Why insurance should be a state monopoly

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 4:25 pm, November 11th, 2013 - 100 comments
Categories: Economy - Tags: insurance

The seeming purpose of having competition is to prevent monopoly pricing and excessive profits but, as Steve Keen shows, all businesses use the same pricing model with about the same level of profits. If they did use the pricing model that economists say that they should use they’d actually go broke.

What the market possibly does do is prevent excessive profiteering by private monopolies (a private, unregulated monopoly, actually gets to charge whatever they like – just look at Telecom) although the record profits that the banks are pulling in would tend to indicate that this doesn’t happen. As a state monopoly can, and should, be open to public scrutiny the added complexity and costs of competition aren’t needed to prevent excessive profits. A state monopoly can be run at close to cost.

An insurance monopoly gets the most people in it making the premiums the lowest possible due to economies of scale. On top of that it also precludes the massive duplication of bureaucracy that occurs in a competitive market thus saving costs there. Thirdly it doesn’t have the dead-weight loss of profit in it which further decreases premiums. Fourth, the government, and thus the insurance company, isn’t going to fold like AMI and thus legitimate claims will always be paid out in a timely fashion^*. Fifthly it’s going to be completely transparent, the public will be able to see the money’s coming from and exactly where and why it’s being spent – something that just cannot be done with private institutions.

But the most important reason is how it works and it works, not as a large deposit of cash as private insurance does, but as a pay-as-you-go system.

Premiums are collected/Claims are paid out
Any difference between the amount on hand from premiums is covered by the governments ability to create money at 0% interest
Premiums are recalculated to cover expected costs plus any deficit from the previous year

The first advantage in this is that it’s actually very cheap to set up but the main advantage is that it doesn’t have to withdraw a huge amount of money from the economy to cover claims as the private insurers do. This means that that money will stay in circulation and thus help keep the economy going rather than contributing to its collapse.

One other thing, due to the governments ability to create currency there is no need for re-insurers and so that level of complexity and added expense is removed further decreasing premiums.

It is impossible for the private sector, with it’s dead-weight loss of profit, the need for a large stack of cash, and the duplication of competition to compete with this model.

* Extreme events such as the Christchurch earthquakes will still cause problems. You could get paid out but still not have anywhere to live due to there being a lack of builders available. Such extreme events will always need government intervention to get the logistics working.

Draco T Bastard

100 comments on “Why insurance should be a state monopoly ”

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Rogue Trooper 1

11 November 2013 at 4:31 pm

Opportunity Knocks.
TightyRighty 2

11 November 2013 at 4:47 pm

Thank god you are just a blowhard on a website Draco. Country would be fucked if they let anyone as deluded as you near the wheel. So you’d destroy people savings just so the state can pay claims by printing money? I don’t see any scams there. No Sirreee
- Rogue Trooper 2.1
  
  11 November 2013 at 5:03 pm
  
  DTB =/= WOBH
- Draco T Bastard 2.2
  
  11 November 2013 at 7:31 pm
  
  Not destroying peoples saving at all. They’ll still have them and, due to the fact that premiums would increase in the case of money being created, there won’t be any inflationary pressure.
- ghostwhowalksnz 2.3
  
  12 November 2013 at 10:01 am
  
  And paying Rio Tinto $30 mill – at thats just the first installment- for them to break the contract they signed is going to benefit the country ?
- Tat Loo (CV) 2.4
  
  12 November 2013 at 10:07 am
  
  So you’d destroy people savings just so the state can pay claims by printing money? I don’t see any scams there. No Sirreee
  
  You got a $20 or $50 note in your wallet, tighty? Who printed that money, tighty? Could it be the state i.e. the only agency who can.
- thatguynz 2.5
  
  12 November 2013 at 10:27 am
  
  Thank allah you are just a blowhard on a website TightyRighty. Country would be fucked if they let someone with such a lack of economic intellect as you near the wheel. Oh wait….
Lara 3

11 November 2013 at 4:51 pm

One fact I do know is my 24 year old niece whilst working as a “underwriter” here in NZ earned $120,000 pa or more – this was back in 2004. She is obviously very good at what she does but without any tertiary qualifications what so ever then moved to the UK – her pay was the equivalent of NZ$250,000 pa – she apparently finished work around 3pm. 6 week holidays and very long weekends the norm for many years. We are indeed being rorted by the insurance industry. Bring on KiwiAssure, bring down overpriced premiums. Or work in insurance!!
Ad 4

11 November 2013 at 5:21 pm

Leviathan must not triumph.

The record of current state monopolies such as ACC and EQC is overall not great – not for price, not for exercise of power, not for privacy, and not for service.

We need strong regulators (and specialist courts) to protect citizens from public and private cartels, protect the state from ripoff monopsonists, and protect competitors from really stupid and unjustified interventions.

Enchain with fiersome regulations all public and private entities with too much power over us.
- Draco T Bastard 4.1
  
  11 November 2013 at 7:41 pm
  
  The record of current state monopolies such as ACC and EQC is overall not great
  
  Actually, it’s not that bad under normal conditions. ACC is awesome in its cost effectiveness. EQC has fucked up badly in Christchurch but, then, so have the private insurance companies. Neither of them were prepared for the earthquakes. With insurance being fully a state service when the earthquakes hit it would have been easier for the government to step in and rectify things. Instead we had them running around for months negotiating with the private insurers.
  
  They’re not perfect but we can make things better if they’re a state service. We don’t have any power to do so with private entities.
  
  We need strong regulators (and specialist courts) to protect citizens from public and private cartels, protect the state from ripoff monopsonists, and protect competitors from really stupid and unjustified interventions.
  
  All of which is really quite expensive. State service monopoly with total transparency which anybody can look into is going to be better and cheaper. There’s no way that they could get away with overcharging (or even undercharging) or any questionable practices.
  
  Enchain with fiersome regulations all public and private entities with too much power over us.
  
  If they have any power over us then they need to be a government service and answerable to the public.
Tat Loo (CV) 5

11 November 2013 at 5:37 pm

The record of current state monopolies such as ACC and EQC is overall not great – not for price, not for exercise of power, not for privacy, and not for service.

Mostly operational matters which could be got right with the correct leadership and improved organisational cultures.
- Ad 5.1
  
  11 November 2013 at 5:48 pm
  
  None of those are reasons for them to be a state monopoly.
  In fact it’s more direct to hold poor systems accountable through being able to take your business elsewhere, than through the ballot box.
  - Tat Loo (CV) 5.1.1
    
    11 November 2013 at 5:56 pm
    
    if you can give me an example of any country in the world which has come up with a competitive private sector model which is superior to our ACC scheme in terms of costs and healthcare results, that’s what we can move towards.
    
    In fact it’s more direct to hold poor systems accountable through being able to take your business elsewhere
    
    Actual track record is well against you here.
    
    And you think that’s working well in our electricity retail “market”? How about our broadband retail “market”? How about our private insurance “market”? Or our private banking “market”.
    
    The reality is that corporates typically laugh at consumer level threats to take their business elsewhere because the level of cohesion in such consumer advocacy is typically very low, and major corporates have usually worked hard to capture entire markets.
    
    EDIT I am all for your idea of strong indepedent regulation and oversight of all private and public corporates. A statist I am not.
    - Ad 5.1.1.1
      
      11 November 2013 at 6:23 pm
      
      Love the idea of ACC, like I love the idea of Christianity.
      
      Markets that make stable profits and states are interdependent (some would say codependent).
      
      Personally I would rather have an ACCC and aggregate my regulators. Hard to trust politicians to run anything with these pricks in charge.
      - Rogue Trooper 5.1.1.1.1
        
        11 November 2013 at 7:23 pm
        
        just a couple of ideas patriarchs had. 😉
        
        (ssshhh, who said that).
    - Ad 5.1.1.2
      
      11 November 2013 at 6:25 pm
      
      …and you way so are a statist
      
      Oh yes you are. Great big huge stompy one. Huge.
      😉
      - Tat Loo (CV) 5.1.1.2.1
        
        11 November 2013 at 6:49 pm
        
        lol – if so it would be in a far more distributed and local/community governance way. A very bad outcome for the country would be for massively centralised power with decisions and budgets all run out of Wellington. Although the Thorndon Bubble crowd might love it, few others would.
        
        Ad 5.1.1.2.1.1
        
        11 November 2013 at 8:42 pm
        
        Perhaps instead of a state insurance company there should be one for each Regional Authority, and one for each major Council such as Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, and Hamilton.
        
        It would in a sense be a bigger version of RiskPool – which already operates between and for most New Zealand Councils for their own assets.
        
        Cities that felt inclined would slip it into one of their holding companies. In the case of Tauranga, it could complement the TSB.
        
        Would New Zealand be better if it were predominantly regionally governed?
        
        Tat Loo (CV) …
        
        11 November 2013 at 8:59 pm
        
        And central government could act to provide re-insurance.
        
        Would New Zealand be better if it were predominantly regionally governed?
        
        Otago and Southland people would say…definitely 🙂
        
        Joking aside, budgets, standards and standardisation, foreign and nationwide policy, audit and assurance could be provided from Wellington. With local democratic entities taking it from there.
        
        Rogue Trooper …
        
        11 November 2013 at 11:12 pm
        
        sounds familiar Ad
- Tim 5.2
  
  11 November 2013 at 7:27 pm
  
  “Mostly operational matters which could be got right with the correct leadership and improved organisational cultures.”
  A bloody BIG change in organisational culture!
  The public service generally does NOT have to run on corporate lines as a business reinforced by nasty little penny pinching attitudes, cost centre accounting, frikken purchase agreements ffs, and KPI’s (which, if not met – don’t really matter).
  
  You know – if you look back over the past couple of decades, the ONLY time something happens to improve the inadequacies of these corporatised departments and Muntries is when some Senior manager might potentially be embarassed. And when they are (embarassed), bonuses still get paid and any blame is transferrred to the nearest underling.
  
  Many Senior managers/”CEO’s” (even that term is inappropriate) need reminding of pretty basic things like codes of conduct, reinforcing the idea that THEY serve the public – NOT the other way round. Bad attitudes are now so entrenched amongst them after a quarter century plus, their sense of entitlement is the norm. Those underlings earning substantially less pay are actually the ones keeping the wheels turning, often working in fear as they execute the whims of their CEO/mgr.
Descendant Of Sssmith 6

11 November 2013 at 6:31 pm

Private sector gives out others information, looks up peoples personal records, shares info with other people and businesses – you just don’t hear bout it as much and you can’t OIA it.
roger 7

11 November 2013 at 6:43 pm

Having worked in insurance, these arguments either don’t apply or don’t make sense.

1) Publicly listed companies are exposed to considerable scrutiny regarding the state of their finances.

2) Economies of scale don’t apply to insurance. The risk of having a natural disaster or a car stolen in a particular area is the same regardless of how many people are insured and premiums are calculated accordingly on that basis of risk. Likewise, as customers increase, the needed bureaucracy to support the organisation must also increase in size, further eroding any potential for “economies of scale”.

3) Duplication of bureaucracy argument doesn’t make sense, the other insurers aren’t charging more in premiums because their competition also have bureaucracy.

4) I don’t understand what you mean by “dead-weight loss of profit”. If you mean that insurance companies increase premiums when profits drop, the same will apply to an SOE which would need to increase premiums to cover increasing costs or fewer customers in order to stay solvent. Either that or be bailed out by the taxpayer by printing money as you suggest.

5) Almost all insurance companies didn’t fold after the earthquakes, they simply went to their re-insurers which is usual when a massive event like this happens. The only option for an SOE insurer if they didn’t use re-insurers would be a massive taxpayer bailout.

6) You’re advocating that instead of keeping a large cash reserve that can be accessed whenever needed in case of disaster, that we wing it and simply print more money whenever we want so we drive up inflation and erode the value of savings. This without considering what state the government finances or the economy might be in the next time a disaster hits.

Also correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t the reserve bank make the decision about printing money? Or are you also suggesting to end the reserve bank’s independence from the government by forcing them to print money at the government’s request?
- infused 7.1
  
  11 November 2013 at 6:48 pm
  
  All of the above, silly.
- Tat Loo (CV) 7.2
  
  11 November 2013 at 7:10 pm
  
  I think most of your comments are slighly off the mark. The overall the case for a public insurance company is simple – we can do it for ourselves, and keep our money in the country. We don’t need private profits flowing offshore.
  
  I will respond to one comment you make more specifically however:
  
  6) You’re advocating that instead of keeping a large cash reserve that can be accessed whenever needed in case of disaster, that we wing it and simply print more money whenever we want so we drive up inflation and erode the value of savings. This without considering what state the government finances or the economy might be in the next time a disaster hits.
  
  Also correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t the reserve bank make the decision about printing money? Or are you also suggesting to end the reserve bank’s independence from the government by forcing them to print money at the government’s request?
  
  1) Don’t get fussed about printing money. Governments do it all the time. Just have a look at the growth of M1 and M2 in the NZ economy over the last 10 years, for instance.
  
  2) Printing money rarely impacts in terms of monetary inflation. And why should it? NZ has a highly competitve market economy with plenty of spare resources/capacity, and plenty of workers willing to work for a minimum wage. If you were to make a case that our economy was running very tight on spare capacity and free labour, perhaps you could make the case.
  
  3) I’m not sure 100% reserve bank independence is a good thing. After all, the era of “reserve bank independence” has coincided with a massive increase in widespread financial instability, and monetary policies that have been very helpful in transferring wealth away from workers and towards financial speculators and capitalists.
  - Bob 7.2.1
    
    12 November 2013 at 4:43 pm
    
    “The overall the case for a public insurance company is simple – we can do it for ourselves, and keep our money in the country”
    
    Sort of like Kiwi Insurance that is run by Kiwibank? http://www.kiwibank.co.nz/personal-banking/insurance/
    “We’ve teamed up with Kiwi Insurance Limited (a related company of Kiwibank)”
- Draco T Bastard 7.3
  
  11 November 2013 at 7:24 pm
  
  1.) AMI. Saying that there is enough scrutiny already when we’ve just had a major failure due to lack of oversight is rather blatant BS.
  2.) The more people in an insurance scheme the less the premiums will be as the risk is covered by more people. It may not be by much, maybe less than 1%, but across an entire nation that is going to add up to millions of dollars. As the saying goes: A little bit here, a little bit there and pretty soon you’re talking serious money.
  3.) More bureaucracy = more cost. Costs that has to be covered by the society.
  4.) Nope, that’s not what I mean. A state insurance company would be running at cost. It brings in enough to cover wages/salaries and claims. What it doesn’t have is the payout of dividends and it’s the dividends that are the dead-weight loss. This is proven conclusively by Telecom not rolling out fibre years ago despite having the wherewithal to do so. NZ is out of pocket by ~$17b.
  5.) Nope. What would happen is that the claims would be paid for by creating money at the time that payout was made (Possibly months or years later – see my note). The premiums would then be adjusted to compensate but they wouldn’t be high. I also note that, according to reports or here, that premiums have gone up around 70% despite, or because of, the international reinsurers. The reinsurers and their profits are another level of complexity that we have to pay for as well which pushes up premiums.
  6.) Nope. I’m advocating that the state insurance service create money to cover normal claims and adjust premiums as necessary. In the case of an actual disaster the government itself would have to step in – see my note.
  
  Also correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t the reserve bank make the decision about printing money?
  
  No, the private banks do. The reserve bank acts as the lender of last resort if the banks can’t find enough to cover the lending that they’ve already made.
  
  Or are you also suggesting to end the reserve bank’s independence from the government by forcing them to print money at the government’s request?
  
  Yes but I’m not suggesting that there are no controls over how much the government can create. I’ve also suggested that private banks should no longer be able to create money at all so as to help with the stability of the currency and decrease inflation. See, there’s a major problem with allowing the private banks to create money with limitations as they do – it results in there being too much money available which pushes up share and house prices without a corresponding increase in products, services or productivity.
  - TheContrarian 7.3.1
    
    11 November 2013 at 7:45 pm
    
    “This is proven conclusively”
    
    No it isn’t. Making a statement about what could have happened is not prove it would have happened.
    - Draco T Bastard 7.3.1.1
      
      11 November 2013 at 8:01 pm
      
      Yeah, it actually is. We project out what was happening before the change and compare the estimated results with what actually happened.
      
      Are you really so stupid as to think that our network wouldn’t be better with another $17b invested in it?
      - TheContrarian 7.3.1.1.1
        
        11 November 2013 at 9:16 pm
        
        Are you really that stupid as to think everything follows a set path?
        
        Nothing is proven conclusive, you only have your prediction. And it isn’t conclusive by any means.
        
        Lanthanide 7.3.1.1.1.1
        
        11 November 2013 at 9:52 pm
        
        I think this largely sums up why I generally disagree with most things Draco says.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        11 November 2013 at 11:05 pm
        
        A non argument is why you disagree?
        
        Lanthanide …
        
        12 November 2013 at 7:18 am
        
        Because you see everything as black and white and you have all the answers. Anyone that disagrees with you, on subjects which aren’t actually black and white, is simply wrong.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        12 November 2013 at 11:02 am
        
        I don’t have all the answers that’s why I put them up here for discussion. I’m more than happy to be shown to be wrong.
        
        EDIT: This comment also got a commenting too fast error on first attempt.
        
        TheContrarian …
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:45 pm
        
        You have been shown wrong already. You can’t make a conclusive statement on actions that never happened. You can make an educated guess but you can’t go around stating something as conclusive fact when you can’t possibly know the outcome.
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:54 pm
        
        Well, that is true…it’s a complex and highly uncertain world out there.
        
        Draco T Bastard 7.3.1.1.1.2
        
        11 November 2013 at 10:58 pm
        
        The prediction is based upon the fact that it would.
        
        There are two possible options available:
        1.) Continue as is so that $17b gets spent on the network
        2.) Continue as is but also decrease prices. This decreases the amount spent on the network but also decreases the monthly rental. Result being that the amount of money in people pockets increases by the same amount while the network still improves.
        
        Either way, the country would be $17b better off.
        
        TheContrarian …
        
        11 November 2013 at 11:09 pm
        
        There are far more than merely two possible options Draco. Which makes your comment about others being unable to follow logic pretty ironic, you having just committed a false dilemma. Black and white thinking to the layman – something you do frequently.
        
        (The above ^ was in response to Draco’s unedited comment which accused Lanth of being unable to follow logic. Ironic again considering it was a non-argument of his own).
        
        Fact is you can’t conclusively prove any future event which are based purely on events which haven’t happened nor can no longer happen. You make a educated guess extrapolating from a particular historical point but to follow it up with “This is proven conclusively” is laughable at best, flat out self-deception at worst.
        
        Rogue Trooper …
        
        11 November 2013 at 11:14 pm
        
        ooooh
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        12 November 2013 at 10:57 am
        
        There are far more than merely two possible options Draco.
        
        Well, I can’t think of what else would have happened if telecommunications wasn’t deregulated and Telecom left to continue as is using the surplus that it was getting to upgrade the network. Perhaps you’d like to enlighten us, show us something that, under those conditions would contradict my own conclusions?
        
        Fact is you can’t conclusively prove any future event which are based purely on events which haven’t happened nor can no longer happen.
        
        Ok, that’s reasonable but I’d say that from what we see out of Telecom over the last 20+ years and the need now for the government to legislate and fund the implementation of the network upgrade is indicative of the dead-weight loss of profit.
        
        photonz …
        
        12 November 2013 at 11:44 am
        
        Draco says “Well, I can’t think of what else would have happened if telecommunications wasn’t deregulated ”
        
        I can tell you. If the govt had kept telecom…..
        
        A “toll call” in NZ would have continued to cost a days wages.
        A “toll call” overseas would have continued to cost a weeks wages.
        You would continue to have to go on a waiting list to buy a telephone.
        Faults would have continued unfixed for days and weeks.
        You would continue to have to apply to get a special permit if you wanted a second line.
        Service levels would have continued to be abysmal.
        
        When telecom was privatised,
        
        – toll calls plummeted to under half price within months.
        – there was a massive $5 BILLION in new capital expenditure in just the first few years. That’s MORE that the total value of the company at the time, and massively more than the govt had been spending.
        – old systems that had been outdated for years were replaced,.
        – service levels improved dramatically.
        – fault fixing times dropped from days and weeks to same day.
        – new internet and mobile systems were built.
        
        From a customer point of view, the government run telecom was a dinosaur, pig, dog – whatever you want to call it.
        
        But under the government, it was appallingly run.
        
        joe90 …
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:02 pm
        
        A “toll call” in NZ would have continued to cost a days wages.
        A “toll call” overseas would have continued to cost a weeks wages.
        You would continue to have to go on a waiting list to buy a telephone.
        Faults would have continued unfixed for days and weeks.
        You would continue to have to apply to get a special permit if you wanted a second line.
        
        You’re lying.
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:04 pm
        
        All nonsense mate. That modernisation was well on the way already.
        
        And the Govt sold Telecom for a song, before the internet boom. It was a stupid and short sighted move.
        
        The only certainty is that NZ shouldn’t be exporting an Xtra billion dollars a year to foreign shareholders, further damaging our current account.
        
        McFlock …
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:06 pm
        
        Now Joe, we’d get nowhere if we didn’t have photoshopnz to make shit up for us.
        
        photonz …
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:24 pm
        
        Colonial Viper says “All nonsense mate. That modernisation was well on the way already.”
        
        Wrong. For years the rest of the world had voice mail, 0800 numbers, 0900 numbers, telebanking etc.
        
        NZ waited years didn’t still get them. As soon as telecom was privatised, they were introduced.
        
        By 1992, our extortionate toll prices had dropped 60%.
        
        Under the govt, Telecom customer service was so bad, that it’s poor service even gets a mention in the Encyclopedia of NZ about how customers were regularly frustrated about how long it took, just to buy a phone.
        
        Here’s another Encyclopedia of NZ entry –
        “Delays in the installation of new telephones affected more than residential customers. In 1984 Treasury, at the forefront of the push for re-organisation of the Post Office, waited two months for existing telephone jacks to be shifted. Senior officials exchanged angry letters. Treasury argued that it was inefficiency, and the Post Office insisted it was pressure of work.”
        
        greywarbler …
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:29 pm
        
        photonz
        What right wing pamphlet did you obtain your education from? Dribbling this sort of information from your feeding tray onto our nice clean working blog is not of any use. Clean up your act, your facts, your thinking, which you ought to try doing for yourself – not just repeating stuff that some big boys you admire have fed you.
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:47 pm
        
        Hey photonz.
        
        Apart from all your lies. Please stop advocating for exporting billions of dollars overseas.
        
        Lanthanide …
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:23 pm
        
        Have a look at how NZPost is run today, with KiwiBank, and ask yourself what might have happened had they continued to own Telecom.
        
        Would a government-owned Telecom have looked as you suggested, or would a government-owned Telecom look more like the current Telecom we have?
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:52 pm
        
        I can tell you.
        
        No you can’t. Selling Telecom achieved nothing that wasn’t already happening. Digital exchanges were being installed prior to 1990 and was scheduled to be finished by 1996 (actual finish was 1999). So was the fibre backbone that allowed toll prices to drop. We were even installing fibre to the cabinet in the 1980s. Continuation of that to FttH was envisioned even at that stage although the thinking then was more about cable TV than the internet.
        
        Service levels would have continued to be abysmal.
        
        Service levels were excellent within the physical limitations. Those limitations continue to this day. Really, try and ADSL out in a rural area.
        
        I’ve worked for Telecom both in the 1980s and in the 2000s so I actually have first hand knowledge of this.
        
        fault fixing times dropped from days and weeks to same day.
        
        No, actually, they didn’t. Faults are fixed as soon as possible within the physical limitations of having someone to fix them. Some faults would never be fixed. Had one customer who had a faulty line and had been complaining about it for months. The problem was two fold though: The cable that fed the cabinet was faulty and it was full. This cable was not, at the time, scheduled for replacement.
        
        But under the government, it was appallingly run.
        
        No, it was actually quite well run. It could have done with some improvements but that’s true of pretty much all organisations.
        
        Tracey …
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:55 pm
        
        Photonz
        
        Am beginning to see why you might be the lowest paid in your company
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        12 November 2013 at 3:06 pm
        
        NZ waited years didn’t still get them. As soon as telecom was privatised, they were introduced.
        
        And the only way it could have been instantly introduced was because Telecom, before the sale, planned on it and installed the necessary digital exchanges.
        
        Treasury argued that it was inefficiency, and the Post Office insisted it was pressure of work.
        
        And Treasury was wrong. In the 1980s and even into the 1990s the network was still immature and required massive amounts of physical labour. New technologies such as the digital exchanges changed that. Sale to the private sector didn’t.
        
        PS, getting “posting too fast” on every post now.
        
        TheContrarian …
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:51 pm
        
        “Well, I can’t think of what else would have happened if telecommunications wasn’t deregulated and Telecom left to continue as is using the surplus that it was getting to upgrade the network”
        
        They might have made a bad investment, they might have put the money towards other endeavours, a new CEO might have upped the pay the board makes in light of the surplus, an incoming government might have taken the surplus and put it into health or education, Telecom might have been broken up in an anti-trust/monopoly case etc etc etc.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:56 pm
        
        They might have made a bad investment,
        
        Telecoms CDMA investment anyone?
        
        a new CEO might have upped the pay the board makes in light of the surplus,
        
        Like the $5m to $10m CEO pay packets they have ATM?
        
        an incoming government might have taken the surplus and put it into health or education, Telecom might have been broken up in an anti-trust/monopoly case etc etc etc.
        
        That goes against the given conditions that it remain the same.
        
        So, no arguments at all against my logic.
        
        TheContrarian …
        
        12 November 2013 at 3:52 pm
        
        What are you talking about? We have already shown your logic is a fallacy.
        
        Namely:
        “You can’t make a conclusive statement on actions that never happened. You can make an educated guess but you can’t go around stating something as conclusive fact when you can’t possibly know the outcome.”
        
        And I have given you a range of things that could go differently from the two you claim are the only outcomes.
        
        Your logic is demonstrably wrong.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        12 November 2013 at 5:52 pm
        
        And I have given you a range of things that could go differently from the two you claim are the only outcomes.
        
        No you haven’t. you gave a range of options some of which had happened under privatisation (bad decisions and upped CEO/management pay) and thus doesn’t count as the surplus would still be able to match the $17b in dividends and some of which were excluded from the supposition that Telecom would continue as is utilising it’s entire surplus to upgrade the network.
        
        Your logic is demonstrably wrong.
        
        Then demonstrate it to be wrong because so far you’ve absolutely failed to do so.
        
        TheContrarian …
        
        12 November 2013 at 6:28 pm
        
        “Then demonstrate it to be wrong because so far you’ve absolutely failed to do so”
        
        Third (or maybe fourth?) time’s a charm.
        “You can’t make a conclusive statement on actions that never happened. You can make an educated guess but you can’t go around stating something as conclusive fact when you can’t possibly know the outcome.”
        
        That is the failing in your logic. You have committed a logical fallacy. Namely stating a conclusive proof on actions that haven’t and can no longer occur and stating there are only two possible outcomes. But there are several outcomes.
        
        Those potential outcomes include:
        “They might have made a bad investment, they might have put the money towards other endeavours, a new CEO might have upped the pay the board makes in light of the surplus, an incoming government might have taken the surplus and put it into health or education, Telecom might have been broken up in an anti-trust/monopoly case etc etc etc.”
        
        It doesn’t matter if some of those options happened under privatisation – they still could have happened regardless of public or private ownership. Your whole argument rest on two outcomes. That is a logical fallacy considering there are more than two outcomes.
        
        For fucks sake, Draco. Your logical failing has been shown to you several times over.
        
        TheContrarian …
        
        12 November 2013 at 7:05 pm
        
        “the supposition that Telecom would continue as is utilising it’s entire surplus to upgrade the network.”
        
        Supposition –
        a belief held without proof or certain knowledge; an assumption or hypothesis.
        
        Therefore you cannot claim it to be conclusive proof.
        
        You are demonstrably wrong on so many levels.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        12 November 2013 at 7:14 pm
        
        You have committed a logical fallacy. Namely stating a conclusive proof on actions that haven’t and can no longer occur
        
        I accepted that a few comments ago and said that my logic was indicative of the dead-weight loss of profit. The two outcomes were part of the assumption that Telecom continue as it was and they are still the only possible outcomes.
        
        It doesn’t matter if some of those options happened under privatisation – they still could have happened regardless of public or private ownership.
        
        In fact they did happen under privatisation while the dividends were and are still being pulled out which means that they can be ignored.
        
        Your whole argument rest on two outcomes.
        
        No it doesn’t. It rests on the supposition that Telecom would continue as it was prior to privatisation with deregulation also removed. That specifically means that the government doesn’t pull out the surplus as dividends because they weren’t doing so and the anti-trust couldn’t possibly apply because telecommunications would still be regulated, i.e, no competition.
        
        That is a logical fallacy considering there are more than two outcomes.
        
        No there isn’t if Telecom continues as it was before.
        
        You have not proven my logic false. You’ve come up with some scenarios (bad decisions and mega management pay (really, how much would the board have to be paid to soak up $17b in 20 years?)) that don’t change the outcome and that is all.
        
        TheContrarian …
        
        12 November 2013 at 7:45 pm
        
        “It rests on the supposition that Telecom would continue as it was prior to privatisation with deregulation also removed”
        “No there isn’t if Telecom continues as it was before.”
        
        Supposition –
        a belief held without proof or certain knowledge; an assumption or hypothesis
        
        So, not ‘conclusive proof’ rather a supposition based upon a certain scenario which ignores all other variables.
        
        Finally.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        13 November 2013 at 11:45 am
        
        So, not ‘conclusive proof’ rather a supposition based upon a certain scenario which ignores all other variables.
        
        A scenario based upon what was actually happening before deregulation and sale. It is quite logical and reasonable to extend that out to make a projection upon what might have been which is what I have done. I keep telling you this and you keep ignoring it for your own delusion.
        
        You have still failed to contradict that logic.
        
        I won’t bother answering any more from you as it will be your usual spin and distortion.
        
        TheContrarian …
        
        13 November 2013 at 1:28 pm
        
        That isn’t conclusive proof Draco. It is impossible to claim conclusive proof on something that hasn’t happened. No matter how much you claim otherwise – your logic is faulty. A projection is not proof.
        
        There are no two was about it – that is a fact. No matter how to try and reword a supposition, by definition, is not a proof. Jesus man, what is the matter with you? My delusion? My delusion that you can’t claim proofs on that which you suppose?
jerry Ross 8

11 November 2013 at 6:56 pm

ACC is the most cost effective system in the world. where is there a better system in use ? Today there is a govt running it that wants to kill it and it is still the best system in the world. I do not have any source to back this up but have lived in north America for many years and they certainly do not have any thing close to our level of service for all the people. Being a regular visitor to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, with their plush carpets and fine artworks, did not sell me on their system where half the population are not even allowed in the door. Is that the type of system we need? ACC is a far superior system even without the art and carpets in our hospitals.
- greywarbler 8.1
  
  12 November 2013 at 1:30 pm
  
  Talking about why our telephone system might not have been what Treasury wanted, many of whom had trained in the USA, here’s part of an excellent summary.
  http://www.wordworx.co.nz/KiwitelcoTimeline.htm
  Taming the lightning – Keith Newman
  
  The 1980s: A lack of investment by the Post Office meant the network was not in a position to handle the growth needed for the next generation of services. By the mid-1980s the network was overloaded, there was massive congestion. In Auckland the exchange was verging on collapse and across the country there are frequent network crashes. The Post Office, a government department limited in what it could invest, became increasingly inefficient. The government began to look at the problem and ways to create a more efficient department and as part of its economic reforms began looking at ways of putting it on a commercial footing. Under the State-owned Enterprises Act of 1986 it created several state trading companies including Telecom.
  
  1980: The Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand (BCNZ) formed to merge TV1 & TV2 channels under a single corporation. The Post Office supports about 800 leased lines and 1800 modems. When DARPA needed a team to implement its brand-new TCP/IP protocol stack on the VAX under Unix, it chose Berkeley Unix as the platform largely because its source code was available and unencumbered. This was a major turning point in the evolution of Unix and the various tools that improved connectivity, thereby assuring the success of the nationwide and global goals of APRAnet, and TCP/IP as a communications protocol for the future.
  
  1981: New Zealand’s first and only indigenous home computer systems were created. The Poly. Development of the Poly named after Wellington Polytech where it was developed was targeted at school use with a colour screen and ‘obscure proprietary networking system. The Aamber Pegasus, supported multiple computer languages and had a network version which connected to a server. Both attempted to meet the requirements of the government’s computers in schools initiative which never produced orders large enough for the machines to become a commercial reality….
  
  A couple of quotes that reflect how much better NZ phone system was coping after private interests took it over. Like any system could have coped smoothly under the impetus of the internet growth, government or private!
  ‘I’m sorry but your call cannot be connected right now because of overloading’ please try again later,’.
  Telecom’s phone message that reappeared frequently in the late 90s as the public network was groaning under the weight of exponential internet growth.
  and
  Scott Mathias, rich media pioneer on moving his business to Australia in 1999.
  ‘NZ is an impoverished and undernourished internet community because of what hasn’t come out of Wellington. We’re dealing with people in the US who have larger pipes than the whole of NZ. We have a coantrolled situation here where the key players are extracting as much as they can from the Internet community.’
  and
  In the lunatic years of the 1980s no-one listened because so many clever young men in glass towers, moving pieces of paper around, had everyone’s attention. It is important however, not to lose sight of the fact that no true wealth is ever created until somebody makes something physical. That’s what creates careers and jobs.”
  Electronic pioneer Sir Angus Tait, June 1999.
  
  Me – It’s a pity isn’t it that government finds it so difficult to encourage NZ businesses to develop stuff instead of wanting to snuggle up to big companies and spend our hard-earned taxes to go overseas. Britain would never have survived the world wars if it hadn’t developed its own machinery of all sorts. Even big countries try to foster their own innovation. It’s even more important for small ones that want to amount to something other than a pile of cowpats.
  - photonz 8.1.1
    
    12 November 2013 at 1:48 pm
    
    The left wants to decimate the savings of anyone who invests in renewable energy with their power plan (or anyone who invests in the fibre optic network),.
    
    Then they complain that it’s hard to get people to invest in NZ.
    
    Go figure.
    - Colonial Viper 8.1.1.1
      
      12 November 2013 at 1:56 pm
      
      These foreigners aren’t investing in building new assets in NZ. They are doing an asset grab on the cheap, for infrastructure we have already paid for as a nation.
      
      And you are backing that, as a disloyal shit head.
      - photonz 8.1.1.1.1
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:55 pm
        
        If you beliee that, then the left should be encouraging Kiwis to invest as much as possible NZ assets instead of doing everything possible to screw them if they do.
        
        thatguynz 8.1.1.1.1.1
        
        12 November 2013 at 3:22 pm
        
        You’re entirely right – that is one option for what people should be investing in. Not ones that they already own via the common good however.
        
        Tat Loo (CV) 8.1.1.1.1.2
        
        12 November 2013 at 7:40 pm
        
        If you believe that, then the left should be encouraging Kiwis to invest as much as possible NZ assets
        
        Yes. That’s one purpose of taxes. Having the public invest in the common good.
    - greywarbler 8.1.1.2
      
      12 November 2013 at 6:04 pm
      
      Have you got a list of silly annoying questions that someone has collated to trot out in the absence of any brain of your own to work through some real dialogue.
photonz 9

11 November 2013 at 11:26 pm

Draco says “One other thing, due to the governments ability to create currency there is no need for re-insurers …………..”

Hell – with the ability to print money, why bother taking tax at all – the govt could just print money for ALL it’s needs.

Genius – just like Mugabe.
- Tat Loo (CV) 9.1
  
  12 November 2013 at 7:48 pm
  
  Hell – with the ability to print money, why bother taking tax at all
  
  I’m glad you asked. Taxation is not strictly required for government revenues because, as you have already pointed out, a government can issue whatever currency it requires.
  
  However a strong taxation system is still extraordinarily useful to the nation:
  
  1) It gives the NZ dollar value and desirability in the private sector. This is because the private sector has to pay its taxes with NZ dollars, and causes the need for employment paid in NZ dollars.
  
  2) It gives the government an excellent mechanism with which to control the quantity of money in circulation i.e. the level of liquidity in the economy.
  
  3) It allows the government to incentivise desired activities and behaviours in the economy, while restraining others.
  
  Therefore, even if a government were to print (i.e. electronically create using key strokes) all the dollars it needed to spend, taxation would still be crucial.
TightyRighty 10

12 November 2013 at 7:09 am

@draco, you print a little bit of money for this, a liitle bit for that…. The added velocity of the printed money to the economy will cause inflationary pressure far outweighing what little effect “raising premiums” might have.

Your assertations are rubbish always. Every single thing you assert with “incontrovertible” proof could only eve cooked up by someone with no real world experience. Just theoretical day dreams.
- Draco T Bastard 10.1
  
  12 November 2013 at 10:49 am
  
  The added velocity of the printed money to the economy will cause inflationary pressure far outweighing what little effect “raising premiums” might have.
  
  Doesn’t seem to have that much effect when the private banks do it – except in housing of course. I also made certain that the money would be drawn from the economy by the increase in premiums thus the inflationary pressure should be minimal.
  - photonz 10.1.1
    
    12 November 2013 at 11:01 am
    
    That’s because with a bank it has to be paid back, so actually represents something – work done.
    
    When a government prints money it represents nothing, except theft. Theft of value of everything else in the country.
    
    When a govt doubles the money supply, the actual total value of everything in the country hasn’t changed. But inflation means the dollar value of everyone’s assets halves. Effectively the govt steals half the previous dollar value of everyone’s assets.
    
    So when you print money so say a govt insurance provider can pay out, you have created nothing, nada, zilch, zip. All you are doing is, via inflation, stealing off everyone else.
    
    It’s a corrupt and crooked idea.
    - Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.1
      
      12 November 2013 at 11:24 am
      
      When a government prints money it represents nothing, except theft.
      
      I’ve clearly explained how it would be paid back.
      
      When a govt doubles the money supply, the actual total value of everything in the country hasn’t changed. But inflation means the dollar value of everyone’s assets halves. Effectively the govt steals half the previous dollar value of everyone’s assets.
      
      Perhaps you can explain the exponential increase in m3 then? That really isn’t the government printing it but the private banks. And, yes, that printing of money pushes up asset prices without changing the underlying value. Interestingly enough, mostly in house prices.
      
      So when you print money so say a govt insurance provider can pay out, you have created nothing, nada, zilch, zip.
      
      Incorrect, it has created work and the distribution and use of the nations resources.
      
      It’s a corrupt and crooked idea.
      
      No, the present system of the private banks creating money and charging interest on it is. the government creating money transparently and destroying it through taxes and direct payment for services is the non corrupt idea.
      - Colonial Viper 10.1.1.1.1
        
        12 November 2013 at 12:12 pm
        
        +1
        
        photonz has actually missed a key point: we are losing wealth every day in this country by not engaging approx 250,000 people who want full time jobs, in full time jobs.
        
        These are people with creativity, intelligence, energy who could be working building things, making things, maintaining things, caring for others, etc.
        
        By not spending sufficient money into the economy none of these things get done. That opportunity cost (‘output gap’) in not adding that potential wealth to the nation is hugely costly.
        
        Photonz, being a RWNJ, doesn’t understand basic real economics however.
photonz 11

12 November 2013 at 12:02 pm

Draco says “Incorrect, it has created work and the distribution and use of the nations resources”

You are confused. Work is done for the money, in the same way you can use a bank loan to employ someone to build a house.

The difference is the bank loan has real value because represents money that has to be paid back in the future.

The govt printed money represents no real value, except assets stolen off everyone else though inflation.

If you were correct, the government would never ever need to collect tax again – they could just print money for everything.

Just like Zimbabwe did. I was there at the start of the year and a $5 trillion note wouldn’t buy a loaf of bread that cost $1 just a few years earlier.
- greywarbler 11.1
  
  12 November 2013 at 12:23 pm
  
  photonz
  I know there is an answer to what you have said that countermands it, actually demolishes it which can be expressed better by DTB. And I am sure he has a number of times already.
  You are failing to look at the government-issuing- its-own-money situation when it is done appropriately and spent appropriately.
  
  If you understand analogies, then it is applying the cream to the part of the body with the septic bite. It is useless and pointless to spread it all over. Zimbabwe is a worst case. It is not helpful to use the most dramatic worst case and then suggest that would apply anywhere.
  - photonz 11.1.1
    
    12 November 2013 at 1:25 pm
    
    So can you explain why governments don’t print money all the time, instead of only when they are totally desperate?
    
    Can you explain why even the Greens have given up the idea?
    
    Was it because it was so ridiculed by people from both sides of the political spectrum?
    
    Do you remember when mortgage rates were 20%. Try paying an Auckland mortgage at that rate.
    
    See what happens to house inflation then, of if wages can keep up when every three months you’re effectively getting paid 5% less..
    - greywarbler 11.1.1.1
      
      12 November 2013 at 1:41 pm
      
      photonz
      You read stuff, repeat it but don’t understand the whys and wherefores.
      
      Your thinking reminds me of A Fish Called Wanda.
      Wanda: But you think you’re an intellectual, don’t you, ape?
      Otto: [superior smile] Apes don’t read philosophy.
      Wanda: Yes they do, Otto, they just don’t understand it!
    - Colonial Viper 11.1.1.2
      
      12 November 2013 at 1:58 pm
      
      So can you explain why governments don’t print money all the time, instead of only when they are totally desperate?
      
      Governments do print money all the time, but they usually rely on the private banks for new money supply into the economy.
      
      Do you remember when mortgage rates were 20%. Try paying an Auckland mortgage at that rate.
      
      Interest rates can be set at any level the Reserve Bank wishes, using modern monetary management methods. You really are 30 years out of date.
      - photonz 11.1.1.2.1
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:08 pm
        
        Go ahead – make printing money a left wing policy.
        
        We’ll sit back as you get laughed at as much as Russel Norman did.
        
        In the end he couldn’t handle the ridicule and dropped the policy.
        
        If you think the Reserve Bank would or even could set a low interest rate when we have high inflation from printing money, you’re even more delusional.
        
        Tracey 11.1.1.2.1.1
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:10 pm
        
        you man like the tories in the UK and the democrats in the USA? That “left-wing”?
        
        photonz …
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:47 pm
        
        Tracy – you have confusing quantitative easing, (which lowers interest rates), with printing money (which increases inflation, and hence interest rates).
        
        Tracey …
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:49 pm
        
        Thanks photonz
        
        But you seem to be the one confusing printing money with quantitative easing
        
        “Russel Norman says the Green Party realised it does not have support for quantitative easing – money printing – and it was never going to be implemented.
        The co-leader announced a back-down on the policy this morning, describing it as an example of listening.
        
        “The Greens do listen so today we are not pursuing the QE element of our monetary policy.”
        
        photonz …
        
        12 November 2013 at 3:38 pm
        
        It would be silly to start QE when the interest rates can still come down.
        
        The Greens talked of printing money then of QE as if they were the same thing and having the same effects. They’re not and they don’t.
        
        It made you wonder if they even knew there was a difference.
        
        Anyway, QE is a last resort when you can’t lower interest rates any more.
        
        Not only can we still lower interest rates, but at next change it’s likely they will need to go in the other direction – up – not down.
        
        One Anonymous Knucklehead …
        
        12 November 2013 at 4:18 pm
        
        Perhaps that’s why the Green Party called for:
        
        Quantitative Easing (QE) in the form of the Reserve Bank purchasing Government earthquake recovery bonds to pay for the government’s costs in the rebuild of Christchurch and, separately, refilling the Natural Disaster Fund.
        
        It makes me wonder if you made up the lie that they called for printing money, or whether you’re just another Tory parrot.
        
        Dupe, or duplicitous, which is it?
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        12 November 2013 at 6:02 pm
        
        The Greens talked of printing money then of QE as if they were the same thing and having the same effects. They’re not and they don’t.
        
        Yes they are. The US printed trillions of dollars (Quantitative Easing) to push up inflation (it almost failed to do so) and lowered interest to near zero to increase borrowing.
        
        Rogue Trooper …
        
        13 November 2013 at 4:15 pm
        
        😀 , some sense at last.
        
        dv …
        
        12 November 2013 at 2:53 pm
        
        So photons quantitative easing does not print money?
        Glad to have have that cleared up.
        
        KJT 11.1.1.2.1.2
        
        12 November 2013 at 3:46 pm
        
        Ridicule by a bunch of ignorant, or deliberately two faced, twits, who do not remember economic history and, like Photo, have a very shaky grasp of economics.
        
        QE/printing money, they are basically the same thing, was how the USA, that bunch of rabid socialists, got out of the 30’s depression and financed their war spending.
        The UK borrowed to finance their war instead. Note which had the healthiest economy in the 50’s.
        NZ got out of the 30’s depression earlier than most of the rest of the world by, wait for it, extensive public works schemes paid for by “printing money”.
        
        Neither turned into Zimbabwe. I seem to remember a period of, quote “unprecedented prosperity” for decades after. Which lasted, in fact, until the banks were de-regulated and allowed to “print money”. Not many savers seem to have lost in that time either.
        
        A thriving and productive economy and fairly paid workers, seems to help savings, surprise!
        
        photonz …
        
        12 November 2013 at 4:11 pm
        
        That’s funny – you complain of ignorance then come out with something really really silly like QE and printing money are the same thing.
        
        If they are the same, can you explain why QE sends interest rates down and printing money sends them up?
        
        Clue – it could be something to do with the fact that QE merely swaps bonds for cash – while it puts more money into circulation, nothing new is created.
        
        Whereas printing money is just that – it creates money out of nothing.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        12 November 2013 at 6:17 pm
        
        If they are the same, can you explain why QE sends interest rates down and printing money sends them up?
        
        Whatever gave you the idea that printing money would send interest rates up? It’s excessive borrowing that does that. Printing money will drop them as it decreases the need to borrow.
        
        Whereas printing money is just that – it creates money out of nothing.
        
        But that’s all fiat money ever is. The process of creating it and, yes, destroying it is important. The fact is that the private banks create lots of it (that’s where that exponential increase in m3 comes from) and it comes bearing interest which cannot be paid back.
        
        The process we have at the moment rewards only the banks and is unsustainable.
        
        KJT …
        
        12 November 2013 at 7:12 pm
        
        LOL.
- Colonial Viper 11.2
  
  12 November 2013 at 12:52 pm
  
  The difference is the bank loan has real value because represents money that has to be paid back in the future.
  
  That’s a nonsensical comment. The bank loan is just electronic credits created out of thin air. No intrinsic value whatsoever.
  
  The govt printed money represents no real value, except assets stolen off everyone else though inflation.
  
  That’s a nonsensical comment. A $100 note printed by the government is far more valuable than $100 electronic credit held by a TBTF bank.
  
  If you were correct, the government would never ever need to collect tax again – they could just print money for everything.
  
  That’s a nonsensical comment as taxes and a tax system are still very useful. Japan, US, Canada, Australia, print a lot of money and they still have tax systems.
  
  Just like Zimbabwe did. I was there at the start of the year and a $5 trillion note wouldn’t buy a loaf of bread that cost $1 just a few years earlier.
  
  It takes significant war, productive economy destruction and/or a major currency collapse to get into a situation like Zimbabwe. They pretty much had all three.
  
  Do we have any of those happening here? No, didn’t think so.
  - dv 11.2.1
    
    12 November 2013 at 2:58 pm
    
    CV I have always thought that if you wanted say build a bunch of houses, issue the required money to do the job and then withdraw the money from the economy from the income derived from the assets.
    - Draco T Bastard 11.2.1.1
      
      12 November 2013 at 3:33 pm
      
      There’s a couple of ways that the money created by government could be withdrawn from the economy:
      1) Taxes (Build and fund schools/health service)
      2) User pays (This is the one I’ve described for this suggested state monopoly)
      
      Easy to balance government created money. Impossible to balance private bank created money with interest.
- Draco T Bastard 11.3
  
  12 November 2013 at 3:18 pm
  
  You are confused. Work is done for the money, in the same way you can use a bank loan to employ someone to build a house.
  
  No I’m not. You are.
  
  The difference is the bank loan has real value because represents money that has to be paid back in the future.
  
  No it doesn’t. The bank loan represents money created ex nihilo that needs to be destroyed (paid back) with the added costs of interest which physically can’t be paid back. The government created money represents money created ex nihilo that needs to be destroyed (paid back) but that will be, in this case, paid back by the premiums. It doesn’t have the added and non essential costs of interest on it though so it can actually be paid back.
  
  Effectively, there is no difference to the money except the unsustainable interest on bank loans.
  
  If you were correct, the government would never ever need to collect tax again – they could just print money for everything.
  
  Incorrect. The government would still need to tax to destroy the money created – just like the bank loan.
  
  Just like Zimbabwe did.
  
  Nope, Zimbabwe creates money irrespective of the tax base and thus gets massive inflation. Completely the opposite of what I’ve said.
Puddleglum 12

12 November 2013 at 2:46 pm

I found this interesting article by David Middleton, then General Manager of EQC, explaining the thinking behind the system. It was written in 2001, ten years before the Christchurch earthquakes.

On pages 59 and 60 there’s a bit about how they ‘out-source’ the ‘scaling up’ problem of responding to disasters to private companies. That’s pretty much what happened in 2011.

For anyone in Christchurch it’s worth a read. It’s also worth reading for its analysis of the insurance industry and its (in)ability – through reinsurance – to meet the needs of people in major disasters.
- Rogue Trooper 12.1
  
  13 November 2013 at 4:19 pm
  
  and Roger Sutton is calling for private Insurance companies to up their completion game by 50%.- Midday Report.

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Hi,Thanks for the outpouring of advice and love over the weekend’s Wolves on the Roof piece. I’m gonna throw some of your comments into a future newsletter, as I think there’s genuinely great advice in there for anyone suffering any kind of chronic pain, or battling the dark nighttime thoughts ...
David FarrierBy David Farrier
10 hours ago

Preview the ‘Free Speech and the Left’ Conference
...
RedlineBy Admin
16 hours ago

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

Corrupted Generations.
Socrates Takes The Rap: “Corrupting the youth”, the Athenian philosopher Socrates was convicted and executed for this offence more than 2,400 years ago. It is a sure sign of generational desperation: of the old order’s fear of the values and aspirations of its younger citizens; and of a generation no ...
Bowalley Road
20 hours ago

Labour’s electoral review
Labour's "independent" review of the electoral system reported back today. You can read the full thing here, but most of it was basicly a rehash of the 2012 Electoral Commission review, and in response to the same questions, produced mostly the same answers: a lower threshold and removing the one-seat ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
21 hours ago

Politics as Super Rugby
ACT preens as party in waiting ahead of Election 2023, read an RNZ headline this morning. Foregone conclusions are totally the new black in election reporting this season. The article that followed was not quite so breathless, and concluded with the reminder that in the end it’s all up to the ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
21 hours ago

Politics as Super Rugby
ACT preens as party in waiting ahead of Election 2023, read an RNZ headline this morning. Foregone conclusions are totally the new black in election reporting this season. The article that followed was not quite so breathless, and concluded with the reminder that in the end it’s all up to the ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
21 hours ago

Another trust problem
Today transport Minister Michael Wood was stood down after failing to properly declare a conflict of interest. He'd bought shares in Auckland airport "as a teenager", hidden them in a trust when he became an MP, and failed to declare them for seven years, for three of which he was ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
23 hours ago

We are told (but not officially) that airport shares have landed Michael Wood in a bit of bother
Buzz from the Beehive At least one headline-grabbing ministerial announcement had not been posted on the government’s official website, when Point of Order checked early this afternoon. We learned from other sources that Michael Wood has been stood down as Transport Minister over over failing to properly disclose shares owned ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
23 hours ago

Record dairy output ending the dairy season may help ease higher cost pressures on NZ’s key expo...
Battered by storms, and soaring costs, New Zealand dairy farmers have countered by extracting higher production. As one commentator put it, end-of-season production “has been through the roof” . Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny notes in a report in the NZ Herald that we are probably looking at two ...
Point of OrderBy tutere44
1 day ago

Gordon Campbell on red tape and Nicky Hager’s regal reward
Not for the first time, David Seymour looks like an answer to a non-existent problem. Reportedly, ACT is promising to establish a Ministry of Regulations to cut through all that bureaucracy and red tape. Yep. To cut down on bureaucracy. Seymour is promising to create a whole new bureaucracy, presumably ...
Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
1 day ago

What ‘The Simpsons’ taught ’90s kids about climate change
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sara Peach In 1989, cartoonist Matt Groening told a reporter that his new television show, “The Simpsons,” would tackle the serious subjects in life. “It always amazes me how few cartoonists in print or animation go after the bigger issues, the kinds ...
Skeptical Science
1 day ago

NZ Politics Daily: 6 June 2023
ELECTION, PARLIAMENT Matthew Hooton (Patreon): Labour will regret hatchet job on contraception Tracy Watkins (Stuff): How low will this election campaign go? Fran O’Sullivan: (Herald): National must make it clear – women’s work is leading, not cleaning up (paywalled) Claire Trevett (Herald): No more Mr Nice Guy – backtracks on housing and ...
Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
1 day ago

Liberate the Lane on the Auckland Harbour Bridge!
This is a cross post from our friends at Bike Auckland. You can see the original post here. An Auckland for Everybody It’s 2024, and the Auckland Harbour Bridge is finally open and available to all modes of everyday transport. Using a dedicated lane protected from traffic, people walk, ...
Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
1 day ago

Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Why Parliament’s rules matter
It could be easy to shrug away Education Minister Jan Tinetti’s referral to the Privileges Committee as just another example of a Minister not following the rules of Parliament. But its significance should be recognised in the fact it is only the second time since 2008 that a Member of ...
Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
1 day ago

Geoffrey Miller: How fake AI images could stoke tensions in the Indo-Pacific
Seeing is no longer believing. Surprisingly realistic – yet fake – images created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are here. To date, most have seemed more like curiosities than genuine deception attempts. Last month, it was revealed that New Zealand’s National Party had used the AI image generation app Midjourney to ...
Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
1 day ago

Dawn Chorus: Call to lower voting age renewed
Young climate activists watch a livestream of Jacinda Ardern declaring a climate emergency in December 2020. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: There’s another call this morning to lower the voting age and to lower the threshold for parties to get into Parliament under MMP.Elsewhere, there’s news:most social homes ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
1 day ago

Will we say goodbye to free speech?
Interesting speech by Rowan Atkinson where he defends free speech. Timely too, as several countries are now facing the introduction of legislation which will be used to attack freedom of speech. New Zealand/Aotearoa is no exception. And this comes on top of actions of censorship, de-platforming and social pressure ...
Open ParachuteBy Ken
2 days ago

Free Speech and the left conference
The left has really been silent and allowed the traditional leftist commitment to free speech to erode and even fall out of favor. This has had an effect on a whole range of leftist issues, from journalism to environmental activism, worker’s rights, animal rights, etc. From June 17 to June ...
RedlineBy Admin
2 days ago

Beehive brays about King’s Birthday gongs and a deal with Japan – but it is bashful about rebuff...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – dominated today by announcements of who has been awarded King’s Birthday gongs – also carries news of a development in New Zealand’s relationship with Japan. This sits alongside the speech which Defence Minister Andrew Little delivered to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
2 days ago

Turning a new page[s]
The world is full of climate dashboards (and dashboards of dashboards), and so you might imagine that all datasets and comparisons are instantly available in whatever graphical form you like. Unfortunately, we often want graphics to emphasize a particular point or comparison, and generic graphs from the producers of ...
Real ClimateBy Gavin
2 days ago

The Extinction Of Rebellion.
Not Even Close, Comrades! Occupy made it all the way to New Zealand, but its fate here did not differ substantially from its fate everywhere else around the world. The political praxis of identity politics, its extraordinary disintegrative power, made the organisation of any kind of credible threat to the ...
Bowalley Road
2 days ago

134 Days Out.
Take Me Home: Bowalley Road, North Otago. The long gravel road after which Chris Trotter’s blog is named. Near the road’s end is the farm where he spent the first nine years of his life.ONE OF THE JOYS of blogging is the instant feedback you get. Certainly, there are the trolls who ...
Bowalley Road
2 days ago

BRIAN EASTON: What do economists do?
Steven Levitt, famous for his Freakanomics, shows that being an economist is not just mouthing supply and demand. Brian Easton writes – Anyone can call themselves an ‘economist’. Many do, despite having no qualifications in economics and hardly any formal training; they often make elementary errors. That is the ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
2 days ago

King’s Birthday Grumpiness: ‘Dame’ Jacinda Ardern
Today is New Zealand’s first King’s Birthday since 1951. It’s not Charlie’s actual birthday, any more than Queen’s Birthday was Liz’s, but it’s a public holiday nonetheless. Until the creation of Matariki, the monarch’s observed birthday marked the start of a black hole in New Zealand’s holiday calendar, stretching ...
A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
2 days ago

Changing Seasons.
All things change. Nations, sporting teams, individuals. All have a time of ascent, and, in time, of decline. Their time on the stage, in the spotlight - however brightly they shone, gone. A new generation in their place.We see it on this day, in what still sounds strange, King’s Birthday. ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
2 days ago

2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #22
A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, May 28, 2023 thru Sat, june 3, 2023. This week, several shared articles did quite well on our Facebook page: At a glance - How reliable are climate models?, Call for ...
Skeptical Science
3 days ago

Wolves on the Roof
Hi,A few days ago I screwed up my back. Rather, I inflamed an old injury — agitating a naughty protruding disc on my spine so it pinched a nerve, turning my lower back into a swarm of confused electrical signals. As a bonus feature, my entire right leg felt like ...
David FarrierBy David Farrier
3 days ago

Seymour Shocks Sky City!
Seymour smirked at his reflection.Hi he said.Hi Hi Hi Hi the different reflections from the mirrored surfaces around the bathroom responded. Those days are over he thought, no more having to knock on every bloody door in Epsom - everybody knows my name now.The theme tune to Cheers ran through ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
3 days ago

They go off 24/7 while he just does his job
Last Sunday, we looked out across the seas to, of all places, the USA for inspiration and hope. We're going back again today to visit Joe Biden.But first, an octopus. Arguably this creature with more neurons in its arms than head qualifies as this planet’s first intelligent being.Arguably it also qualifies ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
3 days ago

Unfinished Projects.
When I left academia in 2011 I was forced to stop two book projects that were in the works. Without institutional support and resourcing it is impossible to conduct in-depth academic research that requires field research in foreign countries and … Continue reading → ...
KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
4 days ago

Bob Brockie’s view …
...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
4 days ago

Defence Minister doesn’t mention US or China at international summit – and Singapore newspaper d...
Buzz from the Beehive Defence Minister Andrew Little, addressing big-wigs from around the world in Singapore, was oh-so-diplomatically disinclined to identify some countries as goodies or baddies in his government’s defence thinking. In his Speech To The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023, he did say New Zealand’s most recent defence assessment ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
4 days ago

The Hoon: On the China Tightrope; Cycleways vs drivers
This week’s hoon included Wellington City Councillor Tamatha Paul on the politics of Lets Get Wellington Moving and the great battle for the Thorndon Quay cycle way. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTLDR: The week’s news in Aotearoa’s political economy I covered via The Kākā for subscribers included:The Labour Government’s ...
The KakaBy Tamatha Paul
4 days ago

How do you read substack?
Morning all,I’ve been taking a look at some of the new features Substack have released and I’m keen to find out how you access newsletters. Some of the features are only available on certain platforms.Whether you use a mobile device like a phone or tablet, or a PC or laptop. ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
4 days ago

A genuinely inspiring story about political leaders getting huge things done
Hello! This is the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the week.Here’s what you may have missed.Last Sunday’s column had a genuinely inspiring story about political leaders getting huge things done in the face of culture wars and conservative resistance. Readers told me this should ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
4 days ago

Unforced Variations: Jun 2023
This month’s open thread on climate topics. The post Unforced Variations: Jun 2023 first appeared on RealClimate. ...
Real ClimateBy group
5 days ago

What Do Economists Do?
Steven Levitt, famous for his Freakanomics, shows that being an economist is not just mouthing supply and demand.Anyone can call themselves an ‘economist’. Many do, despite having no qualifications in economics and hardly any formal training; they often make elementary errors. That is the result of a conscious decision of ...
PunditBy Brian Easton
5 days ago

Call for help: Update or create translations for updated rebuttals!
Over the years, we've published several calls for help with translations but most of them were rather generalized in nature like last year's blog post published in February 2022. This time around, we are asking for help with a quite specific task, namely to update existing translations for the rebuttals included ...
Skeptical Science
5 days ago

Only a fool believes past performance is any indicator of future performance
1. By what name is this work of art known?a. The Drowning Dog, Francisco Goyab. The Temptation of St Anthony, Hieronymus Boschc. Saturn Devouring His Son Peter, Paul Rubensd. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown Waves To A Stuff Journalist Through A Window, Stuff Photographer Ricky Wilson2. Who was in the news ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
5 days ago

GRAHAM ADAMS: “Co-governance for your deck!”
An effective campaign against the RMA reforms will be a nightmare for Hipkins. Graham Adams writes – After a Budget that failed to excite voters and a lacklustre party conference where his senior colleagues faintly praised him for his proletarian taste in food, the very last thing Chris Hipkins ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
5 days ago

Code of conduct for school board members is announced by a minister whose grasp of Parliament’s ru...
Buzz from the Beehive Education Minister Jan Tinetti brings news of a book of rules for school board members at the same time as her own grasp of Parliament’s rule book has been brought into question. Tinetti has announced a compulsory code of conduct to “ensure school board members are ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
5 days ago

Ask Me Anything about the week to June 2
Photo by Branden Tate on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour from midday (my apologies for the late start today), including:the Government’s vague promise of sharing the costs of cyclone rebuilding and buy-backs ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
5 days ago

Perfect 10?
Last night was a big night for our most celebrated radio presenter.Mike Hosking was named the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year - for the third straight year - as well as Best Talk Presenter (breakfast/drive) at the New Zealand Radio awards. Do you feel proud Aotearoa?In the presenter category ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
5 days ago

Gordon Campbell on how private profits are driving Defence spending
Speak of the devil. The Australian website Crikey has just launched an investigative series about the notorious lobbying firm Crosby Textor, or C/T as it now prefers to be called. It transpires that two clients of C/T’s American subsidiary will benefit greatly from the AUKUS defence pact between the US, ...
Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
5 days ago

The climate change bill arrives and the grown-ups don't want to pay
Aotearoa’s failure to deal with the escalating pace of human-induced climate change was starkly on display yesterday. Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: Our planet is now warming and generating extreme climate events faster than our politicians, voters and institutions can agree to reduce the costs and share the burden of those events ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
5 days ago

NZ Politics Daily: 2 June 2023
MEDIA REGULATION AND CODE OF CONDUCT, BROADCASTING Glenn McConnell (Post): ‘The cost will be everyday Kiwis’: New media regulation concerns civil society (paywalled) Jonathan Ayling (Stuff): Media regulation plan – a censor’s greatest dream Shayne Currie (Herald): Media regulation: New super-power government body set to rule over news and social media ...
Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
5 days ago

Weekly Roundup 2-June-2023
It’s Friday and we’ve got a long weekend ahead of us. Here’s our latest roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. The Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt reviewed National’s new housing policy. On Tuesday Matt looked at some of the highlights from Auckland Transport’s ...
Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
5 days ago

The Commonwealth, cricket and curry
The facts are bald and simple; India is now the most populous country in the world and the fifth largest economy and is on track to becoming the fourth. Despite that, New Zealand’s relationship with India could best be described as in its infancy, even though New Zealand has ...
PolitikBy Richard Harman
5 days ago

Skeptical Science New Research for Week #22 2023
Open access notables Multiple studies indicate changes in the properties of Antarctic bottom water (AABW) over the past half century. These changes involve density and hence will affect both local and distant circulation of the oceans, not least overturning effects that are vital for marine biology but also climate and ...
Skeptical Science
6 days ago

2023 More Reading: May
Completed reads for May: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathan Swift Journey to the Centre of the Earth, by Jules Verne Round the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne The Secret of the Island, by Jules Verne From the Earth ...
A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
6 days ago

Australia’s most-decorated war-criminal
Ben Roberts-Smith is apparently "Australia’s most decorated living soldier", having won a Victoria Cross for killing people in Afghanistan. But today, after a stupendous self-own defamation case, he's also been proven to be a war criminal who committed multiple murders: Ben Roberts-Smith VC, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, has ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
6 days ago

Will the Government come to my rescue?
Hey Uncle Dave, My house got wrecked in the summer floods. Do you know if the government’s got any plans to help me, or are they too busy making bilingual road signs?Noah InsuranceYou picked a good day to ask, Noah, the Govt has just announced there’ll be an offer of ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
6 days ago

Levy on agricultural fertiliser ruled out by farmers in the battle on climate change – but that do...
The government has looked at imposing a tax on nitrogen fertiliser, used heavily in NZ agriculture, but yesterday Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor conceded he had not convinced farming leaders to go ahead with it. ACT”s Mark Cameron claimed credit in Parliament for “killing” the plan. Both Federated ...
Point of OrderBy tutere44
6 days ago

National commit to fund a mental approach to birth control.
Are women the new Māori?Since Christopher Luxon has been leader National have shown they’re prepared to throw Māori under a bus. Be it not wanting them to have a seat at the table on water management, referring to the Treaty as a “little experiment”, or the monocultural candidate selection polices ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
6 days ago

National commit to fund a mental approach to birth control.
Are women the new Māori?Since Christopher Luxon has been leader National have shown they’re prepared to throw Māori under a bus. Be it not wanting them to have a seat at the table on water management, referring to the Treaty as a “little experiment”, or the monocultural candidate selection polices ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
6 days ago

Verrall enthuses about the beneficial effects of tax breaks while O’Connor muses on a fertiliser t...
Buzz from the Beehive An email from Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta had yet to be posted on the government’s official website, when Point of Order made its morning check on our ministers and what they are (officially) up to. She was providing us with an account – a ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
6 days ago

THOMAS CRANMER: Minister awaits review into DOC funding hole
Multiple reviews are examining options to address a $25M to $40M funding hole in its operating budget and a reported $300M, 70,000 hour maintenance backlog for huts, tracks and visitor assets. Thomas Cranmer writes – Following Friday’s revelation that Budget 2023 has left the Department of Conservation ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
6 days ago

Brighter signs from economy pre-election
Property values fell a further 0.7% in May from April across Aotearoa, but Core Logic sees evidence in the data “the current downturn is winding up.” Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: There are fresh signs this morning the housing market-with-bits-tacked-on economy is brightening up going into winter, and just ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
6 days ago

NZ Politics Daily: 1 June 2023
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SPY AGENCIES Thomas Manch (Post): New Zealand’s search for security as a new era of great-power competition arrives(paywalled) Thomas Manch (Post): Defence Minister Andrew Little to meet Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu in Singapore Alexander Gillespie (North & South): The Awkwardness of AUKUS (preview) Christine Rovoi (Stuff): Pacific takes ...
Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
6 days ago

The future of the Medium Density Residential Standards
This is a cross post by Malcom McCracken at Better things are possible. It was from between when National signalled their change in housing policy but before they announced it but highlights why the Medium Density Residential Standards are important. Yesterday, the leader of the National Party, Christopher Luxon, ...
Greater AucklandBy Matt L
6 days ago

Evaluation of GCM simulations with a regional focus.
Do the global climate models (GCMs) we use for describing future climate change really capture the change and variations in the region that we want to study? There are widely used tools for evaluating global climate models, such as the ESMValTool, but they don’t provide the answers that I ...
Real ClimateBy rasmus
7 days ago

Climate Adam: We're NOT about to pass the 1.5 degree climate change limit
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). The world is getting hotter and the headlines are scary. So does climate change mean the world is about to pass ...
Skeptical Science
7 days ago

Climate Change: He waka eke noa is dead, hurrah!
Politik (paywalled) reports that He waka eke noa, the farmers' scam to have the rest of us subsidise their emissions forever, so they can keep on destroying the planet, is dead: Reality appears to be about to shatter Jacinda Ardern's dream that New Zealand could lead the world in ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
7 days ago

Mātauranga Māori will propel Pāpāmoa school kids’ science learning (in te reo) and give lift-o...
Buzz from the Beehive Two ministerial press statements today draw attention to the Government’s incorporation of mātauranga Māori in its science policies and programmes. One of these announced the launch of the national space policy, which will oblige our space boffins to bring indigenous knowledge into their considerations. The ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
7 days ago

The Stations of the Chris
The Stations of the Cross, as all of us know from our devout and Godly ways, is a series of fourteen stations that depict the final hours in the story of Christ our Lord - appearing before Pilate, shouldering the wooden cross, whistling the Monty Python tune, so on and ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
7 days ago

The Stations of the Chris
The Stations of the Cross, as all of us know from our devout and Godly ways, is a series of fourteen stations that depict the final hours in the story of Christ our Lord - appearing before Pilate, shouldering the wooden cross, whistling the Monty Python tune, so on and ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
7 days ago

Trivial, but telling
The Herald reports on a trivial but telling incident from Parliament: Labour Cabinet Minister Kiri Allan read the wrong speech at the third reading of a freedom camping bill in Parliament last night. She re-read almost word for word a speech given at the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation bill’s ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
7 days ago

Greens welcome Government joining the party to deal with disposable vapes
The Green Party are welcoming the Government’s announcement of regulations to curb youth vaping. ...
Greens
22 hours ago

Greens launch rental stories campaign
The Green Party are today launching a campaign asking for people to submit their stories of subpar, substandard and downright awful experiences of renting in Aotearoa. ...
Greens
1 day ago

Greens call for cross-party support on electoral reform
The Green Party is welcoming the draft report of the Independent Electoral Review and challenging all political parties to commit to implementing its final recommendations after the 2023 general election. ...
Greens
1 day ago

Tākuta Ferris to stand in Te Tai Tonga
Today, Te Pāti Māori announce Takuta Ferris will contest the Te Tai Tonga seat at this year’s General Election. “Takura ran for the Te Tai Tonga seat for Te Pāti Māori in 2020. It takes tremendous courage and commitment to put your hand up for another round in the ring ...
Māori Party
3 days ago

Repeating Mass Immigration Mistakes For Same Result
Focussed immigration has always been essential to our future, but New Zealanders need to be aware of the immediate dire situation our government is putting us in with a predicted record of one hundred thousand new immigrants moving to New Zealand in this year alone. That means we will have ...
NZ First Press Release
5 days ago

Heather Te-Au Skipworth to stand in the General Seat in Tukituki
Today, President of Te Pāti Māori, John Tamihere has confirmed that Heather Te-Au Skipworth will stand for Te Pāti Māori in the Tukituki electorate this election. ...
Māori Party
5 days ago

New Zealand First Secure 1800 New Frontline Police – Not Labour
During New Zealand First coalition negotiations our policy was to train and resource 1800 new frontline police. We secured this coalition policy win to ensure our streets had a police force that could tackle crime - after years of neglect. Remember those previous nine years of neglect saw a ‘tag ...
NZ First Press Release
6 days ago

STUFF's 'Fact Checking' Is Stuffed
Katie Kenny from Stuff published an article today with a lazy attempt at so-called ‘fact checking’ my recent comments on the World Health Organisation’s concerning new regulations being developed. What is most surprising is that throughout this entire ‘fact checking’ process, Kenny never once rang me asking for my side ...
NZ First Press Release
7 days ago

Greens back striking secondary teachers
The Green Party backs secondary teachers resuming strike action. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Chris Hipkins: Speech to the Labour Party Congress 2023
Chris Hipkins addressed the Labour Party Congress in Wellington. Read the Labour Leader’s speech here. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

National’s backtrack forces another visionless, shambolic policy
The National Party has released another confused and rushed policy that will only further worsen the inequality that is driven by unaffordable housing. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Grant Robertson: Speech to the Labour Party Congress 2023
Welcome to sunny and calm Wellington, which I know those of you who are visiting would of course expect to be the case. It’s been a busy week since we put forward the 2023 Budget. Labour MPs have been out across the motu giving the good oil on the Budget. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Carmel Sepuloni: Speech to the Labour Party Congress 2023
Kia orana, Talofa lava, Mālo e lelei, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Noa’ia e mauri, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia ora, Tena Koutou Katoa. Labour Party President Jill Day, Prime Minister Hipkins, Party faithful, delegates and comrades, whānau and friends, it’s a privilege to be here today. I begin my ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Kelvin Davis: Speech to the Labour Party Congress 2023
One of my kaumātua up North stood before the Waitangi Tribunal and said: ‘He aha kē ahau, te tangata kore hara i mua i te Atua, e tu nei kia whakawaatia e koe, te tangata tāhae, te tangata hara, te tangata kore tikanga? Ko koe kē te tika, kia tū ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

W.H.O. Director General Seeking Powers To Override Sovereign States
New Zealanders will be highly concerned that the World Health Organisation proposes to effectively take control of independent decision making away from sovereign countries and place control with the Director General. W.H.O International Health Regulations on future outbreaks of disease aim to give the Director General extraordinary and wide-sweeping powers. ...
NZ First Press Release
2 weeks ago

We don’t need to engineer a recession, Government can tax wealth
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take responsibility for reducing inflation by taxing wealth instead of leaving RBNZ to continue hiking the Official Cash Rate. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Enough posturing, let’s get on and build enough public housing
The Green Party is urging the Government to take its own advice and come up with a long-term plan to build thousands more public homes. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Green Party unveils its list for the 2023 election
The Green Party has released its list of candidates for the 2023 election. With a mix of familiar faces, fresh new talent, and strong tangata whenua voices, this exceptional group of candidates are ready to set the direction of the next Government. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Beyond the Farm Gate Lurks Separatism
Thank you for your invitation to be here, after yesterday's budget, and for the opportunity to talk with you. In the economic and social turmoil following the arrival of COVID 19 in New Zealand many concerns emerged. How would we keep our economy going and maintain our exports which are ...
NZ First Press Release
3 weeks ago

Budget 2023: More cost of living support
At the heart of Budget 2023 is a cost of living package, designed to ease the pressure on New Zealanders in the face of global inflation and the challenges of rebuilding from extreme weather events. It provides practical cost of living relief across some of the core expenses facing Kiwis ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Highlights of Budget 2023
Budget 2023 delivers practical cost of living support for New Zealanders today and makes targeted investments to build a better future. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Greens welcome much needed investment but Labour can go further for Te Ao Māori & Pasifika in t...
Today the Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka (Māori and Pasifika) caucus supported the 2023 Budget, but there’s still room for improvement. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Free prescriptions important step forward
The Green Party is today welcoming free prescriptions. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Long-term commitment needed on public housing
Budget 2023’s investment in public housing falls short of what’s needed. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

ECE extension Green win nearly 10 years in the making
The Green Party is today celebrating Budget 2023 funding extending free ECE to two year olds. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Green initiative addresses both climate and inequality
A long standing Green Party policy has been extended yet again in this year’s Budget. This will deliver warmer homes for thousands of people, lower power bills, and cut climate pollution. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Greens on board with more affordable buses and trains
The Green Party is fully on board with free bus and train travel for under 12s and half price travel for under 25s - next stop, free travel for all under 18s, students, and apprentices. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Budget 2023 falls short of what’s needed
Today’s Budget makes good progress on climate and inequality, but falls short of what’s needed to fix both. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Proposed temporary change to allow mixed waste burning on East Coast rural land
A proposed temporary law change would enable rural Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti landowners dealing with masses of cyclone and flood debris to burn mixed waste so they can replant and return their land to productivity, Environment Minister David Parker said today. The proposed short-term law change would ensure that any ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 hour ago

Emergency Management Bill introduced
Legislation introduced in Parliament today will ensure New Zealand’s emergency management system learns the lessons of recent and previous responses to natural disasters, including severe weather events and other emergencies. The Emergency Management Bill replaces the two decades old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. “The strength of our emergency ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 hours ago

New Zealand Fiji reaffirm close relationship
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka met in Wellington this morning, reaffirming the strength and spirit of New Zealand and Fiji’s relationship, as outlined in the Duavata Relationship Statement of Partnership. “New Zealand and Fiji are connected by a kinship forged in Pacific culture, identity and interests, ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 hours ago

Primary teachers' top base salary step to rise to $100,000
Primary teachers have agreed to the Government’s pay offer which will see the top base salary step rise to $100,000 by December next year. The settlement will also see a number of improvements to primary teachers’ conditions, including more than double the classroom release time they currently have to ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 hours ago

SH25A Bridge construction to get underway in next fortnight
Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan has announced the construction plan for the bridge on State Highway 25A that will reconnect the Coromandel peninsula, bringing more certainty to the region’s recovery efforts. “The Government is committed to reconnecting Coromandel communities quickly, and this plan to repair the damage along the highway ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 hours ago

Speech to the Seafood Sustainability Awards 2023
Tena koutou katoa and welcome to Parliament. It is a great pleasure for me to host you here today, for the second New Zealand Seafood Sustainability Awards. The awards started in 2020 and officially, are to be held every two years. But as with so many things, COVID got in the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
18 hours ago

Equal gender representation on public sector boards for third year in a row
Representation for women on public sector boards and committees is the highest it’s ever been with wāhine now making up 53.1 percent of public board and committee members,” Minister for Women Jan Tinetti said. Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women’s 2022 stocktake of public sector boards and committees shows for the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
21 hours ago

New law passes on child support to sole parents
A new law enabling sole parents on a benefit to receive child support payments for their tamariki was passed in Parliament today. “This change is estimated to lift as many as 14,000 children out of poverty and give families a median of $20 extra a week,” said Social Development and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
21 hours ago

New moves to curb youth vaping
Crack down on disposable vapes No new vape shops near schools or marae Restricted descriptions for product flavours The Government is taking action to reduce the number of young people taking up vaping, Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Too many young people are vaping, which is why we’re ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
21 hours ago

Fiji Prime Minister Rabuka to visit New Zealand
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “Prime Minister Rabuka officially visited New Zealand in 1998, over 25 years ago, and we look forward to welcoming him here once again,” Chris Hipkins said. “New Zealand and Fiji have a long ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Sports stars and administrators honoured
The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List 2023 includes sporting stars and administrators who reflect the best of New Zealand’s sporting community. Sir Wayne Smith has been knighted for services to rugby. Sir Wayne was Assistant Coach of the All Blacks at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Kapa Haka rangatira amongst those honoured on King’s Birthday
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa taki tini ‘My success is not mine alone, but that of the people” The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list 2023 celebrates Māori from all walks of life, reflecting the achievements of those who have made a significant contribution to ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

King’s Birthday Honours recognise strength of service to NZ
The strength and diversity of service in New Zealand is a standout feature of today’s King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. “Each of today’s 182 recipients has contributed individually to our country. Viewed collectively, their efforts reflect an overwhelming commitment to service.” Chris Hipkins said. ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Closer defence cooperation between New Zealand and Japan
The Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Japan have signed a statement of intent for closer defence cooperation between the two Pacific regional partners. Andrew Little and H. E. Yasukazu Hamada met to sign the ‘Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation in Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

SPEECH: To the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023 by the Honourable Andrew Little MP, New Zealand Ministe...
New Zealand’s most recent defence assessment identified climate change and geostrategic competition as the two greatest security challenges to our place in the South Pacific. To the first issue, partners engaging and re-engaging with Pacific Island Countries are finding that climate change is a security and existential threat in our ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Govt supporting more rangatahi into training and employment opportunities
The government is continuing to support rangatahi in providing more funding into Maori Trades training and new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes across Aotearoa. “We’re backing 30 new by Māori for Māori Kaupapa employment and training programmes, which will help iwi into sustainable employment or progress within their chosen careers” says ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Energy self-sufficient marae reopens with support of Government investment
Murihiku Marae was officially reopened today, setting a gold standard in sustainable building practices as well as social outcomes for the people of Waihōpai Invercargill, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. “The marae has been a central hub for this community since the 1980’s. With the support of $9.65 million ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

First major Whangārei public housing project in a generation complete
The first major public housing development in Whangārei for decades has reached completion, with 37 new homes opened in the suburb of Maunu today. The project on Tapatahi Crescent and Puriri Park Road, consists of 15 one-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom, 7 three-bedroom, 8 four-bedroom and 3 five-bedroom homes, as well as ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Trade Minister to represent New Zealand trade interests abroad
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damen O’Connor will depart tomorrow for London to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting and then to Paris to vice-chair the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. “My travel to the United Kingdom is well-timed, with the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (UK FTA) ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Bill to boost national fuel resiliency introduced
The Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill would: boost New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience and economic security enable the minimum stockholding obligation regulations to be adapted as the energy and transport environment evolves. “Last November, I announced a six-point plan to improve the resiliency of our fuel supply from ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Faster ACC payment top-ups and fairer system
The Government is making sure those on low incomes will no longer have to wait five weeks to get the minimum weekly rate of ACC, and improving the data collected to make the system fairer, Minister for ACC Peeni Henare said today. The Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Compulsory code of conduct for school boards introduced
A compulsory code of conduct will ensure school board members are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected standard of behaviour, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti said. It’s the first time a compulsory code of conduct has been published for state and state-integrated school boards and comes into effect on ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Speech to the New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen annual conference.
Tena koutou katoa and thank you, Mayor Nadine Taylor, for your welcome to Marlborough. Thanks also Doug Saunders-Loder and all of you for inviting me to your annual conference. As you might know, I’m quite new to this job – and I’m particularly pleased that the first organisation I’m giving a ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Govt to support councils with buyout and better protection of cyclone and flood affected properties
The Government will enter into a funding arrangement with councils in cyclone and flood affected regions to support them to offer a voluntary buyout for owners of Category 3 designated residential properties. It will also co-fund work needed to protect Category 2 designated properties. “From the beginning of this process ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Government delivers changes to reduce pokies harm
The Government has announced changes to strengthen requirements in venues with pokie (gambling) machines will come into effect from 15 June. “Pokies are one of the most harmful forms of gambling. They can have a detrimental impact on individuals, their friends, whānau and communities,” Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds said. ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Government delivers 1800 additional frontline Police
The total Police workforce is now the largest it has ever been. Police constabulary stands at 10,700 officers – an increase of 21% since 2017 Māori officers have increased 40%, Pasifika 83%, Asian 157%, Women 61% Every district has got more Police under this Government The Government has delivered on ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Minister Mahuta talks Pacific ambitions at the first Korea-Pacific Leaders’ summit
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta met with Korea President Yoon, as well as Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, during her recent visit to Korea. “It was an honour to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the first Korea – Pacific Leaders’ Summit. We discussed Pacific ambitions under the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Government drives $2 billion of business research and development
The Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive has supported more than $2 billion of New Zealand business innovation – an increase of around $1 billion in less than nine months. "Research and innovation are essential in helping us meet the biggest challenges and seize opportunities facing New Zealand. It’s fantastic ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
7 days ago

Achieving lift off: National Space Policy launched
The next ‘giant leap’ in New Zealand’s space journey has been taken today with the launch of the National Space Policy, Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds announced. “Our space sector is growing rapidly. Each year New Zealand is becoming a more and more attractive place for launches, manufacturing space-related technology ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

New science and creative technologies wharekura announced
A new Year 7-13 designated character wharekura will be built in Pāpāmoa, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The wharekura will focus on science, mathematics and creative technologies while connecting ākonga to the whakapapa of the area. The decision follows an application by the Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Freedom Camping changes a win for the environment
Protecting the environment by establishing a stronger, more consistent system for freedom camping Supporting councils to better manage freedom camping in their region and reduce the financial and social impacts on communities Ensuring that self-contained vehicle owners have time to prepare for the new system The Self-Contained Motor Vehicle ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Speeding up the family court, reducing stress on families
A new law passed last night could see up to 25 percent of Family Court judges’ workload freed up in order to reduce delays, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan said. The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill will establish a new role known as the Family Court Associate. The ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

UK FTA delivers benefits from today
New Zealand businesses will begin reaping the rewards of our gold-standard free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK FTA) from today. “The New Zealand UK FTA enters into force from today, and is one of the seven new or upgraded Free Trade Agreements negotiated by Labour to date,” Prime ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Next steps to reform outdated surrogacy law
The Government will reform outdated surrogacy laws to improve the experiences of children, surrogates, and the growing number of families formed through surrogacy, by adopting Labour MP Tāmati Coffey’s Member’s Bill as a Government Bill, Minister Kiri Allan has announced. “Surrogacy has become an established method of forming a family ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Defence Minister to attend Shangri-La Dialogue
Defence Minister Andrew Little departs for Singapore tomorrow to attend the 20th annual Shangri-La Dialogue for Defence Ministers from the Indo-Pacific region. “Shangri-La brings together many countries to speak frankly and express views about defence issues that could affect us all,” Andrew Little said. “New Zealand is a long-standing participant ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

New Zealand–China science relationship affirmed
Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met in Wellington today and affirmed the two countries’ long-standing science relationship. Minister Wang was in New Zealand for the 6th New Zealand-China Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation. Following ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Supporting a strong future for screen sector
5 percent uplift clearer and simpler to navigate Domestic productions can access more funding sources 20 percent rebate confirmed for post-production, digital and visual effects Qualifying expenditure for post-production, digital and visual effects rebate dropped to $250,000 to encourage more smaller productions The Government is making it easier for the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Minister Sepuloni to attend 61st Anniversary of Samoa’s Independence
Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni will represent New Zealand at Samoa’s 61st Anniversary of Independence commemorations in Apia. “Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to share in this significant occasion, alongside other invited Pacific leaders, and congratulates Samoa on the milestone of 61 ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Govt backs retailers with expansion of fog cannon programme
The Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. “The Government is committed to improving retailers’ safety,” Ginny Andersen said. “I’ve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Government will consider recommendations of Intelligence and Security Act review
The Government has received the first independent review of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says. The review, considered by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, was presented to the House of Representatives today. “Ensuring the safety and security of New Zealanders is of the utmost ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Giant tree-kangaroos once lived in unexpected places all over Australia, according to major new anal...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gavin Prideaux, Professor, Flinders University Dendrolagus ursinus, or Goodfellow’s tree-kangaroo. Shutterstock Kangaroos are an enduring symbol of Australia’s uniqueness. To move, they do what no other large mammals do: they hop along on oversized hind legs. So you may be surprised to ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
35 mins ago

Muscle Memory: winner of the 2023 Charles Brasch Young Writers’ Essay Competition
Xiaole Zhan’s vivid, award-winning essay about how music can shape the perception of one’s own body was originally published in Landfall 245. I am seventeen with naked knees hacking into the trachea of a dead sheep. The smell will stain me, like bloodshot snow, or the taste of cigarettes and ...
The SpinoffBy Xiaole Zhan
2 hours ago

He Waka Eke Noa: Luxon accuses government of 'blowing up' agricultural emissions plan
The National leader says the He Waka Eke Noa plan is 'no longer a bipartisan process' because the government has gone its own way. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 hours ago

He Waka Eke Noa: Luxon accuses government of 'blowing up' agricultural emissions plan
The National leader says the He Waka Eke Noa plan is 'no longer a bipartisan process' because the government has gone its own way. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 hours ago

Hipkins meets with Fiji’s Sitiveni Rabuka, offers climate change aid
Chris Hipkins has met with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka in Wellington, offering financial support to the Pacific nation as it addresses the impacts of climate change. In a statement, Hipkins said he had an “inspired discussion” with Rabuka on how our two countries can further cooperate to combat climate ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
2 hours ago

Submissions Invited On Proposed Legislative Changes Regarding Fuel Resilience Measures
The Chairperson of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee is calling for public submissions on the Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill. The bill aims to ensure that New Zealand has adequate fuel stocks to mitigate ...
Scoop politics
2 hours ago

The Real Pod: The stinky secrets of the Love Island villa with Iain Stirling
This week on our pop culture podcast we talk Tina from Turners, Pete Evans’ new ‘do and the secrets of the Love Island villa from Iain Stirling himself. Eat, sleep, crack on, repeat – It’s Love Island week and we could not be more excited to return to ...
The SpinoffBy The Real Pod
2 hours ago

Groundswell NZ: He Waka Eke Noa On Its Last Legs
“Common sense, driven by Groundswell NZ, seems to be finally permeating the He Waka Eke Noa space. A tax on the world’s most efficient farmers is counterproductive to food security, pricing, and would drive emissions offshore and in greater volume ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

Lawyer Says New Zealand Treating Southeast Asia As Its 'Rubbish Bin' For Plastic Waste
A Malaysian lawyer who petitioned for New Zealand to stop sending plastic recycling to developing countries will be facing off against industry groups in Parliament tomorrow. This Thursday morning, petition leader Lydia Chai will argue for a ban ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

Whakarongo Mai Concerned About Lack Of Housing For Young People Leaving State Care
Homelessness is traumatic for young people, with potentially lifelong impacts on their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. According to data by STATS NZ, almost 50% of all those experiencing homelessness in Aotearoa are tamariki and rangatahi. ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

Govt Report On Animals 'Used' And 'Killed' For Science Highlights The Need For G...
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has released its most recent report on the use of animals in science , stating that 308,872 animals were used for research, testing and teaching in NZ that year, and nearly half (47%) of these animals were ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

How Love Island’s Iain Stirling became the voice of a reality TV generation
Alex Casey chats to Love Island UK narrator Iain Stirling about creating voiceover magic, smoking around the firepit and the fatal flaw in Love Island NZ. Iain Stirling is holding up a small black case like a Deal or No Deal lady. He’s in his spare room in North London, ...
The SpinoffBy Alex Casey
3 hours ago

Call For Political Parties To Commit To Transport Priorities
Leading road transport body Transporting New Zealand is calling on all political parties to make transport a top priority in this year’s election. The organisation has released the Road Transport Industry Platform for the 2023 General Election. ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

Have Your Say On Extended Trading Hours For On-licensed And Club-licensed Premises During The 2023 R...
The Chairperson of the Justice Committee is calling for submissions on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Rugby World Cup 2023 Extended Trading Hours) Amendment Bill. The 2023 men’s Rugby World Cup will take place from 9 September 2023 to 29 October ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

Watch live: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka speak to media after meeting
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and his Fiji counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka are speaking after a meeting in Wellington. ...
Radio NZ – political
3 hours ago

Watch live: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka speak to media after meeting
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and his Fiji counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka are speaking after a meeting in Wellington. ...
Radio NZ – political
3 hours ago

National’s infrastructure policy includes new agency, fast-track consenting process
National’s unveiled a new election year policy dubbed “infrastructure for the future”, which the party said will address the country’s “yawning” infrastructure deficit. It includes a new National Infrastructure Agency that would help coordinate government funding and improve delivery, new partnership deals between the government and local councils to create ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
4 hours ago

Newsletter: June 07 2023 – Items of interest and importance today
New Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. Today’s content MICHAEL WOOD AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES CONFLICT OF INTEREST Luke Malpass (Stuff): Michael Wood, the shares, and the taint of incompetence Thomas Coughlan ...
Evening ReportBy Bryce Edwards
4 hours ago

The Bulletin: The Covid awards that have left many feeling hurt and frustrated
Duncan Greive has a story on The Spinoff this morning on the awards designed to recognise the service of frontline workers during the pandemic. A year on from the announcement of the awards, hundreds of seemingly eligible people and organisations have been turned down, while around 50,000 awards remain unclaimed. Greive spoke ...
The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell
5 hours ago

The story behind that famous blobfish meme
In 2003, a crew member on a New Zealand research vessel snapped a photo of a funny-looking fish. This is the story of how ‘Mr Blobby’ became a deep-sea icon. With its slimy pink skin, bulbous nose and downturned mouth, Mr Blobby is one of the world’s most famous fish. ...
The SpinoffBy Ellen Rykers
5 hours ago

Why is my snot green? How deep are my sinuses? Fascinating facts about mucus, noses and sprays
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David King, Senior Lecturer in General Practice, The University of Queensland Pexels/Cottonbro Studio, CC BY Our noses perform important functions every day of our lives, but we often only notice when disease changes how they work. Our sense of ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
5 hours ago

‘I can’t get it out of my mind’: new research reveals the suffering of people whose dogs died ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Cardilini, Lecturer, Environmental Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University Gajus, Shutterstock Use of sodium fluoroacetate poison baits – commonly known as 1080 – to kill unwanted animals is widespread ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
5 hours ago

5 reasons kids still need to learn handwriting (no, AI has not made it redundant)
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucinda McKnight, Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Curriculum, Deakin University Shutterstock The world of writing is changing. Things have moved very quickly from keyboards and predictive text. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) means bots can now write ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
5 hours ago

Primary teachers accept latest pay offer after negotiations, strikes
Primary teachers have accepted the latest collective agreement put forward by the education ministry – the fourth offer proposed following lengthy negotiations and strike action. In a statement, the head of the education union NZEI, Mark Potter, said the new agreement included significant wins for teachers. “The biggest win was ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
6 hours ago

How motorists can hack excise tax rise to save hundreds of dollars
Fuel companies are preparing marketing campaigns to sheet home the blame for next month's rise in fuel prices – and controversially, to show motorists how to avoid paying ...
Newsroom
6 hours ago

Lack of conflict management the reason Wood must be sacked, says Luxon
The National Party is standing by its call for Michael Wood to be sacked from all his ministerial posts. Wood, who retains his roles in the immigration and Auckland portfolio, was stood down as transport minister yesterday after it emerged he had continued to hold undeclared shares in Auckland Airport. ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
6 hours ago

Why Wood was grounded and the PM’s battle for clear air
Michael Wood got parked as transport minister yesterday, his explanation about not selling airport shares found wanting. He’s the fifth minister to cause the prime minister problems since January, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each ...
The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell
6 hours ago

Conservation Dept can file $100m contingency claim to remediate Ruapehu skifields
Ministers face new calls to push pause on the hasty sale of the North Island's ski fields ...
Newsroom
7 hours ago

Extending the term of parliament isn’t a terrible idea – it’s just one NZ has rejected twice a...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Associate Professor, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University Getty Images Among a host of other recommendations, the Independent Electoral Review has proposed a referendum on extending the term of parliament to four years (from the current ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
7 hours ago

Extending the term of parliament isn’t a terrible idea – it’s just one NZ has rejected twice a...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Associate Professor, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University Getty Images Among a host of other recommendations, the Independent Electoral Review has proposed a referendum on extending the term of parliament to four years (from the current ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
7 hours ago

The Covid response awards were designed to recognise service. For many, they erased it
Jacinda Ardern announced military-style awards to formally acknowledge the pandemic’s frontline workers. But a year on, hundreds of seemingly eligible people and organisations have been turned down, while around 50,000 awards remain unclaimed. The early days of the pandemic were a blur for Terry Taylor. The president of the New ...
The SpinoffBy Duncan Greive
8 hours ago

National is shooting its Māori seat candidates in the foot
They’re fielding candidates in the Māori seats for the first time in more than 20 years, but the question has to be asked – why? The National Party made headlines when it was announced they would field Māori electorate candidates in the upcoming election for the first time since 2002. ...
The SpinoffBy Tommy de Silva
9 hours ago

Elections shouldn't feel like TV infomercials
The big issues we all face – inequality, climate crises, social services, housing and health – get turned into soundbites ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

'Still a kid' but driving up a storm
From riding in her Dad's rally car aged 12, school girl Bella Haggarty is now co-driving in some of the country's biggest events. Bella Haggarty is on a fast track to success. The 15-year-old from Rangiora is a Year 11 student at St Margaret’s College in Christchurch, but away from that, ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

The places where bilingual is the norm
A proposal to put te reo Māori on New Zealand's road signs has sparked outcries at the cost and the confusion bilingual signage could bring. But as The Detail finds out, bilingual signage has been around for decades — and it works. In Wales, bilingual signage is everywhere. "You've got road signs ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

Why we’re getting urban densification so wrong
There are useful models to follow, particularly from many European cities where outdoor space is prioritised and urban character is considered in planning decisions Opinion: Many aspiring Kiwi homeowners long ago abandoned the quarter acre dream. But should they have to face the prospect of living in inhospitable urban centres ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

New TAB operator Entain breached Gambling Act, watchdog says
Entain subsidiary sent advertising materials days before TAB partnership was enacted. ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

Protect fertility, and it won't need fixing
As New Zealand reviews its surrogacy and adoption laws, Dr Anne Else argues that fertility is another area we are falling short Comment: This term Labour set out to tackle the urgent, long-delayed tasks of reforming surrogacy and adoption law. But both projects have become bogged down. The Law Commission's extremely ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

Māori foresters fail in urgent legal bid on ETS
High Court green-lights public consultation on changes to ETS despite Māori foresters saying more pre-engagement was needed. ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

Councillors partial to partial airport sale
If Wayne Brown’s full selldown of airport shares doesn’t get off the ground, will Auckland’s councillors find a compromise? After months of consultation and policy pruning, Auckland’s councillors will gather tomorrow to vote on Mayor Wayne Brown’s budget proposal - and it looks like it will come down to each ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

Accident shows DoC risking another Cave Creek
A tramper who fell 16m from a Department of Conservation swing bridge was a victim of mismanagement, a former ranger claims A senior DoC ranger who threw in his job over lax safety standards says the department is playing down the seriousness of an accident in which a tramper fell ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

‘It is a win’: Feedlot consents withdrawn
A small Canterbury community claims victory after a David and Goliath battle. David Williams reports. Plans to build a cattle feedlot in a tiny Canterbury valley, near one of the country’s most polluted lakes, have been pulled. Farm company Wongan Hills had been granted city council consent to build massive ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

NZ must sell smarter to young 'made in China' market
Like it or not, China will be part of our world for the foreseeable future ...
Newsroom
9 hours ago

Daily crossword, Wednesday 7 June
...
Newsroom
10 hours ago

Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 7 June
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Newsroom
10 hours ago

‘Let’s tell our own stories’ – Pacific broadcasters seek sovereignty
By Alice Lolohea of Tagata Pasifika Twenty five broadcasters from 13 Pacific countries touched down in Auckland recently for the Pacific Broadcasters conference. A meet and greet filled with lots of talanoa, networking and healthy debate, the conference was a welcome change from a typical Zoom meeting. Natasha Meleisea, chief ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
15 hours ago

Why Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe wants to damage the economy further
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe and his board have pushed up interest rates yet again – for the twelfth time in 14 months – because they want to damage the ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
18 hours ago

Self-interest versus public good: the untold damage the PwC scandal has done to the professions
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Longstaff, Honorary Professor, Australian National University Shutterstock The unfolding PwC scandal could be considered nothing more than an especially egregious example of ethical failure with dire consequences. However, there are deeper issues to be examined. The most obvious concerns ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
18 hours ago

Australia’s ties with Vietnam are important in their own right – not just in relation to the US ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liam Byrne, Honorary Fellow, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne Luong Thai Linh/ AAP Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent trip to Vietnam is a recognition that Australia’s relationship with the Southeast Asian nation is important ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
19 hours ago

Intimate and immense: remembering Kaija Saariaho, one of the greatest composers of our time
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liza Lim, Professor, Sculthorpe Chair of Australian Music, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney The Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho passed away Friday at the age of 70. There’s been an outpouring of grief, sadness and love on social media and ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
19 hours ago

Maxim Insitute Rejects Calls To Lower Voting Age
Maxim Institute respectfully disagrees with He Arotake Potitanga Motuhake – Independent Electoral Review’s interim report insofar as it advocates for lowering the minimum voting age from 18 to 16 years. There are indeed many decisions made by Parliament ...
Scoop politics
20 hours ago

PM stung by his own team falling short
The political radar has been switched off for some in Labour and it's Chris Hipkins’ political capital taking the hit, writes political editor Jo Moir Comment: Even if the Prime Minister had wanted to act quickly to deal with his Transport Minister’s conflicts of interest, he couldn’t because he was ...
Newsroom
20 hours ago

'No time to waste' dropping voting age to 16 – campaigners
A group campaigning to lower the voting age to 16 has been vindicated by an expert review of electoral laws. ...
Radio NZ – political
20 hours ago

Wood had been reminded to dispose of shares ‘half a dozen’ times – PM
The prime minister has faced further questions on Michael Wood’s failure to properly disclose his Auckland Airport shares, saying the transport minister himself “didn’t really have an adequate explanation” for the oversight. Speaking at this afternoon’s post-cabinet press conference, Chris Hipkins said he trusted that Wood, who was earlier today ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
21 hours ago

West Papuan ‘provisional’ government backs full membership of MSG
Asia Pacific Report The self-styled provisional government of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua“with the people” of the Melanesian region have declared political support for full West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). In a statement issued in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila after a meeting ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
21 hours ago

Does competition make us less moral? New research says yes, but only a little bit
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ozan Isler, Research Fellow, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Bao Truong / Unsplash Many of our economic and even social interactions are competitive. We use markets to find jobs, but also dates. What does this mean for our ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
22 hours ago

Crackdown on disposable vapes and vape shops near schools announced
The government has announced new vaping restrictions aimed at reducing the number of young people who take up the habit, with a crackdown on cheap disposable vapes, bans on new vape shops near schools and rules around how vaping products can be named. “From August this year, all vaping devices ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
22 hours ago

Crackdown on disposable vapes and vape shops near schools announced
The government has announced new vaping restrictions aimed at reducing the number of young people who take up the habit, with a crackdown on cheap disposable vapes, bans on new vape shops near schools and rules around how vaping products can be named. “From August this year, all vaping devices ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
22 hours ago

Watch: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, Health Minister Ayesha Verrall speak at post-Cabinet press conf...
The Prime Minister and Health Minister have announced changes to vaping products to try to reduce the number of young people taking it up. ...
Radio NZ – political
22 hours ago

Three shows you should see at this year’s Pacific Dance Festival
The traditional and contemporary intertwine at the first Pacific Dance Festival in three years. After a pandemic-induced absence of three years, Pacific Dance New Zealand’s annual Pacific Dance Festival has returned to Auckland. Opening the three week-long festival last week was Manu Malo by Aloali’i Tapu, with the highly anticipated ...
The SpinoffBy Sela Jane Hopgood
22 hours ago

Three shows you should see at this year’s Pacific Dance Festival
The traditional and contemporary intertwine at the first Pacific Dance Festival in three years. After a pandemic-induced absence of three years, Pacific Dance New Zealand’s annual Pacific Dance Festival has returned to Auckland. Opening the three week-long festival last week was Manu Malo by Aloali’i Tapu, with the highly anticipated ...
The SpinoffBy Sela Jane Hopgood
22 hours ago

Knighthood A Very Special Day For Ngati Porou
“A very special day for Ngati Porou”, was the reaction of Rei Kohere, Deputy Chairman of Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou, on the announcement of the Knighthood bestowed on Selwyn Tanetoa Parata in this year’s King’s Birthday honours. “The KCNZM, ...
Scoop politics
22 hours ago

Strengthening Relations With Thailand
A visit by officials from the Thai Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is being welcomed as an opportunity to strengthen a key bilateral relationship and support ongoing work to combat the illicit transnational narcotics trade in the Asia-Pacific ...
Scoop politics
23 hours ago

How India’s ‘slum-free’ redevelopment fails residents by ignoring their design insights and ne...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kali Marnane, Honorary Associate Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Queensland Kali Marnane (2023), Author provided I’m in Ahmedabad, India, standing where families once built their homes under the shade of large trees. Today, those houses are ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
23 hours ago

Housing and heritage don’t have to be mutually exclusive
How a few basic rules can help get the balance right. Anyone trying to follow the latest political debate over housing, urban intensification and development can be forgiven for feeling confused. The National Party’s newly announced housing policy would allow local councils to opt out of the Medium ...
The SpinoffBy Alexander Gillespie
23 hours ago

Housing and heritage don’t have to be mutually exclusive
How a few basic rules can help get the balance right. Anyone trying to follow the latest political debate over housing, urban intensification and development can be forgiven for feeling confused. The National Party’s newly announced housing policy would allow local councils to opt out of the Medium ...
The SpinoffBy Alexander Gillespie
23 hours ago

Major new research claims smaller-brained _Homo naledi_ made rock art and buried the dead. But the e...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Petraglia, Director, Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University Wikimedia, CC BY-SA On September 13 2013, speleologists Rick Hunter and Steven Tucker descended deep into South Africa’s Rising Star cave system and discovered the first evidence of an ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
23 hours ago

Wood speaks on losing transport role, Hipkins questioned in house
A key reason for standing down Michael Wood as transport minister was the fact he had told the Cabinet Office his shares in Auckland Airport would be sold, but then they weren’t, Chris Hipkins has said. On his way to question time in parliament this afternoon, soon after he announced ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
23 hours ago

Wood speaks on losing transport role, Hipkins questioned in house
A key reason for standing down Michael Wood as transport minister was the fact he had told the Cabinet Office his shares in Auckland Airport would be sold, but then they weren’t, Chris Hipkins has said. On his way to question time in parliament this afternoon, soon after he announced ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
23 hours ago

Building activity produces 18% of emissions and a shocking 40% of our landfill waste. We must move t...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By M. Reza Hosseini, Senior Lecturer in Construction, Deputy Director, Mediated Intelligence in Design (MInD) Research Lab, Deakin University Shutterstock Architecture, engineering and construction employ 1.2 million people in Australia and account for 9% of GDP. But our biggest services sector ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
23 hours ago

Controversial Wongan Hills Feedlot Development Cancelled
SAFE has been notified today that the resource consent application to build four composting barns/feedlots in Kaituna Valley has been withdrawn. The feedlots would have confined 2,200 cows permanently indoors. The controversial proposal faced substantial ...
Scoop politics
23 hours ago

Rich Countries’ Continued Failure To Honour Their Climate Finance Promise Threatens Undermines Cli...
New Zealand still has much more to do to support poorer countries adapt and respond to the climate crisis. Oxfam Aotearoa’s Climate Justice Lead Nick Henry said: “Oxfam’s report reveals that as governments around the world begin negotiations of a new global ...
Scoop politics
23 hours ago

How fudgeywudgeychef mastered the art of chaotic TikTok cooking content
Step aside perfect-looking food content, there’s a new chef in town. Charlotte Muru-Lanning meets fudgeywudgeychef, the Auckland TikTok creator bringing an eccentric edge to cooking videos. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. Whenever social media purports to shed its softly-lit, idealised vision of what food, ...
The SpinoffBy Charlotte Muru-Lanning
24 hours ago

The King's Birthday And Coronation Honours List 2023
...
Scoop politics
24 hours ago

Michael Wood stood down as transport minister over airport shares controversy
Michael Wood has been stood down as transport minister after it was revealed he had not properly disclosed owning shares in Auckland Airport. “This morning I spoke with Michael Wood and advised him that he will be stood down as transport minister while any remaining issues around his conflicts are ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
24 hours ago

Why insurance should be a state monopoly

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