Why do dummies lead our national debates?

Written By: - Date published: 3:38 pm, February 16th, 2009 - 31 comments
Categories: economy - Tags: , ,

gift-for-rogerWhy does the Business Roundtable employ an economic illiterate to represent them to the public and argue their corner on macroeconomics? Here’s some of what Roger Kerr has to say in his op-ed in Granny Herald today:

“What seems to be overlooked is that the huge rises in core Crown spending in recent years – some $25 billion since 2000 – saw New Zealand “lead the world” into recession.” – He’s implying causation when there is none. The causes of New Zealand entering recession were lack of spare capacity in labour and capital for growth, record oil prices, the end of the housing boom, and a major drought. Show me a causative link between the increase in nominal government spending between 1999 and 2008 (the figure Roger is quoting) and I’ll eat my hat.

He mocks the idea conept of economic “stimulus” (his punctuation). I love the quotation marks used to throw into doubt the entire notion that higher spending by the government (or anyone for that matter) is stimulatory, flying in the face of not only the near universal economic consensus by the very names of economic terms like ‘fiscal stimulus’.

“Hundreds of economists in the United States are saying the Obama Administration’s so-called “stimulus” package is reckless” Yeah but there are tens of thousands, probably hundreds of thousands of economists in the US. So a small minority who think the stimulus package is reckless, so what?

“High levels of Government spending, already projected to be 45 per cent of GDP on the OECD’s measure (which includes local government), contributed to the balance of payments problem by driving up domestic costs” – bullshit. The balance of payments problem was exacerbated by cheap foreign credit and the wealth effect from the housing boom and full employment but it is a structural problem arising from us not having enough domestic manufacturing and too much of the profits from domestic production flowing overseas, or to sum it up, too much of our economy being based around foreign-owned companies exercising rentier behaviour, milking us rather than building us.

“[Singapore and Hong Kong] are able to ensure the provision of high-quality public goods and maintain strong social spending programmes with Government spending at far lower levels than NZ.” Great, all we have to do is move New Zealand to one of the world’s largest shipping choke-points and live under one form of dictatorship or another. At least the taxes will be lower. And, for the record: Singapore’s health system is nearly entirely private and our health is better despite much lower GDP per capita. Singapore has the 6th highest level of public debt in the world, ours is 86th. Singapore has a larger gap between rich and poor, and higher inflation.

“Improvements of this kind in fiscal policy are a key element”, – ‘are key elements’, more than one improvement = more than one element.

Maybe it’s just me but if I were the Business Roundtable, I would prefer to employ someone who knows what they’re talking about than someone who is ‘politically correct’ and just says what I want to hear. Better to be told the unpalatable truth than a wonderful fairytale. Maybe it’s just me.

On a related note, the organisers of the Jobs Summit have relented and decided to invite Roger Kerr after all. Well, there goes any hope (not that I had any) of that event being more than a platform for voicing extreme anti-worker ideology.

On a further related note, Anti-dismal has a list of 14 things that most US economists agree on (which reminds me of the joke of my first economics teacher, ask 20 economists a question and you’ll get 30 answers). I agree with them all but point out that the minimum wage question deals in the absolute question of its existence, not marginal increases, and that no-one said ensuring a basic living wage for hundreds of thousands of families was completely cost-free. Negative income tax is attractive but not when, as usually, it is tied to flat tax.

31 comments on “Why do dummies lead our national debates? ”

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  1. Quoth the Raven 1
    16 February 2009 at 3:55 pm

    or to sum it up, too much of our economy being based around foreign-owned companies exercising rentier behaviour, milking us rather than building us.

    Excellent. Absolutely agree.

  2. burt 2
    16 February 2009 at 4:26 pm

    Steve P.

    You have argued why we managed to lead the world into recession but you have no argument that we did exactly that.

    Leading the world into recession is pretty shabby for a govt that claimed to be prudent financial managers irrespective of why it happened.

    [yeah, they should have prevented the collapse of the housing bubble, made it rain, brought down oil prices.. SP]

  3. bobo 3
    16 February 2009 at 4:35 pm

    I found Kerr contradicted himself in the article and made reference to Japans recession in the 90s with no mention of NZ decade long Gov induced recession, comparing NZ to Singapore or Hong Kong was pointless being major trade routes for China with up till now a guaranteed income. This is the same Kerr that moans during the good times that they can’t find skilled workers because they go overseas for more money and he still wants to a low wage economy model.

  4. IrishBill 4
    16 February 2009 at 4:47 pm

    burt, we had a small domestic recession that had nothing to do with the subprime crisis. If anything our position was a result of our failed monetarist model of inflation control.

    Our economy was geared for investment in property, there was heaps of cheap credit available and as a consequence we got a property bubble.

    Using our stupid monetarist system the inflation caused by that bubble was dealt with by raising the official cash rate.

    That had two main effects:

    1. Our dollar was kept artificially high which meant our exporters and especially our exporting manufacturers were hit.

    2. Our interest rates were artificially increased which meant we were an even more attractive population to lend to.

    The result of this was lost jobs and decreased productive capital as our exporters went under and even more money to finance property speculation. Which in turn increased inflation and the OCR. Until we got to a little recession.

    If Labour can be blamed for anything regarding the current recession it would be their failure to remove incentives for property speculation and the fact they didn’t change the reserve bank act. Both of these failures are classic non-interventionist, free market behaviours.

    What would really have done us in would have been tax cuts in 2005 which would have produced nothing but more inflation, intensified the OCR problem and left teh government with nothing to spend now. Not that the government is spending anything now as it seems the bulk of spending was already done in advance by the last government. What really concerns me is what happens when National/Act have to stand on their own two feet.

  5. burt 5
    16 February 2009 at 5:06 pm

    IrishBill

    What really concerns me is what happens when National/Act have to stand on their own two feet.

    Given Labour pulled the rug out from under the incoming govt by creating the domestic recession and spending all reserves on unproductive “assets” (read: liabilities requiring more investment) I’m also worried about how “the country” can stand on it’s own two feet. National or Labour govt is not really the issue after the damage Labour did in an effort to remain popular for a 4th term.

  6. Jum 6
    16 February 2009 at 5:46 pm

    It doesn’t matter what Kerr says or what The Standard says about him. He gets into print. He sounds important. People who are even stupider than him will believe him. There is no written word that people see to prove Kerr is lying. Until that happens, people won’t know that he is lying.

    Reporting Kerr is as bad as having bank economists, with conflicts of interest, on television to tell us how bad it is and NZers have to accept Mexican wages. Workers need to create a partnership with breaking businesses and make them work. Then NZ wins instead of the NZ Business Rotundtable/smash and grab merchants.

    On their website, these cretins used small print in the title of the Prime Minister Helen Clark. This shows the lack of respect they have for the office of the Prime Minister of any Labour Government, more especially if it is a woman, and offers more proof of the extent of their hatred towards working Kiwis.They have no credibility when it comes to New Zealand’s financial health and future.

    They are working against New Zealanders and need to be shown up. Their manifesto matches that of Act and National and international conservatives.

    The NZ Business Roundtable are dangerous, especially to women with independent thought.

  7. IrishBill 7
    16 February 2009 at 6:07 pm

    Burt, the domestic recession was minor and the result of the freemarket policies that Labour kept in place. They also spent the surpluses on paying down debt, encouraging kiwisaver and building up the super fund.

    We have one of the lowest debt to gdp ratios in the western world and as a consequence we are in a reasonably good position to deal with the recession. For a small country and assuming we are able to capitalise on the debt space we have available.

    Despite your greatest wishes the last government made a bloody good job of looking after the economy and would be making a better job of looking after it now than the current hacks.

    I get the feeling that fact that the economic facts don’t fit your “labour-bad” view of the world won’t stop your mindless mouthing of hollow spin. Which is funny because even the nats don’t try those patently fraudulent lines anymore.

  8. northpaw 8
    16 February 2009 at 7:34 pm

    To answer your blog title’s question.. it is likely because the ego involved has been encouraged.. by folks who many of us thought knew better. I’m referring to a public on-air platform at Te Papa quite recently. Yeah, we know as it were that operations cost money and sponsors likely provide it.. a pony has many tails..

    But after reading through your link to Granny’s op-ed I’d have to say how the rubber is not on road for this guy. He likely knows it — the call is for distraction. Excuses. When what is needed are solutions..

    An example of that is how the House-Senate conference recovery bill supplies $8.4 billion for transit projects, and an additional $8 billion for high-speed rail. These would put Americans back to work to the tune of nearly 20,000 jobs for every $1 billion invested in mass transit.

    Needs brains and application, not dummies with excuses and money that some folks would call status-seeking bribes..

    Else the stuff this wise owl
    ps: in case you start wandering the blavatar has a French name and one tiny segment of enzed lit for a signature.

  9. northpaw 9
    16 February 2009 at 8:20 pm

    Wiseowl (above link) just pulled an updater from Nick Stern, economist of sig note. Here’s a snip:—

    The report, co-authored by many of the same economists who contributed to the influential Stern Review, calls on governments to include $400 billion in green spending in their stimulus plans. That’s 20 percent of the estimated $2 trillion that nations are likely to spend on economic packages in total, or four percent of global GDP.

    Be nice to think that kiwis are aware of new satellite technology which measures atmospheric carbon dioxide and, importantly, says where it is and is coming from.. thinking positively, you understand, in relation to so-called trade protectionism and its underpinning arguments

  10. Pascal's bookie 10
    16 February 2009 at 8:27 pm

    So when did we go into recession? In the US it was dec 07.

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

    So if we led them, it wasn’t by much, and as alluded had more to do with our RB not spending drunken sailor wise to keep the bubble expanding.

    The argument seems to be that Labour sux because we didnae have helicopter Ben delaying the pimple bursting on some arses. Well, that’s what the argument would be if it were intended to make sense beyond sophistry.

  11. vto 11
    16 February 2009 at 8:35 pm

    P’s b, in my experience, for NZ it was August 2007. That is when reverse sentiment became apparent. And its since been reflected in stats – growth started to severely slow until eventually the slowing growth became negative.

  12. Pascal's bookie 12
    16 February 2009 at 8:49 pm

    When did that slowing growth become negative?

    I know you don’t like the official stats and things, preferring your gut and anecdotal subjective looking about, and that’s fine. But folks all over the shop are making the specific technical claim that we were in recession before the US. I’m not denying that, I’m just asking if it’s you know, true.

    edit, more snarky than intended. Frustrated that I can’t source this as quickly as the us stat, and that as a meme it may well be pants, yet unstoppable. Thanx stupid journalists!

    more edit, on the google it appears to be a US/NZ tie, not looked at other economies. Myth busted.

  13. vto 13
    16 February 2009 at 8:57 pm

    he he, yes I know, I do have an aversion to things authoritorial. But stats are good – lordy knows how to find them. Would take me ages. Thought that question of when things turned negative should have been answered.

    Wasn’t it early/mid 2008? I seem to recall Cullen finally admitting such in the early part of last year. Much to his pre-election disgust.

  14. Pascal's bookie 14
    16 February 2009 at 9:07 pm

    Treas’ reported thusly:

    Tuesday, 05 August 2008 16:30

    In its review of economic statistics for July, the Treasury says it believes that when official data is released, it will show the economy shrank in the three months to the end of June.

    A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The previous quarter, to the end of March, showed negative growth.

    Quarter to the end of march o8 was the first neg quarter, which makes a photo finnish with the US, and a liar out of a few folks hereabouts. Or igonarantses. Or just bullshitters with a purpose. Depending on how one interprets their wrongness.

    edit. heh, I bet it did piss the Cullen off a bit. But on t’other hand it gave him a non psychological dissonance causing reason for tax cuts. I hope that bugger writes a nice long book to be honest. He’ll be more readable than most of similar efforts I think.

  15. vto 15
    16 February 2009 at 9:20 pm

    Good work Mr P’s b.

    I enjoy relying on my anecdoppled gut instinct and seeing how close I can get to the actual.

    Next one will be picking the bottom. My current pick is mid/end next year…

    I’ll put 2c on it… any takers?

    captcha: “symptoms 1974” ffs

  16. Ari 16
    16 February 2009 at 9:23 pm

    Given Labour pulled the rug out from under the incoming govt by creating the domestic recession and spending all reserves on unproductive “assets’ (read: liabilities requiring more investment) I’m also worried about how “the country’ can stand on it’s own two feet. National or Labour govt is not really the issue after the damage Labour did in an effort to remain popular for a 4th term.

    Establish for me that Labour was the primary cause of the recession, then we can talk about labour “damaging” the country’s finances.

  17. Pascal's bookie 17
    16 February 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Your gut does forecasts vto? That’s an impressive organ. I had thought it was just a real time digester that got its analysis out there quicker than the number crunchers.

    In any case I’m not betting against it.

    Macroeconomics is not much better than voodoo for predicting actual economic events, as far as I can tell. The mother of my child takes exception to the chicken blood, leaving me a blind man for my guess work.

    I think the forecasters get it so never right because of something similar to quantum. And the abused cat in the box that may not be alive if we care to look. What they say effects what we do, which effects the result. They can’t win, it’s a muggs game,and should stick to looking backwards, and telling us what happened. But everyone wants to know the future, so there’s better money it.

    edit, / Some of the above is very like the sub-header on that wiseowl’s blog Northpaw linked to. Weird. Must be quantum.

  18. the sprout 18
    16 February 2009 at 10:38 pm

    “gut instinct” = no evidence, no argument, no ideas

  19. vto 19
    17 February 2009 at 7:46 am

    Mrs Sprout, instinct is one of the most crucial tools in the armoury of any beast on the planet. Evidence, arguments and ideas will be found to naturally exist around instinct due to its reliability over the millenia. Hence its use to the animal world (including us).

    No wonder you don’t make sense sometimes.

  20. Lew 20
    17 February 2009 at 9:01 am

    vto,

    Mrs Sprout, instinct is one of the most crucial tools in the armoury of any beast on the planet.

    I think the folks here are arguing that it’s a tool of last, rather than first resort.

    L

  21. ghostwhowalks 21
    17 February 2009 at 10:09 am

    Kerr seems to use the OECDs figures for government expenditure to GDP ratio which arent a valid comparison.

    Australia’s government spending is higher than the 30% or so figure he uses because for some strange reason The OECD doesnt count GST revenue that is spent on local services.

    As we know the Australian states divide up the GST for their local services, such as schools hospitals police roads. Since we dont have a federal system this is government expenditure in NZ

  22. Travellerev 22
    17 February 2009 at 11:49 am

    vto,

    In response to your challenge the following:

    Banking was conceived in iniquity and was born in sin. The bankers own the earth. Take it away from them, but leave them the power to create money, and with the flick of the pen they will create enough deposits to buy it back again. However, take it away from them, and all the great fortunes like mine will disappear and they ought to disappear, for this would be a happier and better world to live in. But, if you wish to remain the slaves of bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, let them continue to create money .

    That was Josiah Charles Stamp the director of the bank of England speaking in Texas in 1920.

    It seems that we have continued to allow the banksters to use that pen and flicking they did.

    There is no way the economy will survive the mayhem they created in the last 20 years. Mid next year we will only begin to realise how bad it’s really going to get.

    Count on anywhere between 15 to 25 years, revolutions in the US, China, Russia and all over Europe and perhaps that will come closer to the reality we are facing.

    Sorry but there you have it. No quick fix, no Magic repair of our inherently fraudulent banking system. It’s broken. End of story.

  23. vto 23
    17 February 2009 at 4:41 pm

    Travellerev, you could be right. If there is complete and utter metldown, which is a possibility. I’ve got fingers crossed for something in between – living in hope!!

    Lew, instinct should be first as it is a time proven pointer to the correct direction. Subsequent analysis fine tunes. But then again, human advancement has not been possible without those ‘going against the grain’, if you like … (nothing like having a bob each way)

  24. Travellerev 24
    17 February 2009 at 4:44 pm

    vto,

    About the hope thing? You and me both, from the bottom of my heart. I don’t think I ever wanted to be more wrong in my life then I want to be now.

  25. r0b 25
    17 February 2009 at 5:45 pm

    “New Zealand lead the world into recession’ – great sound bite, simply not true:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_crisis_of_2008 (see the section “Countries in economic recession”)

    http://www.thetreeofliberty.com/vb/showthread.php?p=394863

  26. northpaw 26
    17 February 2009 at 6:42 pm

    A liitle more informed economics from Eric Pooley @ Slate’s BigMoney — It says it, and pointedly, for the mainstream media’s shortcomings which individuals with ego and others can still pay for (one way and another)..

    It just so happens that while here I happened note EV pump a friend of mine’s past family opponent. Yeah, no matter how well intentioned some Treasury officials have been in their nations’ pre and postwar interests life can deal them harshly.

    Related: Anyone spot another Stamp – British actor Terence Stamp – in the Wall Street movie..? Yeah, you find them here, you find them there, these stamp types are for finding every where 🙂

  27. blacksand 27
    17 February 2009 at 6:56 pm

    vto :
    > instinct should be first as it is a time proven pointer to the correct direction

    Not too sure about this. When a kiwi senses a predator, it follows it’s well honed instinct and keeps absolutely still & relies on camoflague. As they say, biology only makes sense in light of evolution. This approach works fine if your predators are entirely avian, and don’t have a sense of smell, but useless vs dogs, ferrets, and (depending on the kiwi) cats.

    Evolution is as much about failed traits, as about those that survive. Not only that, but that a trait has so far survived is no indicator of future success.

  28. blacksand 28
    17 February 2009 at 7:31 pm

    oh y god, tres embarrasing!

    its well honed instinct

    & an excuse to post a captcha ‘Boston couldn’t’

  29. northpaw 29
    18 February 2009 at 10:52 am

    rOb, ghost—

    Did we hear the Kerr gambit finally outed on Morning Report(RNZ) when Wodney attempted work over Mr Cunliffe on air. With a kiwi political B-and-S-see sense 2 around Kerr’s ‘lead (the world) into recession’ = bait.

    As with RB(elsewhere here), the bait expression is provocative, designed to elicit response/s and indeed as much as possible. [ in commercial terms, OTOH, the jetstar dollar deal illustrates incentive ]. In politics, however, argument, debate, discourse is all. Here, for instance, commenters have adopted a reasonable take them at their word/s response.

    In Kerr’s case: why? To sell a bill of goods. Namely ACT’s taxcuts = the answer to everything.. for all businesses.. small and large.. and everywhere. Regardless of whether the strategy works or not, of which there is so very little in the way of proof though a great deal in the bluster and bumptiousness of its proponents.

    The switch..? Would be the buying by more persons of this bluster and bumptiouness, howsoever it is served up.. smooth per le kerr – rough (aka cratered cranial) a la RB or combatively OUTED to the nation on broadcast media by wodney por favor. And undoubtedly delivering a very much more expensive product.

    Of course for those paid by percentage such an eventuality amounts to a BOB BOTH WAYS and NOT a bob each way (per the example hoped by a commenter above..

    No apols for shouted since patently clear is a bait and switch style of politics from the above parties. In unison or with others..

    IMO Beware—try not be used or victimised by what wikipedia refers to as bordering on fraudulent behavior

  30. Nickc 30
    21 February 2009 at 3:38 pm

    “Why do dummies lead our national debates?”

    Dont kid yourself Clinton, you dont lead our national debates!

  31. Pascal's bookie 31
    21 February 2009 at 10:47 pm

    Fuckinell Nick.

    5 bloody days after the post, 3 days after the thread died and that’s it?

    For.Fucking.Shame.

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  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Is the Media Complicit?

    This is a long read. Open to all.SYNOPSIS: Traditional media is at a cross roads. There is a need for those in the media landscape, as it stands, to earn enough to stay afloat, but also come across as balanced and neutral to keep its audiences.In America, NYT’s liberal leaning ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Black Friday

    It's Black Friday, the end of the weekYou take my hand and hold it gently up against your cheekIt's all in my head, it's all in my mindI see the darkness where you see the lightSong by Tom OdellFriday the 13th, don’t be afraid.No, really, don’t. Everything has felt a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 13-September-2024

    Ooh, Friday the thirteenth. Spooky! Is that why certain zombie ideas have been stalking the landscape this week, like the Mayor’s brainwave for a motorway bridge from Kauri Point to Point Chev? Read on and find out. This roundup, like all our coverage, is brought to you by the Greater ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #37 2024

    Open access notables Early knowledge but delays in climate actions: An ecocide case against both transnational oil corporations and national governments, Hauser et al., Environmental Science & Policy: Cast within the wide context of investigating the collusion at play between powerful political-economic actors and decision-makers as monopolists and debates about ‘the modern ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • What it is

    I liked what Kieran McAnulty had to say about the Treaty Principles bill this morning so much I've written it down and copied it out for you. He was saying that rather than let this piece of ordure spend six months in Select Committee, the Prime Minister could stop making such ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • A government-funded hate campaign

    Cabinet discussed National's constitutionally and historically illiterate "Treaty Principles Bill" this week, and decided to push on with it. The bill will apparently receive a full six month select committee process - unlike practically every other policy this government has pushed, and despite the fact that if the government is ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • How Substack works to take (some) craziness out of America’s elections

    I spoke with Substack co-founder yesterday, just before the Trump-Harris debate, about how Substack is doing its thing during the US elections. He talks in particular about how Substack’s focus on paid subscriptions rather than ads has made political debate on the platform calmer, simpler, deeper and more satisfying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • David Seymour is such a loser

    For paid subscribersNot content with siphoning off $230,000,000 of taxpayers money for his hobby projects - and telling everyone his passion is education and early childcare - an intersection painfully coincidental to the interests of wealthy private families like Sean Plunkett’s1 backers, the Wright Family, Seymour is back in the ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Cross-party consensus: there’s no pipeline without good faith

    There’s been a lot of talk recently about a cross-party agreement to develop a pipeline for infrastructure, including transport. Last month, outgoing CRL boss Sean Sweeney talked about the importance of securing an enduring infrastructure programme. He outlined the high costs of the relentless political flip-flopping of priorities, which drives ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • Voters love this climate policy they’ve never heard of

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The Inflation Reduction Act is the Biden administration’s signature climate law and the largest U.S. government investment in reducing climate pollution to date. Among climate advocates, the policy is well-known and celebrated, but beyond that, only a minority of Americans ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • ACC wants to administer inflation at more than double the RBNZ’s target rate

    ACC levies are set to rise at more than double the inflation rate targeted by the RBNZ. Photo: Lynn GrievesonKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 12:The state-owned monopoly for accident insurance wants ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Harris vs Trump

    We’ve been selected to rock your asses 'til midnightThis is my term, I've shaved off my perm, but it's alrightI solemnly swear to uphold the ConstitutionGot a rock 'n' roll problem? Well we got a solutionLet us be who we am, and let us kick out the jams, yeahKick out ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Treaty Bill “a political stunt”

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appears to have given ACT Leader David Seymour more than he has been admitting in the proposals to go forward with a Treaty Principles Bill.All along, Luxon has maintained that the Government is proceeding with the Bill to honour the coalition agreement.But that is quite specific.It ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • An average 219 NZers migrated each day in July

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 11:Annual migration of New Zealanders rose to a record-high 80,963 in the year to the end of July, which is more than double its pre-Covid levels.Two ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • What you’re wanting to win more than anything is The Narrative

    Hubris is sitting down on election day 2016 to watch that pig Trump get his ass handed to him, and watching the New York Times needle hover for a while over Hillary and then move across to Trump where it remains all night to your gathering horror and dismay. You're ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • National’s automated lie machine

    The government has a problem: lots of people want information from it all the time. Information about benefits, about superannuation, ACC coverage and healthcare, taxes, jury service, immigration - and that's just the routine stuff. Responding to all of those queries takes a lot of time and costs a lot ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Christopher Luxon: A Man of “Faith” and “Compassion” Speaks on the Treaty Pr...

    Synopsis: Today - we explore two different realities. One where National lost. And another - which is the one we are living with here. Note: the footnote on increased fees/taxes may be of interest to some readers.Article open.Subscribe nowIt’s an alternate timeline.Yesterday as news broke that the central North Island ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Member’s Day

    Today is a Member's Day. First up is the third reading of Dan Bidois' Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the committee stage of Deborah Russell's Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. This will be followed by the second readings of Katie ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Northern Expressway Boondoggle

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has been soaring high with his hubris of getting on and building motorways but some uncomfortable realities are starting to creep in. Back in July he announced that the government was pushing on with a Northland Expressway using an “accelerated delivery strategy” The Coalition Government is ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago
  • Never Enough

    However much I'm falling downNever enoughHowever much I'm falling outNever, never enough!Whatever smile I smile the mostNever enoughHowever I smile I smile the mostSongwriters: Robert James Smith / Simon Gallup / Boris Williams / Porl ThompsonToday in Nick’s Kōrero:A death in the Emergency Department at Rotorua Hospital.A sad homecoming and ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Question Two of The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50)

    Kia ora.Last month I proposed restarting The Kākā Project work done before the 2023 election as The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50), aiming to be up and running before the 2025 Local Government elections, and then in a finalised form by the 2026 General Elections.A couple of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Why is God Obsessed with Spanking?

    Hi,If you’ve read Webworm for a while, you’ll be aware that I’ve spent a lot of time writing about horrific, corrupt megachurches and the shitty men who lead them.And in all of this writing, I think some people have this idea that I hate Christians or Christianity. As I explain ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Inside the public service

    In 2023, there were 63,117 full-time public servants earning, on average, $97,200 a year each. All up, that is a cost to the Government of $6.1 billion a year. It’s little wonder, then, that the public service has become a political whipping boy castigated by the Prime Minister and members ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • New Models Show Stronger Atlantic Hurricanes, and More of Them

    This is a re-post from This is Not Cool Here’s an example of some of the best kind of climate reporting, especially in that it relates to impacts that will directly affect the audience. WFLA in Tampa conducted a study in collaboration with the Department of Energy, analyzing trends in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • Where ever do they find these people?

    A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, is how Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union in 1939.  How might the great man have described the 2024 government of New Zealand, do we think? I can't imagine he would have thought them all that mysterious or enigmatic. I think ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Motorway madness

    How mad is National's obsession with roads? One of their pet projects - a truck highway to Whangārei - is going to eat 10% of our total infrastructure budget for the next 25 years: Official advice from the Infrastructure Commission shows the government could be set to spend 10 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Our transport planning system is fundamentally broken

    Ever since Wayne Brown became mayor (nearly two years ago now) he’s been wanting to progress an “integrated transport plan” with the government – which sounded a lot like the previous Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) with just a different name. It seems like a fair bit of work progressed ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago
  • Thou Shalt Not Steal

    And they taught usWhoa-oh, black woman, thou shalt not stealI said, hey, yeah, black man, thou shalt not stealWe're gonna civilise your black barbaric livesAnd we teach you how to kneelBut your history couldn't hide the genocideThe hypocrisy to us was realFor your Jesus said you're supposed to giveThe oppressed ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • How mismanagement, not wind and solar energy, causes blackouts

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections In February 2021, several severe storms swept across the United States, culminating with one that the Weather Channel unofficially named Winter Storm Uri. In Texas, Uri knocked out power to over 4.5 million homes and 10 million people. Hundreds of Texans died as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • The ‘Infra Boys’ Highway to Budget Hell

    Chris Bishop has enthusiastically dubbed himself and Simeon Brown “the Infra Boys”, but they need to take note of the sums around their roading dreams. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Media Link: “AVFA” on the politics of desperation.

    In this podcast Selwyn Manning and I talk about what appears to be a particular type of end-game in the long transition to systemic realignment in international affairs, in which the move to a new multipolar order with different characteristics … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    7 days ago
  • The cost of flying blind

    Just over two years ago, when worries about immediate mass-death from covid had waned, and people started to talk about covid becoming "endemic", I asked various government agencies what work they'd done on the costs of that - and particularly, on the cost of Long Covid. The answer was that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • Seymour vs The Clergy

    For paid subscribers“Aotearoa is not as malleable as they think,” Lynette wrote last week on Homage to Simeon Brown:In my heart/mind, that phrase ricocheted over the next days, translating out to “We are not so malleable.”It gave me comfort. I always felt that we were given an advantage in New ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    7 days ago
  • Unstoppable Minister McKee

    All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this townI'll do it 'til the sun goes downAnd all through the nighttimeOh, yeahOh, yeah, I'll tell you what you wanna hearLeave my sunglasses on while I shed a tearIt's never the right timeYeah, yeahSong by SiaLast night there was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Could outdoor dining revitalise Queen Street?

    This is a guest post by Ben van Bruggen of The Urban Room,.An earlier version of this post appeared on LinkedIn. All images are by Ben. Have you noticed that there’s almost nowhere on Queen Street that invites you to stop, sit outside and enjoy a coffee, let alone ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 week ago
  • Hipkins challenges long-held Labour view Government must stay below 30% of GDP

    Hipkins says when considering tax settings and the size of government, the big question mark is over what happens with the balance between the size of the working-age population and the growing number of Kiwis over the age of 65. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Your invite to Webworm Chat (a bit like Reddit)

    Hi,One of the things I love the most about Webworm is, well, you. The community that’s gathered around this lil’ newsletter isn’t something I ever expected when I started writing it four years ago — now the comments section is one of my favourite places on the internet. The comments ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Seymour’s Treaty bill making Nats nervous

    A delay in reappointing a top civil servant may indicate a growing nervousness within the National Party about the potential consequences of David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Dave Samuels is waiting for reappointment as the Chief Executive of Te Puni Kokiri, but POLITIK understands that what should have been a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Buried deep

    Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Serious assaults down 22% in Auckland CBD

    Cross-government action to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in Auckland is getting traction, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Our central cities should be great places to live and work, but in recent years they have become hot spots for crime and anti-social behaviour. In Auckland, businesses and residents suffered as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Draft critical minerals list released for consultation

    A draft list of minerals deemed essential to New Zealand’s economy and strengthening its mineral resilience has been released for consultation, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The draft Critical Minerals List identifies 35 minerals essential to economic functions, are in demand internationally, and face high risk of supply disruption domestically ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Government eliminates $190 million in trade barriers to boost the economy

    The Government has successfully removed trade barriers affecting nearly $190 million worth of exports to help grow the economy, Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay today announced.  “In the past year, we have resolved 14 Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs), returning significant value to kiwi exporters. These efforts directly boost our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Reo Māori the ‘beating heart’ of Aotearoa New Zealand

    From private business to the Paris Olympics, reo Māori is growing with the success of New Zealanders, says Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka. “I’m joining New Zealanders across the country in celebrating this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week, which has a big range ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Need and value at forefront of public service delivery

    New Cabinet policy directives will ensure public agencies prioritise public services on the basis of need and award Government contracts on the basis of public value, Minister for the Public Service Nicola Willis says. “Cabinet Office has today issued a circular to central government organisations setting out the Government’s expectations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister to attend Police Ministers Council Meeting

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell will join with Australian Police Ministers and Commissioners at the Police Ministers Council meeting (PMC) today in Melbourne. “The council is an opportunity to come together to discuss a range of issues, gain valuable insights on areas of common interest, and different approaches towards law enforcement ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

    The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping.  “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

    Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

    The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

    The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

    With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē - My success is not mine alone but is the from the strength of the many. Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young speakers are an inspiration for all New Zealanders to learn more about the depth and beauty conveyed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Driving structured literacy in schools

    The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

    Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.   “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

    The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. “Mpox is obviously a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

    Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government unlocking potential of AI

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced a programme to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) uptake among New Zealand businesses. “The AI Activator will unlock the potential of AI for New Zealand businesses through a range of support, including access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Promoting faster payment times for government

    The Government is sending a clear message to central government agencies that they must prioritise paying invoices in a timely manner, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. Data released today promotes transparency by publishing the payment times of each central government agency. This data will be published quarterly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government releases Wairoa flood review findings

    The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “We welcome the review’s findings and recommendations to strengthen Wairoa's resilience against future events,” Ms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech

    E te māngai o te Whare Pāremata, kua riro māku te whakaputa i te waka ki waho moana. E te Pirimia tēnā koe.Mr Speaker, it is my privilege to take this adjournment kōrero forward.  Prime Minister – thank you for your leadership. Taupiri te maunga Waikato te awa Te Wherowhero ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses

    Inland Revenue can begin processing GST returns for businesses affected by a historic legislative drafting error, Revenue Minister Simon Watts says. “Inland Revenue has become aware of a legislative drafting error in the GST adjustment rules after changes were made in 2023 which were meant to simplify the process. This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Strong uptake for cervical screening self-test

    More than 80 per cent of New Zealand women being tested have opted for a world-leading self-test for cervical screening since it became available a year ago. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister Casey Costello, in her responsibility for Women’s Health, say it’s fantastic to have such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document sets ambitious direction

    Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document, which sets out how the Ministry will carry out its work and deliver on its purpose. “I have set up the Ministry for Regulation with three tasks. One, to cut existing red tape with sector reviews. Two, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Māori Education Advisory Group established

    The Education Minister has established a Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group made up of experienced practitioners to help improve outcomes for Māori learners. “This group will provide independent advice on all matters related to Māori education in both English medium and Māori medium settings. It will focus on the most impactful ways we can lift ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government welcomes findings of NZ Superannuation Fund review

    The Government has welcomed the findings of the recent statutory review into the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says. The 5-yearly review, conducted on behalf of Treasury and tabled in Parliament today, found the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • First of five new Hercules aircraft takes flight

    Defence Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the first of five new C-130J-30 Hercules to arrive in New Zealand at a ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base Auckland, Whenuapai. “This is an historic day for our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and our nation. The new Hercules fleet ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Have your say on suicide prevention

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