer review is a flawed process made worse by people who treat it with Faith.

        • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1.1.1

          Well..I take your "reckons" with a grain : )

          • weka 2.1.1.1.1

            Not my reckons mate. I take it you are unaware of the decades long debate within medical science about how much peer review has failed and what to do about it?

            • Populuxe1 2.1.1.1.1.1

              You mean the peer review of peer review?

              • weka

                I mean that medical scientists and publishers and journals have been critiquing peer review for a very long time because there are all sorts of problems with it. It's not useless, but it's not god either. Having Faith in it undermines science imo and contributes to why people increasingly don't trust science.

                • KJT

                  That critique, is in itself, "Peer review"!

                  Not sure how you can do it any other way.

                  "Review by people who know nothing about a subject and cannot be bothered learning", but still have "an opinion"?

                  • weka

                    still flawed and not helped by the Faith.

                    "Review by people who know nothing about a subject and cannot be bothered learning", but still have "an opinion"?

                    Wut?

                • roblogic

                  I think you mean the Replication Crisis? A widespread problem of misinterpretation of statistics, error, or just outright fraud…

                  • weka

                    I haven't been reading about it for a while, but from memory it covers a range of things. It's not hard to google and see what they are. Put Lancet or BMJ as one of the keywords.

                    Covid has brought additional issues.

                    • KJT

                      The "problem" is not Science!

                      The problem is people are NOT "doing the science". They are letting money, ego, outright fraud and ambition, prevent "doing the science" and/or ignoring what science tells us, because of "beliefs/reckons, or because reality is inconvenient.

                      Which the BMJ , and other articles highlight. Peers addressing problems with those allowing other considerations to affect science.

                    • weka

                      I didn't say the problem was science, I said the problem (one of them) is people treating science as god and having faith in it which blinds them to the short comings of PR. As demonstrated by Anne and PsyclingLeft. When people talk about science as inherently good and true, the conversation goes down a certain track and the problems don't get addressed.

                      Science has to function in the real world, not just the imagination (where it can be considered in its pure state). It's interesting that people want to argue with me over this rather than Anne or PsyclingLeft who are demonstrating faith.

                    • KJT

                      The only one who is talking about "science as a God" is yourself.

                      Which is why you are getting the kickback.

                      Those who study science know that, like anything, conclusions are subject to human fallibility.

                      Unlike "beliefs" science has systematic tools, to determine what is real, and what is not!

                      The whole point of the enlightenment, was that repeatable, observable and experimental methods of finding objective reality, were again used, instead of reckons and mumbo jumbo.

                      There is what can be proven, reality! Which science attempts to do.
                      Or we can revert to. “It is true because I think it is true”.

                      The dark ages were called that, for a reason.

                      We seem to be regressing to both.

                      Are you not asking for objective evidence, yourself, when you ask for references?

                    • weka

                      I think you've really misunderstood my points here KJT.

                      Those who study science know that, like anything, conclusions are subject to human fallibility.

                      Unlike "beliefs" science has systematic tools, to determine what is real, and what is not!

                      Yes, on both counts, of course. Those two things are a given. Self evident that I didn't think they needed naming.

                      What I'm pointing to is how some people relate to science. Anne has some pretty fundamental beliefs (not only expressed in this conversation, I've seen it before). She said,

                      What you have described there is “science” and “pseudoscience”. Real science is based on many years (sometimes centuries) of knowledge and research that have been peer reviewed and accepted by the international scientific community as verifiable fact. There may at times be updates based on new found knowledge, but they rarely change the overall outcomes.

                      This is the fairy tale version of science. It’s what some people believe science is. Here I am talking about science as practice, not the abstract idea about science. It’s faith based, because it doesn’t take much to show that science isn’t actually like that (hence my example of PR).

                      I'm not saying science is bad or wrong. I'm not arguing that science isn't useful. I think science is very useful despite its flaws. I think we would do science better if we were honest about the flaws.

                      When I say science as god, I'm not saying that science is a religion or that science isn't science. I'm saying that some people relate with science from a faith based position including treating science as infallible, or putting it on a pedestal. It's not a comment on science, it's a comment on people's ideas about science.

                      (and as an aside, it's normal for science to get shit wrong and have to reverse its position. Overall outcomes do change).

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      and as an aside, it's normal for science to get shit wrong and have to reverse its position…

                      As an aside, it's normal for people, scientists included, to get shit wrong. Tbf, I find the "get shit wrong" framing inflammatory, but that could be me missing the point and getting shit wrong.

                      The fun to be had after getting it wrong nearly always makes my day (by day).

                    • weka []

                      what I said isn’t inflammatory (beyond the vernacular) if you put it back in teh context of what I was replying to – Anne’s Pollyanna comment,

                      Real science is based on many years (sometimes centuries) of knowledge and research that have been peer reviewed and accepted by the international scientific community as verifiable fact. There may at times be updates based on new found knowledge, but they rarely change the overall outcomes.

                      The problem isn’t getting shit wrong, it’s being in denial that it happened and what that means 🙂

            • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1.1.1.1.2

              Well…"mate"….when your "reckons" include such statements "science as god" and "Faith" I think WTF?! That had zilch to do with my very small post about peer review …

              Your "Faith" might have more relevance with "Faith healing" and associated DANGEROUS BS

              https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Anti-vaccination_movement

              https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Alternative_medicine

              An FYI….I DID comment on your Thread

              https://thestandard.org.nz/parts-per-million/#comment-1892789

              Particularly with Scientists and associated Links !

              This :

              https://www.facebook.com/wiseresponse/

              The Interest on YOUR Thread was ….crickets.

              Be VERY sure that I personally, am doing my absolute utmost to change our Planet Earths heating trajectory. In Practical ways. How about your self ?

              And..I will seriously reconsider posting on your Threads.

    • Belladonna 2.2

      Pseudoscience is the reckons of individuals which are usually based on either political or religious influences. They are liberally sprinkled with figures and 'concepts' which sound impressive but are not supported by internationally accepted fact. In other words they are just mindless drivel.

      I would add social media influences (unless you're grouping social media under the very broad umbrella of 'political')

      It seems to me, that many of the pseudoscientific theories out there aren't directly tied to a political philosophy or to a religious one. There's a *correlation* in some instances. And individual scientific theories (using 'theory' in the scientific sense here) can end up being politicised. But there's also a correlation with education levels.

      Setting aside the whole Covid issue – there is/was a very strong anti-vaccination movement around MMR vaccination for children. Which seemed to have a very broad spectrum of political and religious philosophies in its adherents. You couldn't make an assumption that left/right, fundamentalist Christian/atheist, etc. had any relationship with the individual's philosophy on child vaccination.

      In my observation of this (on the ground, as it were, in ECE environments), the closest correlation was with people who had a poor level of scientific education (NB, they may be well-educated on the arts side); AND a strong desire to 'belong' to a social group.

      But the poor science education is the big one.

      And Dr Google is not your friend here. In the 'old' days, you could go to the library (books curated by the librarians), or ask your GP (medical information). Now, you can simply search online ('doing my own research', grrr), and find any number of sources to validate your prejudices.

      But, that boat has sailed. We live in a world of multiple information sources, and many of us lack the tools to evaluate that flood of information in an accurate and useful way. [One of the things which I particularly love on TS, is the requirement to publish sources, so the group can evaluate the source of the data, as well as the individual interpretation – makes my data geeky heart sing!]

      At the same time, society is moving away (rather rapidly) from 'trust' as a model. People don't trust their GP – they search on Google; people don't trust scientists over climate change (they search the Internet for alternatives); people don't trust politicians over lots of stuff (and so disagree with Covid restrictions), etc., etc.

      My opinion is that this is driven by the gotcha attitude of media (and, to be fair politicians, etc.), always delighted to publicise when a figure of 'trust' has got things wrong. There's also an aspect of 'untrustworthiness' in some of those figures in a position of trust – and a deep unwillingness for many of them to pre-emptively accept responsibility. Collectively, this wears away societal trust. After all, if you're constantly told politicians are untrustworthy, why would you trust them with your personal safety?

      • Anne 2.2.1

        My contribution was a once over lightly and I fully endorse your more detailed observations. Thanks.

        It seems to me, that many of the pseudoscientific theories out there aren't directly tied to a political philosophy or to a religious one.

        True. But somewhere in the background there is usually an indirect link at the least. It's often due to ignorance which in turn makes some people vulnerable to the 'thinks' of the more extreme political and religious elements in society.

        • Nic the NZer 2.2.1.1

          Actual examples of 'group think' don't seem to need any collectively held beliefs to be factually cohesive.

          The beliefs of certain cults, for example Scientology, are completely non-sensical but never the less agreed as truth by members, even quite intelligent ones.

          As another example of group think, mainstream neo-classical economics has mathematically proven (for itself, by its supporters and not by its critics) that supply and demand minimises prices is not a reasonable picture of how markets work. Never the less this remains the central story of how market economies are described.

    • Poission 2.3

      Real science is based on many years (sometimes centuries) of knowledge

      Newton took Pythagorus equation and extended it to 3 dimensions,Einstein extended it to 4 dimensions.the evolutionary laws of science and wonder as Alexander Pope noted in the case of Newton.

      A mortal Man unfold all Nature's law,

      Admir'd such wisdom in an earthly shape,

      And showed a Newton as we shew an Ape.

      Could he, whose rules the rapid comet bind,

      Describe or fix one movement of his mind?

      Who saw its fires here rise, and there descend,

      Explain his own beginning, or his end?

      Alas what wonder! Man's superior part

      Uncheck'd may rise, and climb from art to art;

      But when his own great work is but begun,

      What Reason weaves, by Passion is undone.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.4

      Medical pseudoscience….some not so "harmful". Others absolutely

      https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/List_of_pseudosciences#Medical

  3. DB Brown 3

    Science is only a tool. It's the tool-wielders are the problem.

    They’re VERY interested in making new products at universities today. Making discoveries – meh, unless it leads to kudos, and products.

    This is more an admin problem than an academic one. Academics are losing their ability to just wing it with ideas. No more Blue Skies.

    • Incognito 3.1

      Academic science is no longer a career let alone a calling but a job with all that this entails, warts and all. Some (generally older) academics are turning their natural and professional scepticism into cynicism about the scope and purpose of what they’re doing and what positive impact it may have – their employers (so-called tertiary education institutions) seem to be all about social (and economic, of course) impact, et cetera, but without the trail-blazing – conservative, cautious, and PC, as to not to rock the boat and raise the ire of the funders, i.e. the politicians and Taxpayers. Make of that what you will, but I agree that ‘blue skies’ research has been neglected here in NZ – I can’t even remember the last time the Marsden Fund got a significant increase in funding in a Government Budget. Younger academic scientists can keep barely keep their professional heads above water and are constantly treading water.

      However, the OP is not about any real or perceived crisis in academia, or science for that matter, but about the wider and deeper social vacuum, intellectually, spiritually, morally, et cetera, and how we, as people deal with this, in the most general terms possible, of course – I wanted to avoid opening up rabbit holes that become sinkholes … At least, that’s what I was going for …

      • Anne 3.1.1

        However, the OP is not about any real or perceived crisis in academia, or science for that matter, but about the wider and deeper social vacuum, intellectually, spiritually, morally, et cetera

        Sorry bout that Incog. 🙂

        But I really do believe that better scientific knowledge would have an enormous impact on people generally… including their social lives and the principles they uphold.

        I can give a first hand example of the “cautious, conservative, don't rock the boat” attitude of past institutional managements. Climate scientists and meteorologists were effectively banned from talking publicly about global warming and climate change. Anyone who stepped out of line was reprimanded and if they dared to continue, they were hounded out of their job.

      • gsays 3.1.2

        The wider and deeper social vacuum you speak of, is, to my eyes, an inevitable result of the rise of individualism.

        Look at the demise of our traditional collectives, family/whanau, community groups (Lions, Rotary, Scouting/Guides) church, marae, unions, sports clubs, pub based (darts, quiz nights) and contrast that with the rise of the celebration of YOU. FB, Twitter,(kind of a 'Letters to the Editor' writ large) TikTok, Spotify.

        It is a wonder we have the inclination to get out of bed in the morning

        • mikesh 3.1.2.2

          Individualism in a world of specialisation and interdependence would seem to be an oxymoron.

        • Populuxe1 3.1.2.3

          Look at the demise of our traditional collectives, family/whanau, community groups (Lions, Rotary, Scouting/Guides) church, marae, unions, sports clubs, pub based (darts, quiz nights) and contrast that with the rise of the celebration of YOU. FB, Twitter,(kind of a 'Letters to the Editor' writ large) TikTok, Spotify.

          I don't think any of those groups are aware they've demised. You might have to inform them of the fact.

  4. barry 4

    It is not that science or religion don't have the answer. In both cases the answer to most of our problems is "use less and share". The problem is that people don't like the answer. Of course there are "priests" in both science and religion who pretend they have a different answer.

    People (in general) feel disempowered and many are suffering real or relative hardship. Unfortunately they are being taught to fear and blame the people with the solutions. The online misinformation campaigns are all led by the organisations and people benefiting from the inequality and suffering.

    Why would the downtrodden fear a "new world order"?

    • mikesh 4.1

      “It is not that science or religion don't have the answer.”

      There is also philosophy. Some philosophies like epicurianism or stoicism, inasmuch as they advocate ways of life, probably should be treated as religions; while some of the "secular' religions, such as Buddhism or Confucianism, should perhaps be regarded as philosophies. Orthodox religions like Christianity and Islam seem to have become too institutionalised, and perhaps too dogmatic.

  5. Just Saying 5

    Our understanding of the world, from science to politics is dependent on the interchange of experiences and beliefs. In New Zealand everything came to a crashing halt, and necessarily so in the initial stages of the Covid crisis. This should have been a hiatus to gather information. Instead it became an ongoing shutting down of information, entrenched power and 'rightness'.

    And this was dangerous in the ongoing form because, as you say, none of this is in reality, simple and clear. Artificially imposed simplicity takes ongoing repression, loops of spin and shutting down opposition including within science and politics.

    It was inevitable that such a shut-down would polarise pre-existing problems in both the political landscape and within the science community. And without the safety valve of opposing voices, that pseudo-simplicity would turn into a pressure cooker in danger of exploding.

    Respect for various imperfect authorities is dependent on exchanges of information, and for some room for movement in relation to that exchange. Without such movement there is only control over. And within ongoing and outright control over power grabs, and further polarisation.

    I don't think the important point is the acceptance of imperfect authority versus anarchy, it is about the ongoing need for true acceptance of, and allowance for that imperfectness.

  6. roblogic 6

    I can feel the ennui seeping through this post. Regrettably, we are a species in decline. Old certainties are being ripped away, and we are afraid of the future.

    It will be hard adjusting to new realities and watching the world burn from CC. But death is a natural cycle that makes room for new life to be born.

    I recently watched "My Octopus Teacher" on Netflix and it captured this mood.

    Where we are now, is just a step on a larger journey.

    • RedLogix 6.1

      Old certainties are being ripped away, and we are afraid of the future.

      Yes.

      Where we are now, is just a step on a larger journey.

      Yes.

      A journey into the adulthood of humanity. All these adolescent passions and panics will pass. heart

    • Stuart Munro 6.2

      You've nailed it.

      The creeping doom of postmodernism, which looked like a liberation with its "anything goes" has proven to be a mere reversion to sophism. Sure anything goes – but anything is not praiseworthy or desirable. If we want good science, stimulating art, and a progressive political culture, there are behavioural rules that must be followed.

      The anything that goes never gets anywhere near an enlightenment – we do not need yet more fractured and insular intellectual communities, but a synthesis of base values that allow us to find common cause in pursuit of a more just, more sustainable, more humane future.

  7. Subliminal 7

    I would say that the post highlights a major western problem that is evident across multiple disciplines of economics, religion, science and politics which is reduction to the individual component. It may be an interesting experiment to follow a single ant around for a few weeks but little would be gained on the functioing of the colony which really is the superstructure of the ants existence.

    By reducing economics to the "rational" self maximising individual and ignoring the functioning and motivations of any collection of these individuals along with group modifying behaviour on individuals we reduce economics to a very boring consmer focused product value. Even though there are remarkable uplifting stories of the possibilities when a plan is used to achieve predetermined goals.

    We are at the point now where the laissez-faire individual freedom approach is suicidal. We will continue to be supplied with shocks that will in the end make the formulation and implementation of a plan urgent enough that we all join in the work to bring it to fruition.

    Covd showed that we can come together when necessary but the overwhelming view is still that BAU is possible. Covd is now seen mostly in the rear view mirror even though this is not an appropriate thing to do. Just look at the US where workers are staying away in droves and compare with NZ where it is still possible to get $600 (before tax) from the govt to stay at home 5 working days. I topped up with 1 sick day to receive my normal pay check. Others may need more but this is some great minimal support.

    Now we have a new problem. Energy inflation. But this is just a problem that has to be solved for CC any way. To begin, the govt has introduced a fuel subsidy and reduced PT fares. All good. But more will be required and the traditional approach to inflation will be an abject failure. This is the problem that this govt must solve if they want another term.

    Austerity and increased interest rates will only make things worse and open the door for Luxton and "individual responsibility" with its associated slide in the motivation and well being of our nation as a whole. Something different is required right now that moves us beyond "individual responsibility" to a collective responsibility with a clear plan. That "something" could promote local collectives, a national one or both. Our salvation lies in being able to face up to each and every shock even as the frequency increases, not as individuals but as a collective with all the support that entails. Einstein was mentioned above. Einstein believed that socialism was the natural progression of human society. Cooperation is the key both to survival and mental wellbeing. Who is going to lay out something exciting that we can all get behind?

  8. roblogic 8

    About 3000 years ago, a nomadic tribe rejected the pantheism and animism of its neighbours, and embraced the monotheistic cult of Yahweh.

    About 300 years ago, another kind of religious fervour – the Enlightenment – gripped the philosophers and intellectuals of Europe, and Science was inaugurated as its own domain separate from theology and politics.

    More recently, Capitalism has seen the rise of the cult of the individual, the Ubermensch, the billionaire who made it by his own bootstraps.

    And now we have become so enamoured with the power of our technology to master our environment, heal diseases, and travel vast distances, we think we have transcended the laws of Nature itself.

    But here in 2022 we are finding out how wrong we are. The human ego is not supposed to be an island unto itself. Like the geocentrism of the past we must allow our own egos to become less, and once again reconnect to our tribe, our God, and our Earth.

  9. Ad 9

    The useful shared truth-refresh we all now have is of health and disease.

    The epidemiological view should shift our sense of being-in-the-world from private individuation and towards transmissability.

    Epidemiological epistemology.

    Our primary truth is now buttressed within binds of common biological and chemical realities.

    Each organism is a transmission medium for information – from viruses to ideas to memes – and the speed of that medium or channel is determined by our number of connections.

    Truth is far simpler: it just went viral.

  10. Robert Guyton 10

    Ya gotta get back to basics, INCOGNITO.

    Establish a working model you can trust.

    Gather your knowings from your biological core. Eat, sleep, drink. Keep a wary eye. Fight or flight. Establish loving relationships.

    Sort out your familiar learnings next; these are more flexible; Christmas presents under the tree or at the foot of your bed, holidays in a caravan or in a tent. Beach or the uncle's farm. Go to uni or onto the benefit.

    Then look to society's layer; buy a jersey, or knit one, take the Audi or the bus. Climb the career ladder or the one in your orchard.

    The further out from your core you go, the more obviously "constructed" the truths are revealed to be. Overturning them, dissolving them, testing them is where the fun is to be had.

    • Poission 10.1

      Ya gotta get back to basics, Establish a working model you can trust.Gather your knowings from your biological core.

      Physics and biology only have scientific rigor at the probalistic level when reduced to their mathematical structure.Monod in chance and necessity drove a stake through the anthropocentric heart with the role of chance.

      “It necessarily follows that chance alone is at the source of every innovation, and of all creation in the biosphere. Pure chance, absolutely free but blind, at the very root of the stupendous edifice of evolution: this central concept of modern biology is no longer one among many other possible or even conceivable hypotheses. It is today the sole conceivable hypothesis, the only one that squares with observed and tested fact. And nothing warrants the supposition – or the hope – that on this score our position is ever likely to be revised. There is no scientific concept, in any of the sciences, more destructive of anthropocentrism than this one.”

      “When one ponders on the tremendous journey of evolution over the past three billion years or so, the prodigious wealth of structures it has engendered, and the extraordinarily effective teleonomic performances of living beings from bacteria to man, one may well find oneself beginning to doubt again whether all this could conceivably be the product of an enormous lottery presided over by natural selection, blindly picking the rare winners from among numbers drawn at random. [Nevertheless,] a detailed review of the accumulated modern evidence [shows] that this conception alone is compatible with the facts.”

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    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 ...
    3 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    7 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    7 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    8 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    9 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    12 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    15 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    17 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T09:41:49+00:00