Mole News

Andrew Little accused of steamrolling opposition and continuing with Treaty settlement
Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little is again being accused of steamrolling ahead to finalise treaty settlements despite desperate pleas for him to stop.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi Whakatōhea voted overwhelmingly to halt its Treaty negotiations with the Crown last year, but the minister has since signalled his intention to continue.

GWPF Newsletter: Was This The BBC’s Worst Climate Show Ever?

What David Attenborough Got Wrong

In this newsletter:

1) What David Attenborough Got Wrong 
David Rose, Mail on Sunday, 21 April 2019
 
2) Was This The BBC’s Worst Climate Show Ever?
Paul Homewood, Not A Lot Of People Know That, 19 April 2019

Mike Butler: Rental property child hospitalisation claim contradicted

Housing Minister Phil Twyford justified the launch of costly new rental property standards in February by saying “6000 children are admitted each year for ‘housing-sensitive hospitalisations’” but, when questioned, two Ministries provided contradictory data that undermined the claim.

I sent a series of questions to the Minister’s office, to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and to the Ministry of Health, all seeking evidence to support this rather specific claim.

The full quote was that “6000 children are admitted each year for ‘housing-sensitive hospitalisations’, and that these children have been found to be nearly four times more likely to be re-hospitalised and 10 times more likely to die in the following 10 years.”

GWPF Newsletter: Carbon Tax Opponents Keep On Winning

Did David Attenborough’s Film Crew Scare Walruses To Death?

In this newsletter:

1) Carbon Tax Opponents Keep On Winning
Michael Bastasch, The Daily Caller, 17 April 2019
 
2) Editorial: Another Carbon Tax Defeat
Editorial, The Wall Street Journal, 18 April 2019

Bob Edlin: The prickly issue of Treaty rights and governance

Point of Order was handsomely rewarded when we emailed a Victoria University of Wellington law lecturer with questions about the propriety and legality of cracking eggs on the heads of unpopular politicians.  Within two hours Māmari Stephens had addressed the issues we raised with a well-considered response.

The response was somewhat briefer when we emailed the university with questions raised by an article on its website headed Academics commend Hastings District Council for inclusive, effective decision-making.

The article was prompted by the council’s decision to appoint Māori representatives with speaking and voting rights to its four standing committees, sparing them the need to campaign for election as the councillors who made the decision had been obliged to do.

Barry Soper: If PM pushed on with CGT, she'd face a mutiny

There was a very real chance of mutiny on the Beehive barque which forced the captain for the second time to make a contradictory call.

But it was essential to keep all hands on deck, without them she knew they'd all sink without lifebuoys.

One of the deckhands though has been left clinging to a lifeline that has become perilously frayed.

The first captain's call, her description, came from Jacinda Ardern who not long after she got her stripes from Andrew Little put a capital gains tax back on the agenda, saying there'd be one in the first term of her Government.

Christopher A. Sarlo: The Causes of Poverty

This paper is an inquiry into the causes of poverty. By poverty we mean a circumstance of serious deprivation where a person lacks one or more basic need—as opposed to a condition of inequality. 

The question we wish to try to answer is this: Why do some people find themselves in a circumstance of serious deprivation and, more importantly, why are some able to escape poverty fairly easily while others endure persistent, long-term poverty?

This study’s working hypothesis is that there are two broad categories of the “initiating causes” of poverty—bad luck and bad choices. 

Karl du Fresne: Why the public transport zealots hate private cars

If you want a stark demonstration of the ideological divide between people who think the state knows what’s best for everyone and those who value personal choice, look no further than the private car.

People love cars for a whole lot of reasons, but their root appeal lies in the fact that they give us options. They enable us to make choices about where and when we travel, and with whom.

This enrages and frustrates ideologues who envision a Utopian collectivist society where such decisions are made by politicians and bureaucrats, supposedly for the common good.

The very existence of the private car is an affront to these zealots, because it prioritises individual autonomy over the ideal of a compliant society where people are made to do things their way.

Ron Manners: Killing and Stealing: Government Specialties

Over the centuries, governments have only excelled at two things. Killing (mainly by declaring wars) and stealing (mainly by taxation and redistribution).

In Part 1 (Killing) we draw attention to the unintended consequences of a misguided Fringe Benefit Tax introduced into Australia on 1st July 1986.

It was obviously introduced as a way of raising money to cover the unfunded liabilities of the over-generous superannuation and pensions schemes for politicians and public servants.

GWPF Newsletter: Carbon Tax Defeated As Conservatives Win Alberta Elections

Allegations Netflix Film Crew Lied About What Caused Mass Walrus Deaths

In this newsletter:

1) Carbon Tax Defeated As Conservatives Win Alberta Elections
Bloomberg, 17 April 2019
 
2) Terence Corcoran: Carbon Tax Trial Full Of Alarmist Political Diversions No Court Should Fall For
Financial Post, 17 April 2019

NZCPR Weekly: Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we outline the controversial background to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and explain the implications of the Government’s decision to implement it, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Brian Giesbrecht explains why Canada’s decision to adopt UNDRIP as law will be such a disaster, and our poll asks whether you agree with the Government that UNDRIP should be ‘implemented’.

*To read the newsletter click HERE.
*To register for the NZCPR Weekly mailing list, click HERE.  

GWPF Newsletter: Victory For Peter Ridd and Academic Freedom

Peter Ridd Has Defeated The Climate Inquisition Thanks To You

In this newsletter:

1) Victory For Peter Ridd & Academic Freedom: ‘Sacking Ruled Unlawful’
The Australian, 16 April 2019
 
2) Peter Ridd Has Defeated The Climate Inquisition Thanks To You
Jennifer Marohasy, Spectator Australia, 16 April 2019

GWPF Newsletter: Did David Attenborough’s Film Crew Drive Walruses Over The Cliff?

Climate Sceptics Now Second Largest Party In Finland

In this newsletter:

1) Did David Attenborough’s film crew drive walruses over the cliff?
Global Warming Policy Forum, 15 April 2019
 
2) Andrew Montford: What we don’t know about walruses
Global Warming Policy Forum, 15 April 2019 

Melanie Phillips: End this abuse of power - replace Mrs May

It has been reported that the government has ordered all operational planning for a no-deal Brexit to end. According to a leaked email seen by Sky News, the decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill.

On what basis has this cynical, manipulative and irresponsible decision been taken? For the possibility remains that, whatever the eventual date on which it leaves (if ever), the UK will do so with no deal. The Cabinet doesn’t even seem to have been told that abandoning no-deal preparations was to happen.

Tory MP Crispin Blunt described the move as a “complete betrayal” of the referendum and a “dereliction of duty”. More than that, it speaks to a ruthless abuse of power by the prime minister – and further evidence that the government machine is determined to stop Brexit altogether.

GWPF Newsletter: Finland's Climate Sceptic Party Set For Election Breakthrough

In this newsletter:

1) Finland's Climate Sceptic Party Set For Election Breakthrough
The New York Times, 12 April 2019 

2) Finland’s Populists Find Favour With Anti-Green Agenda
Financial Times, 11 April 2019 

Clive Bibby: The killing machines and the law

It disturbs me that our first response to the Christchurch massacre is to look for politically acceptable measures that will stand no chance against the evil they are supposed to prevent.

Most of our Government's reaction, just like that of other politically sensitive governments around the world reaction's to similar atrocities, is to find the most vulnerable, high profile public utensil that could be misused and take it out of circulation using the law of the land to do so.

The normal procedure is to make sure the Government's "feel good" actions are backed up either by enforcing existing or implementing new legislation that has to be rushed through the house in the dead of night so that people will see their leaders are serious about fixing the problem.

Viv: Forbes: How to Break the Backbone of Australia

Since the days of the gold rush and the wool boom, Australia has always relied heavily on its great primary industries – mining, farming, forestry and fishing and their supporting transport, energy and processing industries.

First was the export of hides and tallow, wool and timber. Then came the great discoveries of gold, coal, copper and silver-lead-zinc, followed by exports of wheat, butter, meat and cotton. 

Luckily the effects of droughts in the rural sector were often moderated by booms or new discoveries in minerals. 

Karl du Fresne: Guess what? Hate speech can be punished using existing laws

The moron who shouted abuse at Muslim worshippers outside the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch on Wednesday now faces a possible prison sentence, and so he should.

Why the police officers stationed outside the mosque didn’t arrest this odious exhibitionist hoodlum immediately is a question only they can answer, but at least someone higher up later thought better of it.

Anyway, Daniel Nicholas Tuapawa has now pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in an insulting manner likely to cause violence and has been remanded on bail for a pre-sentencing report. He says he has no recollection of the incident.

NZCPR Weekly: The Consequences of a Tragedy

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we examine the consequences of the Christchurch shooting – including a growing mass hysteria over security largely created by Government scaremongering to justify its crackdown on gun owners, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Stephen Franks shares his concerns over the Government’s gun law changes, and our poll asks whether you believe the Crusaders should change their name, branding or imagery as a result of the tragedy.

*To read the newsletter click HERE.
*To register for the NZCPR Weekly mailing list, click HERE.  

GWPF Newsletter: EU Plans To Transfer Energy Powers From Capitals To Brussels

GWPF Paper Refutes Walrus-Climate Scare

In this newsletter:

1) EU Plans To Transfer Energy Powers From Capitals To Brussels
Forbes, 9 April 2019

2) EU Wants Members To Drop National Veto Over Possible Carbon Tax
Associated Press/Washington Post, 9 April 2019