Wake up, Bill

Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, February 13th, 2009 - 32 comments
Categories: bill english, economy - Tags:

Bill English is living in a dream, and he may create a nightmare for the rest of us.

Last week, he said the recession would be over in 6-12 months. He hasn’t bothered to announce any significant new spending in response to the recession – all the supposedly new spending he has announced so far has come out of the normal budget for new programmes set aside last in last May’s Budget before the credit crisis that would have been spent anyway, and is mostly repackaging of spending that was going to happen anyway. Yesterday, he seemed to doubt the recession was something to worry about at all – “people feel they have more cash in their pockets and they are wondering when the recession is going to hit them”. Well, the recession may not have hit Bill English’s New Zealand yet, the New Zealand of wealthy land-owning people with secure incomes, but it sure has hit the 10,000 Kiwis who found themselves out of work and in the dole queue in December alone, and the thousands who have joined them since.

No, the recession isn’t all that bad yet. Unemployment is still well lower than National ever achieved in the 1990s because of Labour’s success in achieving full employment. On average, we are still richer than we were in 2006. If you’ve got a safe job, good pay, and a mortgage, you’ve got more cash in hand now than a year ago. But we are only in the first round of the recession and the self-reinforcing effect of very low unemployment has, so far, protected jobs.

That is set to change if things are allowed to go on the way they are. If the 7% unemployment Treasury and others are predicting by year end comes to pass we will have moved to structural unemployment that will start reinforcing the recession – lower demand from both the newly unemployed and those who still have jobs but can’t get decent wage rises and, wary of losing their jobs, save rather than spend, will keep the economy from recovering, as it did through the early 1990s recession. When the labour market switches from being counter-recessionary to pro-recessionary, it won’t just be what the Herald calls ‘the other New Zealand’ that will be hurting, it will be everyone.

That’s why it’s so important to be acting decisively now. Screw this ignorant, nonsensical bollocks that the journos are parroting about the need to keep some powder dry for when things get really bad. A given economic stimulus is not going to be somehow more powerful later. It’s better to use it now to keep us from getting into a deeper hole than start using it when we are deeper in the vicious recessionary spiral. If you’re getting sucked into a whirlpool, you don’t hold back some engine power for later, you go full bore before it’s too late.

Avoiding the point when unemployment starts to spiral up and up should be a priority of the Government, if it isn’t already too late. Problem is, Bill English, the man with his hands on the nation’s purse strings, thinks there is nothing to worry about. He believes the recession will fix itself in no time, despite what his officials and everyone else are saying.

Like a climate change denier, English seems to think (needs to think, to keep his ideology intact) that all the experts are wrong and there’s nothing to worry about. That doesn’t bode well for the rest of us.

32 comments on “Wake up, Bill ”

  1. Daveski 1

    Any balanced analysis would have acknowledged the downside risk of your proposed strategy. The more we spend now, the more we have to pay back later lumping future generations with debt.

    You seem to have forgotten very quickly Labour’s reaction to National’s proposal for a small increase in debt prior to the election. So now, the problem is that National’s not borrowing recklessly?

    I agree there is a balance. I agree that things may get much worse.

    At the same time, National has acknowledged there will be around $5 billion of addition spending of the next 3 years or so which would seem to negate your key point.

  2. Redbaiter 2

    Government spending is not the solution. Its throwing petrol on the fire.

  3. Daveski. The problem has changed hugely since the criticisms of Natioanl wanting to increase debt. As far as I can recall, I dropped criticism of increasing debt in about or September, when it became clear we were facing a world-wide recession.

    The new spending of $4.5 billion National is talking about is the normal increase in government spending, forecast in the Budget last May, it is not a reaction to the recession. Indeed, it represents only a 7-8% increase in nominal government spending, not much when you take inflation into account. If we were talking $5 billion in addition to that, we would be cooking with gas.

    Redbaiter. If you want the fire of the economy to keep burning as brightly as it is, you need to give it the fuel. More fundementally, we need to be using the spending to refrom the economy, not just keep it ticking over.

  4. BLiP 4

    Daveski said:

    ” . . . At the same time, National has acknowledged there will be around $5 billion of addition spending of the next 3 years or so which would seem to negate your key point. . . .”

    Trouble is that what National says and reality are diverging at an increasing rate. Has there been any data released as to the “$5 billion of addition(al) spending) you mention or are you just taking a politician’s word for it?

  5. Redbaiter 5

    The whole problem, from go to whoa, is the belief that government knows best how to spend money. It doesn’t. It can never do anything right. Government is behind the recession, and government action will prolong the recession. If I had time, I’d tell you more about why, but in reality, the evidence is plain. Look at history.

  6. Bill 6

    Putting aside all my political bias I cannot for the world of me see how all the ongoing panic and collapses will result in the ‘short, sharp shock’ that Bill English and others seem to be hoping for.

    Ed Balls appears to be being more realistic. A close ally of G. Brown and former chief economic adviser to the UK Treasury, he reckons “The reality is that this is becoming the most serious global recession for, I’m sure, over 100 years, as it will turn out.”

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/this-is-the-worst-recession-for-over-100-years-1605367.html

    Given the interconnectedness of national economies, but allowing for some disparity on the effects each will experience, I can’t escape the feeling that all national economies are like so many three legged rabbits suffering from various stages of mixamytosis, caught in the headlights.

    Which means that Bill’s delusions are irrelevant insofar as there may well be nothing governments can do to avoid what is, arguably inevitable.

    If governments are in the business of protecting and developing the economy we are wedded to, and if they cannot execute that function and it all comes crashing down, then where to next might be a more pertinent and productive line of enquiry than hoping against hope that there might be some policy, some silver bullet that will stop the future in it’s tracks.

    Dolly Parton and her wee D-I-V-O-R-C-E song comes to mind. But where do we go and how do we survive without the sense of security we have built, based on ongoing Capitalism?

  7. ieuan 7

    Steve who are the ‘New Zealand of wealthy land-owning people with secure incomes’?

    Do you mean farmers? Because they are certainly feeling the recession just ask any dairy farmer, or do you mean people who own property? Because they may not have seen a drop in income yet but certainly will have seen a drop in the value of their assets.

    Or do these people simply not exist?

  8. northpaw 8

    Redbaiter,

    The whole problem, from go to whoa, is the belief that government knows best how to spend money

    How does an examination of history explain this issue. Further, how come only the spending of money is the “whole problem”.? And why do you constantly cite governments — the accepted modern creators of money — for dismissal in this respect..?

    BTW: there’s something in a name, as I am sure you are well aware, though not perhaps wishing that it invite disregard and/or insult. Impediments to discussion, discourse, debate that such things become cause of effect of.

  9. northpaw 9

    Oops, the first ‘of’ should read ‘and’ – thus cause and effect – in the forgoing comment.

  10. vto 10

    SP “Well, the recession may not have hit Bill English’s New Zealand yet, the New Zealand of wealthy land-owning people with secure incomes, but it sure has hit the 10,000 Kiwis who found themselves out of work and in the dole queue in December alone”

    In fact SP, the depression hit your so-called wealthy land-owners first. August 2007 the sentiment went into reverse in the property market and anyone with experience could see the writing on the wall. The wise immediately started sitting on their hands – with the consequent instantaneous drop in values. It was only those who could not see that who carried on blindly for a while after.

    The rise in unemployment did not start until well into 2008.

    The so-called wealthy (not talking about the super rich) are hurting far more than the so-called workers now out of a job. I know many who have seen their lives obliterated in recent times. It may be that they are less noticed because they don’t go and join the dole queue or register on some govt list thing that can be counted.

    And without having another dig at Wgtn, but it may also be that Wgtn’s isolation is again being highlighted through your somewhat ignorant statement. I have posted before that Wgtn seems to click onto things well after they have happenned – usually because they rely on bureacrats tallying something up.

    I have posted before that it is far more painful, and far more of a change to a family’s life, to go from having $1million to $100 than it is to go from having $10,000 to $100. Don’t waste time trying to convince me otherwise – I see it yesterday, and right now today.

    Your statements and constant digs at the so-called wealthy, especially when untrue, rile. But it seems that is part of your job description…

  11. vto 11

    Perhaps Bill was actually referring to people like you SP? Still got your job or business or income? Ay?

  12. Jum 12

    Left leaning democracies in US and UK. Right leaners in NZ.
    Key doing the opposite to Brown and Obama.

    With Key’s ‘we would love to see wages drop’ statement and English’ refusal to help workers stay in work point to a clear goal. Desperate, cheap labour. Working with Act National hopes to duplicate the Douglas and Richardson policies where people were left in a position of no strength, both physically and mentally, to protest or to demand better treatment.

    Whatever the size of this manmade recession/depression the NAct plan is always the same – create a cheap underclass willing to live on Mexican wages.

    Ieuan,
    I suggest you check out the richlist. Farmers no, moneytraders and asset strippers hiding their money from shareholders and workers would be closer to it.

  13. Daveski 13

    Jum – nice rhetoric.

    Meanwhile, back in reality …

    1. NZ actually went in to recession before the events up north happened.
    2. The campaign based on Key’s supposed view “we would love to see wages drop” has been proven to be a deception largely fostered here. There’s been not one acknowledge from SP et that they got it wrong (strange, not one acknowledgement either that they got it wrong on the EFA!!)
    3. Key not doing what Brown and Obama are doing because we weren’t as stupid as them.

  14. Adders 14

    “I have posted before that it is far more painful, and far more of a change to a family’s life, to go from having $1million to $100 than it is to go from having $10,000 to $100. Don’t waste time trying to convince me otherwise’

    The first million is always the hardest to lose. After that, they’re easy.

  15. Jum 15

    “We only see the monster’s tail,” he said. “How many hundreds of thousands of victims are slaving away in sweatshops, fields, mines, factories, or trapped in domestic servitude? Their numbers will surely swell as the economic crisis deepens the pool of potential victims.”

    This is a survey of current global human trafficking. I couldn’t help but relate it to my previous post about cheap desperate labour pools. I have minimal trust in NAct altering that dynamic. I have every expectation they will use the rec/depression to enhance that.

    I probably sound a bit like a conspiracy theorist but we know that Lord xxx visited Key. Lord xxx is noted as one of the ‘key’ deeply conservative architects in devising, amongst other extreme conservative social engineering aims, a global malleable labour pool – it’s already happening in Europe – with no individual country control over workers’ conditions.

    We know Key has spent time in all the ‘right’ places and received all the ‘right’ advice to achieve his backers’ goal. Firstly, I have no doubt it will happen within the next 4-5 years.

    Secondly, and far more disappointing, women will allow it, women who owe it to their children to secure a happier future for them in NZ.

  16. Jum 16

    Daveski
    It’s remarkably easy and lucrative to cause a financial meltdown when the end result is worth far more.

  17. Pascal's bookie 17

    Daveski

    1) http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/01/business/02econ-web.php

    America enters recession Dec 07.

    2) Key’s wages comment (at the most charitable reading) was that wages should only ever rise at the level of productivity growth.
    He said this at a time of inflation worries, (which is what his questioner was talking about). If inflation outstrips productivity growth Daveski, what happens to real wages under such a scheme? What did Key say was the preferred solution to his questioners concerns about inflation driven wage pressures ? (Hint “love to see wages drop”)

    Evidence for this is the confused clusterbumble of a response to the story, (didn’t say it, journo’s a kid, talking about australia etc), culminating in the call from sydney management and the bizarre ‘clarification’ that didn’t retract the words, only what the words meant.

    The recent minimum wage increase proves slightly less than you seem to think.

    3) Who is ‘we’? Who is ‘them’?

    Thanking in advance….

  18. higherstandard 18

    3) Who is ‘we’? Who is ‘them’?

    Judging from your post ‘we’ is Travelleve, yourself, Jum and if few others who seem to think we should be checking for 666 underneath Key’s hairline.

    ‘Them” would be those that don’t agree with ‘we’

  19. HS,

    Excuse me? You’re acting a tad obsessive here. Tell me you didn’t know that John Key has met with Lord Aschcroft. Most people do, that’s the statement of we Jum uses.

    Where does the 666 come from? John Key is a proven liar that is a fact but does not make him into a Satanist or the “devil”.

    He is just your average no offence, it’s nothing personal greedy bastard out to get more for himself and his mates. That’s fine if you’re one of his mates but not the quality I look for in a democratic leader whose supposed to look out for all the people living in a country.

    His government has so fat evaded all discussion about their new laws and governed under the cloak of “Urgency” not a quality I look for in a democratic government of the people of the people.

    You would do yourself a favour by taking of the blinkers and start reading some real newspapers instead of the NZH as your sole source of news. Not that I have hopes for you but hey you never know maybe one day when it’s all gone to shit you will watch the Money Masters and realise that you and all your National voting sucker friends have been had.

    It’s all nice to try to keep me or some of the others who are actually trying to inform assholes like you in line with ridicule but in the end mate your only harming yourself.

    Do yourself a favour and educate yourself before you come out here with your sad, misguided, dishonest and pathetic remarks, your making a spectacle of yourself.

  20. Pascal's bookie 20

    hs, it was just the other day you were confused about strawman arguments and here you are pulling them off with, well, stilted plodding cliched hackwork. But still, Well done!

    I trust you didn’t plagiarise.

    My question was serious. It is unclear who ‘we’ and ‘them’ are is in Daveski’s comment.

    Is he saying that NZ doesn’t have to do what Brown and Obama are doing because Labour cleverly kept our books in a better state than Bush and Blair. Or is he saying that Key isn’t doing what Brown and Obama are doing, because what Brown and Obama are doing is stupid.

    In any case if you ever decide to stop being a complete fuckwit, join a conversation sometime based on what’s being said, rather than just carrying on your tiresome jibes at jum and eve. What’s that all about?

  21. higherstandard 21

    Eve

    “Do yourself a favour and educate yourself before you come out here with your sad, misguided, dishonest and pathetic remarks, your making a spectacle of yourself.”

    I think you might have my comments mixed up with bigoted drivel

    PB

    Best you potter back to your meeting for trainee felchtards …… plagiarised from sod

  22. the sprout 22

    “[Bill] said the recession would be over in 6-12 months”

    sounds like Bush talking about Iraq.

  23. Jum 23

    Higher Standard
    You seem to think I see Key as The Devil. Apart from the new information that suggests the number is actually 616, I simply want my children’s country to enter a future that sees people as being worth more than money. It’s a simple wish. I don’t believe for one moment that Key and Co want that for My children.

    That’s not Key being the Devil; that’s Key being a free-marketeer and moneytrader who saw that having a shxx-load of money and a perfectly manicured family (that’s the only people in his life I do think are real) could get him Helensville, with a little wheeling and dealing, then National leader by backstabbing Brash (that doesn’t bother me, but at least you knew what Brash was about) and then using misinformation and money (tax cuts) to buy New Zealanders.

    I went to a National pre-election meeting where he badmouthed Helen Clark in very personal terms, to the laughter and clapping of a huge audience. He is not a nice man. Make no mistake about that!

    Captcha: melting 10,000,000

  24. HS,

    Your comments are bigoted drivel you sad sack of shit.
    Your nasty little ad hominem attacks are the only thing you’ve got. Pathetic.

  25. higherstandard 25

    Eve

    I was thinking more of bigoted drivel along the lines of these fine efforts ….

    “Things have not changed no matter what pretty boy they found (they failed there as well) with the pretty family (that was a clever move, but certainly an obvious cynical political move to all but the near dead (or the undead)); the right want to change this country into a grasping, giant black hole of consumerism and then present it to their shareholders/controllers/pimps/Daleks overseas.”

    “The righties and the religious hate women being leaders.”

    “Yes, as far as behaving in public is concerned JK does it by the book. Open anger I have noticed is not the Pakeha Kiwi way. They always smile and behave in public while stabbing each other in the back. “

  26. HS,

    It is polite to mention whom you quote from as other people have tried to point out to you before. You took the time to find them and copy and paste so why not go the whole hog and give credit where credit is due and perhaps give the links so people can find these quotes in context.

    All those quotes come from people (including one from me) who are willing to stick their neck out with actual arguments and information such as links to video’s that might actually educate people about say the financial collapse where facing.

    Yum tells us for example that he actually attended a National pre-election meeting and found that while John Key in public played mr. Nice Guy and “hey, I don’t do ad hominem attacks on politicians”. but when he thought himself surrounded by kindred souls he actively took part in personal and ad hominem attacks.

    When a young man armed with a recorder asked prominent National leaders questions and the thought themselves among their own they told him other things than they told the general public.

    Conclusion JK and National leaders are hypocritical and backstabbing what’s more the predominant Anglo-Saxon culture frowns upon open anger and insist on the suppression of genuine emotions in favour of highly ritualised and artificial interactions. This goes from funerals to weddings. I’ve been to Pakeha funerals of very much loved members of families in which not a single souls shed a tear for fear of being accused of inappropriate emotional display. This is is not limited to New Zealand it is noticeable in every Anglo Saxon society. The only release valve it seems is unseemly behaviour during drunken binges, something unheard of in Mediterranean countries for example.

    So it is a correct conclusion to say that John Key plays it by the book and is uncannily good at manipulating people into dropping the “proper” behaviour so he can come of as the “nice guy”.

    Misogyny is another well documented fact of Anglo Saxon culture (even if that is not limited to A-S culture) and the first quote supports my description of the general attitude of the Anglo-Saxon culture and to top it of even your callous and predictable ridicule is a well-known and much practised manipulation technique practised by your average middle class middle-aged white male in Anglo-Saxon society in order not to have to address grievances.

    It’s what Anglo-Saxon society has done around the world for a very long time.

    In fact this thread about Bill English’s state of denial and his consequent downplaying of the severity of the pending economic collapse addresses very accurately how Bill English actively maintains his ignorance through denial and ridicule.

    I quote:

    English seems to think (needs to think, to keep his ideology intact) that all the experts are wrong and there’s nothing to worry about. That doesn’t bode well for the rest of us

    So in conclusion I’d put it to you that I responded to your last suggestive and accusatory ad hominem attack with another well reasoned and argued comment with arguments that support my previous statement. Now try and come back without ridicule and actually show us that your teachers didn’t fail miserably in teaching that all important skill all of us should have: the capability to debate and convince on arguments instead of ridicule and ad hominem attacks.

    Give me a reason to say: Wow, HS actually has a brain. He just doesn’t use it very much, more’s the pity.

  27. higherstandard 27

    Eve

    For fear of feeding the troll.

    “The righties and the religious hate women being leaders.’

    Margaret Thatcher ?

    “Misogyny is another well documented fact of Anglo Saxon culture (even if that is not limited to A-S culture)”

    But you seem to reiterate the fact that it is those evil Anglo saxons who shoulder the blame when the most vile acts of misogyny come from outside what most would term Anglo Saxon culture.

    “So in conclusion I’d put it to you that I responded to your last suggestive and accusatory ad hominem attack with another well reasoned and argued comment with arguments that support my previous statement.”

    Was that this statement by you ……….”Your comments are bigoted drivel you sad sack of shit.
    Your nasty little ad hominem attacks are the only thing you’ve got. Pathetic.”

    Eve you seem to have an extraordinary contempt for Anglo Saxon society and anyone/thing who doesn’t subscribe to your world view. Having met both Key and Clark on a number of occasions I can assure you they are both very pleasant people, both quite driven individuals and both passionate about this country and the people within it.

  28. HS,

    It seems that you are one of the few people who seems to think I’m a troll so I’ll leave that aside although of course it sets that tone of ridicule and prejudice right from the start of your response.

    Let me give you a couple of examples of other prominent females in the right wing neo-con sphere and I’ll leave it to those who follow our discussion as to whether Margareth Thatcher and these female shaped creatures are representative of the average female. Here they are: Ann Coulter and Michelle Melkin and on the “left” I give you Hilary Clinton. Prominent female leaders and pundits are these the women you meet everyday?

    As for Mysogyny and blame. It seems to me that you agree with the fact that Anglo-Saxon culture harbours a misogynist streak. This is interesting. I have not assigned or even discussed blame and I acknowledged the fact that the Anglo-Saxon culture is not the only one with a misogynist streak but rather than simply acknowledging this fact you argue that I assign blame or even that the Anglo-Saxon culture should shoulder some kind fo responsibility for Misogyny on a global scale. I don’t know where the shoulder the blame remark originates from but I am a firm believer in discussing the colour of our own pot rather than talk about some ones else’s kettle.

    If we agree that there is a misogynist streak in our society than we can agree on addressing it. Let other cultures and peoples fight it out amongst themselves I say.

    There you go again. Instead of acknowledging the fact that I bring forth arguments and information in general (one of the reasons why I’m not considered a troll by many) and occasionally loose my cool you concentrate on those moments I loose my cool trying to ridicule these remarks rather than addressing the fact that perhaps I have a point. This I’m afraid reinforced the impression that Anglo-Saxon middle class males use the ridicule tool as away to avoid real debate.

    Your last remark is a point of opinion and does not have much to do with arguments based on solid evidence. I’m sure that John Key and Helen Clark are pleasant in their general demeanour. For one it wouldn’t help them if they where rude or dismissive to those they want to vote for them. That’s what politicians do.

    As for their attitude towards this country I will leave that judgement to the history books and the professors researching both I don’t know all the facts but what I do know about the financial world and John Key’s role in it give me reason to be very afraid for the world and with regards to John Key’s position in NZ while the financial world is collapsing I am most doubtful he will do any good for this country.

    That is my opinion based on the fact that I read about 120 Newspapers everyday. From the wall street journal to the Independent. From the Asian times to the Iranian Press site. From the New York Times to the Socialist website to name a few.

    As for what you seem to consider my contempt the following. I live in New Zealand and find myself surrounded by amazing amiable and good people. I’m also surrounded by ignorant uninformed angry people. Is this limited to New Zealand or the Anglo Saxon world. Hell no, but again I point the point I made earlier. This is the place I live and this is where I can make my voice heard.

    I don’t live in Saudi Arabia or Israel or Russia or Iran. I live here. Contempt has nothing to do with it but speaking my mind has.

    As for having difference of opinions I have no problem with people having other opinions than mine it’s when they try to silence dissent through ridicule is when I start to get stroppy.

    Why HS, That was an actual attempt at engaging the brain rather than do the lazy. I thank you and you should try to use it more because if you don’t more’s the pity.

  29. higherstandard 29

    “”The righties and the religious hate women being leaders.’

    “Let me give you a couple of examples of other prominent females in the right wing neo-con sphere and I’ll leave it to those who follow our discussion as to whether Margareth Thatcher and these female shaped creatures are representative of the average female. Here they are: Ann Coulter and Michelle Melkin and on the “left’ I give you Hilary Clinton. Prominent female leaders and pundits are these the women you meet everyday?”

    So if I am to understand you properly Margaret Thatcher and the others you have mentioned are not really women at all but are “female shaped creatures ” should we also add Shipley and Richardson to the list and all others from the perceived political right . because they couldn’t possibly be representative of women in general.

    “I live in New Zealand and find myself surrounded by amazing amiable and good people. I’m also surrounded by ignorant uninformed angry people. ”

    What political leanings do you believe the amiable and good people have .. how about the ignorant and uniformed people ?

  30. In response to your questions.
    To most people Hilary Clinton is very much a female from the left wing hey, she even features as the secretary for foreign affairs under Obama.

    I asked you a question. Do you see the aforementioned females as your average female? No answers there yet.

    There you go assuming the worst again.

    In answer to your second question: I have met a lot of good and amiably people who are both left and right leaning. Hell, someone I greatly appreciate ends all our conversations with the statement that John Key is his friend (They never met so how he got that idea I don’t know but if that is how he feels than I hope that he’s right).

    That seems to be the paradigm here. left= Labour right=National. Simple, straight forward and oh so last century. The problems facing us are much more complicated than that and require a much more comprehensive understanding of our global reality way beyond the left/right paradigm.

    So now it’s your turn again. Why not try to answer my question. I stick my neck out to possible ridicule so why not respond in kind.

  31. higherstandard 31

    Eve

    I have no idea what the average female is, does, or should look like.

    Hilary Clinton is hardly a politician of the left (USA left maybe but the left there is hardly what most people in NZ would call it)

    I’m not sure why you can’t accept that Jum’s comment that ….””The righties and the religious hate women being leaders.'” was patently bigoted drivel much as the comments on this blog at times regarding those of the left (or right) being more likely to be charitable.

    “The problems facing us are much more complicated than that and require a much more comprehensive understanding of our global reality way beyond the left/right paradigm.”

    On that note I’ll agree with you.

  32. northpaw 32

    Eve,

    fatal attraction that this comment may be considered as michelle might say — MALKIN, babe! The ‘e’ s are in enough trouble.

    In truth I was struck with the irony of having elsewhere this morning recommended that a commenter substitute an ‘a’ for an ‘e’ in his name… anf there you go with an ‘e’ for someone else..

    BTW: how come you tried parallel the likes of Coulter and Malkin with the US Secretary of State?

    And, to close — promise there will be no more education4U from me — that you would sacrifice your better judgement on the altar of time is the crowning glory of your prior “don’t know what you are on about”. Remarkableness.

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    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    4 hours ago
  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    4 hours ago
  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    5 hours ago
  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    5 hours ago
  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    11 hours ago
  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    13 hours ago
  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    14 hours ago
  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    15 hours ago
  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    16 hours ago
  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    17 hours ago
  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    18 hours ago
  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    21 hours ago
  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    22 hours ago
  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    24 hours ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    1 day ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    2 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    2 days ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    2 days ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    2 days ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    2 days ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
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    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    4 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    4 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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    1 day ago
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