Brian Gaynor: Aussies are banking on bumper profits in NZ

The four major Australian-owned banks are huge money-making machines.

They completely dominate the New Zealand commercial sector in terms of profitability and have a huge impact on the domestic economy, particularly residential property.

The four banks — ANZ Bank New Zealand, ASB Bank, Bank of New Zealand and Westpac New Zealand — reported combined statutory profits after tax of $5128 million for the latest year, a 9.2 per cent increase over the same period in 2016/17 (see table).

GWPF Newsletter: UN Climate Conference To Promote Coal

Brazil Cancels 2019 UN Climate Summit

In this newsletter:

1) UN Climate Conference To Promote Coal
AFP, 28 November 2018
 
2) Brazil Just Cancelled The Green Blob’s Annual Jamboree
Climate Home News, 28 November 2018

Karl du Fresne: Pike River - a lot of ifs, buts and maybes

This might seem an insensitive question, but it needs to be asked. Exactly what will be achieved by going back into the Pike River mine?

The justification for the $36 million re-entry operation is often vaguely expressed and seems to vary depending on who’s doing the talking.

Anna Osborne, who lost her husband in the Pike River disaster, wants the 29 miners’ remains recovered. Bernie Monk, whose son was killed, talks about wanting “justice and accountability”.

NZCPR Weekly: Legitimising Illegal Migration

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we outline the United Nation’s radical plan to legitimise illegal migration and we call on the Government to walk away from this global compact, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Judith Bergman shares her critical analysis of the deal, and our poll asks whether you think New Zealand should sign the United Nation’s Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

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

GWPF Newsletter: American Fracking Is Changing The World

The Shale Revolution Is Toppling The Green Agenda

In this newsletter:

1) American Fracking Is Changing The World
Walter Russell Mead, The Wall Street Journal, 27 November 2018
 
2) How The Shale Revolution Is Toppling The Green Agenda
Nick Butler, Financial Times, 26 November 2018

GWPF Newsletter: The Coldest Thanksgiving In Over A Century

Met Office Hotheads Predict Incredible Hothouse

In this newsletter:

1) The Coldest Thanksgiving In Over A Century
Newsweek, 22 November 2018
 
2) Record Cold Hits North America As Solar Activity Reaches Near 200-Year Low
P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, 24 November 2018

Melanie Phillips: Brexiteers! Start Promoting No-Deal. Fast

Has there ever been a more hopeless, pathetic bunch of political clowns than Britain’s parliamentary Brexiteers?

The people of Britain have voted to leave the EU. Theresa May’s government is poised to spit in their faces by preventing that from happening through a sleight-of-hand deal which would be Brexit in name only, leaving the UK as a “vassal” state still in thrall to Brussels.

Bob Edlin: Yes, dear taxpayer – you will pay to help people make up their minds about home ownership

The Minister of Māori Development, Nanaia Mahuta, last week announced 24 community-led housing repair projects will receive funding  from the Māori Housing Network (which gets it from taxpayers) totalling $5.8 million.

In the same press release, she and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi announced a new programme called Sorted Kāinga Ora.  It involves a series of “workshops to help whānau decide whether they are ready for home ownership”.

Someone – it seems – has decided whanau are unable to work out if they are ready to own a house without the help of bureaucrats from Jacinda’s Nanny State. 

Richard Prince: Rewriting History

It is said that we learn from history but that is predicated by what sort of history we are taught. New Zealand history has become of major importance as with  many Waitangi Tribunal findings being based on histories.

The Waitangi Tribunal's role as a truth-recovery mechanism has been questioned by historians critical of the Tribunal's interpretations of the past. Eminent NZ historian Bill Oliver criticized the Tribunal's conclusions as creating a “retrospective utopia”.

Frank Newman: More RMA reforms and letting fees

The Resource Management Act (RMA) is being amended - yet again! Hardly a year goes by without the Act being changed. One would normally expect changes to improve legislation. Sadly, that's not the case with the RMA.

The Act was fundamentally flawed when it was first introduced, and remains so today. Although it was conceived with aspiration and good intent, the +20 or so amendments to the Act have been a series of backward steps that have given absolute discretion to regiments of we-know-best planners. The effect has been a transfer of property rights from landowners to council staff that has paralysed progress and seriously inflated land and building costs.

Irish Households Face €3,000 Tax Bill On Fuel And Energy To Cover Climate Costs

How The BBC Quietly Obliterates And Rewrites Science News

In this newsletter:

1) Irish Households Face €3,000 Tax Bill On Fuel And Energy To Cover Climate Costs
The Irish Independent, 21 November 2018
 
2) Ireland’s CO2 Emissions Could Be ‘95% Off Target’, Says Minister
The Irish Times, 22 November 2018

NZCPR Weekly: Plastic Bags - a matter of perception not science

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we question the Prime Minister’s proposed ban on plastic shopping bags, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Nicholas Kerr explains why such token bans do more harm than good, and our poll asks whether you think the best approach to reducing plastic bag use in New Zealand is a continuation of the voluntary scheme that’s presently in place, the PM’s ban, or new taxes, levies, or a deposit and refund collection scheme.

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

 

Subsidy Cut Deals Blow To UK Wind Farms

Carbon Tax Needs To Increase 15-Fold For Ireland To Meet Climate Targets

In this newsletter:

1) Subsidy Cut Deals Blow To UK Wind Farms
Emily Gosden, The Times, 21 November 2018 
 
2) You Did Say Your Costs Had Been “Slashed” Didn’t You?
Andrew Montford, GWPF, 21 November 2018

Mole News

Significant Health Research Council grant for Waikato researcher
The Health Research Council has awarded Dr Rawiri Keenan 2019 Career Development Awards.

Dr Keenan is looking at cultural competency and equity in primary care and has the Foxley Fellowship worth $224,727.

GWPF Newsletter: French Anti-Carbon-Tax Revolt Escalates As Lorry Drivers Join Protests

Macron’s Climate Waterloo

In this newsletter:

1) French Anti-Carbon-Tax Revolt Escalates As Lorry Drivers Join Protests
The Times, 19 November 2018 
 
2) France’s Climate Change Policies Trigger Street Protests
The Washington Post, 17 November 2019

Bruce Moon: The Rangiaowhia Incident

There must be few events in New Zealand’s history which have been the subject of more brazen lying than the occupation of Rangiaowhia by government troops on 21^st February 1864.[1]  

In particular the gross falsehood of the burning of a church full of women and children has been repeated time and again, and recently, for example:

- by Tommy Wilson in the “Bay of Plenty Times”, 12/8/09

- in  Eraka’s Blog in Tainui News, 7/5/14

- by JOC Phillips on air, 2/4/16

- by Susan Devoy in the “Bay of Plenty Times”. 4/1/17

- by Vincent O’Malley in “The Listener”, 25/2/17

- by members of Ngati Apakura in “Waikato Times”, 9/12/17

- by deceived children of Otorohanga College

Power-Hungry Asia Drives New Coal Demand

Anti-Carbon-Tax Revolt Threatens To Paralyse France

In this newsletter:

1) Power-Hungry Asia Drives New Coal Demand
Forbes, 15 November 2018
 
2) Anti-Carbon-Tax Revolt Threatens To Paralyse France
GWPF & Irish Times, 16 November 2018

Melanie Phillips: The Predictable Brexit Crisis Has Now Arrived

Mrs May has now presented to Cabinet the Brexit deal she has negotiated with the EU. As feared, it is a proposal that would leave the UK not only remaining bound to the EU but at a far greater disadvantage than under its current terms of membership. It is therefore totally unacceptable.

There were reported ructions in Cabinet. It is bound by collective responsibility, but that doesn’t mean individual Cabinet ministers have accepted the deal.

Since its faults are overwhelmingly obvious to Remainers as well as Brexiteers, it is extremely doubtful that it will get through Parliament.

Clive Bibby: Dealing with Climate Change on our own terms

In spite of efforts to discredit my recommendations for dealing with Climate Change in my home region of the East Coast, North Island, l plough on undeterred.

The reason l do so is because l believe the best interests of the residents of this community are not being served by a continuation of the current " head in the sand " attitude towards a threat we all agree is real.

No amount of accusations that my refusal to accept the IPCC theory of who is to blame for this phenomenon should reduce the need to examine the credibility of my proposals.

Karl du Fresne: When TV drama is used to promote messages of diversity and inclusivity

In the opening episode of Bodyguard, a BBC drama series screening on Netflix, an off-duty police terrorism specialist (a man) confronts a female suicide bomber on a crowded train.

It’s convincingly tense, but there’s not a lot to distinguish it from other post-9/11 plotlines – that is, except for one thing.

The commander of a police anti-terrorism squad that boards the train is a cool and efficient black woman. Nothing remarkable about that, in itself. But then we see a police sniper waiting to get a clean shot at the suicide bomber, and the sniper is a woman too.

Bryce Edwards: The Media’s fraught role in the Jami-Lee Ross scandal

The media has played a central role in this year’s huge scandal involving MP Jami-Lee Ross. Journalists, broadcasters, and political commentators have reported on the scandal – including choosing to withhold some information – and interpreted it all. Inevitably questions have been asked about how well the media have performed, and the decisions they have made.

I raised some of these issues in my column yesterday, Lifting the bedsheets on MPs' private lives. Further questions include how much the media have influenced the scandal themselves, in terms of what they’ve decided to report and not report, and the role some in the media have played in their interactions with the political players.

Bob Edlin: Weeds need pulling in the Far North, if Donna wants to do something about climate change

While Shane Jones was filling Point of Order’s email in-tray with a flurry of handout announcements, the grandly titled Māori Climate Commissioner was bleating about  Māori and their land being inadequately treated in the formulation of climate change policy. 

“Māori Climate Commissioner” is a title which rings with Wellington and officialdom. 

Actually it is the creation of a private carbon trading operation called the Māori Carbon Foundation, an organisation  which says it offers

… carbon planting solutions to all landowners, and we are particularly excited about the economic and social benefits that are offered to Māori landowners from participating in the MCF planting programme.

NZPR Weekly: Housing Affordability – Lottery or Reform

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we examine KiwiBuild and outline why it will not solve New Zealand’s housing affordability ‘crisis’, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Frank Newman explains why Labour’s housing changes are making the situation worse, and our poll asks whether you think KiwiBuild is a good policy.

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

Shale Shocked Crude’s Collapse Sends Shockwaves Across Global Markets

U.S. Shale Revolution & Free-Market Economics Dominate Oil Prices

In this newsletter:

1) Shale Shocked: Crude’s Collapse Sends Shockwaves Across Global Markets
Bloomberg, 14 November 2018

2) U.S. Shale Revolution & Free-Market Economics Dominate Oil Prices
Olivier Jakob, Financial Times, 14 November 2018

GWPF Newsletter: 'Too Many Polar Bears' 'Numbers Exceed Co-Existence Threshold'

It Has Come To This: Academic Samizdat

In this newsletter:

1) ‘Too Many Polar Bears:’ Govt Draft Plan Says Polar Bear Numbers ‘Exceed Co-Existence Threshold’
Bob Weber, The Canadian Press, 12 November 2018
 
2) Back To The Dark Ages: Pseudonyms To Protect Scientists Of Controversial Research Papers
Martin Rosenbaum, BBC News, 12 November 2018

Matt Ridley: How to stifle innovation

My biggest beef with the European Union has always been the way it stifles consumer-friendly innovation in the interests of incumbent businesses and organisations. Today’s victory for Sir James Dyson at the European General Court lays bare an especially shocking example.

Dyson’s case, which has taken five years in the courts, reveals just how corrupt and crony-capitalist the European Union has become. It is no surprise that Sir James was and is a big supporter of Britain leaving the EU. Essentially, the rules have been bent to allow German manufacturers to deceive customers about the performance of their vacuum cleaners, in a manner uncannily similar to – but even worse than — the way mostly German car manufacturers deceived customers about the emissions from diesel vehicles.

GWPF Newsletter: Global Fertility Rates Cut In Half Since 1950

Collapse Of UK Renewable Energy Investment Continues

In this newsletter:

1) Global Fertility Rates Cut In Half Since 1950
Michael Nedelman, CNN, 9 November 2018
 
2) 'Remarkable' Decline In Fertility Rates
BBC News, 9 November 2018

Barend Vlaardingerbroek: ‘Innocent until proven guilty’ – except when a woman accuses a man of sexual misconduct

A prominent theme of the ‘Me Too’ movement is the need to ‘believe’ a woman who accuses a man of sexual misconduct – the man should be presumed to be guilty, thereby turning the presumption of innocence, one of the pillars of civilised law, on its head.

The principle of the presumption of innocence has its origins in the writings of Western European (French, Spanish and Italian) jurists but flourished mainly in the English system of law where it manifests itself in the need for the prosecutor in a criminal case to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. The expression ‘innocent until proven guilty’ was coined by the Victorian jurist William Garrow. Lord Sankey in 1935 referred to it as the ‘golden thread’ that runs through English justice (readers may recall this as being one of Rumpole of the Bailey’s favourite quotations).

Clive Bibby: "Be careful what you wish for"

A recent provincial newspaper editorial suggesting the likely liberalisation of some of the laws governing social issues in this country, while an accurate summary of public opinion trends, was also a sad reflection of the nation's ambivalence towards safeguards of our sovereignty.

Every time an issue that requires some sole searching of our attitudes to what some would call a more "progressive" society, we are challenged to asked ourselves if the move will really provide the environment that will benefit us all or just a few.

It takes a lot of courage to stand up and be counted as one who believes the suggested changes will bring more problems than we need even if the evidence supports such a stance.

GWPF Newsletter: Washington Voters Reject Carbon Tax For A Second Time

A Bad Day For Green Republicans

In this newsletter:

1) Washington Voters Reject Carbon Tax For A Second Time
The Daily Caller, 7 November 2018 
 
2) The Ballot Question That Could Transform U.S. Climate Politics
The Atlantic, 5 November 2018 

David Farrar: What the US results mean

House

The Democrats have taken the House. This is a big achievement and significant. Nancy Pelosi will become Speaker. They Dems will take the chairs of every committee and will be able to launch investigations of the Trump administration. They might even compel Trump’s tax returns to be published. And no laws can be passed without them now.

It is not unusual for the House to change in mid terms. Clinton lost the House in 1994, Bush lost it in 2006 and Obama lost it in 2010. But the projected net loss of 33 seats is larger than average.

NZCPR Weekly: Return the Coast to Public Ownership

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we outline how New Zealanders have been misled over the Marine and Coastal Area Act claims process and why public ownership of the coast must be restored, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Professor Barend Vlaardingerbroek explains why tribalism undermines democracy, and our poll asks whether New Zealand’s coast should be returned to public ownership.

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

GWPF Newsletter: Earth’s Upper Atmosphere Cooling Dramatically

Wind Farms Kill Off 75% Of Buzzards, Hawks And Kites That Live Nearby, Study Shows

In this newsletter:

1) Earth’s Upper Atmosphere Cooling Dramatically, Cosmic Rays Continue To Increase As Deep Solar Minimum Approaches
Meteorologist Paul Dorian, Perspecta, Inc., 5 November 2018 
 
2) Green Species Killers: Wind Farms Kill Off 75% Of Buzzards, Hawks And Kites That Live Nearby, Study Shows
Daily Mail, 6 November 2018

GWPF Newsletter - Big Breakthrough: First Shale Gas Flows At UK Fracking Site

U.S. shale oil and gas boom keeps defying expectations

In this newsletter:

1) Big Breakthrough: First Shale Gas Flows At UK Fracking Site
Reuters, 2 November 2018 
 
2) Ta-Da! America’s Shale Boom Has Just Created A New Mexico
Bloomberg, 1 November 2018 

Barry Soper: Karel Sroubek residency case a shambles

The Prime Minister's got a habit of flicking her head away from a questioner who annoys her in the hope of getting a more friendly one. 

This week Jacinda Ardern would have done a break dancer proud, as the head bobbed this way and that, but try as she might she's been unable to deflect the torrent of questions about an issue that clearly has made her very uncomfortable and with good reason.

It was just over a week ago that her opposite number Simon Bridges was in the same position, although his head barely flickers, his vowels simply became even rounder, with the same words flowing from the elastic lips, "I have done absolutely nothing wrong", he'd proclaim as he defended himself from the onslaught from the feral Jami-Lee Ross.

Bob Edlin: Why the Democrats should brace for some serious soul-searching

Washington Correspondent:  Democrats hoping for decisive victories in the US mid-term congressional elections next Tuesday must be increasingly nervous. Polling guru Nate Silver still gives the Democratic party a six in seven chance of regaining control of the House of Representatives but he now says it would take a systematic opinion polling error (ie, most pollsters making the same mistakes) for them to win back the United States Senate.  And despite his excellent record, he still missed the Trump surge in 2016.

This is quite a change from the optimism of mid-year.  If the Democratic Party falls short of expectations, there will need to be some serious soul-searching.

Karl du Fresne: The Canberra elite's visceral loathing for Pauline Hanson

I first wrote about Pauline Hanson in 1997. She was then a newly elected Australian MP whom the liberal media – indeed most of the Australian political establishment – openly despised.

Hanson had been selected as a Liberal Party candidate in the 1996 elections but was dis-endorsed because the party was embarrassed by her opposition to special government assistance for Aborigines. She won the Queensland seat of Oxley anyway, despite it being an Australian Labor Party stronghold, and went on to form the One Nation Party.

Journalists and commentators made much of the fact that she had previously owned a fish and chip shop. She was seen as bigoted and uneducated and therefore not worthy of a seat in the Australian parliament. It didn’t seem to occur to her detractors that the bigoted and ignorant, in a democracy, are as entitled to representation as anyone.

Lindsay Mitchell: Increased cash hand-outs reduce incentive to work

Seems obvious to you and I, but a fact that the Left has long resisted. Their response is always to indignantly insist, "...people want to work."

But MSD doesn't necessarily agree. At least the actuarial arm which produces an annual Benefit System Performance Report.

Below is a graph tracking exit rates among Jobseeker-Work Ready (JS/WR) beneficiaries. The associated commentary notes that recent exit rates are lower than during the GFC!

But notice also the bold type sentence below the graph. Paying those JS beneficiaries with children MORE has reduced their exits off welfare.

GWPF Newsletter - Bolsonaro In, Merkel Out: The Paris Climate Gang Is Breaking Up

Only 16 Countries Meet Their Paris Agreement Commitments, New Study Finds

1) Bolsonaro In, Merkel Out: The Paris Climate Gang Is Breaking Up
GWPF & Climate Home News, 31 October 2018 
 
2) Will Trump And Bolsonaro Unravel The Paris Climate Agreement?
The Daily Caller, 29 October 2018