You have 30 min to get your business in order!

Written By: - Date published: 12:50 pm, March 12th, 2021 - 77 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, business, Economy, leadership, Politics, rumour, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, tourism - Tags: , ,

The good news is that Auckland has moved to Alert Level 1 at midday. It was to be expected, as there had not been any new cases detected in the community for a week [Correction: it has been 14 days since the last community case]. The weather is great and people will want to make the most of it.

The not so good news is that Cabinet had made the decision last night. However, they wanted to wait for the overnight test results to come in before they announced the decision. Now, as far as I know, these overnight results are in by 9.00 AM. Thus, they could have and should have announced the decision then or shortly after and not waited until the PM’s scheduled press conference at 11.30 AM.

Businesses now had and have an extremely short notice to prepare for the lunch crowds and to prepare for the Friday after-work siege let alone prepare for the dinner crowd tonight. Maybe they can quickly rock up to Pak’nSave and buy some fresh fruit and vegetables to quickly whip up a salad or so; tomatoes are dirt-cheap. We know from previous short notices that people can adapt quickly and load up the car to drive off to the bach or holiday home within an hour late at night or very early in the morning, if must be, to avoid the road blocks. For businesses, schools, and universities, for example, these things are not so simple. And the Government knows that!

I don’t think it was fair or realistic to give only 30 min warning.

I reckon there will be a lot of traffic in and out of Auckland tonight and this weekend. But I cannot shake the feeling that they have let down the Team of 1.5 Million. If they want people to take the Alert Levels seriously and stick to the rules, you do not create a situation in which people are more likely to relax or break the rules, next time.

This was poorly handled, in my opinion. Must do better next time.

77 comments on “You have 30 min to get your business in order! ”

  • Comments are now closed

    • Incognito 1.1
      12 March 2021 at 1:10 pm

      Yeah, nah. He was just fishing.

      • mickysavage 1.1.1
        12 March 2021 at 8:31 pm

        Giving the timing it seemed clear to me that the overnight results were crucial. Clarke was not leaking information, he was tweeting the obvious.

        • Incognito 1.1.1.1
          12 March 2021 at 8:52 pm

          Sure, I can follow that reasoning, although it was poorly explained why they were so crucial that we had to wait until 11:30 AM the next morning. Hypothetically, what kind of overnight test result would have turned the decision on its head? One close contact testing positive? A few? I know this is actually impossible to answer but it seems that the likelihood of that happening at such a late stage in the incubation cycle was low, in my view. Some people realised this, perhaps at a sub-conscious level, and started to act & behave as if we were already at AL1. This unnecessarily blurred the line between AL2 and AL1 and weakens the whole AL system in terms of compliance by the majority of people. In many ways, the AL system relies on a herd effect too, i.e. if most people follow the rules and do the right thing(s) then all of us will be reasonably well protected.

          I’m completely ambivalent about Clarke’s tweet and didn’t refer to it in the OP. What I meant with my light-hearted comment @ 1.1 was that Clarke was just being Clarke and nothing else was going on despite the high levels of paranoia and suspicions in some quarters. In other words, Clarke’s tweet was a red herring.

    • Jimmy 1.2
      12 March 2021 at 1:21 pm

      A bit silly of Clarke to tweet that in my opinion. I think PM partners should stay out of the politics. I can't remember Bronagh Key or Peter Davis tweeting getting involved.

  2. Janet 2
    12 March 2021 at 1:13 pm

    The odds were that the level would go down. I would have planned with that in mind . I appreciate the caution and care those managing this covid situation are undertaking. Thank you guys .

    • Incognito 2.1
      12 March 2021 at 1:18 pm

      Alert levels usually change at midnight with at least a few hours’ notice. How would have planned for it?

      • woodart 2.1.1
        12 March 2021 at 2:34 pm

        as someone who HAS had a cafe(not just a sideline expert<I actually had skin in the game), times like this(shit it has been a year, if your business has NOT learnt by now you never will), means you need to be able to change plans, change menus etc, keep staff on side, not just whinge constantly. you go away from having $6 million of fresh oysters(ffs,how stupid), and go to a mostly quickly thawed menu(only whingeing customers would mind). and keep bidfoods on speed-dial for quick deliveries. its no different than running the same business and suddenly having an unexpected bus load of hungry customers walk in the door(yes, that happened, but instead of whingeing , was honest and upfront and customers stayed, ate what we could provide, paid and were very grateful). if incognito is so needy and lacks any ability to quickly change menu's, entertainment, staffing etc, better to stick with a static business ,hairdresser, shoe salesman etc.. by there very nature ,food service businesses need to be flexible(power cuts , sudden unavailability of certain foods, road accidents cutting off customer access(yes, that also happened) etc. at times ,thirty minutes was way more notice that we had.

        • Incognito 2.1.1.1
          12 March 2021 at 2:59 pm

          Thank you for your valuable professional opinion and advice. I’ll take some Yoga for Business classes on Monday because they were closed this arvo; not flexible enough.

          It appears that for some here it is a fine line between criticism and whinging 🙁

          • Drowsy M. Kram 2.1.1.1.1
            12 March 2021 at 3:31 pm

            Criticism can be constructive – whingeing/whining not so much. Imho the post reads like a (legitimate) complaint from someone with "skin in the game", or who knows someone who has.

            Covid-19: Jacinda Ardern denies announcement delay on Auckland alert levels, arguing Thursday's Cabinet decision was only 'preliminary'
            National leader Judith Collins criticised the delay, tweeting last night, “Cabinet decision made about lifting the Auckland lockdown. But we are not allowed to know what the decision is until tomorrow – to fit into the PM’s scheduled press conference. Not good enough”.

            Containing the COVID-19 threat is a logistical nightmare, and she's a hard road finding the perfect pandemic response. Still, no hurry eh? smiley

            • Incognito 2.1.1.1.1.1
              12 March 2021 at 3:56 pm

              Communication is a most-critical component of the pandemic response. Get it right, people will trust and comply. Get it slightly right, some people will start to be confused and become complacent and/or make ‘errors of judgement’. This is really the main message of the OP.

              • Drowsy M. Kram …
                12 March 2021 at 4:33 pm

                Effective COVID communications will ensure a higher level of public trust and compliance. That the latest communication is (only) "slightly right" might be due to confusion, complacency, fatigue or a simple 'error of judgement', but whatever the reason our Government must (always) up its game – that's the mad business of politics.

                It would certainly be regrettable if doubts about our Government's ability to manage the pandemic response gained more of a foothold, and started peeling off members of the team of nearly five million, just when the 'vaccine finishing line' is in sight. Hopefully the OP will help to combat political and public 'COVID complacency'.

          • woodart 2.1.1.1.2
            12 March 2021 at 4:15 pm

            if you were serious about yoga for business ,and not just trying to have the last word, you would go watch a u-tube video on yoga. much easier to be a whinger though eh?one question for you, is your whinge your idea, or are you being someone elses tool?

            • Incognito 2.1.1.1.2.1
              12 March 2021 at 4:53 pm

              What makes you think that I might be “someone elses tool”? Am I not allowed to form my own independent opinion? Do you think that I need somebody else to tell me what to think and what to write here on TS? Or do you think I’m getting paid for it? If so, maybe you’ve been reading too much into DP …

              You, on the other hand, seem to have no more arguments left and you are now taking aim at the messenger/author at a personal level. You’re straying into dangerous territory if that’s the case.

              It is ok to disagree, and I welcome it with well laid out arguments. However, if you can only bring ad homs to the table, I strongly suggest you butt out of this post before I do it for you.

              PS, I don’t need to have the last word, but this is my post and I was trying some light humour 🙂

              • woodart …
                12 March 2021 at 5:13 pm

                why can my question NOT be serious? I am truly interested in whether your column was your idea, or are you jumping on someone elses bandwagon. in these days of finding molehills and creating mountains out of them, it is most iluminating to go right to the source of these supposed problems, mistakes, miscalculations, etc. as someone with prior knowledge at the coalface(light humour) of the industry, I have taken some (many) of your assertions to task, and have had shade thrown, sarcasm etc in return. now ,you are threatening to kick me out of your personal sandpit. I notice that I am not the only one here to call you out. food for thought(now, THAT is light humour)

                • Incognito …
                  12 March 2021 at 9:10 pm

                  Sigh

                  Like all other Authors here I write on my own accord.

                  There are no bandwagons for me to jump on; I dislike bumper stickers and car radios that are turned up too loud with too much base and really crap ‘music’ just to make a point about the so-called ‘identity’ of the drivers, stupid gits.

                  I wasn’t cuddled enough when I was a baby and the dog ate my favourite cuddly toy, which explains everything, since you asked and you must know, but the pills help to numb the pain, thank you for asking.

                  You seem to be missing the main message of the OP and getting bogged down in technical trivia about how to run a business – as if all businesses are the same. I don’t give a toss about that and you’re tilting at windmills.

                  There are plenty of articles today about Auckland businesses that span a range of views about the timing of today’s yesterday’s decision from various business sectors. Look them up yourself and wave your finger at the whinging ones if that makes you feel better.

                  Lastly, I wrote the post to encourage robust debate and fully expected (and hoped!) that people would disagree with my opinion and call me out with strong arguments. However, you decided to have a go at me and cast doubt on my motivations. That’s crossing a line, which you don’t need to think about but instead you should read this site’s Policy.

              • Anne …
                12 March 2021 at 7:01 pm

                Humour, especially tongue in cheek humour, is frowned upon by some here Incognito. Personal experience.

                I agree with you – and that's coming from a hard wired Labour supporter. The excuse is that each time there is a level change, there are legals which must be sorted in advance.

                I say bugger the legals. Tell the populace and then sort them legals afterwards. The pedancy or is it pedancity – or is it neither – (who cares except In Vino 😉 ) of the legal profession can be a pain in the neck.

  3. Paul Campbell 3
    12 March 2021 at 1:20 pm

    The difference between level 1 and level 2 is pretty minimal – more than 100 people at events (no one is going to fill a stadium in 24 hours much less 30 minutes) and the rules for servers in restaurants change in ways that can be changed in 30 seconds – I'm not sure what the issue is.

    It sounds like they were waiting for yesterday's track/trace/testing info to come in before making the change, previously they had given a day's warning and everyone complained that that was too long, now they're complaining because 30 minutes is too short – I don't believe there's any amount of warning they can give without there being whinging

  4. Muttonbird 4
    12 March 2021 at 1:25 pm

    All could have been avoided if people didn't lie to, and ignore requests from, health authorities.

  5. Pat 5
    12 March 2021 at 1:32 pm

    I suspect they didnt want the public to behave as if the levels had already dropped once it was announced….it was a typical problem previously that as soon as they announced a level drop was coming in the next few days people behaved as if the level had already dropped…that carries risk.

    • Incognito 5.1
      12 March 2021 at 1:43 pm

      Exactly! So, you pre-empt this by timing of communication. It’s all in the timing, mostly. They would have known by 9:00 AM this morning so why wait until 11:30 AM? Notwithstanding rumours and ‘leaks’ making it hard to contain certain info and certain behaviours. It was a fail, IMO.

      • McFlock 5.1.1
        12 March 2021 at 2:47 pm

        I'm not sure I agree with that opinion.

        What material difference does the worst-case two and a half hour delay result in?

        Cafes and pubs slightly understocked? I almost suggested "understaffed", but hospo is rife for unpredictable shift changes anyway – business as usual for managers to call in people for extra shifts (or send them home if things are quiet).

        Sure, hospo owners will be wanting to maximise business while they can, but that's up to the customers. And yes, the occasional run to New World might happen, but it's a run they didn't expect to make the day before.

        • Incognito 5.1.1.1
          12 March 2021 at 3:10 pm

          No worries. Disagreement is healthy and constructive, in the right hands.

          The industry is under pressure as it is and margins are tighter than ever. Little things can help or even be the make-or-break point. These times are not BAU but some former business owners think that the Business-101 textbook still can and must be followed to the letter.

          • McFlock 5.1.1.1.1
            12 March 2021 at 3:27 pm

            If they were going to go under because they missed out on half their custom for today's lunch rush, they should probably have wound up last week if not earlier.

            • Incognito 5.1.1.1.1.1
              12 March 2021 at 3:30 pm

              Death by a thousand cuts, mostly because of and during lockdowns. In this industry, businesses go under all the time, that is true.

              • McFlock …
                12 March 2021 at 3:58 pm

                Yeah, but if you're running your business that close to the wire, it's a gambling addiction. And there's a good chance you'll take the unpaid staff and creditors down with you.

                Theatre is the same. You wind it up when you can still pay everyone out, which means you need to be doing the sums and massive changes months before. If continued existence is down to one show or even run, fate is running your enterprise, not you.

                • Incognito …
                  12 March 2021 at 4:05 pm

                  All true. I believe quite a few businesses are actually ‘under water’ but gambling that things will pick up. There usually is a bounce/re-bound after a lockdown but you have to time it right to maximise your chances of recouping some of the huge losses endured. A balmy Friday afternoon-night in Auckland can be good for millions in turn-over, even more so with the bloody AC happening.

                  • McFlock …
                    12 March 2021 at 4:20 pm

                    yeah, fair call on the nice afternoon (dunners is pretty good at moment, too).

                    As for the notice period, the next complaint will be that the announcement can be released without a media conference (everyone will just hold their breath if the regular conference is brought forward). Then the complaint will be "just announce the results as soon as they come in". Then it's "no period after the announcement".

                    So the routine of "9:05 am, lab tests are announced, levels change immediately" emerges, which runs fine until a tech screws up the results and the correction comes out at 9:15. Or a reporter misreads a number and tells everyone to go to lever 4 rather than level 1.

                    Alternatively, the 11:30am announcement comes into effect at midnight. Rimmer, husk and juco would love that.

                    A reliably scheduled conference with a little bit of notice slows the "stimulus:panic:stimulus:relax" tension, while still getting things open.

          • woodart 5.1.1.1.2
            12 March 2021 at 4:24 pm

            bollocks. successful former food service business owners know that things change, and businesses like cafes DONT have a textbook. when life gives you lemons, you DONT make lemonade, you make miniature lemon meringue pies, label them "grannys old fashioned " and make a killing. or, you can sit around, blaming someone else for your phuckups.THAT, is bau..

  6. Pat 6
    12 March 2021 at 2:37 pm

    Not a huge fail in the grand scheme….if their reasoning was as I described then they may have been better to say so….IF

    • Incognito 6.1
      12 March 2021 at 3:05 pm

      I disagree. It is lazy, slack and sloppy communication at the expense of people’s livelihoods. To me, it comes across as unkind, uncaring, out of touch, and arrogant. This Government is relying way too much on PR and ‘relentlessly positive’ rhetoric and Ardern’s star-power. This is just another symptom, albeit small and almost trivial. The Opposition has already latched on to it. Stupid and preventable.

      • David 6.1.1
        12 March 2021 at 3:10 pm

        I agree. The idea that a viaduct business for example can stock up and staff up in 30 minutes is completely preposterous and arrogant by this government. I personally spoke to staff at one of these establishments today that have catered for 100 seated guests as required by level 2 today. At fully capacity they can cater for 450 at a time. The economic cost to them alone of Adern sitting on her hand over night is tens of thousands of dollars.

        • woodart 6.1.1.1
          12 March 2021 at 4:31 pm

          you obviously know very little about food service industry. very little food is delivered on the day of consumption, and staff are very used to being called to work at short notice. IF, you had personally spoke to staff, they would have told you that, so I call bullshit on your post. those viaduct food businesses are more affected by having americas cup races cancelled for lack of wind.(you could have helped there)

          • David 6.1.1.1.1
            12 March 2021 at 4:42 pm

            Woodart you prove my point precisely. More notice would have allowed more food to be ordered earlier. As you say, you don’t order and consume it in the day.

            Rather we have an arrogant government who prefers to sit on decisions and give 30 minutes notice.

            BTW shouting personal abuse at everyone doesn’t make you right!

            • Drowsy M. Kram 6.1.1.1.1.1
              12 March 2021 at 4:55 pm

              Oh, the arrogance of our Government – I do feel for you David. How very dare the NZ Labour party, under the leadership of PM Ardern, win the first absolute majority in MMP history, and (with the aid of the team of nearly five million) achieve COVID-19 pandemic outcomes that are the envy of the world.

              https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/

              It’s enough to make you weep.

              • Incognito …
                12 March 2021 at 5:00 pm

                Drowsy, don’t forget the Team of Five Million.

                I’ve used the word “arrogance” in one of my comments under this OP to test the reactions of some here. It tends to weed out the reflexive and partisan/tribal commenters 😉

            • woodart 6.1.1.1.1.2
              12 March 2021 at 4:57 pm

              oh, so now, you want the gov to give overnight notice of level change? gee, that sounds like a phuckup in the making. again I would suggest you know very little (or less) about food service industry. and even less about public health in a pandemic.

              • David …
                12 March 2021 at 5:09 pm

                What, you mean like they’ve done before. You calling that a stuff-up mate?

                • McFlock …
                  12 March 2021 at 5:15 pm

                  Should it have been overnight notice?

                  Given the level change was contingent upon test results only available this morning, that would give hospo 12 and a half hours to prepare for the lunch rush… tomorrow.

                  Sure, I don't think anyone would have a problem with not being able to operate at full capacity this afternoon and tonight, lol

            • David 6.1.1.1.1.3
              12 March 2021 at 5:12 pm

              https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-auckland-to-move-to-level-2-rest-of-nz-to-level-1/ZVBQ7KKL56JWZVHW5BZM3UB5AQ/

              This from last Friday about an alert level drop over the weekend. A complete stuff up according to Woodart.

              • woodart …
                12 March 2021 at 5:17 pm

                vast difference going from level 3 to 2 versus 2to 1. perhaps you need to read up on the differences, crowdwise.

                • David …
                  12 March 2021 at 5:21 pm

                  Oh jeepers! Not everyone lives in Auckland!!! That last Friday announcement effective over the weekend moved everyone else from 2 to 1!!!! The one you are saying was a stuff up by the government.

                  • woodart …
                    12 March 2021 at 5:32 pm

                    no, you are the one loudly claiming stuffup. and I dont live anywhere near auckland.

                    • David …
                      12 March 2021 at 5:39 pm

                      Ok, so you are not going to admit you made a mistake in your original piece that the government should only provide 30 minutes notice over an alert level change despite a history over 12 months and 4 lockdowns of acting differently!!

                      just shout more abuse to detract from the point you got it wrong. You go for it… fill your boots up…

      • Pat 6.1.2
        12 March 2021 at 3:29 pm

        I would suggest it was obvious reading between the lines that the level was going to revert to one and businesses will have planned accordingly

        • Incognito 6.1.2.1
          12 March 2021 at 3:32 pm

          Not good enough. As we know from the Papatoetoe debacle, which was not as one-sided as some want to believe, what is “obvious” is not always obvious.

          • Pat 6.1.2.1.1
            12 March 2021 at 5:38 pm

            If you are honest you will recognise no matter how they communicated the moving from level to another they were going to be criticised…its your choice whether you wish to be honest with yourself or not.

            as said ..its is a minor issue.

            • Incognito 6.1.2.1.1.1
              12 March 2021 at 9:36 pm

              Of course, Government is going to be criticised, no matter what. I happen to take a certain view on their recent communication(s). Others will have different views. I gave my arguments, others can give theirs. I’m always brutally honest, to my detriment, but have learned to stay silent, at times 😉

              That said, it was somewhat of a shock to read Peter Dunne later today, which is highly unusual for me, almost as unusual as reading Chris Trotter, and find that I agreed with almost everything he said 🙁

              https://www.newsroom.co.nz/meeting-irritation-and-apathy-with-arrogance

              • Muttonbird …
                12 March 2021 at 11:02 pm

                Does Peter Dunne live in Auckland?

                Loved this para from him:

                In western liberal societies like ours governments can only govern effectively with the consent of the public. If the public loses confidence, trust or belief in what a government is doing, the government quickly loses public consent, and consequently finds it increasingly difficult to impose its will on the public.

                He'd know about the public losing confidence, wouldn't he? He ran away from a fight he knew he'd lose and has been bitter about it ever since.

                In large part this was due to complacency. After a year of the Government running a generally successful national virus elimination strategy many people did not see what the problem was – there were no cases to speak of after all, so what was the fuss about?

                Well, fuck me. It's only the most successful national virus elimination strategy in the world. No big deal.

                People lied. People went to work when their household was sick. What kind of idiot does that ion a pandemic? Bowtie didn't even touch on those truths in his opinion piece. Perhaps he blames the government for people being stupid and dangerous?

                I'm picking Bowtie fled politics because he's not very good. This article proves it.

                The OP meshes nicely with Dunne’s TLDR column and the yapping from Collins, Seymour, and David Farrar.

                In fact this post could appear on Kiwiblog and no-one would question it.

                • Incognito …
                  12 March 2021 at 11:33 pm

                  Well, I had to get my inspiration from somewhere. The NZ Left is so boringly stale, I’d to go further afield and find it right there. I expect many up-ticks tomorrow on KB and a personal e-mail from PDF to thank me. Job well done, mission accomplished. BTW, you forgot to mention my best mate Chris Bishop, he’ll be gutted. \sarc

                  Do you want to address anything in or of the OP or just whinge & whine here about a politician from yesteryear? If the former, go ahead. If the latter, please take it to OM or DR, thanks, or write your own bloody post.

              • Pat …
                13 March 2021 at 9:12 am

                "That said, it was somewhat of a shock to read Peter Dunne later today, which is highly unusual for me, almost as unusual as reading Chris Trotter, and find that I agreed with almost everything he said "

                We all have our off days…perhaps a rereading on a new day will produce a different result.

                I read the linked article and found little of pertinence. The government have many problems and are under considerable pressure on many fronts but the handling of the pandemic is one of their few strong points (imo)

        • David 6.1.2.2
          12 March 2021 at 3:33 pm

          “Reading between the lines” is not the way governments should communicate information or businesses make decisions.

          ”Reading between the lines” of last December’s government press releases and we should be two weeks from having quarantine free travel to Australia.

        • Jimmy 6.1.2.3
          12 March 2021 at 4:01 pm

          Rubbish. Yes the majority of people probably assumed a move to level one, but no one knew or could predict it would be in 30 minutes time. She may have announced a move to level one at 12 midnight on Sunday.

          Its a bit risky to run a business on trying to "read between the lines" , do they buy perishable food or not?

          • McFlock 6.1.2.3.1
            12 March 2021 at 4:46 pm

            Of course they do. They were still on level 2. Knowing yesterday there will be a decision and that it will likely be towards less restriction, they could make their bet as to how many perishables to buy.

            I note from my linked article that the indication a week ago was regarding opening on the weekend. So they got an extra half day, three hours after the relevant results came in.

  7. Peter 7
    12 March 2021 at 6:20 pm

    Are the test results important? They waited for final ones to come in? If they weren't to wait for test results to come in they should have opened up a week ago.

    If they'd announced opening level one happening from last night and some untoward test results came in what would the outcry have been like?

    • Drowsy M. Kram 7.1
      12 March 2021 at 7:21 pm

      … what would the outcry have been like?

      Good question – probably something similar to the current brouhaha, if not worse.

      Maybe it would have been best to have announced (on Thursday) the intention to drop down the alert levels at midday Friday, and to have made it clear the drop would be conditional on Friday morning's test results. What I don’t know is whether all those test results were available by 9 am on Friday, which would have allowed the PM to make an announcement at least a full two hours earlier than she did.

      Some followers of the 'Papakura oracle' seem to expect our Government to divine COVID-19 test results ahead of time. Criticism and credit where it's due.

      Ms Ardern said cabinet met on Thursday afternoon and decided to move alert levels, pending any new cases and testing of close contacts – information that was due on Friday morning.

  8. peter sim 8
    12 March 2021 at 6:48 pm

    AWww diddums. Small business 24 hour notice is FAR more important than peoples' health??

    Gimme a break. We are all in this together. Bosley can stop grandstanding.

    • Ed1 8.1
      12 March 2021 at 9:27 pm

      Listening to radio news (I was driving), it seems that in Auckland, the only businesses concerned were bars and cafes/ restaurants – do they do anything else in Auckland? If they had a PR company feeding the media (without needing any real material to provide the service), I hope they were very well paid.

      I suspect they would have been waiting for both individual tests and also tests of waste water, which may have come through later in the morning. One of the Labour ministers did mention yesterday that they wanted some further information. I agree that communication could have been more explicit, but the media were quite unbalanced.

  9. Graeme 9
    13 March 2021 at 8:30 am

    We could look at this counterfactually and consider what would have happened if the level change, pending the Friday test results had been announced after Thursday's cabinet meeting. Most of Auckland would have gone to Level 1 immediately and restaurants and bars stocked up for a big Friday lunch, then positive results come through Friday morning. Try putting that genie back in the bottle.

    I'm fully in agreement with Woodart that the howling just shows who's a good restaurant operator and who's not. The good people will be open on the dot of 12 and have a limited menu that will be changing by the second as stock comes through the door, it'll be a great energy, the punters will be having a ball and the till will be ringing. The others will be stuck with their set menus and apologising to punters that are walking out the door.

    The other side of the coin is that the establishments aren't going to have many punters until late afternoon once everyone gets their social groups together, also on 30min notice.

    Also think 30min notice, both going up Levels and down, is going to be the norm in future thanks to the Tamaki (both the naughty boy and wider environs) effect. Sooner or later one of the rats that flees the outbreak location is going to spread infection and we'll have most of the country in Level 3, or more. 30 minutes is enough to give a clear cutoff for boarding flights and get checkpoints on main roads.

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    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    7 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    8 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    10 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    16 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    19 hours ago

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

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

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

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

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    20 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    21 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

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

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    44 mins ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
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    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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    1 day ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
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    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
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    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
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    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
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    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
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    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
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    4 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
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    7 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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    7 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
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    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
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    1 week ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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