We don’t know how lucky we are

Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, June 24th, 2020 - 32 comments
Categories: business, Economy, Media, Politics, Social issues - Tags:

Looking at the rises in covid-19 infections worldwide is just damn depressing. So instead National and some of our media choose to focus on the little inconveniences of local life. For anyone who isn’t a selfish myopic like your median National voter, concerned only with their own wallet and convenience, this just makes a lot of the local news written for them simply not worth reading.

Instead I look at the 14 day rolling average of confirmed covid-19 cases in the basket-case US, up 32% from almost flat 2 weeks ago, and try to imagine what this will do to our exports to that country – our 3rd biggest destination. The problem is that I really don’t know where our exports go there. Probably not the South and the Western states that are the focus of the new outbreak.

Including our other top 3 export destinations of China, Australia, and Japan who are all more or less containing their outbreaks, that is more than 60% of our exports. I don’t think that our exports are going to be significantly affected by covid-19. Which means that we are likely to continue to pay our way in the world.

But I can completely understand why the EU is not planning on opening up travel from the US.

The European Union plans to ban travel from the US when it reopens its borders on July 1st because of the Trump administration’s poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report from The New York Times. Under current plans, the US would join Brazil and Russia on the list of forbidden countries, as all three countries have had comparably poor responses to the virus since the worldwide outbreak at the beginning of the year. Travel from China, as well as some developing countries, will be allowed, the report states.

Who wants to import cases from a state that can’t control their own spread.

In NZ, I can’t see us wanting to open up our borders to anyone apart from returning kiwis (even if a few do tend to whine like crazy for the NZ Herald readership), and the people that are useful at keeping our economy ticking over. Avatar creatives maybe – keeps our actors and crew working. Specialist engineers who maintain our hydroelectric generators – definitely (picking an instance where I know we lack internal expertise).

Aussie is having hotspot outbreak problems in Victoria. So while I currently don’t have a problem with travel to Queensland (fewer cases than here), the legal cases about section 92 of the aussie constitution may mean that we can’t restrict to the clean states (essentially everywhere in aussie apart from NSW and Vic). Not to mention that the Federal government controls the airspace over aussie – and they have made it pretty clear that all of their fracticeous states open or none do. October looks like the absolute earliest realistic date – and I’m pessimistic about that as well.

As for opening a pacific bubble? No way. I don’t want us to be the cause of another epidemic – like Samoa in 1918, as I’m pretty sure would be likely to happen. Most pacific nations simply don’t have the required medical infrastructure to handle widespread outbreaks. I’m pretty sure that no-one else in NZ would be so heartless as to want to cause that also.

I’m afraid that the sectors of our economy dependent on international travel are just going to have to suck it up. Tourism, international students, and those basing their prosperity on immigration or even international seasonal labour are just going to have to suck it up. These were always a risky business models that suffered desperately in each of the preceding economic shocks in 1997 and 2008. These simply aren’t the kinds of industries that we need in NZ. They are risky for us in downturns or even when aircraft kerosene prices rise.

What we could do with is the kind of investment in productivity that allows wages in some of the overseas labour reliant industries to rise. This isn’t exactly a short-term problem. I spent a year on farms as a farm hand back in 1977 at about a fifth of the cash in hand that I’d been earning on a factory floor. Even when you factor in the accommodation I was doing far more work for less than half of the return. I gather that it isn’t that much different today. Jehan Casinader at BusinessDesk has a paywalled article “Why are our key sectors struggling to attract talent?” that looks at this issue.

But this is common across whole swathes of our economy. In my tech sector (I’m a computer programmer and defacto engineer), we’re a low wage economy compared to most other parts of the developed world – especially when you factor in the exorbitant cost of our housing. It is a good thing that family and a weird sense of patriotism keeps me here.

But it is also because the internet arrived about the time I started to get really itchy feet. So instead of being immured in the stifling economic and intellectual myopia of National’s New Zealand, I could accept the lower pay packet, surf the world net, and work on interesting projects elsewhere. These days from a safe social distancing.

Sure we’re going to have border issues. That is the nature of doing something that, to my knowledge, has never been done in NZ – actually run a border quarantine. We now have the capacity and reporting mechanisms to contain small leaks. In other words the fallback systems. What I get concerned about is if we don’t identify and correct any mistakes. Recently I haven’t seen that inability to learn and deal with issues happen here – at least not outside of the National party.

Kiwis seem to be feeling confident in what has been happening. It is bloody hard to find parking at my local takeaway on Ponsonby Road even on a Tuesday night. Because the place seems to be swarming with revellers. I was there because ran out of time to cook because the Aussie webinar I have been on for work for the last few days runs on Queensland time. And I’d swear that there is way more traffic than there was pre-lockdowns. I was hoping on my trip to Rotorua that the missing tourists would mean a better drive – but that was not to be.

I agree with Jack Vowles excellent NewsHub article “Some in the media need to calm down“.

Compared with the failure to manage Covid-19 in many other countries, New Zealand’s performance remains impressive. Our short sharp lockdown has enabled a return to near normality. Only a few other countries are in our position.

What happens in the future is still uncertain. More needs to be learned about the virus and from the experiences of other countries. Is there any such thing as ‘immunity’? Will there be a vaccine? Will Covid-19 evolve into a less dangerous form? Will more effective treatments for those worst affected be found? Calls for ‘a plan’ and a timetable are premature; scenario scoping is what is required.

This is no time to lose faith in the Government’s response. Political criticism from journalists and the Opposition is all well and good. It does not serve the country well if it undermines the trust, confidence, compliance and cooperation and ‘kindness’ necessary for New Zealanders to work together against Covid-19.

Let’s all calm down, and carry on.

And above all – thank the people who gave us the internet – because otherwise this whole exercise would have been desperate.

32 comments on “We don’t know how lucky we are ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Dennis Frank 1
    24 June 2020 at 11:21 am

    Yes to all that. I'll just add that we're still not seeing the shift to resilience design of the economy that we discussed here a couple of months ago. I know Labour & NZF are two chronic bunches of slow learners (I don't expect National to ever learn anything) but it does concern me that the Green parliamentarians have also dropped the ball on this.

    We need to see all three govt parties openly acknowledge that a transition away from hands-off neoliberalism is now essential. And as soon as possible. Folks will say govts don't design economies. True, usually, since economies are self-organising systems. Yet the crucial role of govt in creating the right conditions for an optimal system was demonstrated by Lee Kwan Yew long ago. China's regime learnt from that, apparently, since it seems to have replicated his model. With great success.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1
      24 June 2020 at 5:57 pm

      We need to see all three govt parties openly acknowledge that a transition away from hands-off neoliberalism is now essential.

      Pretty sure I've seen all three parties proudly declaim that we're a trade dependent nation. To get the resilience that you want we'd have to become a nation where trade was a nice-to-have but not essential. And we haven't had anyone in government with that attitude since Muldoon.

      • Dennis Frank 1.1.1
        24 June 2020 at 6:18 pm

        Yep, that's the problem. Solution: declare the shift as a switch in long-term strategy. Explain resilience as a policy priority using examples such as tourism & airlines in current dire straits due to being unsuited to the changing times.

        Remembering not to spook the horses, make sure voters get that change will be incremental, as comfortable as is realistically possible. Declare resilience the key initial component of the trajectory toward the long-term goal of transition to a sustainable society – then reassure them that the neoliberal trading practices will continue as long as they remain an economic necessity.

        • greywarshark 1.1.1.1
          24 June 2020 at 7:02 pm

          DF Good strategy it seems. Let it be so. What can we do though about the trade agreements the CPTTAAFGHJT or whatever are the latest letters?

      • Pat 1.1.2
        24 June 2020 at 6:24 pm

        You misrepresent Muldoons position….he was as trade focused as any current politician

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2.1
          24 June 2020 at 6:29 pm

          And he still built up our power generation and fuel production capability to make us as independent as possible.

          Sure, he still wanted trade but think more mercantilism where imports would be less than exports (I didn't say that he was a shining example of an economist – he was still National after all).

          • Pat 1.1.2.1.1
            24 June 2020 at 6:45 pm

            you did however claim he thought trade was not essential….not the case at all, indeed he was so focused on earning FX he almost bankrupted the country with SMPs

  2. Paaparakauta 2
    24 June 2020 at 11:39 am

    Re. “We don’t know how lucky we are” ..

    You are describing a point in time during a rapidly evolving situation. Put 'pandemic history' into startpage.com .. but I should warn that the scenarios will not be palatable to our largely middle-class internet users.

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

  3. ianmac 3
    24 June 2020 at 11:46 am

    Great post thanks LPrent. Maybe the media will start remarking on the fact that no community infections have been reported for weeks which should indicate a successful protection operation. Politics gets in the way of commonsense. Bugger!

  4. Obtrectator 4
    24 June 2020 at 11:56 am

    "Specialist engineers who maintain our hydroelectric generators – definitely (picking an instance where I know we lack internal expertise)."

    According to a quick check I've just made, NZ has been generating hydroelectricity for over a century. We ought to have an adequate pool of this sort of expertise by now. Or are we too small an operation to be able to maintain one on a permanent basis?

    • lprent 4.1
      24 June 2020 at 5:16 pm

      We don't. Think of it. We have generation equipment from nearly a century of projects. From different manufacturers. Some refurbished. Most of them haven't been pulled apart in detail by anyone living in NZ. Our local engineers do maintenance. Have manuals. But little experience for when things really go wrong as they do every few decades.

      When something craps out – we call in specialist who knows the same gear worldwide.

      How do you think we keep 60 year old Hercs in the air? Or sewer pumps or water pumps. In a population of about million people there is a limit on the degree of specialization you can have on the shelf idling and waiting for the next problem to show up.

      • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1
        24 June 2020 at 6:25 pm

        How do you think we keep 60 year old Hercs in the air?

        Through the skills of our engineers?

        The concept is complex but has been built on the knowledge, innovation, skills and abilities of Air Force engineering personnel—engineering and design skills that were not readily available offshore except in the aircraft’s original design office. It exemplifies what can be done by New Zealanders with the right background and opportunities.

        We seem to have quite a skill base for aircraft engineers.

        In a population of about million people there is a limit on the degree of specialization you can have on the shelf idling and waiting for the next problem to show up.

        Which, of course, is the major problem with holding on to specialisation – especially today when so much could be done through good software that does all the maths and simulation.

        We shouldn't be whinging about how we don't have enough people to do something but looking for ways to allow us to do it anyway. Automated manufacturing, automated farming and health. In fact, automate as much as we can as fast as we can so that we can then divert more people into R&D.

        Of course, to that does require that the government stop waiting around for the failed private sector and get stuck in and do it.

    • I Feel Love 5.1
      24 June 2020 at 2:18 pm

      I was gonna post that too, but yep, sums it up nicely.

      • greywarshark 5.1.1
        24 June 2020 at 6:50 pm

        Paul I didn't know how to post that – so glad you did. She comes out with good cartoons usually, and sometimes ones that shine beyond excellent.

  6. Patricia Bremner 6
    24 June 2020 at 12:21 pm

    Intensive testing and no community cases could leave the the Nats crying "But… but not everyone has had a test!!" When do people begin to see their response as pathetic and unhelpful. 5000 000 tests??????
    When did we become free of covid ?” is the same as "When did you stop beating your wife?"

    • Cinny 6.1
      24 June 2020 at 6:11 pm

      It's like the nat's want NZ to fail re Covid, which is a sick and twisted mentality, but it's how they roll, anything for a vote.

      • greywarshark 6.1.1
        24 June 2020 at 7:00 pm

        How long is a piece of string? When can we be free of worries about Covid-19? When climate change becomes our main worry!

        Can we make a connection with dealing with Covid-19 and string? If we put our minds to it we could take away the worries about the virus and a PR man could give it a sexy gloss. It's all perception National thinks. Why should we be happy to be virtually free of Covid-19, we must find something else to bring anxiety to our breasts or chests. At the end of the day it will be their PR team against the Labour Coalition one, perhaps minus winstone – who will have sunk out of sight to the bottom of the pool.

        I'm all strung up about this. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qNj-QFZbew

  7. Paaparakauta 7
    24 June 2020 at 4:29 pm

    "Feds About To Bail On Supporting COVID Testing Sites In Texas And Other States"

    https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/exclusive-feds-about-to-bail-on-supporting-covid-testing-sites-in-texas-and-other-states

    Josh Kovensky

    June 23, 2020 12:15 p.m

    The Trump administration is ending funding and support for local COVID-19 testing sites around the country this month, as cases and hospitalizations are skyrocketing in many states.

    The federal government will stop providing money and support for 13 sites across five states which were originally set up in the first months of the pandemic to speed up testing at the local level.

  8. JanM 8
    24 June 2020 at 5:00 pm

    'We don't know how lucky we are'. Wouldn't that make a cool slogan for Labour for the coming election! Maybe change it a little to 'You don't know how lucky you are'. I can't bear to think of the circus this would all be if we had National in charge of this crisis.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 8.1
      24 June 2020 at 5:47 pm

      Good slogan; pity that the late great John 'Fred Dagg' Clarke isn’t available to front it.

      Maybe ask his family if the tune could be used for Labour's election campaign – it's certainly consistent with a 'relentless positivity' theme. Might risk being lampooned as lightweight; watch that meme to ramp up, 'in spite' of Ardern's capability/empathy.

      We Don't Know How Lucky We Are
      (If things get appallingly bad, and we're all under constant attack…)
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwgHGeGxlus

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    24 June 2020 at 5:54 pm

    Is there any such thing as ‘immunity’? Will there be a vaccine? Will Covid-19 evolve into a less dangerous form? Will more effective treatments for those worst affected be found?

    There's another question that needs to be asked in that lot:

    Would it be better to let the covid-19 virus spread wild?

    Yep, a billion or so people would die but it wouldn't endanger humanity at all while also bringing about the ability of our immune systems to deal with it.

    • JohnSelway 9.1
      24 June 2020 at 7:39 pm

      Would it be better to let the covid-19 virus spread wild?

      You might think differently when it's your family and your loved ones dying.

      • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1
        24 June 2020 at 10:22 pm

        Death is as much a part of life as being born.

        • JohnSelway 9.1.1.1
          24 June 2020 at 10:33 pm

          Yes of course.

          But that doesn’t mean being happy about letting a pandemic ravage the community, letting hundreds, of not many thousands of people you love, die.

          I’m really hoping you don’t have children if that’s your attitude. I can’t see myself reassuring my daughter as she dies from Corona Virus (my daughter has a compromised immunity so she’d would be very susceptible) “Don’t worry – like Draco said, we all going to die”

          • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.1.1
            24 June 2020 at 10:54 pm

            I didn't advocate for it – merely said that it was a question that needed to be asked. But, I suppose I should be used to you misrepresenting my position as you've pretty much done it every single time.

            This is especially true in regards to the apparent lack of a viable vaccine. Without any sort of vaccine to build artificial immunity then we're always going to be vulnerable to it which means that we're probably going to be going through this type of uncertainty and disruption on a fairly regular basis.

            • JohnSelway 9.1.1.1.1.1
              24 June 2020 at 11:04 pm

              Listen pal, if you want to be understood better perhaps try harder to be more eloquent. Leaving a single fucking sentence for someone to work off doesn’t leave much for the listener to interpret.

  10. Cinny 10
    24 June 2020 at 6:15 pm

    Good post Iprent.

    Have been watching the rising numbers coming out of Florida and remembered all those trump presser's I watched during lockdown. He was telling people that sunlight kills the virus, and people in warmer places would be just fine. As a result maybe Florida let their guard down and now it's a hot spot.

    We are so lucky to live in a country where people will work together for the good of all, makes me proud to be a kiwi.

  11. observer 11
    24 June 2020 at 6:31 pm

    And the madness continues.

    Tourism spokespeople have to go on the TV news to reassure us it's OK to visit Rotorua, despite the Hotels of Horror. So here's a simple, statistical fact to help them.

    If you drove from Auckland or Wellington to Rotorua, you would be in more danger to life and limb on the journey to get there than you would be from Covid-19 in Rotorua.

    In fact you're probably in more danger from the attractions in Rotorua (stay on the tracks or you'll get sulphur burns, and do they still have that scary luge thing?).

    Plot, lost.

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    3 days ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

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

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    4 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • The New Government: 2023 Edition
    So New Zealand has a brand-spanking new right-wing government. Not just any new government either. A formal majority coalition, of the sort last seen in 1996-1998 (our governmental arrangements for the past quarter of a century have been varying flavours of minority coalition or single-party minority, with great emphasis ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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