Two years of living dangerously

Written By: - Date published: 1:53 pm, March 1st, 2022 - 75 comments
Categories: climate change, covid-19, health, uncategorized - Tags:

Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the first Covid case in New Zealand.

What a time it has been.

The initial sense of doom was strong.  I can recall waking up every morning and checking Johns Hopkins to see what the new infection numbers were.  Hearing about the initial wave that hit Italy.  How China was resolute and through suppression techniques that would not work in many Western nations managed to beat back the virus.  How Brazil, America and England butchered their responses through contempt for intellectualism and pandering to selfish stupidity.

I can also recall the feeling of euphoria after the first wave was seen off.  The sense of freedom as we lived mostly very normal lives as the rest of the world burned.  Sure we were not able to go on overseas trips or enjoy the comfort of a million overseas tourists but otherwise things were pretty good.

The country then saw off two more waves while millions died overseas.

Then Delta hit.  It had succeeded in devastating many health systems.  Ours coped.  Peak daily cases were over 200 in November 2001 and by January 18 the six month tally of cases had peaked 11,337 at with a then daily infection rate of 16.  Thanks to vaccination rates that were the envy of many countries in the world it seemed for a while that we could see Delta off as well.

https://twitter.com/farmgeek/status/1483245546492276744

Then it was Omicron’s turn.  Yesterday the six month tally of cases topped 100,000.  Today there were nearly 20,000 new cases.  Suddenly everyone has a member of their extended family, a work mate, a friend of a friend or a contact who has the virus.  Hospitalisations yesterday topped 300 but the number in ICU is still half of the Delta peak.  So far.

The Government has moved quickly to reopen the borders.  It became increasingly difficult to justify the restrictions given what was happening locally.  National will claim credit through using that tried and trusted technique of anticipating something that will inevitably happen in the future and then insisting that it happens quicker.

The mandate policy is holding but clearly will be reviewed in the near future.  Jacinda Ardern over the past few months has been saying precisely this.

There has been some conjecture that the recent High Court decision overruling the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Specified Work Vaccinations) Order 2021 would result in the end of mandates.  The order required police officers and military personnel to be vaccinated.  This case is not authority for the proposition that all aspects of the mandate policy are illegal.  The Judge made it clear that in his view the internal employment policies of Police and Defence, which already allows for vaccines to be mandated, should have been relied on and the order of itself, because its effects were limited, could not be justified.  He also said this:

I should make it clear what this case is not about. The Order being set aside in the present case was not implemented for the purposes of limiting the spread of COVID-19. Health advice was that such a further mandate was not needed for this purpose. Neither should the Court’s conclusion be understood to question the effectiveness and importance of vaccination. The evidence shows that vaccination significantly improves the prospects of avoiding serious illness and death, even with the Omicron variant. It confirms the importance of a booster dose given the waning effect of the first two doses of the vaccine.

The same Judge upheld the Customs Officer mandate but in that decision said:

Whether the challenged measure would remain demonstrably justified on the basis that it contributes to addressing the spread of the virus in circumstances when the virus is endemic in at least parts of New Zealand is an open question.

Clearly we are approaching that time where we will need to learn to live with the virus.  Some of us, myself included, would like to give lockdown one more go, particularly as cases skyrocket, just to get a hold on infections and dampen numbers down so that our system can cope and our doctors and nurses can be given a breather.  I don’t think this will happen however.

As a nation we have performed well.  We are better prepared and more resilient to the virus than any other nation.

Looking back the response has been world beating and we are in a better place than any other developed country in the handling of Covid.  Now we have to get ready and help each other through the most difficult battle yet.

And when this is finished we have to deal with climate change.  A once in a century health crisis is going to be a walk in the park compared to the ravages that climate change will inflict on us.

75 comments on “Two years of living dangerously ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Pataua4life 1
    1 March 2022 at 3:19 pm

    Oh MS, don't worry Jacinda has saved us from 80,000 deaths.

    Shit it must be hard living in your world, where everything Labour good, everything/one else bad. To see only one side of the picture. Still you did try to hide funding for Cunliffe in a trust so I guess there is a little bit grey in there somewhere.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      1 March 2022 at 3:48 pm

      See the graph at the top of the post? It shows respective death rates.

      As for your dig at me all I can do is repeat what the Ukraine Road authority has said to the Russians.

      • Pataua4life 1.1.1
        1 March 2022 at 4:07 pm

        It is just your sooooooooo predictable. You have become the Wilbur Smith or Lee Child of The Standard.

        Do you agree that the Govt handling of RATS was absolutely piss poor?

        Can you actually bring yourself to say that?

        I don't know.

        [stop attacking authors, it’s bannable offense on TS. I see you do this again and I will ban you. You’re in premod until I see an acknowledgement and agreement – weka]

        • Incognito 1.1.1.1
          1 March 2022 at 4:51 pm

          I smell a troll.

        • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.1.1.2
          1 March 2022 at 5:09 pm

          You have become the Wilbur Smith or Lee Child of The Standard.

          hmm kind of telling that your Go-To Author selection was these 2 ? As far removed from my reading…OR applicable to MS as could be imagined…in a thousand Imaginings.

        • weka 1.1.1.3
          1 March 2022 at 5:29 pm

          mod note.

        • Pataua4life 1.1.1.4
          1 March 2022 at 5:42 pm

          Point noted.

          • weka 1.1.1.4.1
            1 March 2022 at 5:51 pm

            thank-you.

          • Muttonbird 1.1.1.4.2
            1 March 2022 at 7:12 pm

            I'm sure you have a flag pole in your front yard flying an upside down New Zealand flag.

            Why don't you join the 95%, be proud of your country, and fly it the right way up!

            • Incognito 1.1.1.4.2.1
              1 March 2022 at 7:13 pm

              Please don’t

              • Muttonbird …
                1 March 2022 at 7:28 pm

                Apologies.

                I've talked about my position over the last few days. I'm working bloody hard to to get me and my family through this. Trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in a 1 in 100 year pandemic with ever changing situations so that they are able to be confident and ready to contribute to the post pandemic world and make it better than it was.

                I do my bit for the many, including pandemic denying antivaxxers, but I do get tweaky when those particular people continue their bullshit day after day, and month after month.

                • Incognito …
                  1 March 2022 at 7:32 pm

                  Thanks and I hear you, but that other commenter had already been warned by a Moderator today and perhaps should be given some ‘space’ and not ‘egged on’.

        • mickysavage 1.1.1.5
          1 March 2022 at 5:45 pm

          Handling of RATS is fine. We have plenty of them in the country at just the right time.

          • felix 1.1.1.5.1
            1 March 2022 at 6:41 pm

            Bullshit, we have barely any. The ministry has failed to actually supply many of the pharmacies that it has been advertising as holding RATs. Go and talk to pharmacy staff who have been fielding requests for months with no supply and no information. As is so often the case with this, the second most disappointing govt of my lifetime, all that matters is the announcement.

          • Cricklewood 1.1.1.5.2
            1 March 2022 at 8:18 pm

            Nah they were late, needed th widely available 2-3 weeks ago

            • Incognito 1.1.1.5.2.1
              1 March 2022 at 8:26 pm

              Why? We went into Phase 3 of the Omicron Response Plan at 11:59 pm last Thursday night.

              • Cricklewood …
                2 March 2022 at 3:46 pm

                To give my workplace as an example, we had a H&S plan that was going to use RATS across the whole workforce 3 x per week to help prevent widespread infection. Our first cases came at the beginning of phase 2 from an asymptomatic and boosted work mate. We've been hit pretty hard now. If we were able to RAT test as planned we would likely have avoided some of the spread at work. Our RATS finally turned up yesterday afternoon..

                • Incognito …
                  2 March 2022 at 3:54 pm

                  Sorry to hear that. May I ask where your workplace ordered the RATs from and where they obtained them from, in the end? My workplace also had a limited supply of RATs, but I didn’t get the impression it would have made a material difference, TBH.

    • Robert Guyton 1.2
      1 March 2022 at 3:51 pm

      “In an unprecedented move, iwi leaders across Aotearoa – including the Kīngitanga and Taranaki Whānui – have condemned those occupying Parliament’s grounds, who they accuse of “flagrant disrespect of tikanga”.”

      “Followers of Parihaka, the Taranaki Whānui laid Te Kahu o Te Raukura across their whenua tūpuna. Kura Moeahu​, the chairman of Pipitea, said Te Kahu o Te Raukura was a cloak of aroha and peace, which he hoped the protesters would take heed of.”"

    • Tiger Mountain 1.3
      1 March 2022 at 4:11 pm

      After being lectured for decades by the NZ petit bourgeoisie, SME operators and the Round Table–Roger Kerr RIP, and Business New Zealand, EMA and Federated Farmers and every other aspirational tinpot capitalist lobby group about the superiority of initiative, the market, and self sufficiency and the awfulness of welfare…

      …who put their hand out first in 2020 whether they needed it or not? jeez, I don’t know maybe people like Carter Holt Harvey to the tune of around $7mill that they have not paid back despite ongoing profitability, and they are subject to an Employment Court case in April due to their harvesting employees annual leave to boot!

      So sod off Pataua and the sheep you rode in on.

  3. joe90 3
    1 March 2022 at 4:09 pm

    Hmm..who to listen to, the covidiot clowns and their opportunistic enablers or the folk tasked with the mahi of keeping us well and treating us should we fall ill?.

    “Remove all restrictions!” or “Masks are useless!”. What do we feel? That’s hard to describe. Dejected? Frustrated? Hopeless? Yes. But I think the best descriptor is this: unseen. We feel unseen. Ask us. We will tell you.

    We need some restrictions. We need masks. We need physical distancing, open windows, self-isolation of Covid cases and household contacts. Why? Because without that, we are overwhelmed. Not just “the healthcare system is overwhelmed” but we, your nurses and doctors, are overwhelmed. We need the people of New Zealand to help us get through this. We can control what happens when someone arrives at our doors, but that’s where our control ends. We are relying on the people and politicians of Aotearoa to help us, so that we can do our job: helping people.

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-03-2022/we-feel-unseen-an-auckland-ed-doctor-responds-to-calls-to-ditch-covid-restrictions

  4. Patricia Bremner 4
    1 March 2022 at 4:28 pm

    I don't know what you read Pataua for life, I don't think Micky thinks as you project.

    He is praising a world class approach to the pandemic. Much as it obviously stuck in your craw, Jacinda Ardern her Government and band of Health Advisors and their teams on the ground have been and are magnificent.

    The unedifying behaviour by Woodhouse Boag and company, the constant negative barking by the many National leaders over the two years, the media interpreting the 1pm stand ups rather poorly, though Stuff to their credit ran a "rolling facts page" which became a go to.

    On The Standard opinions divided and hardened into a cheer leader group (me and a few other optimists) the knowledgeable, who added insight on trends facts and participants including virus behaviour. The others with some salient pointers but mainly a variety of naysayers, denialists and trolls.

    Suzy Wiles and Professor Michael Baker DPH explained in lay terms what was happening. We were given good advice in how to have some personal control with handwashing techniques and what would kill the covid virus, how it spread and the social distancing needed and masks. Next we found it was changing and lockdowns began

    The removal of barriers to develop a vaccine, saw us waiting and hoping for a good one. They are leaky vaccines, but the course gives good protection against sever illness and death. Sadly this and mandated vaccines for front facing staff has exacerbated divisions over vaccines.

    Some have objected to public good being promoted over private freedoms, with name calling of "Tyrant" and cries for "Freedom". Protestors brought many arguments forward, but their voices went from violent to peaceful with no real coherent ideas, except "End Mandates"…. which will end when it is safe … one or two months more?

    The majority believe we have been fortunate, and treated well during this by leaders and health edicts designed to save lives. Thank you Jacinda Grant Chris Henare and all, you have done us proud and we are in a stronger position to continue meeting Climate Change challenges.

  5. observer 5
    1 March 2022 at 4:28 pm

    It's sad to see how very recent history is cynically rewritten, for political point-scoring. A hundred press releases and opinion columns from the opposition, quietly forgotten (looking at you, Hosking and Seymour, to name but two).

    Reminder: New Zealand saved lives because the vaccine did not exist.

    Now you might think that's so obvious it doesn't need to be said. We all remember the race to develop a vaccine, while the virus raged, don't we? Well, no. Every time you see somebody complaining about "Ardern for the last 2 years" that is what they are choosing to ignore.

    Now we are "living with Covid", as the critics demanded for so long. It's not much fun. But until the emergence of Omicron, it would have been vastly worse. "Living with Covid" was not an option, it was only more dying, or less. We chose less.

    • SPC 5.1
      1 March 2022 at 5:16 pm

      We and others had beaten the "delta" coronavirus with our high vaccination rates – then came the vaccine resistant Omicron.

  6. SPC 6
    1 March 2022 at 5:13 pm

    I've just on-line ordered a home test kit and await the ability to do the same for anti-viral treatments (or a health system same or next day delivery). This will be the way we live with the coronavirus (and minimise long COVID with early treatment).

    As to the prospect of another lockdown – that will depend on hospitalisation rates as we go into winter, or hospitals being over run during winter.

  7. higherstandard 7
    1 March 2022 at 6:28 pm

    The government got a number of things right in the initial response to covid such as he initial lockdowns and MIQ requirements prior to vaccines becoming available

    But have got a number of things wrong or at least poorly implemented such as a slow rollout of vaccination and failures in MIQ and ability to return to NZ by NZ citizens.

    In my opinion they also missed a golden opportunity to invest in upgrading and scaling up services to cope with the inevitable outbreak and allowing entry of nursing and clinical staff to support the local workforce during our periods of no significant case numbers of covid in NZ.

    • felix 7.1
      1 March 2022 at 6:34 pm

      Absolutely. They should never be forgiven for spending the first year of the pandemic quibbling with nurses over paying them a couple of grand more to do what they do, which is run the entire health system. Imagine the howls of outrage if it were a national govt.

      • Incognito 7.1.1
        1 March 2022 at 7:29 pm

        You do realise that Government is not directly involved in the negotiations with the nurses and that the pay-offers come from the DHBs, don’t you?

      • mickysavage 7.1.2
        1 March 2022 at 8:06 pm

        Hence the Health Reforms.

      • Tricledrown 7.1.3
        2 March 2022 at 11:51 am

        Lowerstandards for National no pay rise for 9 yrs.

        Health funding cut by 20% per head of population.

        Record immigration population increased by 20% over 9 yrs National increased health spending by less than inflation and population increases.

        National has been wanting borders open restrictions gone right from the first lockdown. Even in November 2021 National wanted border restrictions gone as Omricon emerged.

        If we had followed Nationals Policy the numbers of sick and dead would have been in the 10's of thousands.

        Then John Keys big lie about paying more for vaccines would have meant we got vaccines early.

        Pfizer came out and told the NZ public it was a big fat lie.

        National no Moral standards.

    • Muttonbird 7.2
      1 March 2022 at 7:06 pm

      Covid deaths/million:

      USA – 2918

      UK – 2356

      Sweden – 1677

      Canada – 956

      Denmark – 792

      Australia – 200

      New Zealand – 11

      • Julian Richards 7.2.1
        1 March 2022 at 10:45 pm

        Covid19 deaths/million continued…

        Vanuatu – 0

        Samoa – 0

        Tonga – 0

        Cook Islands – 0

        Fiji – 940

        Hawaii – 940

        French Polynesia – 2274

    • Belladonna 7.3
      1 March 2022 at 10:08 pm

      In my opinion they also missed a golden opportunity to invest in upgrading and scaling up services to cope with the inevitable outbreak and allowing entry of nursing and clinical staff to support the local workforce during our periods of no significant case numbers of covid in NZ.

      They also missed the opportunity to attract significant numbers of overseas medical professionals. Who were almost completely shut out of NZ by the immigration system in 2020, and with the critical health worker category far too restrictive, and immigration and MIQ not talking to each other, in 2021.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/revealed-why-critical-healthcare-workers-couldnt-get-into-nz/CM5WRVOZ26V42XON5MG2GQWBUI/

      And those, actually here, had their immigration applications frozen (God alone knows why).

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/07/more-than-1000-registered-doctors-and-nurses-waiting-in-new-zealand-residency-queue.html

      I don't know what Kris Faafoi was doing during 2020 – but, it seems, not much.

      In 2021 he seems to have been obsessed with the immigration reset policy, to the exclusion of the understanding that actually we needed medical professionals as a top priority in an international pandemic – perhaps infected by the belief that we could keep Covid out forever.

      And supported by Ardern:

      "We are actually using Covid to actually stop and take a look at our immigration settings."

      https://www.newsroom.co.nz/immigration-minister-reviews-rules-to-attract-high-skilled-migrants

      The co-ordination between the health, immigration and MIQ portfolios, has been one of the poorer performing areas of the Government's Covid management.

  8. Mat Simpson 8
    2 March 2022 at 12:27 am

    Meanwhile the " stealth variant " is the next mutation and is making an appearance in the U.K and is highly transmissible and can cause severe disease. BA.2 is related to Omnicom but spreads faster.

    The stealth variant is described as a ‘cousin’ of Omicron and designated BA.2. It’s called stealth because it “has certain genetic traits that make it more difficult to identify as Omicron on diagnostic tests—specifically polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) tests”. However, that does not mean that results of a positive coronavirus test or the care needed will change.

    [FFS! If you copy & paste text you must made it clear that it’s a quote, with quotation marks, and you must provide a source/link. The BA.2 variant is already here in NZ but it hasn’t overtaken BA.1 yet; it was briefly discussed here: https://thestandard.org.nz/dont-give-up-new-zealand-omicron-vaccination-protection-and-why-its-the-wrong-time-to-let-it-rip/#comment-1869448. This is your warning – Incognito]

  9. Ad 9
    2 March 2022 at 10:14 am

    We can and should accept the government has done well managing the pandemic. Fewer and fewer will give credit to the government for that.

    When you stand back and look at where we are as a country, the measures of the performance of this government are actually terrible.

    Most of us a far poorer. Wealth is far more concentrated in the hands of the top 5%.. Child poverty is static overall with some improvements. Benefits and food banks are through the roof, despite low unemployment, so we are beset with working poverty.

    Most of us have damaged mental health. There's less public transport use, less inter-regional travel, less international travel. Few services. No idea whether health reforms will help services or patients.

    More of us have our income consumed by rent, and fewer own houses to pass wealth on. That's both short and long term damage.

    More of our South Island and central North Island land is sucked dry by dairy production, and will likely never recover.

    Our energy use and type is worse. Our conservation estate is worse. Our CO2 production is worse.

    There is no plan for the country. There are measures, which isn't the same thing.

    When this government started we were promised "transformation", then a "year of delivery", and then something else.

    We ought to have an improved country after two terms. We don't.

    • Craig H 9.1
      2 March 2022 at 12:32 pm

      With the doomsaying economic predictions in the early days, I'm not sure the government had a lot of serious choice in how they protected the economy once they had gone down the path of lockdowns etc to protect the people from Covid itself. They relied on economic advice as they did health advice, and the economic advice and forecasting seriously missed the boat, so the government pumped in many billions of dollars which turned out not to be needed in the same quantities, but who could foresee that in March 2020?

  10. Mat Simpson 10
    2 March 2022 at 10:17 am

    Sourced from the Canary

    " Meanwhile the " stealth variant " is the next mutation and is making an appearance in the U.K and is highly transmissible and can cause severe disease. BA.2 is related to Omnicom but spreads faster "

    " The stealth variant is described as a ‘cousin’ of Omicron and designated BA.2. It’s called stealth because it “has certain genetic traits that make it more difficult to identify as Omicron on diagnostic tests—specifically polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) tests”. However, that does not mean that results of a positive coronavirus test or the care needed will change "

    https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2022/02/27/as-stealth-variant-spreads-boris-johnson-is-more-interested-in-retaining-power/

    • Incognito 10.1
      2 March 2022 at 10:17 am

      Ta

      • Tricledrown 10.1.1
        2 March 2022 at 11:59 am

        Mat Simpson Bay is here to.So far its only more transmissible.

        Not more dangerous.

        A new variant could emerge any day that could be more deadly as much of the world especially in crowded poor countries with little or no health services and very low vaccination rates.

        At the moment Omricon is dominant but as with this Pandemic no one can say we have and end in sight.

        Caution by this govt has been our best response.

  11. Poission 11
    2 March 2022 at 1:47 pm

    Neither should the Court’s conclusion be understood to question the effectiveness and importance of vaccination. The evidence shows that vaccination significantly improves the prospects of avoiding serious illness and death, even with the Omicron variant. It confirms the importance of a booster dose given the waning effect of the first two doses of the vaccine.

    Exactly,this has been the fundamental failure of the battalions of bullshitters from PR it the messaging that is important,and it is only one spoke in the wheel.

    You need to get vaccinated to lessen the chance of infection,and decrease the risk of serious illness if infected.

    It is NOT BAU,you do not get to decrease the NPI as the WHO stated quite succinctly.

    I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis. Countries can and must prevent the spread of Omicron with measures that work today. It’s not vaccines instead of masks, it’s not vaccines instead of distancing, it’s not vaccines instead of ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well.

    Reducing constraints on border controls,because you looked bad in the overseas press is a fucken failure.Stating that we will be able to have tourism back etc,will be the death nell for tourism and hospitality as NZers shelter in place,and as have most jurisdictions when entertainment was elevated above peoples health.

    See Finland for example.

    https://mattiheino.com/2022/02/21/let-me-be-your-deja-vu/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

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