With this government preparing to pass legislation barring Auckland Council support for Auckland's Watercare, as an alternative to Labour's Three Waters Reform, the smaller weaker councils across New Zealand will only wonder what hostile takeovers they will be subjected to from larger water entities and councils nearby.
Pretty sad to hear the mayor of Whangarei Council this morning wondering aloud about who or what will support Kaipara and Far North Council, when Whangarei is debt free for water infrastructure and could do the actual work of bringing the Northland water assets together into a cooperative water entity. Standard National divide-and-rule stuff.
Still, this Auckland deal is a win for the government achieved with little grief or debate.
I heard Kieran McAnulty say that 3 Waters would have meant a 2% increase in water charges. Here is what he said.
"Labour’s local government spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said the Government’s plan will still cost Aucklanders more in rates than if the Hipkins-era Affordable Water Reforms had not been repealed.
That plan would have seen the establishment of 10 regionally owned and led public water entities based on existing local authority boundaries.
McAnulty said water charges would increase by 7% under the coalition’s plan, as opposed to 2% if they had followed through with Labour's affordable water plan.
"This is because the Auckland/Northland entity would’ve had a credit rating of AA, while Watercare will be BBB at best, so the cost of borrowing will be larger."
He said Auckland was always going to be the easiest region to resolve as it had the largest population.
"What the Government has put forward today is a solution for Auckland, but it will not work anywhere else in the country."
The cost of repealing affordable water was already hitting ratepayers across the country, McAnulty said.
The link (Three Waters reset: Mega-entities scrapped as new model proposed (1news.co.nz)) references the April 2023 rewrite of the 3 Waters proposals, which was a political response to Labour's slump in the polls. They new entities would not have been 'regionally owned', and the regional representative groups would "continue to sit below the governance board" (from the same reference). The 2% claim is fiction.
"The 2% claim is fiction." Or is your claim fiction? The paper reported him as saying it, so it's not that fact that he claimed it. You dispute his claim? Can you offer more than a counter claim? McAnulty would have some figures at his disposal since he was involved in the 3 Waters proposal as the Local Bodies minister in 2023.
"The NPR’s author, Water New Zealand’s insights and sustainability advisor, Lesley Smith says that the average New Zealand residential property paid $960 for water and wastewater services in the 2020/21 fiscal year…"
"The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) estimates households could be looking at additional costs of between $1900 to $9000 a year if the maintenance of three waters infrastructure isn't reformed. With the Government's reform programme, the DIA has said the costs would instead be between $800 to $1640 a year."
$800 is not 2% of $960.
"“However in the regions with the highest water service charges, the average was $2,237 per year. "
The DIA information paper where the one news article you cite obtained those estimates says that the $800 to $1640 increase is over 30 years. In other words what the increase is estimated to be in 30 years for the average household.
McAnulty wasn't talking about in 30 years but next year.
( Because standard moderators expect sources, here's a link to the DIA paper
I was sad to hear last night that Peter Franks has died in Wellington. Peter worked for working people all his life, in the student activist movements, the Labour Party, NZUSA, NZCTU, as a mediator, among many others.
He was a thoroughly decent chap and a good friend to many.
Sad to hear that. He seemed to pop up as a member or attendee at many of the events I was interested in. I remember one fascinating weekend(?) or one day(?) on Trade Union history run by WEA.
So it would appear I was right, we are about to get a economic melt down of epic proportions.
And we do not have a city of London to drag us out of it.
The coming budget is the trigger, and all hell is going to break out. The far right and the collection of clowns it has as supporters, is going to sell everything. Including the health system and police.
Far right wet dreams of ann randy crowed from the roof tops, as normal kiwis suffer.
Going through the RNZ Business section is definitely depressing: Not a single positive headline… all doom and gloom.
Who was talking pre-election about the negativity in the country… Chris Luxon:
he [Luxon] was caught by a microphone saying: “We have become a very negative, wet and whiny, inward-looking country and we have lost the plot.”
…
remarks given by Luxon to a UK thinktank last year, when he said New Zealand businesses were “getting soft and looking to the government for all their answers”.
The arrival of National (and the Coalition of Destruction) hasn't improved anything. The problem is the big group of "negative, wet and whiny" people is now in government and hasn't shown any sign how to "get the country back on track". There's only one hope for them… lower inflation – much of it comes from external supply chain and oil price issues plus some greedy profit taking of essential industries (mainly out of their control) – and the related lower interest rates.
satty you get we stuck with inflation for the next 10 years or so whilst the baby boomers retire. That inflation is probably going to head back to double figures by the end on June start of July. Inflation is not going away.
Inflation has let some industries in this country gouge workers and farmers – way above what inflation really is.
Not if we organise, mobilise and fight back Adam. I'm doing what I can trying to make connections where I live with people with the same values. What are you doing?
This week? Only day off from organiseing I have is Tuesday. Need a day off. Lot of discussions and work-shopping about alternative forms of trade and labour in a wreaked economy. Lots of keeping peoples heads afloat in the open class war we have called austerity. And lots of times just letting people talk out the shit they are going through.
The bad news is that the formerly balanced panel has been replaced by a "more diverse" panel that apparently will now include only one committed defender of free speech (FSU representative Jonathan Ayling), plus "a Māori political commentator, rainbow community and inclusivity advocates and additional academic speakers." I'm guessing the Māori political commentator won't be Haimona Gray (let alone Shane Jones). Similarly, I'm guessing the "rainbow" rep won't be Ani O'Brien or Rachel Stewart. And I wonder what the "inclusivity advocates" will have to say.
Recall the debate was postponed in late April because the sub-editor of VUW student mag Salient alleged the participation of a Free Speech Union representative "compromised the safety of marginalised groups on the campus", and criticized the "lack of diversity" of the proposed panellists:
That's debating – win some, lose some – good call by Vic Uni management, imho.
Salient visited the Provost/Acting Vice Chancellor, Bryony James, for a kōrero. The conversation was productive and wide-ranging, and revealed a genuine desire from James and Reece Moores (Director of the Office of the VC) to counter what they see as corrosive and polarising online discourse. They’re worried that productive dialogue has been harmed by social media, and are seeking a remedy.
It’s important to note that their solution is an interesting fix, and one we should be open to. Moores and James stressed the mediated debate format would allow fact-checking. They acknowledged the total absence of Māori voices was an issue, and assured Salient they were working to amend it—so watch this space. The idea is a good one, but this specific panel aint it.
Mistrust of every kind of authority grew out of this experience, a skeptical attitude toward the convictions that were alive in any specific social environment—an attitude that has never again left me, even though, later on, it has been tempered by a better insight into the causal connections.
– Einstein (no religion/adult)
Opinion piece from Henry Broadbent (He/Him), "Freedom of speech crusader"
The title of that Broadbent (He/Him) opinion suggests Smith is a "Freesom of Speech Crusader". Well-aimed sarcasm? I couldn't possibly comment.
Nic Smith—Freedom of Speech Crusader[22 Apr 2024] Ayling himself explicitly supported Julian Batchelor during his anti-co governance roadshow. For those lucky people out of the loop, Batchelor spent a vitriolic few months touring the country spewing conspiracy theories about “elite Māori” taking over Aotearoa, comparing ‘Kia Ora’ to ‘Seig Heil’, and describing policies supporting Māori as ‘apartheid.’ Māori people were excluded from his meetings. This generated legitimate and necessary counter-protest. In response, Ayling described Batchelor as “discriminated against”.
Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed. – Einstein
On the importance of freedom of speech and tolerance: “[F]reedom of communication is indispensable for the development and extension of scientific knowledge … it must be guaranteed by law. But laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man may present his views without penalty there must be a spirit of tolerance in the entire population.” (“On Freedom.” Circa 1940.) https://www.acton.org/publications/transatlantic/2019/11/07/6-quotes-albert-einstein-science-religion-and-liberty
In this blog post, through an analysis of the disinformation-based campaign I have personally experienced since October 2023 mobilised by the communicative ecosystem of the Free Speech Union (FSU), I will attend to the lifecycle of disinformation in libertarian networks, arguing that the disinformation ecosystem is invested in upholding both white supremacy and extractive capital. https://culture-centered.blogspot.com/2023/12/libertarianism-far-speech-union-and.html
So the event goes ahead with more speakers and a greater diversity of views – a win for free speech and possibly (if some more moderate views are on offer) depolarisation. After all, who really benefits from increased polarisation?
Staying Real – The War on Truth and How to Win It
[18 Nov 2023 : YouTube] Cancelling: Now this is a tool that is primarily used by the Left, for reasons that are simply opportunistic. The Right can do cancelling, and does, and the Left can do disinformation, and does, but right now this is done primarily by the Left because they have such good access to social tools.
…
The biggest, I think single thing to do about that [the demand side problem, i.e. demand for disinformation] is the one I mentioned – which is work on depolarisation.
The better people feel about each other and the other side, the less they’re interested in supporting a disinformation ecology.
…
"We're not as divided as we've been led to believe." https://braverangels.org/
Disinformation and cancelling fuel polarisation, and increased polarisation breeds still more disinformation/cancelling – where/how does that end?
What We Can Learn from the History of Free Speech
[May / June 2022]
The health of free speech depends more on a culture of free speech than on laws.
…
Right up to the present, however, we have a couple of challenges that really bend the paradigm and challenge Jacob and me and all of us, because they’re quite unconventional. We’re used to thinking of free speech as something that we protect against intrusion by censors, primarily the government. Free speech in terms of legal protections is stronger in America right now than I’d say it’s ever been anywhere in the world. And I think it may be about to get stronger with the current Supreme Court.
The kinds of challenges we face, however, don’t really fit that box. One is disinformation, and the other is what’s often called cancel culture, the systematic use of social coercion to chill and silence. Disinformation is not about censorship. It’s actually about, as Steve Bannon, Trump’s former adviser, very aptly and accurately put it, “flooding the zone with shit.” Putting out so many lies, half‐truths, conspiracy theories, and exaggerations that no one knows which end is up. It turns out that platforms like social media are tailor‐made for this because their business model is to maximize eyeballs for revenues, and the way you maximize eyeballs is outrage, which is addictive.
When the internet got going, we thought it would be a big open forum and marketplace of ideas and that the best ideas would rise to the top. We did not realize how easy it would be to manipulate this environment to make it epistemically toxic. It’s now well known that false stuff travels much faster and much further online than true stuff, which is much more expensive to make and much less fun to click on. That is not a problem you can tackle with traditional free speech doctrines. In fact, it does the opposite. It harnesses free speech and turns it into a weapon of epistemic destruction, a weapon of mass confusion and chaos.
Toxic & deluded are terms that spring to mind. Scared too.
It's beyond me how intellectually moribund toerags such as this Quince person appears to be, manage to inveigle themselves into positions of responsibility …
Quince seems frightfully different – still, diversity and free speech eh.
Might a step to depolarisation be making a genuine attempt to understand why not everyone thinks like you – a step too far for Quince and Judd?
Naturally, not everyone wants or is able to take that, or any step towards depolarisation – sometimes the 'What's in it for me?' mud is just too deep. The question remains – who really benefits from increased polarisation?
On Friday morning, Victoria University Vice-chancellor Nic Smith said the debate's line-up had been expanded to include a "very balanced panel" with the addition of a Māori political commentator, rainbow community and inclusivity advocates and additional academic speakers.
The structure of the debate had also been divided in two.
Five panellists – including Ayling – would be independently interviewed and, in the second half, their responses would be discussed by a panel of academics to explore how universities could constructively hold challenging conversations to the benefit of society.
I would very much doubt the presence of KQ will depolarise the conversation.
Certainly that greater diversity will provide opportunities for (more) views to be aired, and differences (potentially) ironed out. What depolarisation opportunities did the original panel offer?
Vic Uni management came to the conclusion that the original 'debate' panel was perhaps a little too 'pure'. Of course it's natural that some would view the imposition of greater diversity (expanding the panel) as tainting the 'debate', but imho diversity of opinion and other things is a net good in Aotearoa.
Mockery and denigration of others is fine – free speech 'n' all – but who benefits from stoking polarisation?
Btw, did those Jonathan Rauch links @4.1.1.1.1.1 appeal? He is, after all, a strong proponent of free speech on University campuses, and imho makes a good case for decreasing disinformation, cancelling and particularly polarisation. The approaches he advocates seem pretty good too.
You are assuming that the additional participants add diversity of opinion.
Just as I assumed that each of the original five panellists had distinct views/perspectives/opinions/knowledge to contribute. Of course, you might assume that the original five panellists possessed just the right amount of diversity of opinion for an ‘optimal’ debate, and (if so, then) you'd be entitled to that assumption. In this case the managers of the venue came to a different view – eventually
However, since you've already opined that "I would very much doubt the presence of KQ will depolarise the conversation", it's just possible that ‘KQ’ will add to the diversity of opinions held by the original five, and I certainly couldn’t rule that out.
"In this case the managers of the venue came to a different view – eventually "
No, they were bullied into that view by effectively 2 people. There's a big difference.
No, they were bullied into that view by effectively 2 people. There’s a big difference.
Anyone can have a belief about why the VU managers came to a different view, but come to a different view they did – it's just a fact.
Btw, did those Jonathan Rauch links @4.1.1.1.1.1 appeal? He is, after all, a strong proponent of free speech on University campuses, and imho makes a good case for decreasing disinformation, cancelling and particularly polarisation. The approaches he advocates seem pretty good too.
"Btw, did those Jonathan Rauch links @4.1.1.1.1.1 appeal? He is, after all, a strong proponent of free speech on University campuses, and imho makes a good case for decreasing disinformation, cancelling and particularly polarisation. The approaches he advocates seem pretty good too."
Yes, thanks DMK. Jonathan is an excellent source, so I appreciate the quotes. This particularly caught my eye (about disinformation) "We have severe stresses on the epistemic environment, our ability to sort truth from falsehood". That conversation (protecting free speech in an era of disinformation) is going to be very inetersting indeed.
"We should not provide a platform for, nor invite, individuals or groups to speak on campus that have previously demonstrated or are expected to express hate speech as the current law defines…"
Rather than defend free speech, Universities like Vic are now putting themselves on a self-righteous pedestal and declaring their own precognition.
I'm not a lawyer, AFIK there is no specific hate speech law in NZ. The closest would be section 61 of the Human Rights Act (although that is a 'civil' provision).
Othe legislation does deal with 'harmful' speech, including the Summary Offences Act 1981, the Broadcasting Act 1989, the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, the Harassment Act 1997 and the Films, Videos, and Publications Classifications Act 1993.
What Vic University seem to want to do is to deplatform a speaker if they (VU) 'expect' the speaker may engage in an act that is according to them (VU) hate speech.
Yes, sadly. University administrators all around the country are running scared of the the possibility of brand damage by student activists denouncing their university as "racist", "transphobic" etc. If a staff member publicly criticizes the university, s/he stands to be sacked. But students are paying customers, and the eight(?) universities are competing for a finite pool of students. Just one of the problems with the current university funding model, but nevertheless it's disappointing that university administrators don't show more backbone.
The calls were not to 'cancel' the debate, but to make the podium panel more representative. And free speech is not academic freedom, which is the ability to debate your ideas within an evidence-based framework.
Traveller and Dolomedes seem to be posting on the wrong forum. Who is Traveller travelling alongside? Not commies and socialists for sure. And what is Dolomedes the fishing spider really fishing for? Seems like these days The Standard is a testing ground for right-wing apologists to hone talking points. Boring, when the debate is pushed to minor league topics, away from the more serious political debates we need to be having.
right wing people are welcome to comment in TS so long as they play by the rules like everyone else. Having right wing and centrist people stops use from becoming an echo chamber. It’s not these days, this has always been true.
Well – what happen when you don't even get to present your argument within an evidence based framework because adherents to an ideological point of view have decided that any alternative to that ideology is "hate speech"?
You're confusing 'cancelling' the event and 'deplatforming' a speaker(s).
The call was to deplatform participants that didn't reflect the beliefs of a select few. The targets were the FSU and Jonathan Ayling personally. It is an indictment on VicU that they blinked.
But the irony in your comment is this – there was a time when it was the left that stood up most strongly for freedom of expression. Now some (including you) have chosen to criticise those of us not of the left for picking up that mantle.
Give him a chance. He's hasn't even been in six months yet. Need to get the judges giving out proper sentences to offenders (no more home D for rapists or violent offenders). Prison population will likely start to increase, but I do not see this as a bad thing.
The single biggest issue in the rise in violent or gang-related crimes is the 501s from Australia. National talked big and achieved nothing under Key. Ardern got results.
But of course Key, like Luxon, was the go-getting guy from business who Gets Things Done, while Ardern only went across the Tasman for photo-ops … right?
It seems as though the connection with Australia test only applies to those with minor convictions; not to those with significant criminal convictions and/or backgrounds.
The problem still exists, sure. But there has been progress, where before there was none at all.
The essential point here is the difference between rhetoric and action. Now Luxon is PM we get the return of the rhetoric … as illustrated here, saying "Gang crime bad", with no further specific action on 501s beyond what "soft" Labour had already achieved.
It plays well (always has) but the slogans don't survive scrutiny.
Hmm. I'm not sure that NZ is better of because we are only receiving hardened, violent or recidivist criminals from Australia in the 501 deportations (with the ones who have realistic potential to turn their lives around, remaining in Australia).
Realistically, we can't do anything about this (apart from futilely protest). Australia is legally entitled to deport non-citizens at any point.
You could equally well illustrate the difference between rhetoric and action, with the assertion that Ardern got the headline, while Albanese got to continue the policy of deporting the really bad guys. Rhetoric: We're controlling the 501 deportations by making the Aussies consider length of residence; Reality: the really bad criminals continue to be deported, regardless of their length of residence in Oz.
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Placards at a 2018 rally for better funding for new cancer drugs. National’s pre-election promise to do so may have won it votes, but the attempt to quietly drop the plan has now ignited a firestorm of protest. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government is now being engulfed in a firestorm ...
Last week the government delivered their first budget and while there’s been plenty of other discussion about the main aspects of it, I was particularly interested to look at what it meant for transport. Before getting into too much detail, the chart below shows at a high level where transport ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Samantha Harrington(Background photo credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project / CC BY 2.0 DEED) To kick off hurricane season, Yale Climate Connections editors Sara Peach and Sam Harrington sat down with meteorologists and Eye on the Storm writers Jeff Masters and Bob ...
TL;DR: The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, which consumes over 15% of the motu’s renewable electricity, has struck a deal to stay open for another 20 years. This will delay Aotearoa-NZ’s transition to carbon zero and make it more expensive and unfair for the 100,000 households who currently can’t afford their ...
Today we rolled through troglodyte caves and ate a fresh roast chook by the river, the mighty Loire River, the still quite angry-looking Loire River. The Loire is not itself because it has been raining here for the last seven months without a break, the locals have been telling us, ...
Fighting out of the blue corner, wearing a pale pink jacket, a half hearted smile, and a lot of flack from the left and the right, it’s your Finance Minister - Nicola Willis.Her challenger will probe the Minister for answers. Armed with boyish charm and tricky questions, the last remaining ...
A listing of 33 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 26, 2024 thru Sat, June 1, 2024. Story of the week Sometimes one story is not enough. Our ongoing 2023-2024 experiences with lethalheatwaves, early wildfires and a threatening Atlantic hurricane season ...
Much has been said about how the coalition government’s Treaty Principles Bill distorts te Tiriti o Waitangi. However, it could also serve as a Trojan horse, installing an extreme libertarian agenda. We don’t know the intent driving the proposed Bill; however, many serious effects may ensue. Far from simply clarifying the ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by John Mason in collaboration with members from the Gigafact team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Have climate models overestimated global warming? Climate ...
Normally I would not write about Maori issues. I may have been living in NZ for over 25 years but I do not feel that it is my place to opine because I am not an expert on Maori history … Continue reading → ...
Tornado damage, like this in Oklahoma, has left the insurance industry reeling at the accumulated scale of losses. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:A ...
Poster on Cuba St, Wellington. Similar signs were prominent at the Budget Day protests around the country. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent about extreme heat in India ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past somewhat interrupted week. Been on the move!Share Read more ...
Hi,When Webworm contributorJackson James Wood (the guy who marathoned Lord of the Ringsand investigated Kremelta’s horny recipes) told me he’d been secretly running a Facebook page dedicated to reptilian shapeshifters for 15 years I said, “You must write about what you’ve learnt about both reptilians and the human ...
Completed reads for May: The King of Elfland’s Daughter, by Lord Dunsany The House on the Borderland, by William Hope Hodgson The Book of Wonder (collection), by Lord Dunsany Fifty-One Tales (collection), by Lord Dunsany Magna Carta (1215) The Creole Village, by Washington Irving Tales of Wonder (collection), by ...
The original version of this blog – written by Giacomo Grassi, with contributions from Stefano Caserini, Giorgio Vacchiano, Gianni Comoretto, Claudio della Volpe, and Mario Grosso - appeared in the Italian climate website Climalteranti. The version here has been checked and further enriched by Pierre Friedlingstein (Global Carbon Project). A recent ...
How to run a successful pressure group.In 2013 a group of idealists, led by Jordan Williams and David Farrar, established the Taxpayers’ Union. To celebrate its first decade as surely New Zealand’s most successful political pressure group NZTU published The Mission: The Taxpayers Union at 10, ten short interviews (by ...
To truly understand yesterday’s Budget, it’s worth returning to a statement made in 2020 by the then British High Commissioner Laura Clark that New Zealand has “Scandinavian ambitions in terms of quality of life and public services, but a US attitude to tax”. Her point is that New Zealand politicians ...
Not Wanted:What is truly astonishing about Pukekohe is that it was the only place in New Zealand where the vicious racism endemic to the other Anglo-states took hold with sufficient force to construct a permanent system of overt racial oppression and humiliation. At a moment in history when Western racial ...
Willis is dancing not-so-daintily on the head of a fiscal pin when she describes the tax cuts as ‘fully funded’ by spending cuts and a few little revenue increases. Photo: Hagen Hopkins / Getty ImagesTL;DR:Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered her first Budget, deciding to go ahead with long-promised ...
I was supposed to be sent awayBut they forgot to come and get meI was a functioning alcoholic'Til nobody noticed my new aestheticAll of this to say I hope you're okayBut you're the reasonAnd no one here's to blameBut what about your quiet treason?Those first lines resonate, having done my ...
So…. according to the Treasury, we’ll have to borrow $17.1 billion by June 2028, to help fund ( among other things) a nearly $10 billion tax cut programme, also paid for by slashing billions – and 240 line items – from our public services. Conventional political wisdom to the contrary, ...
And so this is budget week, and what have we learned? Or rather: what are the takeaway learnings going forward?Learning number 1: Just saying a thing is true doesn’t make it so Remember last year when these people were all like: Oh, we can totally do all this without borrowing we can ...
Welcome to June, a long weekend (happy birthday to all the kings and queens of urbanism out there), and another Rāmere Roundup! Here are a few things that caught our eye this week. Header image: Toitū te Tiriti march moving down Queen St, Thursday 30 May 2024 This Week ...
A slowing economy and, consequently, a lower tax take means we are looking at three years of economic austerity from the Government. That austerity will be the product of what will need to be more deep cuts to Government spending. That much was evident from yesterday’s Budget, which showed tax ...
What you see is what you get. Mostly. For all the coalition haggling, culture wars and “let me be clear” obfuscation we’ve seen in the first six months of this government, National has delivered a very National budget. It’s not so much the axe being swung in this budget as ...
George R.R. Martin has taken a potshot at the adaptation process, arguing that screenwriters’ desire to improve on source material leads to a worse story outcome: https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2024/05/24/the-adaptation-tango/ “Everywhere you look, there are more screenwriters and producers eager to take great stories and “make them their own.” It does ...
Photo by Marino Linic on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
I've been watching the reports of the Māori-led protests all around the country this morning, seeing huge crowds not just in Auckland and Wellington and other major cities, but in much smaller places like Nelson and Whangārei. Its a significant show of opposition to the government, and hopefully they are ...
The recent attacks on Te Pāti Māori and its MP’s are part of a continuing narrative of attack on all matters Māori. If we could respond to baseless inuendo we would. If there is any evidence then show us so we have a reason to engage in a conversation. The ...
The Government’s move to pour billions into potholes whilst remaining inactive on climate change does nothing to solve our transport system's core problems. ...
“The Government needs to provide leadership for New Zealand’s mental health sector, which appears to have lost out in the Budget despite the promises Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey made on the campaign trail,” said Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s announcement that would see some workers’ entitlement to sick leave reduce flies in the face of yet another promise National made during the election campaign. ...
Cutting a third of the staff at Ministry for the Environment will undermine years of work to clean up our fresh water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and leave us unprepared for a changing climate. ...
The National Government has shown all their talk about meeting climate targets is just hot air as they cut more than $3 billion in climate-related work, said Labour climate spokesperson Megan Woods. ...
The Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka (Māori and Pasifika) caucus has labelled this year’s Budget as unambitious for Māori and unapologetic in its disregard for Te Tiriti. ...
The Government’s bloody-minded commitment to delivering trickle-down tax cuts at all costs comes at the expense of investment in people and planet. ...
This year’s Budget reflects the heartlessness of the Coalition Government when it comes to Pasifika, according to the Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka (Māori and Pasifika) caucus. ...
The budget today is a sad state of affairs and the country can now see the result of Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ wrong choices and the Government’s broken promises. ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has repeatedly said she will not be borrowing for tax cuts and denied fiscal irresponsibility. Today, the budget has revealed Nicola Willis has borrowed $12 billion – and her tax cuts cost $10 billion. ...
In six short months the Minister for Housing has shrunk the pool of potential home owners in New Zealand, removed housing security for renters, re-introduced competition on existing stock between investors and speculators, and served power and billions of dollars to landlords on a silver platter, says Labour housing spokesperson ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect New Zealanders' right of free speech. The “Protection of Freedom of Expression Bill” will ensure that no organisation or individual, when acting within the law, is unreasonably denied use of a public venue for an organised event or ...
The Green Party unequivocally condemns the governing parties’ attempts to limit the public’s say on the controversial Māori wards legislation, after the select committee considering the legislation set a deadline for submissions of just five days. ...
Disabled children and families nationwide have recently found out they’re no longer able to use disability support funding for programmes during school hours in another quiet update from the Government. ...
Following a horrific case of stalking that ended in tragedy, Labour’s police spokesperson Ginny Andersen has drafted a bill that would add stalking to the Crimes Act. ...
The Rt Hon Winston Peters, joined by Mike King, has announced $24 million over four years for the ‘I Am Hope Foundation’, and will provide young people aged between 5 to 25 years with free mental health counselling services. This funding will help I Am Hope’s ‘Gumboot Friday’ initiative give ...
Te Pāti Māori have launched a petition to stop the repeal of Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act. This announcement comes prior to the first reading of the Section 7AA repeal bill in Parliament today. “Section 7AA forces the Government to adhere to Te Tiriti o Waitangi with respect ...
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Andrew Bayly, travels to Singapore today to attend scam and fraud prevention meetings. “Scams are a growing international problem, and we are not immune in New Zealand. Organised criminal networks operate across borders, and we need to work with our Asia-Pacific partners to tackle ...
People who were displaced by severe weather events in 2022 and 2023 will be supported by the extension of Temporary Accommodation Assistance through to 30 June 2025. Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says the coalition Government is continuing to help to those who were forced out of their ...
Removing the ban on petroleum exploration beyond onshore Taranaki is part of a suite of proposed amendments to the Crown Minerals Act to deal with the energy security challenges posed by rapidly declining natural gas reserves, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “Natural gas is critical to keeping our lights on ...
New Zealand and Malaysia intend to intensify their long-standing, deep connections, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Malaysia is one of New Zealand’s oldest friends in South-East Asia – and both countries intend to get more out of the relationship," Mr Peters says. "Our connections already run deep and ...
The end of Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) motels in Rotorua is nearing another milestone as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces it will not renew consents for six of the original 13 motels, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The government is committed to stop using CEH ...
The Government is providing a narrow exemption from the discontinuation of the First Home Grant for first home buyers who may face unfair situations as a result, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The First Home Grant scheme was closed with immediate effect on 22 May 2024, with savings being reprioritised ...
Work to increase flood resilience in Hawke’s Bay can start sooner, thanks to a new fast consenting process, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell and Environment Minister Penny Simmonds say. “Faster consenting means work to build stop banks, spillways and other infrastructure can get underway sooner, increasing flood ...
Tangata tū tangata ora, tangata noho tangata mate. Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka today announced acting Deputy Chief Judge Craig Coxhead as the new Deputy Chief Judge, and Nathan Milner as Judge of the Māori Land Court. "I want to congratulate Judge Coxhead and Mr Milner on their appointments ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, today signed three Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) agreements that will boost investment, grow New Zealand’s digital and green economies and increase trade between New Zealand and the 14 IPEF partners. IPEF’s partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, today signed three Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) agreements that will boost investment, grow New Zealand’s digital and green economies and increase trade between New Zealand and the 14 IPEF partners. IPEF’s partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP ...
New Zealand and Viet Nam are focused on strengthening cooperation by making progress on mutually beneficial opportunities, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “Viet Nam matters enormously to New Zealand," Mr Peters says. "Our countries enjoy broad cooperation, in such areas as defence, security, trade, education and tourism. We are ...
The Coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to boost funding for pothole prevention, with indicative funding levels confirmed by NZTA showing a record increase in funding to help fix potholes on our State Highways and Local Roads, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. The NZTA Board has today confirmed indicative ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will halt work on procuring reserve diesel stock and explore other ways to bolster New Zealand’s diesel resilience, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will also begin work on changes to the minimum fuel stockholding ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says additional supplies of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) will enable New Zealanders to continue testing this winter. “In January, we announced an extension of public access to free RATs until the end of June,” Dr Reti says. “I’m pleased to confirm that Health New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with his Fijian counterpart, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, and discussed how New Zealand and Fiji can further strengthen their partnership. During their bilateral talks in Suva this morning, Mr Luxon and Mr Rabuka canvassed a range of issues including defence and regional security, trade, ...
The Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour has issued a new Ministerial directive letter to Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to make consent processing timeframes faster under the Overseas Investment Act. “New Zealand is currently rated as having the most restrictive foreign direct investment policy out of the OECD countries ...
New Zealanders will now benefit from free access to radiology services referred directly by their general practitioner, resulting in faster diagnosis and improved health outcomes, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “Our Budget last Thursday delivered the foundations for a thriving New Zealand economy, but also for better public services ...
Good afternoon everyone, and warm Pacific greetings. Thank you for your lovely introduction Mary Losé. It’s wonderful to be here today at the Pacific Economic Development Agency - Pacific Business Trust. I want to acknowledge the chair Paul Retimanu and chief executive Mary Losé, your team and the many business ...
The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden says this Government will improve the Holidays Act 2003 [the Act] with the help of businesses and workers who will be affected by changes to the Act. “Change has been a long time coming, and I know there are many ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi have agreed to enhance the special relationship that exists between their two countries, as Niue marks 50 years of self-government in free association with New Zealand. Mr Luxon and Mr Tagelagi held formal talks this morning and released a Joint Statement ...
Minister for Regulation David Seymour today announced the terms of reference for the sector review into early childhood education (ECE) by the new Ministry for Regulation. This will be the first review by the Ministry. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, ...
The Government is backing farmers to improve land management practices with a $36 million commitment to support locally led catchment groups, $7 million of which will go directly to catchment groups across the country, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has announced. “Budget 2024 provides $36 million over four years for regionally based ...
The Government is backing farmers to improve land management practices with a $36 million commitment to support locally led catchment groups, and an additional $7 million direct investment into catchment groups across the country, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has announced. “Budget 2024 provides $36 million over four years for regionally based ...
The success of regional investment in the Far North has been highlighted with the opening of two community projects that benefit their communities, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones attended a dawn blessing for the $10.16 million Te Hiku Revitalisation project, which has provided much-needed community infrastructure improvements ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts travel to Singapore tomorrow to sign three Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) agreements. IPEF’s 14 partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP and account for 50 per cent of New Zealand’s exports. They include critical markets for Kiwi exporters ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford today recognises the significant achievements of those included in the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List, particularly those being celebrated for their services to education. “This year’s King’s Birthday Honours recognises the commitment, dedication and passion that those who have been honoured have shown,” Ms Stanford ...
Me aro koe ki te hā o Hine-ahu-one The devotion shown by Katareina Kaiwai to improving the lives of people across her community is an inspiration to all New Zealanders, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Katareina Kaiwai (Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga) has been awarded a King’s Service Medal ...
Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee has congratulated the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours recipients hailing from ethnic communities, saying they embody the valuable contributions of diverse peoples to New Zealand society. “The King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List recognises a number of outstanding individuals for their services to New Zealand’s ethnic and ...
Minister of Health and Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti today recognises the significant work of those included in the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List, particularly those being honoured for services to health and medical sciences and services to Pacific communities. “This year’s King’s Birthday Honours List represents a massive breadth ...
Acting Minister for Women Louise Upston has congratulated the large number of women who received King’s Birthday Honours this year, including two inspiring new Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. “Dame Joan Withers’ is a formidable force in the business world and a true champion of diversity ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has congratulated the recipients included on the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List, saying they reflect the best of New Zealand. The 176 recipients include the appointments of two Dames and two Knights. “The New Zealanders being honoured in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours have given decades ...
Thank you to the International Institute for Strategic Studies for the invitation to speak on this panel today, and for your ongoing work organising the Shangri-La Dialogue. It’s great to be here today alongside my Thai and Canadian colleagues to discuss security connections across the wider Indo-Pacific. I am so ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Niue and Fiji this week (4-7 June), as New Zealand continues to sharpen its focus and engagement in the Pacific. It will be Mr Luxon’s first visit to the region as Prime Minister. “Niue and Fiji are two of New Zealand’s closest friends ...
The Coalition Government is delivering New Zealand’s aquaculture industry the confidence and security it needs to grow, says Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones. A Bill which passed its first reading in Parliament today will extend current resource consents for marine farms by up to 20 years, removing a significant ...
The Government is delivering on a commitment made in the National-ACT coalition agreement by commencing a review of the Firearms Registry. “Cabinet has agreed to the registry review terms of reference and the review is now underway,” Associate Minister of Justice, Hon Nicole McKee says. “It is important that we ...
Average-income households will be up to $102 a fortnight better off from 31 July following passage of The Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill in Parliament today, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “The bill gives effect to the coalition Government’s promise to allow New Zealanders who have been experiencing a prolonged cost ...
Within 18 hours of the Budget being released, there have been 240,821 visits to our tax calculator website which outlines exactly how much tax relief lower and middle income New Zealanders will receive, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Hardworking Kiwis, who often work two jobs and juggle family commitments need ...
The Government is encouraging businesses to take advantage of the reduced tariff rates under our free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK). The UK is now our fastest growing export market, Trade Minister Todd McClay says. The deal entered into force one year ago today. Mr McClay meet with ...
Technology making it easier for hunters to find animals will be allowed on public conservation land from 1 June, Hunting and Fishing Minister Todd McClay has announced. The use of hand-held thermal technology during daylight hours will add to safety and help hunters to better identify animals,” Minister McClay ...
By Gorethy Kenneth in Port Moresby New Ireland Governor and a former Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Julius Chan told the PNG Post-Courier in a “last man standing” interview at the weekend that this “media crime” should stop. He was responding to a fake press release allegedly released by ...
The notion that the Fast-track Approvals Bill somehow paves the way to destroy the environment, with vast swathes of the countryside turned into mines, is way off track, says Straterra chief executive, Josie Vidal. ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm June 10, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). Today, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning will examine: At a micro level, how ‘Post-Colonial Blowback’ has impacted on New Caledonia, Gaza, South ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling the Government to scrap its EV charging rort that will see millions of taxpayer dollars funnelled into the hands of private companies despite the policy doing absolutely nothing to reduce New Zealand’s net emissions. ...
Would you still move to Melbourne or London knowing it’d be a cheese-scone-less life? Bryer Oden talks to New Zealanders abroad pining for a Kiwi cafe favourite. In Wellington, to call cheese scones elusive would be to call the wind elusive, or rich ladies in quilted jackets, or psych students, ...
Artificial intelligence (AI) presents both a risk and an opportunity to New Zealand’s tech sector, which is now the country’s second biggest offshore earner. Will the industry struggle to keep up? Or are we about to experience a massive boost that will finally break our decades-long productivity slump? “AI has ...
The government will continue weekly accommodation payments until June 2025 to help bridge the gap for homeowners until a decision is made on the future of their property. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hoffmann, Professor of Economics, Tasmanian Behavioural Lab, University of Tasmania The Australian Defence Force is facing an acute recruitment crisis. Only 80% of the 69,000 personnel needed to meet future challenges have signed up. The government recently announced recruitment will be ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Ellen Andres, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Rachael Gallagher More than 52 million hectares of land across Australia is degraded. Degraded land lacks biodiversity and the natural balance of healthy ecosystems, making it unfit ...
Claire Mabey assesses the browsing merits of the capital’s secondhand bookstores. Secondhand bookstores are extremely dangerous places for someone like myself. My house has become so overrun with book piles that if I crafted a hand-painted sign and hung it on the gate it could easily pass for a homely ...
Tourism ministers from the APEC member economies are coordinating their policies in a bid to make the industry more accessible, inclusive and sustainable. ...
A look at the claims, and how they’ve been responded to, in this extract from The Bulletin by Stewart Sowman-Lund. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Multiple agencies called in to ...
Ngāi Te Rangi filed the application last year after the government told departments with dual Māori-English names to lead with their English title first. ...
What a difference eight months in Government makes. Act staged its first major political rally since the election and was back in confident mood. The party’s chutzpah was dented on election night when it underperformed its own, and most political commentators’, expectations. After rising to record highs in opinion ...
Is AI one big step towards a more productive life, or one giant leap into the realm of misinformation? This incredible development is being forced on the tech world, with plenty of potholes on the way. Cats on the moon, anyone? Establishing a daily rock-eating habit? Cooking with gasoline … ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has ended the convention of regularly holding a post-Cabinet press conference even in weeks where Parliament is not sitting. Of the six recess (non-sitting) blocks so far this year, Luxon has only helmed the Monday press conference in two of them. A spokesperson confirmed there is ...
It was called a “proposed functional model”. In October 2023, the Department of Conservation issued a consultation document to staff, released to Newsroom under an official information request. It was a year on from its “organisational reset”, which, among other things, brought together its policy, legal and Treaty of Waitangi ...
Nearly one in three under-25s are Māori, the latest census data revealed. How can New Zealand plan for this huge demographic shift today?The latest census data has revealed that Māori make up almost one in five of the country’s population, and the Māori population is growing at double the ...
Wellington’s central streets are in dire need of a spruce-up. Efforts to cancel the Golden Mile upgrade would doom the city to another decade of stagnation.Windbag is The Spinoff’s Wellington issues column, written by Wellington editor Joel MacManus. It’s made possible thanks to the support of The Spinoff Members. ...
Opinion: We would gain by seeing social progress as a balance between ‘freedom from’ perspectives and ‘freedom to’ which is resolved by the people and the planet The post In search of ‘progressive capitalism’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: In recent years, the phrases “world-leading” and “for the first time in New Zealand” have frequently appeared in press releases and announcements related to research projects or scientific achievements. Many in the science community might contemplate the whakatauki “Kāore te kumara e kōrero ana mo tōna ake reka” (the ...
Regional councils urged Niwa not to cut its Air Quality Team in a letter in May, but Newsroom understands the cuts are going ahead The post Niwa to disestablish air quality team appeared first on Newsroom. ...
One of the best New Zealand novels of the past 20 years – almost certainly the smartest, and most exactingly crafted – has just had its movie adaptation premiered at the Tribeca Film festival in New York to good reviews. The Mistake by Wellington writer Carl Shuker is directed by ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In his latest foray into the climate change debate, Peter Dutton has sown fresh confusion around the opposition’s policy, whether intentionally or by failing to spell out what he means. It’s yet more frustration for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Peter Costello has resigned as chairman of the Nine Entertainment media company, days after the highly-publicised incident in which a journalist who was trying to ask him questions landed on the ground at Canberra airport. ...
Dr. Eric Chuah who stood for centrist party Rock the Vote NZ in the 2023 October NZ Parliamentary elections for the electorate seat of Maungakiekie and was also Immigration Spokesperson for Honorable peter Dunne's United NZ Party and Party strategist have ...
Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Niamh O’Flynn says, "Shane Jones is dreaming. The oil exploration industry won’t risk coming back to Aotearoa because they know that it’s not worth coming all this way to fail again. ...
Comment: Corruption has long been recognised as the enemy of democracy. As the Greek playwright Aristophanes once said, ‘Look at the orators in our republic; once they are fattened on the public funds, they conceive a hatred for justice, plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy.” In Aotearoa ...
Asia Pacific Report About 20,000 protesters marched through the heart of New Zealand’s largest city Auckland today demonstrating against the unpopular Fast Track Approvals Bill that critics fear will ruin the country’s environment, undermine the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi with indigenous Māori, and open the door to corruption. Holding placards ...
The People Over Profits: Stop the Cuts! rally attracted people representing, iwi, unions, advocacy and community organisations and their supporters who marched from Pukeahu War Memorial Park to Te Papa. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea’s opposition leader James Nomane says Parliament needs to be recalled immediately as the gravity of Wednesday’s actions to adjourn Parliament to dodge no-confidence vote “is something that cannot be taken lightly and can’t be dismissed”. “This is not a dictatorship but ...
By Te Aniwaniwa Paterson of Te Ao Māori News Kanak people in Aotearoa New Zealand are lamenting the loss of family and friends in Kanaky New Caledonia, following mass rioting and civil unrest since mid-May prompted by an electoral reform believed to threaten dilution of the indigenous voice. A fono ...
Thousands rallied in Wellington today, furious at the coalition Government’s cuts to public services, and what is being called a ‘mass transfer of wealth’ from the public sector to private interests. ...
Rallies have been held around the country to oppose the bill, which gives three ministers the final say over major infrastructure and development projects. ...
Over 20,000 people have turned out in Auckland today for the March for Nature to protest the Luxon Government’s fast-track bill and ‘war on nature’. ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist People in Kanaky New Caledonia are disappointed that the riots last month are now being overshadowed by the Parliament elections and the Olympic Games. New Caledonia High Commissioner Louis Le Franc said the European elections tomorrow will take place, despite some local municipalities indicating ...
Amigene Metcalfe, Magic netballer No.1, will sit on the shoulders of the latest band of Waikato-Bay of Plenty players this weekend. At least, in a symbolic way. The present-day Magic will wear a one-of-a-kind red dress in their 25th-anniversary celebration match against the Tactix in Hamilton on Sunday – ...
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With this government preparing to pass legislation barring Auckland Council support for Auckland's Watercare, as an alternative to Labour's Three Waters Reform, the smaller weaker councils across New Zealand will only wonder what hostile takeovers they will be subjected to from larger water entities and councils nearby.
Pretty sad to hear the mayor of Whangarei Council this morning wondering aloud about who or what will support Kaipara and Far North Council, when Whangarei is debt free for water infrastructure and could do the actual work of bringing the Northland water assets together into a cooperative water entity. Standard National divide-and-rule stuff.
Still, this Auckland deal is a win for the government achieved with little grief or debate.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516051/district-mayors-welcome-auckland-s-new-water-deal-with-govt#:~:text=Auckland%20Council%20has%20struck%20a,spread%20over%20a%20longer%20period.
I heard Kieran McAnulty say that 3 Waters would have meant a 2% increase in water charges. Here is what he said.
"Labour’s local government spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said the Government’s plan will still cost Aucklanders more in rates than if the Hipkins-era Affordable Water Reforms had not been repealed.
That plan would have seen the establishment of 10 regionally owned and led public water entities based on existing local authority boundaries.
McAnulty said water charges would increase by 7% under the coalition’s plan, as opposed to 2% if they had followed through with Labour's affordable water plan.
"This is because the Auckland/Northland entity would’ve had a credit rating of AA, while Watercare will be BBB at best, so the cost of borrowing will be larger."
He said Auckland was always going to be the easiest region to resolve as it had the largest population.
"What the Government has put forward today is a solution for Auckland, but it will not work anywhere else in the country."
The cost of repealing affordable water was already hitting ratepayers across the country, McAnulty said.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/05/govt-avoids-akl-258-water-rate-hike-in-local-water-done-well-deal/
The link (Three Waters reset: Mega-entities scrapped as new model proposed (1news.co.nz)) references the April 2023 rewrite of the 3 Waters proposals, which was a political response to Labour's slump in the polls. They new entities would not have been 'regionally owned', and the regional representative groups would "continue to sit below the governance board" (from the same reference). The 2% claim is fiction.
"The 2% claim is fiction." Or is your claim fiction? The paper reported him as saying it, so it's not that fact that he claimed it. You dispute his claim? Can you offer more than a counter claim? McAnulty would have some figures at his disposal since he was involved in the 3 Waters proposal as the Local Bodies minister in 2023.
"Can you offer more than a counter claim?"
Yes.
Eight fold variation in water charges – depending on where you live : Water New Zealand (waternz.org.nz)
"The NPR’s author, Water New Zealand’s insights and sustainability advisor, Lesley Smith says that the average New Zealand residential property paid $960 for water and wastewater services in the 2020/21 fiscal year…"
'Rates will not increase' more under National's 3 waters model – MP (1news.co.nz)
"The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) estimates households could be looking at additional costs of between $1900 to $9000 a year if the maintenance of three waters infrastructure isn't reformed. With the Government's reform programme, the DIA has said the costs would instead be between $800 to $1640 a year."
$800 is not 2% of $960.
"“However in the regions with the highest water service charges, the average was $2,237 per year. "
$800 is not even 2% of $2,237.
The DIA information paper where the one news article you cite obtained those estimates says that the $800 to $1640 increase is over 30 years. In other words what the increase is estimated to be in 30 years for the average household.
McAnulty wasn't talking about in 30 years but next year.
( Because standard moderators expect sources, here's a link to the DIA paper
https://www.tasman.govt.nz/document/serve/Key%20reform%20questions%20and%20essential%20facts%2026%20Aug.pdf?DocID=32143 )
The figures in the One News link are present values, per year.
I was sad to hear last night that Peter Franks has died in Wellington. Peter worked for working people all his life, in the student activist movements, the Labour Party, NZUSA, NZCTU, as a mediator, among many others.
He was a thoroughly decent chap and a good friend to many.
Sad to hear that. He seemed to pop up as a member or attendee at many of the events I was interested in. I remember one fascinating weekend(?) or one day(?) on Trade Union history run by WEA.
So it would appear I was right, we are about to get a economic melt down of epic proportions.
And we do not have a city of London to drag us out of it.
The coming budget is the trigger, and all hell is going to break out. The far right and the collection of clowns it has as supporters, is going to sell everything. Including the health system and police.
Far right wet dreams of ann randy crowed from the roof tops, as normal kiwis suffer.
Going through the RNZ Business section is definitely depressing: Not a single positive headline… all doom and gloom.
Who was talking pre-election about the negativity in the country… Chris Luxon:
The arrival of National (and the Coalition of Destruction) hasn't improved anything. The problem is the big group of "negative, wet and whiny" people is now in government and hasn't shown any sign how to "get the country back on track". There's only one hope for them… lower inflation – much of it comes from external supply chain and oil price issues plus some greedy profit taking of essential industries (mainly out of their control) – and the related lower interest rates.
satty you get we stuck with inflation for the next 10 years or so whilst the baby boomers retire. That inflation is probably going to head back to double figures by the end on June start of July. Inflation is not going away.
Inflation has let some industries in this country gouge workers and farmers – way above what inflation really is.
Not if we organise, mobilise and fight back Adam. I'm doing what I can trying to make connections where I live with people with the same values. What are you doing?
This week? Only day off from organiseing I have is Tuesday. Need a day off. Lot of discussions and work-shopping about alternative forms of trade and labour in a wreaked economy. Lots of keeping peoples heads afloat in the open class war we have called austerity. And lots of times just letting people talk out the shit they are going through.
So Grey Area, what you doing?
The good news is that the free speech debate is back on at Victoria University:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/515928/free-speech-debate-back-on-as-victoria-university-expands-diversity-on-panel
The bad news is that the formerly balanced panel has been replaced by a "more diverse" panel that apparently will now include only one committed defender of free speech (FSU representative Jonathan Ayling), plus "a Māori political commentator, rainbow community and inclusivity advocates and additional academic speakers." I'm guessing the Māori political commentator won't be Haimona Gray (let alone Shane Jones). Similarly, I'm guessing the "rainbow" rep won't be Ani O'Brien or Rachel Stewart. And I wonder what the "inclusivity advocates" will have to say.
Recall the debate was postponed in late April because the sub-editor of VUW student mag Salient alleged the participation of a Free Speech Union representative "compromised the safety of marginalised groups on the campus", and criticized the "lack of diversity" of the proposed panellists:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/515322/free-speech-vs-hate-speech-victoria-university-postpones-debate-after-student-backlash
That's debating – win some, lose some – good call by Vic Uni management, imho.
"https://www.salient.org.nz/post/nic-smith-freedom-of-speech-crusader“"
Opinion piece from Henry Broadbent (He/Him), "Freedom of speech crusader"
His argument: any speech is free, except the ones Henry doesn't agree with and then plays the person and not the ball. Tabletennis (no-religion/adult)
The title of that Broadbent (He/Him) opinion suggests Smith is a "Freesom of Speech Crusader". Well-aimed sarcasm? I couldn't possibly comment.
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/about/governance/senior-leadership/prof-nic-smith
The Maaris are coming, the Maaris are coming! We'll all be murdered in our beds!
"Ayling himself explicitly supported Julian Batchelor during his anti-co governance roadshow."
Broadbent is not being truthful. Ayling did not 'support' anything Batchelor said, he supported Batchelor's right to say it.
Free Speech Union lays complaint with Human Rights Review Tribunal against Taupō District Council over political discrimination – Free Speech Union (fsu.nz)
The FSU also acknowledges that freedom of speech "is not an absolute right."
So the event goes ahead with more speakers and a greater diversity of views – a win for free speech and possibly (if some more moderate views are on offer) depolarisation. After all, who really benefits from increased polarisation?
Disinformation and cancelling fuel polarisation, and increased polarisation breeds still more disinformation/cancelling – where/how does that end?
Yes, one of the people added to the 'diversity of views' is one Khylee Quince, who wrote this:
"I suppose it was inevitable that one of the old racist dinosaurs would make a pathetic squeal in an attempt to preserve the status quo….
Mr Judd and his “matauranga Maori is not science” friends can go die quietly in the corner…"
A law school to be avoided – by Gary Judd KC (substack.com)
Diversity is the new code for 'only what I agree with', it seems.
Still, free speech eh.
Quince seems frightfully different – still, diversity and free speech eh.
Might a step to depolarisation be making a genuine attempt to understand why not everyone thinks like you – a step too far for Quince and Judd?
Naturally, not everyone wants or is able to take that, or any step towards depolarisation – sometimes the 'What's in it for me?' mud is just too deep. The question remains – who really benefits from increased polarisation?
https://www.nzepc.auckland.ac.nz/pasifika/mila6.asp
I would very much doubt the presence of KQ will depolarise the conversation. But unlike the VSU, I won’t be trying to cancel her😀
Certainly that greater diversity will provide opportunities for (more) views to be aired, and differences (potentially) ironed out. What depolarisation opportunities did the original panel offer?
Vic Uni management came to the conclusion that the original 'debate' panel was perhaps a little too 'pure'. Of course it's natural that some would view the imposition of greater diversity (expanding the panel) as tainting the 'debate', but imho diversity of opinion and other things is a net good in Aotearoa.
Mockery and denigration of others is fine – free speech 'n' all – but who benefits from stoking polarisation?
Btw, did those Jonathan Rauch links @4.1.1.1.1.1 appeal? He is, after all, a strong proponent of free speech on University campuses, and imho makes a good case for decreasing disinformation, cancelling and particularly polarisation. The approaches he advocates seem pretty good too.
Tbh, I didn't know the VSU was trying to cancel her
"Certainly that greater diversity will provide opportunities for (more) views to be aired, and differences (potentially) ironed out. "
You are assuming that the additional participants add diversity of opinion.
Just as I assumed that each of the original five panellists had distinct views/perspectives/opinions/knowledge to contribute. Of course, you might assume that the original five panellists possessed just the right amount of diversity of opinion for an ‘optimal’ debate, and (if so, then) you'd be entitled to that assumption. In this case the managers of the venue came to a different view – eventually
However, since you've already opined that "I would very much doubt the presence of KQ will depolarise the conversation", it's just possible that ‘KQ’ will add to the diversity of opinions held by the original five, and I certainly couldn’t rule that out.
"In this case the managers of the venue came to a different view – eventually "
No, they were bullied into that view by effectively 2 people. There's a big difference.
Anyone can have a belief about why the VU managers came to a different view, but come to a different view they did – it's just a fact.
Btw, did those Jonathan Rauch links @4.1.1.1.1.1 appeal? He is, after all, a strong proponent of free speech on University campuses, and imho makes a good case for decreasing disinformation, cancelling and particularly polarisation. The approaches he advocates seem pretty good too.
But why have we been led to believe this, and by who – who benefits?
"Btw, did those Jonathan Rauch links @4.1.1.1.1.1 appeal? He is, after all, a strong proponent of free speech on University campuses, and imho makes a good case for decreasing disinformation, cancelling and particularly polarisation. The approaches he advocates seem pretty good too."
Yes, thanks DMK. Jonathan is an excellent source, so I appreciate the quotes. This particularly caught my eye (about disinformation) "We have severe stresses on the epistemic environment, our ability to sort truth from falsehood". That conversation (protecting free speech in an era of disinformation) is going to be very inetersting indeed.
According to the FSU (What happens if we don't defend free speech at universities? – Free Speech Union (fsu.nz)), the "draft principles for what discourse Victoria University intends to allow on campus" includes this:
"We should not provide a platform for, nor invite, individuals or groups to speak on campus that have previously demonstrated or are expected to express hate speech as the current law defines…"
Rather than defend free speech, Universities like Vic are now putting themselves on a self-righteous pedestal and declaring their own precognition.
"or are expected to express hate speech as the current law defines…"
Are we still in NZ ? Than what is NZ's hate speech law?
I'm not a lawyer, AFIK there is no specific hate speech law in NZ. The closest would be section 61 of the Human Rights Act (although that is a 'civil' provision).
Othe legislation does deal with 'harmful' speech, including the Summary Offences Act 1981, the Broadcasting Act 1989, the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, the Harassment Act 1997 and the Films, Videos, and Publications Classifications Act 1993.
What Vic University seem to want to do is to deplatform a speaker if they (VU) 'expect' the speaker may engage in an act that is according to them (VU) hate speech.
Yes, sadly. University administrators all around the country are running scared of the the possibility of brand damage by student activists denouncing their university as "racist", "transphobic" etc. If a staff member publicly criticizes the university, s/he stands to be sacked. But students are paying customers, and the eight(?) universities are competing for a finite pool of students. Just one of the problems with the current university funding model, but nevertheless it's disappointing that university administrators don't show more backbone.
Big Hairy News covered the issues regarding the initial meeting with this interview with VUSWA President Marcail Parkinson. BHN FB 30 Aril 21:00.
The calls were not to 'cancel' the debate, but to make the podium panel more representative. And free speech is not academic freedom, which is the ability to debate your ideas within an evidence-based framework.
Traveller and Dolomedes seem to be posting on the wrong forum. Who is Traveller travelling alongside? Not commies and socialists for sure. And what is Dolomedes the fishing spider really fishing for? Seems like these days The Standard is a testing ground for right-wing apologists to hone talking points. Boring, when the debate is pushed to minor league topics, away from the more serious political debates we need to be having.
right wing people are welcome to comment in TS so long as they play by the rules like everyone else. Having right wing and centrist people stops use from becoming an echo chamber. It’s not these days, this has always been true.
Well – what happen when you don't even get to present your argument within an evidence based framework because adherents to an ideological point of view have decided that any alternative to that ideology is "hate speech"?
You're confusing 'cancelling' the event and 'deplatforming' a speaker(s).
The call was to deplatform participants that didn't reflect the beliefs of a select few. The targets were the FSU and Jonathan Ayling personally. It is an indictment on VicU that they blinked.
But the irony in your comment is this – there was a time when it was the left that stood up most strongly for freedom of expression. Now some (including you) have chosen to criticise those of us not of the left for picking up that mantle.
Coming soon to a motu near you:
We pay a lot more for a lot less, and people know it. That’s why Sunak’s Tories were thrashed in these elections
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/05/rishi-sunak-tories-local-elections-thurrock-tory-council
National's crime-free paradise
Ponsonby Road shooting: Man shot dead, local leaders ‘shocked and saddened’ – NZ Herald
Time for Mark Mitchell to resign.
National's Mark Mitchell accuses Chris Hipkins of personal responsibility for crime, will resign if it doesn't improve under him | Newshub
Give him a chance. He's hasn't even been in six months yet. Need to get the judges giving out proper sentences to offenders (no more home D for rapists or violent offenders). Prison population will likely start to increase, but I do not see this as a bad thing.
The single biggest issue in the rise in violent or gang-related crimes is the 501s from Australia. National talked big and achieved nothing under Key. Ardern got results.
Analysis: Ardern scores a win in 501 discussions with Albanese (1news.co.nz)
But of course Key, like Luxon, was the go-getting guy from business who Gets Things Done, while Ardern only went across the Tasman for photo-ops … right?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/australias-501-deportations-to-nz-continue-to-slow-after-policy-change/LD52WZEKP5CQVOXQBCP3FXVNNM/
But 501 deportations, even of people with only the most tenuous connection to NZ, continue.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/501-deportee-was-born-to-australian-parents-and-left-new-zealand-at-age-2-in-1960s/QAYN3MYAOZBEDDS3UUB4Z7MOA4/
It seems as though the connection with Australia test only applies to those with minor convictions; not to those with significant criminal convictions and/or backgrounds.
The problem still exists, sure. But there has been progress, where before there was none at all.
The essential point here is the difference between rhetoric and action. Now Luxon is PM we get the return of the rhetoric … as illustrated here, saying "Gang crime bad", with no further specific action on 501s beyond what "soft" Labour had already achieved.
It plays well (always has) but the slogans don't survive scrutiny.
Luxon wants 'tough on crime' approach to 501 deportees (1news.co.nz)
Hmm. I'm not sure that NZ is better of because we are only receiving hardened, violent or recidivist criminals from Australia in the 501 deportations (with the ones who have realistic potential to turn their lives around, remaining in Australia).
Realistically, we can't do anything about this (apart from futilely protest). Australia is legally entitled to deport non-citizens at any point.
You could equally well illustrate the difference between rhetoric and action, with the assertion that Ardern got the headline, while Albanese got to continue the policy of deporting the really bad guys. Rhetoric: We're controlling the 501 deportations by making the Aussies consider length of residence; Reality: the really bad criminals continue to be deported, regardless of their length of residence in Oz.
Yes, it changed. The second link gives details but is paywalled.
See any article on 501s in the last year, e.g.
Australian Prime Minister implements ‘fairer’ 501 deportation policy – NZ Herald
Australia signs off on major 501 deportation changes (1news.co.nz)
etc
(meant as reply to above, sorry)