What China crisis?

Written By: - Date published: 12:58 pm, February 18th, 2019 - 52 comments
Categories: australian politics, China, Europe, Globalisation, International, Media, national, Politics, same old national, Simon Bridges, uk politics, us politics - Tags:

There have been lots of recent comment about how the Government is mucking up the relationship with China.

The evidence is somewhat scant.

There was the Air New Zealand plane that was turned around.  This has been mentioned by Audrey Young and others and Simon Bridges tweeted about it without even the most cursory of examinations:

Audrey Young said this:

Were it not for the news that the Chinese Government had cancelled a gala event it was hosting in Wellington to mark the China-NZ Year of Tourism, the souring relations may have quietly fermented away as they have for months.

But on top of the Air New Zealand plane turning back mid-flight to Shanghai, it took on greater significance and prominence.

The airline’s explanation of what happened was so sketchy that it took days for it to emerge that China had not turned the plane back and in fact had no part in the move.

Young’s other example, cancelling a gala event, is hardly the stuff on which hard conclusions can be drawn. And she is conceding that the Air New Zealand problem is definitely not related to any possible issues.

The other evidence, supposed increased difficulties in getting goods into China and a not so happy review of New Zealand as a tourist destination also fall well short of being conclusive proof .  Especially in relation to trade where it appears that import hiccups are at an all time low.  From Radio New Zealand:

MPI director market access Tim Knox said it has not not received indication of anything out of the ordinary in China’s border clearance procedures for New Zealand products.

New Zealand has an extensive trading relationship with China, valued at more than $NZ28 billion a year.

“As with any large trading relationship, temporary technical trade issues can occur from time to time with products at the border,” he said.

Each month China Customs publishes a list of food import non-compliances that have led to product rejection at the Chinese border. No New Zealand product appeared on the latest December 2018 list. Non-compliances concerning New Zealand products in 2018 were the lowest since monitoring began, Mr Knox said.

And the not very friendly tourist review in the China media?  Again from Radio New Zealand:

China foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told international media that it was wrong to interpret the travel notices as ‘warnings’ against Chinese tourists against travelling to New Zealand.

“Those insisting such an interpretation are evidently either making a big fuss over nothing or harbouring ulterior motives.”

And apparently a drop in student numbers is further evidence of problems. But you would expect changes to take a lot longer to feed through than what is claimed.

Of course care needs to be taken with the relationship and we are in a delicate position and in danger of being caught up in the US China tensions. 

Certainly the GCSB banning of Huawei equipment will have attracted attention.  It is hard to understand how New Zealand could not go along with that decision, given the clear views of the other five eyes nations.  I do agree with Mike Smith when he says this:

Spark wants Huawei’s 5G technology because its the best and the cheapest. The GCSB spooks don’t want us to have it because 5Eyes, and because the US has yanked their chain. The Prime Minister says no decision has been made – the media and the world think it is a goneburger. We should support New Zealand’s Spark, not US corporate interests.

The FiveEyes spy agencies met in Canada in July 2018 and “agreed to do their best to contain the global growth of Chinese telecom Huawei.” And according to the Wall Street Journal in November 2018

The U.S. government has initiated an extraordinary outreach campaign to foreign allies, trying to persuade wireless and internet providers in these countries to avoid telecommunications equipment from China’s Huawei Technologies Co., according to people familiar with the situation.

Bloomberg News  opines that “The Spy Masters’ Case Against Huawei Is Flimsy: The Chinese phone maker’s biggest offense may be it’s too successful. So as consumers we should be asking why we are to be denied the best available technology. I like my Huawei phone.

And some of the other members relationship with China is considerably more rocky than New Zealand’s.  Like the UK who has had a Ministerial visit by Chancellor Phillip Hammond cancelled after another Minister advocated sending in an Aircraft carrier into disputed waters to show China who is boss.  Simon Jenkins in the Guardian has this colourful description:

The defence secretary’s brain has gone absent without leave. Gavin Williamson said in a speech today that he intends to send his new aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, round the world to frighten China. He will equip it with a squadron of F-35 fighter jets, purchased from America. In addition he wants to build two British military bases, one in Asia and the other “in the Caribbean”. They are to “strengthen our global presence, enhance our lethality and increase our mass”.

The UK is denying the cancellation is related to the speech.  But the speech was pretty incendiary.

How about America?

Well POTUS has engaged in an all out trade war with China for several months now. And his comments about China are not the sort of comments on which durable relationships of trust are based on.

And how about in Australia where a Chinese billionaire with Communist Party links and a former major donor of the Liberal Party had his immigration status revoked and replied by calling Australia a giant baby?

Or how about allegations made that China had hacked Australian Parliamentary servers? Or how about accusing China of meddling in Australian domestic affairs and of poisoning relations?

Compared to the UK, the US and Australia New Zealand’s alleged misdeeds are pretty minor.

National’s stance on the issue is fascinating.  They have taken to attacking the Government and to raise objections at every opportunity.  It makes you wonder what National’s rank and file think of this fulsome defence of communist China.

Michael Reddell, a conservative commentator on economics, and self proclaimed former supporter has not held back:

Over the past couple of years the depths the [National] party, its leaders and MPs, have been plumbing have become more visible. In 2017, in government, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the PRC on the Belt and Road Initiative. In that document they – Simon Bridges as signatory – committed to “promote” the “fusion of civilisations”. Plenty of people will probably dismiss such statements as “meaningless”, the stuff of official communiques. But decent people – under no duress whatever – don’t sign up to things suggesting that today’s equivalent of Nazi-ruled Germany is a normal and decent regime. Of course, they would probably dispute the parallel, but that’s just willed deliberate blindness.

Later that same year we learned the National Party had had a former PLA intelligence officer, Communist Party member, sitting in its parliamentary caucus. It seems to be generally accepted that Jian Yang, of such a questionable background, is one of the party’s largest fundraisers. Presumably the leaders (John Key and Peter Goodfellow) were aware of his past, but let’s be generous and assume that most of the caucus was as unaware as the public. But for the past 18 months, everyone has known. They also know – because Jian Yang acknowledged as much – that he deliberately misrepresented his past to get into New Zealand, telling us that Beijing had told him (and others in his position) to do so. Breathtakingly, there is no sign that official agencies in New Zealand have done anything about those admissions, but National is now out of office so I guess one can’t blame them for that.

But what the National Party – leader, president, MPs, and all those holding office in the party – is responsible for is the fact that Jian Yang still sits in Parliament, still sits in the National caucus, is still National’s spokesman (on a couple of minor portfolios), with the express support of successive leaders, and (apparently) in ongoing business relationships with the party president (he who trots of to Beijing to praise the regime and its leader). And not one MP, not one national councillor, no other officeholder – not one – has broken ranks, and been willing to openly question (or deplore) just what has gone on. Doing so might, I suppose, jeopardise their individual futures. But values are the things you are willing to risk, to pay some price for. Rumour hath it that some people within the party aren’t entirely comfortable, but so what, if you aren’t willing to do, or say, anything?

Is Simon Bridges and National really saying that we should go against the other 5 eyes nations and let Huawei set up our 5G network?

Don’t get me wrong. I agree with Mike Smith that if at all possible we should continue to use Huawei equipment. And I personally would be very relaxed at New Zealand leaving the 5 eyes coalition.

The whole incident feels like a National beat up for political reasons.

52 comments on “What China crisis? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Ad 1
    18 February 2019 at 1:26 pm

    UK GCHQ has confirmed it can mitigate Huawei 5G risk.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      18 February 2019 at 1:32 pm

      Thanks I just read this in the Herald:

      Citing inside sources, the Financial Times reports the British government has now concluded that it can mitigate the risk from using Huawei equipment in 5G networks – a development the paper calls “a serious blow to US efforts to persuade allies to ban the Chinese supplier from high-speed telecommunications systems”.

      While there has so far been no official announcement, the FT says the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has determined that there are ways to limit the risks from using Huawei in future 5G networks.

      The UK paper also quotes Robert Hannigan, former head of GCHQ (the Brit equivalent to our GCSB), saying the NCSC had “never found evidence of malicious Chinese state cyber activity through Huawei” and that any “assertions that any Chinese technology in any part of a 5G network represents an unacceptable risk are nonsense”.

      Spokesman Andrew Pirie says Spark is seeking more information on the apparent UK development.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12204757

    • Shadrach 1.2
      18 February 2019 at 1:32 pm

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12204757

      ooops, sorry Micky – I posted the link just as you did.

    • Lettuce 1.3
      18 February 2019 at 6:42 pm

      No need to worry about Huawei. One of New Zealand’s finest inquiring minds has it on good authority that it’s totally kosher and 100% above board:

      https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/11/nonsense_about_huawei.html

  2. Anne 2
    18 February 2019 at 1:35 pm

    My understanding is that a lot of the crap about a so-called major rift between NZ and China is emanating from the local Chinese news network who are from all accounts backers of the National Party.

    • Muttonbird 2.1
      18 February 2019 at 2:45 pm

      I wonder if they are getting a telling off by the CPC as we speak.

    • NZJester 2.2
      18 February 2019 at 4:03 pm

      I would say it is likely National Party Dirty Politics people behind the scenes screwing up NZ relations with China through those planted stories. Some of those stories might actually be making their way into China and causing some real harm.

      • Muttonbird 2.2.1
        18 February 2019 at 4:12 pm

        It certainly looks like the National Party has been agitating in the Chinese community. It’s pretty much sabotage of the country for political gain. Disgraceful.

      • Tamati Tautuhi 2.2.2
        18 February 2019 at 5:46 pm

        Anything to get back into power, Crosby Textor and Nicky Hager’s Dirty Tricks bring back any memories ?

    • woodart 2.3
      18 February 2019 at 8:16 pm

      I wonder what the old white backbone of the natz really think about there party selling out to the chinese. I expect winston to really put the screws on over it..

    • ken 2.4
      18 February 2019 at 11:07 pm

      …..and exceedingly well versed in propaganda.

  3. Hooch 3
    18 February 2019 at 1:47 pm

    I’m not sure it’s a vote winner for national to say they’d be sucking up to China if they were in power. I’d go as far to say the reason they’re polling is dropping is because of revelations like donations for list places.

    Pretty stupid game to start a meme that relations with one of our biggest trading partners are faltering.

    As for the air nz thing. Shouldn’t they be asking sir John and his poodle luxton about that?

    Pretty sure exports were stopped at the border due to paperwork issues when MPI had a name change under national too.

    And what would national have done in regard to Huawei? During keys tenure if America said jump he asked how high.

  5. veutoviper 5
    18 February 2019 at 2:30 pm

    Good coalition of a lot of different articles, etc on this issue, thanks mickysavage.

    If you did not hear Bridges being interviewed this morning on Morning Report it was worth listening to IMHO as Espiner actually took it to Bridges for once in suggesting strongly to Bridges that he was damaging the NZ-China relationship and should be putting NZ first and not playing politics with such an important relationship.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018682934/simon-bridges-tight-lipped-on-collins-leadership-discussion

    (Interview also covered whether Bridges had asked Collins whether she would support him as leader right up to the next general election – lol. Bridges refused to answer Espiner’s question to this over and over again.)

    As I mentioned elsewhere here yesterday, I also half heard an interview on Checkpoint last week when someone being interviewed on possible delays to NZ exports into China opined that any delays to NZ exports at the China border at present were more than likely due to nothing more than that it is Chinese New Year, with many people on holiday and customs etc working with skeleton staff! A case of Ozram’s Razor?

    • Kat 5.1
      18 February 2019 at 2:49 pm

      “Choyna” a crisis manufactured by National. Before that it was “Russha”, before that it was “Oztrailya”……soon it will be “Inglind”.

      National know they are irrelevant. Historically they are a very large opposition. They are still irrelevant. Must be so frustrating for them. They are destined to a minimum of three terms in opposition. The only strategy they have is to attack the govt, not hold it to account, but to attack with the hope a weak chink will be found and a scandal erupts that tears the coalition apart, sets voters against Winston and Jacinda and miraculously return them to power.

      Simon Bridges will keep on barking and barking and barking, he may stop momentarily for a scratch then keep on barking, barking and chasing parked cars until his masters replace him with a new dog. Will it be an old dog or a pup.

  7. rata 7
    18 February 2019 at 2:38 pm

    Hu -a -wei? Hu a yu?
    I have a Huawei washing machine so
    I am expecting a visit by the SIS any moment now 🙂

  8. Muttonbird 8
    18 February 2019 at 2:50 pm

    It’s incredible the National Party would abandon one of their very core tenets, that of subservience to the United States, in order to attack this government.

    It’s almost as if they’re having difficulty remembering where their principles are because it’s been so long since they stood by them.

    • Exkiwiforces 8.1
      18 February 2019 at 4:02 pm

      Did the “No Mates Party” have any principles or ethics to start with? 😂

      • NZJester 8.1.1
        18 February 2019 at 7:24 pm

        According to them, they do have principles or ethics. But their definition of the words principles and ethics somehow do not match up with all the dictionary definitions of those words.
        Just like with the facts and figures they choose to use, they are also selective with what dictionary definitions they use in conjunction with those two words to claim they have them.

        • Exkiwiforces 8.1.1.1
          18 February 2019 at 8:06 pm

          Mind you it depends on what dictionary they using as well and it’s not a Oxford or Macquarie either.

    • peterlepaysan 8.2
      18 February 2019 at 9:21 pm

      Principles?
      Since when has national had principles? It is the lap dog of the wealthy and privileged.
      Always has been, just look at the history of its formation, (gasp) a coalition, against Labour.

      Gordon Gecko rules the national party, always will.

  9. Anne 9
    18 February 2019 at 3:17 pm

    I love the head-line… Headache for Ardern, Little…

    Why? With this new information they can look at it again.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12204757

    • Muttonbird 9.1
      18 February 2019 at 4:10 pm

      I would have thought that was the intention all along. To preliminarily block Huawei as per the request of security partners while the risks, real or not, are mitigated or safeguards put in place.

      The desperate and increasingly whacky right will try to paint this as a backdown (watch for this, it has already started) but the public will see it as sensible and properly cautious.

  10. Jetal 10
    18 February 2019 at 3:28 pm

    The whole thing is a campaign by Huawei and their own useful idiots in the mainstream media to destable the Coalition into letting them back into the tent. Huawei ran an ad last week and the Herald then ran their lines.
    I would link to a surprising post by (she who cannot be named or linked else I fear a ban) which makes perfect sense but doing so could lead to a lifetime ban on this site.

  11. AB 11
    18 February 2019 at 4:23 pm

    It goes without saying that National are vandals and opportunists primarily motivated by enriching the social class to which they belong. Everything they do should be considered in this light.

    But there is something else. Isn’t it inevitable that 5-Eyes membership and the China FTA will run up against each other from time to time? And if so – what is the long-term course? Is it just a case of occasional flareups after which things return to normal? Or is the trend towards an accumulation of difficulties such that eventually we will be forced to make a choice between them? Or to reject both?

    • Anne 11.1
      18 February 2019 at 4:49 pm

      I know… lets ask China to join. We could be the Six Eyes. 😈

      • SPC 11.1.1
        18 February 2019 at 6:05 pm

        The best commericalisation of 5G has been the promotion of 5G+ for men – a cocktail promising faster connectivity based on its historic use in Vietnamese brothels (Greentea, Ginseng, Ginger, Garlic and Ginkgo)

    • SPC 11.2
      18 February 2019 at 5:57 pm

      The way I see it, 5G connection to smart devices increases the threat from malicious (criminals/hackers) actors and then there is the human health impact – quite apart from any capacity to a non western power to have surveillance (or denial of service) – grounds enough to delay and let others be canaries in the mine.

      Compare those using Huawei and those not, at leisure, before deciding. Rushing in to buy each new thing is not always progressive.

  12. SPC 12
    18 February 2019 at 5:40 pm

    Three issues

    1. A desperate Simon Bridges, and maybe National as well, prepared to abandon bi-partisan foreign policy for political opportunism (and in large part it is an attempt to sabotage the Ardern-Peters releastionship).

    2. How quickly the Herald jumps in service to their calling, when it relates to business interests (year 2000 winter of discontent opposition to ECA reform).

    3. How many ex National MP’S are hooked into the NZ-China relationship post parliament – that’s a real demonstration of soft power buying connections. Even the Americans have been wary of ex government employees then hooking up with companies they were doing business with/regulating.

  13. BobandTurtle 13
    18 February 2019 at 6:22 pm

    Seems quite ironic that the Labour party (and cheerleading squads) are so anti communist China considering your shared ideaology. You can always count on a bit of Trotsky and Stalin type infighting with the left, especially when it suits your needs i.e. equating China with the National party = the enemy. Labour are in damage control mode and need to ensure that they do not spill any more milk on behalf of our primary export industry. It tends to smell long term…….

    • Anne 13.1
      18 February 2019 at 7:19 pm

      BobandTurtle has taken an overdose of smelling salts after watching TV1 news tonight.

    • KJT 13.2
      18 February 2019 at 8:06 pm

      China’s “ideology”, totalitarian State control and surveillance, combined with contempt for Democracy, and the worship of money, is more compatible with National.

  14. Mark 14
    18 February 2019 at 7:11 pm

    Of course there is a problem. Just because many things are not not explicitly stated does not mean there is no problem.

    Just as if one went to a party, some parties you feel welcome and have a ball and other parties somewhat ignored. In both cases though, superficially at least everything is OK.

    About that plane being turned around —and this is conjecture on my part—obviously technically China had the right to turn the plane back because of the paperwork. But if relationships were better, they’d probably let that one go, and allow it to land.

    In many areas of life we apply dispensation – based on a smile, a node, or a wave of the hand, let someone in in busy traffic.. We do that to people we like. If we dislike someone we can do everything properly, but nevertheless very easily make someone feel unwelcome – and they will know it.

    That fact that we now feel it, probably means there is something afoot.

    And it is hardly surprising. After all, New Zealand has been quite deliberatly and obviously spitting in China’s eye the past year or so, ever since that defense white paper was released. To the Chinese (and the Taiwanese mind you), the South China Sea is China’s sacred territory. That is something that unites all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

    Then Peters delivers a speech to the Americans asking them to engage more with the Pacific, specifically mentioning their long involvement that started with the unequal treaties forced on China by the West. That is red rag to a bull. The Chinese are marinated in the history of the one hundred years of humiliation at the hands of the West. Indeed the raison d’être of the Chinese Communist Party is to overturn that century of humiliation and restore China back to its rightful place in the world. This is from its very founding back in 1921. Anyone that refers to the history of Western imperialism in a positive light will be persona non grata to the Chinese – to be cast into outer darkness never to forgiven.

    • mickysavage 14.1
      18 February 2019 at 7:25 pm

      Air New Zealand have put their hands up about the plane trouble and said it is all their fault.

      I was in China a couple of years ago. The authorities decided to close down airspace for a couple of days and all flights were cancelled. No reason was given.

      I am not saying that there is nothing to worry about, just that given what other 5 eyes nations are doing right now to suggest that China is targeting New Zealand and not the others is bizarre.

    • SPC 14.2
      18 February 2019 at 7:38 pm

      How did we feel it?

      In no way whatsoever, until National decided their first campaign of the year would be to try and politicise as an issue – who was boss of foreign policy, Ardern or Peters.

      That results in a media commentator cycle where they all add their two cents worth, and then various cronies of theirs and those with commercial interests are asked for comment.

      Now its all reading the tea leaves/signs of inscrutable Chinese messaging …all to fix in our susceptible minds the idea of who we are not allowed to offend – not if it costs the important people in our business world.

  15. Tamati Tautuhi 15
    18 February 2019 at 9:02 pm

    It is all Chinese Whispers at this stage, the MSM along with National and Crosby Textor are trying their best to manufacture an issue IMHO ?

  16. Ankerrawshark 16
    18 February 2019 at 10:59 pm

    100% tamati tautahi

  18. WILD KATIPO 18
    19 February 2019 at 6:26 am

    Now this little matter about chinas human rights record… so tell me again , if we stand on principle and not avarice ,… just why do we need them? Andddddd…. apart from a few corporate farmers, a tourist industry that COULD attract other markets,… and the [ virtually ] privatized education industry and those wanting a few extra bucks per week boarding a few chinese students …

    Juxtapose that with the fact that many here are actually card carrying members of the chinese communist party… not so attractive when one considers many of these cancelled tourist flights are motivated out of fear of their own govts reprisals, or communists on campus keeping chinese students in line with threats of the ‘big stick’… IS IT.

    When I was doing security study’s in Auckland, outside our 3 story window were members of the Falun Gong protesting against the visit of the chinese prime minister [ corner of Symonds and Karangahape Roads…

    When up marched our own police in support of a FASCIST, TOTALITARIAN STATE.

    They approached these peaceful protesters in a phalanx.

    They then deliberately stood behind each F.G protester in a less than veiled threat of ”do anything, and we will bust ya” fashion.

    So here was our OWN police force- aiding and abetting the totalitarian state of china because of….. TRADE DEALS AND LOOKING AFTER THE RICH ???

    Looking at you , J, Collins…D . Brash , J. Shipley , R . Richardson et all..

    I remarked to my security tutor ‘ they certainly look afraid”…

    To which he replied ” yes, many will have family back in china”… he also mentioned that all the faces of the protesters were being caught on surveillance cameras for later identification…

    How shitty can you get…

    All of course happening under the auspices of the Shit John Key ChiNational weasel govt. Natch, of course…

    I’ll leave you with that thought and the plight of those protesters,.. and their family’s,- and whether we should be taking any shit from that country after all. Who needs em? Really? .

    Fuck em.

    Russia would be a far better choice anyways if we were to shift trade to them. At least they are too far away to try any kind of soft power bullshit like embedding a former chinese spy instructor in one of our main political party’s- OR trying to buy their way in… eh, Jamie.

    And thanks for that info, James,… you’ve done your country a great service, matey.

    • WILD KATIPO 18.1
      19 February 2019 at 6:41 am

      OH ,… and in case any of you chinaphiles say it isnt true and that doesnt happen to people in china… WATCH THIS:

      Tortured in Red China – The Persecution of Falun Gong – YouTube
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uTWENJ2MZM

    • WILD KATIPO 18.2
      19 February 2019 at 6:42 am

      And THIS :

      The Persecution of Falun Gong (OFFICIAL ENGLISH … – YouTube
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiP-5MfA1Mk

      • Mark 18.2.1
        19 February 2019 at 11:19 pm

        hahahahaha, yep, that Western meddling movie of Falun Gong is proof alright? hahahah….what a naive plodder you are.

        China is New Zealand’s top trading partner accounting for 25% of NZ trade.

        New Zealand is China’s 44th ranked trading partner accounting for 0.29% of China’s trade.

        So here’s an idea Wild Katipo. If you want the Chinese to piss off and take their trade elsewhere, why don’t you gather around you a couple of hundred, or perhaps even a hundred like minded fellows, get some placards out, paint them with some anti-Chinese slogans and walk down Queen St, or Aotea Square.

        You should do this one a week, and I’m sure you will get in Chinese media.

        Before long the Chinese will get the hint and simply take their trade elsewhere. Really, NZ, is not that important to them. So they will simply stop engaging with NZ, if enough people create a big enough racket. Then problem solved!

        You can be assured that the Chinese will not be sending gunboats or soldiers down here to force trade, or simply to plunder. That is the Western way of doing things. Not the Eastern way.

        Howabout it? Put your money where your mouth is. Or are you all just a load of hot air?

        • WILD KATIPO 18.2.1.1
          20 February 2019 at 4:10 am

          Go have a chat with a few Falun Gong family members who had one of their loved ones imprisoned, then butchered for organs , arsehole. Following that , have a serious look – and I MEAN a serious look into their human rights abuses and executions, wank.

          Have a wee chat with Amnesty International.

          You complete sell out.

          The Alan Parsons Project – I Wouldn’t Want to be Like You – YouTube
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOwFVowEugQ

  19. Mark 19
    20 February 2019 at 7:44 am

    Sellout? How is not giving a toss about falun Gong have anything to do with nz, one way or the other? Please explain.

    In any case I’ve given you a suggestion on what to do about getting the Chinese outta here, surely you should give it a go. Or are you some lazy keyboard warrior sitting on your ass in your mamas basement?

    • WILD KATIPO 19.1
      21 February 2019 at 1:27 am

      Go fuck yourself ,shit for brains.

      Enjoy that liver transplant you got from china , kid? Ever wake up in the night with nightmares and cold sweats about the victim who gave you life, jerk?

      Yeah – ” How is not giving a toss about falun Gong ”

      That’s you all over shithead.

      Go back to your nightmare world, fucker.

      What you need is freedom of speech in your shit country of china and a dose of this you little toady ,- but instead of it being directed towards the Queen if England- needs to be redirected to the evil shit head fuckers in the chinese peoples republics govt , – which you obviously support you tapeworm.

      FUCK YOU.

      You evil little worm.

      Sex Pistols – Anarchy In The UK – YouTube
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbmWs6Jf5dc

      [lprent: Over the top. Pull it in before I ensure that you do. ]

  20. Tamati Tautuhi 20
    21 February 2019 at 2:25 am

    China is definitely a different kettle of fish in the Pacific, I am not sure who is the most trust worthy these days, the Americans or the Chinese ?

    The Chinese have become very expansionist in recent years in the Pacific and have developed strong political and financial ties with the likes of Tonga, Fiji, Samoa & the Cook Islands.

    They need to secure food supply for their people and need new ports in the Pacific to support their fishing fleets, plans are a foot in a number of Pacific Nations for building new port facilities.

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  • 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
    6 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
    6 hours 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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 hours 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
    9 hours 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
    10 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step 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 third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s 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. Here‘s 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. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen 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 Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    12 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 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
    2 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
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days 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
    1 hour 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
    2 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
    3 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
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  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
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  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
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  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
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  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
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  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
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  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
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