Why Is New Zealand So Strong?

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 25th, 2022 - 36 comments
Categories: economy, Environment, food, Maori Issues, transport, treaty settlements - Tags:

As New Zealand signs up to another alliance to shore up our economic security in the face of fast retreats in economic globalisation, it’s worth taking stock of why New Zealand’s economy is so strong.

As Treasury commentary about this 2022 budget has noted, we have just gone through an economic shock many times worse than the GFC and come out pretty good.

It’s pretty easy to go through what we are bad at and what holds us back. Instead we are going to look at what makes us so strong.

A survey report from MBIE in February this year gives some analysis.

It starts off with the ‘deep roots’ of our advantages:

New Zealand’s comparative strengths often reflect ‘deep roots’ factors. Compared with other countries, New Zealand has strengths and specialisations in research in agriculture and biological sciences, and in products related to agriculture, partly reflecting a climate conducive to agriculture.

Similarly, New Zealand has strengths in tourism, partly reflecting the country’s natural beauty.”

(Just a length warning the report is 70 pages of analysis).

The four sectors of strength for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise are: Advanced Transportation, Food and Beverage, Partnering with Maori, Renewable Energy, Tech and Innovation, Tourism, and Wood Processing.

So it’s pretty consistent on the advantages that build what we produce and export well.

But that’s not the whole story to our survival through crises that have hit us about once every two years for the last two decades. Part of the further answer is in our social cohesion and wellbeing.

Self-reported wellbeing among New Zealanders is comparatively high, as are some other measures of wellbeing. This finding is striking in comparison with standard metrics like GDP  per capita for which New Zealand fares less well than many other developed countries. Given that New Zealanders’ wellbeing is the ultimate policy goal, it is important not to lose sight of the factors that likely contribute to this performance.

It hasn’t struck me until this year that we are a nation made of families that are broad and interrelated –  so many family groups have broad Messenger apps that keep us constantly connected. This is an economic power as well as a social power, and it runs deep and long. We house each other, hire each other, invest in each other, and do so with multigenerational intent.

As democracies fade and corrode in many parts of the world, compared with other countries New Zealand has performed consistently well in areas such as fundamental institutions, social capital and trust, and other deep foundational platforms.

Similarly, it will only take a couple of years of Matariki and Maori Language Week revivals to recognise a deep strength emerging from Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Maori culture, tikanga and matauranga, Maori corporate development and entrepreneurship, and the specific values and culture derived from Maori and Pacifika, which are both a social strength and in many respects an economic strength. They are, again, deep and long advantages that aren’t going to shift.

Governments will come and go but it is unlikely that any flavour of them will have much impact on the deep roots of our social and economic advantage. There is a persistence in our strengths.

So while Treasury is warning at Budget 2022 that we are in for further years of extreme volatility in the next few years, it is worth putting trust in this country that we will survive and indeed thrive.

36 comments on “Why Is New Zealand So Strong? ”

  1. Sanctuary 1

    NZ has a strong economy – unfortunately, it is constantly white-anted by an Anglophone globalised settler class that dominates the MSM and ruthlessly puts its class interests (one week they are grounded Kiwis locked out of their beloved homeland, next week they are desperate to flee this hellhole for better digs elsewhere but really they just want to do as they please) ahead of those of the country and the bulk of the people in it.

    The media representatives of this class are now tirelessly gas lighting us that the economy is a disaster (i.e. they are over-leveraged on their mortgages and the government is spending money on people who are not them) that "COVID is in the rear view mirror" (that is they've vigorously erased the deaths of the elderly and poor and brown people who are the main victims of covid from the media narrative) that crime is out of control (white person moral panic) and whole cohorts of young people (the well healed kids from nice parts of town) are gagging to get outta dodge.

    It is very difficult to argue that Ngati Pakeha are in partnership with Maori when a fair percentage of Pakeha are quite simply racists with an enormous cultural cringe which means they see the country is an enormous prison, except when they are down on their luck and then it ought to be organised entirely for their benefit until such time as they are back on their feet and they can shit all over the "locals" on the way out the door again.

    • RedLogix 1.1

      Three paras of gold plated white guilt cringe. Get over it mate.

      • Sanctuary 1.1.1

        I think you've spent too long amongst the red necks of Oz. Also, don’t call me mate. You don’t have that privilege.

        • RedLogix 1.1.1.1

          On the contrary – if I look about my office at the moment I am surrounded by more skin colours and cultures that you have probably ever met.

          This red-neck Oz you speak of is probably more multi-cultural and openly diverse than NZ. The whole time I have been here I rarely hear anyone speak in openly racist terms, and such language never gets any traction in the public discourse. Shit this is a country that has comprehensively voted away from that past just this weekend – and still there are far too many kiwis happy to trade on the tired old 'we're morally superior to those bogan ex-convicts over the ditch' meme.

          The sole exception is of course anyone who wants to dump on people with a white skin. Then for some reason it's all good.

          • Mark 1.1.1.1.1

            Good comment.

            That's true. As an ethnic Chinese I find Aussies far more relaxed than the average Kiwi, not only in terms of racial matters, but generally more relaxed overall. They are more sure of themselves, and are rarely 'try hards' in the way some Kiwis are.

            Also a lot less road rage.

          • woodart 1.1.1.1.2

            aus maybe multi racial but working on sydney construction sites would be an education for you logix. the casual racism is outrageous and would not be tolerated here.maybe you need to get out more.

            • Patricia Bremner 1.1.1.1.2.1

              devilTrue Woodart. My own now Aussie brother wife and family are very bigoted. They have racist names for all other racial groups, and have nothing to do with their gay nephew. They openly said they left NZ because of the Maori. (Probably better for Maori!!)sad

              Some have had difficulties with unvaccinated family falling out with the vaccinated. This is similar, conversations stay in safe territory, though I have let him know privately I am saddened he can not accept our son.

              Red Logix, bigotry is everywhere. Do you visit your work mates homes have meals with them, invite them to share in your occasions?…
              There is a huge difference between work acquaintances and mates. Sanctuary was talking about a bigoted few, who unfortunately loom large on our landscape. Hoskins for one, but there are others as well, who have hugely problematical attitudes. Just recently two people pretended to be two well known Maori, took their names in vain by posting threats to others in their town. It happens and can be very hurtful, especially when it is systemic.

              Most are not like that, thank goodness and the uptake of the Maori language, enthusiasm for all things Maori point to a more inclusive future. Don’t despair Sanctuary.

    • Mike the Lefty 1.2

      Not all pakeha are simple racists, Sanctuary. To blankly say that any non-Maori who doesn't support what Maori are asking for is racist only creates more walls for everyone.

      A lot of it is misinformation, and the MSM certainly should take some blame for this. For example the word "co-governance" has become a catchphrase for some non-Maori elements who believe that whenever Maori want a voice in anything they have an ulterior motive – and that is control – "the Maoris want to control everything".

      Now I don't believe this, but some elements of society do and unfortunately they seem to have a disproportionate amount of power in the public circle and the means to publicise their prejudices and inform the minds of the great unwashed.

      The classic example is Three Waters. If people actually bother to go right through it they find that it has laudable aims. Some small communities have already benefitted from its funding to start smaller scale water and sewerage treatment facilities which would never have been achieved otherwise.

      But political interests that oppose the government have turned it into another racial fight like they did with the foreshore and seabed act a couple of decades ago.

      I believe that some of the problem lies with what Maori and non-Maori define as "ownership". There is obviously a difference – I don't pretend that I understand the Maori perspective much but I do recognise that it is worthy and should not be dismissed out of hand.

      But you have a hard job persuading the diehards who are egged on by ZB Newstalk shock jocks who base their shows on their own ignorance and prejudices.

      How can this be remedied? I don't know but I suspect that if the government stands firm on the Maori Health provider, and Three Waters then people will be able to judge for themselves how it really will work with Maori input.

  2. Reality 2

    Wow! How good it is to read something positive and optimistic. Kiwis seem to expect absolutely everything to be exactly as they want and if they don't get exactly what they want, oh boy, do they whinge and moan. How would they like to live in Ukraine these days, in comparison.

    Thank you Advantage for reminding us the sun can and does shine.

    • mike 2.1

      Hear hear
      We seem to have swapped a pandemic for an epidemic.
      An epidemic of nitpicking, sneering, and moaning banality.

      Our country's good.

      • aj 2.1.1

        An epidemic of nitpicking, sneering, and moaning banality.

        Easy to forget that we fortunately don't have too many like
        Ian Taylor

  3. Hunter Thompson II 3

    Sanctuary – and note I did not call you my mate – you are entitled to your views, but you must realise that not everyone agrees with them.

    Surely the best way to test the strength of your position is to run for political office.

    See what happens then.

  4. Craig H 4

    Even with tourism's status as a pillar of our economy, the economy didn't skip a beat with the loss of international tourism, although obviously that didn't help our foreign exchange earnings. Remarkable stuff really.

    • KJT 4.1

      Shows that the net benefit of tourism was way less than claimed.

      The change in our balance of trade was way less, than if tourism was earning the billions claimed

      Neo-liberals never understand that a ledger has two sides.

      For two years many Aotearoa ans have enjoyed having their country back. COVID hasn't been all bad. Uncrowded tourist spots and more locals with jobs.

      • Poission 4.1.1

        Neo-liberals never understand that a ledger has two sides.

        The other side of ledger was that rather then the OS holiday,the money stayed in NZ,the decreased spend became savings,and NZ households increased their savings by 30 billion mar 2020- mar 2022.

        The increased funds also helped lower interest rates,and meant the banks had the use of liquid assets in nz.

        • Belladonna 4.1.1.1

          Actually, a heck of a lot of them 'invested' that spare money in housing, either purchase or renovations, contributing to the house-price inflation AND the shortage of builders (and other tradies).

      • Craig H 4.1.2

        Absolutely agree. Different tourism businesses will have gained and lost from the shift to domestic tourism, but the overall impact looks to have been small.

  5. Tiger Mountain 5

    An ADVANTAGE puff piece par excellence…

    NZ has developed into a “Tale of Two Cities” since Roger’n’Ruth had their way. COVID certainly showed who we really are in ways both magnificent and disappointing.

    Capital, farming and the petit bourgeoisie wailing for two years because they could not do what they wanted when they wanted for once–even a second tier welfare benefit for the poor wee lambs–while the working class kept the basic infrastructure ticking over.

    Agree with KJT @ 4.1.

    • KJT 5.1

      I do agree with Ad about "resiliance" and that it is due to New Zealanders social cohesion and our fundemental ethics of fairness, helping each other and co-operation.

      Even though eroded in recent years, the "essential workers" continued to keep things running, despite all the shite being thrown at them.

  6. Patricia Bremner 6

    The nasty undermining wails of the 1% became obvious as the bulk of the country followed the health edicts, used the Government supports, supported and cheered each other on to weather covid while the 1% cried against lockdowns.

    The internet warriors got busy with their lies, meanwhile 96% of us did not go down the rabbit holes. Vaccination rates showed that. Then the mandated vaccinations caused all the disaffected to join together.

    The intent for some was to overturn vaccine mandates others to bring down this Government. Finding most of the anti sentiment came from 12 voices, showed it was not as general or as widespread as feared.

    Those members of parliament past and present who kept up the cry of hobbits and failure and wrong direction and open up….really undermining what was being done.

    It was all to preserve health, and to keep people employed so meant people and the economy weathered the immediate problems strongly.

    The fallout of too much covid cash chasing fewer assets has meant growing inflation. Though we are told it is internally caused, we see it is world wide.

    The growing overseas political tensions coupled with climate change problems cascading has made people aware of their trade relationships supply lines and loss of crops causing a growing awareness of food shortages based on sunflower oil and wheat, to name a few.

    Basing the Budgets on wellbeing and health has underpinned our success. The pivot towards home has supported many businesses, money staying here instead of going overseas.

    Many have found this a stressful time as inequities are laid bare and although charities have had huge support from Government, real change is still very slow.

    Bolder moves are needed as some conduits of help are not up to the task and a Country wide approach to poverty is needed. All the sticking plasters have been applied, what we need is radical treatments for all the sufferers on a nation wide scale.

    It is possible to tweek capitalism without inviting the cossack dancers of fear again. We need Government building “For rent” @ 25% of the main income, to keep us strong.

    • DanW 6.1

      Couple of points;

      1) Vax rates do not infer acceptance. Many were put between a rock and a hard place.

      2) "The Nasty Underminers" are just as much a part of our community and are equally entitled to their existence and opinion.

      3) Regarding the so called "lies", The governments own statistics (ministry of health website) are now showing that fully vax'd and boostered have equal or higher percentage rates of hospitalisation and death than the un-vax'd group. If the original claims of 95% effectiveness were true, why are we seeing equal or higher rates of cases amongst the vax'd and boostered? Why did the outbreak happen directly after the vax roll out? Why are vax'd even getting sick?

      4) its not only 1% of us who are against lockdowns, the main reason most businesses that I've spoken with complied with mandates etc was to avoid future lockdowns (or to stay open), suggesting the majority of us are against lockdowns.

      5) the intent of the "nasty undermining liars" is likely to ensure we have a future, that is inclusive of all walks of life and opinions (even those as aggressive and condescending as yours), and that we remain free to do our own research, formulate our own opinions and contribute together to build a stronger, more rounded and balanced society as a whole. Enough with this divisiveness.

      If you need a hug, I'm here for you.

      • weka 6.1.1

        The governments own statistics (ministry of health website) are now showing that fully vax'd and boostered have equal or higher percentage rates of hospitalisation and death than the un-vax'd group. If the original claims of 95% effectiveness were true, why are we seeing equal or higher rates of cases amongst the vax'd and boostered? Why did the outbreak happen directly after the vax roll out? Why are vax'd even getting sick?

        Please link to the MoH page that supports what you just said, so that we can know what you are referring to. It's a requirement of this site to provide backup for claims of fact when asked.

        • DanW 6.1.1.1

          https://www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-case-demographics

          Scroll down to cases by vaccination status section

          Then if you do the math, based on the % of population per vaccination status. I've arrived at;

          52% of the population are boosted, and 60% of new cases in the past 7 days are boosted people and they are 51% of new hospitalisations. There are just 24% of the population left with just two jabs, 25% of new cases are from them, and fully 35% of hospitalisations. Unvax'd make up 7% of the population, but only 2% of the new cases, and 6% of the hospitalisations.

          I find this worrying considering we were told the jab is 95% effective.

          Happy to be proven wrong.

          • KJT 6.1.1.1.1

            In the past 7 days?

          • KJT 6.1.1.1.2

            Analysis from someone who actually knows what they are talking about.

            Most COVID patients in NZ's Omicron outbreak are vaccinated, but that's no reason to doubt vaccine benefits (theconversation.com)

            "Many cases, probably most cases, are not being diagnosed at the moment. Unvaccinated people will be less likely to get tested, especially in mild cases of the disease, either because of poor access to the health system or because they don’t think COVID is important. We can’t really tell how much bias this introduces into the numbers.

            Hospitalisations and deaths are much more reliably counted than cases. Results from clinical trials and careful population studies of COVID vaccines consistently show the vaccines to be more effective in preventing more serious disease, especially with the new variants. There are plausible biological explanations for this, based on different parts of our immune response."

            A better comparison for assessing vaccine effectiveness is NZ against Hong Kong, where only about half were vaccinated.

      • Incognito 6.1.2

        Luckily for you, weka has already challenged you on your 3rd point, which is just as well because it shows such a high level of profound ignorance.

        As to your 4th point, “suggesting the majority of us are against lockdowns”, that’s a load of bollocks.

        As the success of social distancing is contingent on compliance with government instructions, it was critical that people bought into the task. The “Unite Against COVID-19” campaign helped develop a collective sense of purpose (Duncan, 2020), and public opinion polls consistently showed more than 80% support for the government’s actions including the lockdown (Cooke, 2020; Cooke & Malpass, 2020; Coughlan, 2020; Manhire, 2020).

        https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0275074020941721

        • DanW 6.1.2.1

          Thanks for taking the time to respond.

          3rd point rebutted above , with link and math. Please do the math and let me know if I'm seeing this wrong.

          To suggest any bussiness is happy to close their doors and not trade is "bollocks". I live in the real world and locking healthy people at home in fear of an invisible boggy man is "bollocks", regardless of what any paid off advisor has to say.

          • Incognito 6.1.2.1.1

            You haven’t rebutted anything; your math was off and your understanding of the topic is clearly piss poor.

            As to the majority of us being against lockdowns, you have tried to counter the robust evidence provided by shifting the goal posts and you got nowhere, as expected.

            The “invisible boggy man” [sp] tells me that your comments can be dismissed as futile and fantastic. The irony is that you claim to live in the real world.

            I should have challenged you on your 1st point @ 6.1 with stone-cold facts but you would have sunk faster than a former National Minister into a billion dollar hole of his own making.

    • In Vino 6.2
      • 1 Patricia
  7. Stuart Munro 7

    While it is necessary to rebut the habitual sledging of the policyless traditional Right parties, an economy in which worker incomes do not keep pace with the cost of living is certainly not strong from their perspective.

    It's like society has delaminated, and those who work productively get to watch their cheese being drawn away while self-congratulatory civil servants utter Panglossian bromides.

    Dr. Pangloss's comment about, “the best of all possible worlds”, is widely remembered, but what we tend to forget is how unpleasant his world really is. Candide's life is marred by pillage, murder, rape, war, torture and natural disasters. The only relief Voltaire provides Candide after each disaster is a bizzare re-iteration of Pangloss's absurd refrain that, “this must be the best of all possible worlds”. Voltaire's Candide warns us about scholarly self-deception and wishful thinking.

    Panglossian accounting theories: The science of apologising in style – ScienceDirect

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    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

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