The Breaking Views blog is administered by the New Zealand Centre for Political Research at NZCPR.com. The views expressed are those of the author alone.
Saturday, August 31, 2024
David Lillis: Is Tertiary Education for Learning or for Indoctrination?
Compulsory Courses at the University of Auckland
Clive Bibby: Real change requires compromises from all of us
It is probably because, no matter who we are or where we live, we generally tend to approach all problems in the same way.
NZCPR Newsletter: The Radicalisation of Local Government
Last week Prime Minister Chris Luxon delivered a broadside across the bow of local authorities at the Local Government New Zealand Conference in Wellington. This was a gathering of hundreds of mayors, chairs, chief executives, councillors and senior management from councils across the country, who had paid $1,500 plus travel and accommodation to attend this annual three-day shindig.
Derek Mackie: And I'm feelin' screwed!
Sun in the sky; fog, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin' by; doldrums, you know how I feel
It's a woke dawn…. it's a woke day…. it's a woke life….
For me - [cause I ain’t an inclusive minority]
And I'm feelin’ screwed!
David Farrar: Labour desperate to tax us more
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the party’s tax policy is still a live discussion after the Labour Party social media account shared an account of a party meeting where former Revenue Minister David Parker allegedly discussed something called a Capital Income Tax.
Hipkins confirmed members were discussing a range of taxes,
Breaking Views Update: Week of 25.8.24
Saturday August 31, 2024
News:
Mฤori King Kiingi Tลซheitia dies
The Mฤori King, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, has died.
A Kiingitanga spokesperson say he had been in hospital recovering from heart surgery, days after celebrating the anniversary of his Coronation.
Ben Espiner: Can beer be racist?
Cultural and social advisers in New Zealand do some decent work. They can be important in facilitating events and processes in companies or organisations that must be culturally cognisant in their undertakings.
Bob McCoskrie: 1News’ social media policy… good for some
This week, TVNZ published information about how its newsroom operates, as it focuses – as it says – “on transparency and inspiring trust in news”.
Ooh – they’ve just realised that it matters. Trust and transparency.
Alexander Plum, Kabir Dasgupta: Why a universal basic income might foster wellbeing but not productivity
Labour or leisure? Why a universal basic income might foster wellbeing but not productivity
The current cost-of-living crisis, high interest rates and the ensuing economic contraction have disproportionately hit low-income households. And for many low-income workers, the future remains uncertain.
On top of that, the rise of artificial intelligence may result in significant job redundancies and displacements. And recent employment data for New Zealand has been grim, with a rise in the number of unemployed.
Nick Clark: Localism: NZ needs a better system
Lushington D. Brady: What Does ‘Far-Right’ Mean, Exactly?
Does anyone remember keyboard macros? They were pretty hot stuff in the early days of internet chat, back when bulletin board systems and GeoCities ruled. Just hit a keyboard shortcut and it would instantly type out any phrase you’d taught it.
I rather suspect mainstream media journalists are still using them, judging by how often they parrot stuff like ‘misinformation and disinformation’, ‘transphobia, homophobia, Islamophobia’ and ‘white supremacist’.
Friday, August 30, 2024
Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 30/8/24
Simon Court’s “biography” is blank on the Beehive website – but he has been busily buzzing about his PPP duties
Go googling for information about Simon Court, an ACT MP since 2020, and – among the first half dozen suggestions – you will find a steer to the government’s official website:
Mike's Minute: We must question insurance companies
Having become a country that loves a good market study, we've had petrol, banks, supermarkets – so surely insurance, and while you are at it, Air New Zealand, would be a good next stopping point.
Australia isn't overly happy with the way their insurance industry works either, and the regulator last week hinted inspections of some sort were coming.
Chris Lynch: Government cracks down on disabled parking misuse
These changes were announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston and Transport Minister Simeon Brown.
David Farrar: Now that’s a crackdown!
Police have arrested every patched member of the Christchurch chapter of the Comancheros in a massive blow to the international bikie gang’s reach into the South Island.
They’ve also seized millions of dollars worth of drugs, cash and guns as part of a major eight-month investigation into the gang’s illicit activities.
Lindsay Mitchell: The child poverty conundrum
Poverty can be measured in various ways.
Heather du Plessis-Allan: Have the Greens underestimated Darleen Tana?
I feel like they might have bit off a bit much with this one. Because so far - it’s 2-nil to Darleen.
She won the first round when she refused to quit Parliament. The Greens clearly thought that after they’d finished the report she’d just slink off in shame - but she refused to do that.
Michael Reddell: Wholly inappropriate
DTNZ:
“He says he’s open to cross-party action on the energy crisis, but not if it involves natural gas.
Dr Guy Hatchard: Fact checking Luxon and Collins on biotechnology deregulation
Unfortunately none of the above are ever likely to publicly debate their policy to deregulate biotechnology, instead they are saturating a compliant media with disingenuous tales about how wonderful it all is. So a big thank you this week to Reality Check Radio who set up a virtual debate.
As a result, this week I appeared on Mornings with Paul Brennan right after an interview with biotech advocate Dr. Alec Foster and was able to fact check his claims and those of an earlier interview with Science and Technology Minister Judith Collins. My main take home was shock at the brazen deceit being employed to get this policy over the line with a suspicious public. You can listen to the replays, but here are some of the main points fact checked:
Peter Dunne: Labour's tax policy
Its coyness on tax in the 2011 campaign led to John Key’s famous “Show me the money, Phil” retort to leader Phil Goff on Labour’s spending plans. When Goff could not answer satisfactorily, Labour’s campaign was sunk amidst a public suspicion of new taxes looming to pay for Labour’s policies. So, in 2014 Labour resolved to be more specific, explicitly promising to introduce a capital gains tax. But that did not work either and Labour was again heavily rejected by voters.
Eliora: Bloomfield Is Behind It Again
The Tauranga public turned out in large numbers fronting up to the newly democratically elected councillors to voice their disapproval of Dr Ashley Bloomfield’s directive to put fluoride in the residents’ unfluoridated drinking water. The room was overcrowded and the atmosphere electric. Many had to move into the foyer and the ‘health and safety’ irony of the situation wasn’t lost on the crowd. A lot of booing took place.
Kerre Woodham: The infrastructure plan is wildly exciting
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 29/8/24
What’s gone on in climate-change talks with China? Watts is coy while Brown buries his news about raising road revenue
Point of Order is disappointed that Climate Change Minister Simon Watts didn’t tell us much more about his chat with China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu.
Watts said the Chinese minister is departing New Zealand today ”after the Fifth Ministerial Climate Change Dialogue between New Zealand and China…”
Nick Hanne: The NZ Herald and a not so “free” press
If Hobson’s Pledge, a lobby group led by Don Brash, wasn’t on your radar a few weeks ago, it will almost certainly be now. Of course, it ought not be confused with the ironic term ‘Hobson’s Choice’ which means ‘having no choice at all’, which in light of the NZ Herald’s actions only makes it all the more ironic. I’ll spare you, though, all the details from the controversy of the past two weeks, and deal here instead with two key questions.
The first is relatively easy: Can a newspaper like the NZ Herald lawfully turn down an advertisement?
The short answer: Yes, they can.
David Farrar: Fixes for our energy shortages
Duggan Flanakin: Greta versus the volcano
In the movie, Joe Banks (Hanks) is told by a doctor he is dying. He is then duped by an unscrupulous billionaire into throwing himself into a volcano. The billionaire (and crony of the lying doctor) needs a sucker to appease the gods of the native Pacific islanders who control access to a mineral essential for manufacturing superconductors.
Sir Bob Jones: World class wetness
Last week a drowning wet London employment Tribunal dismissed a claim for unfair dismissal by a primary school teacher, Charlotte Moore.
It transpired Charlotte had entered her mixed-race classroom to find the kids in full cry, as is their timeless universal wont when temporarily left to themselves.
Mike's Minute: Surely the clock is ticking for Chris Hipkins
They have added to their problems this week with the social media post from David Parker wittering on about his tax dream. The old Capital Gains Tax, get all those rich bastards lined up and raid their pockets.
It's a sorry old state they find themselves in.
Ele Ludemann: Labour pondering envy tax again
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the party’s tax policy is still a live discussion after the Labour Party social media account shared an account of a party meeting where former Revenue Minister David Parker allegedly discussed something called a Capital Income Tax.
Hipkins confirmed members were discussing a range of taxes.
David Farrar: Unfair criticism of judge, but there is a double standard
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones called a High Court Judge a “Communist Judge” during a meeting with the seafood industry over Mฤori rights.
High Court Judge, Justice Cheryl Gwyn, who has awarded Customary Marine Titles to Mฤori, comes up in the meeting notes.
Professor Robert McCulloch: Hipkins wants NZ to fail
Dr Don Brash: Hipkins' Dangerous Statement on Mฤori Not Ceding Sovereignty
Hipkins stated:
Dr Eric Crampton: A prescription for better regulation
The problem seems to have nothing to do with the chemist itself. Instead, it is just one symptom of a much broader public policy problem.
Jeffrey A. Tucker: This Is Not Capitalism
I’m long over trying to push my definition over someone else’s understanding, generally viewing disputes about vocabulary and dictionary definitions as a distraction against the real debate over concepts and ideals.
Professor Alan Brent: NZ energy crisis: electricity demand will jump as NZ decarbonises....
The prime minister has called it an “energy security crisis” and signalled a review of New Zealand’s electricity market as wholesale prices spike and industries suffer.
And he’s right – this year has seen pricing turmoil. August saw daily averages ranging between NZ$164.52 and $853.57 per megawatt hour (MWh). By comparison, August 2023 saw a maximum daily average price of $168.43 per MWh.
Bob McCroskrie: Even the left are getting sick of the left-wing media bias
And that’s not an opinion. That’s a fact.
But what happens when even the left get sick of the left wing bias. It’s happening!
In NZ they have researched the political leanings of newsrooms via a Massey University Worlds of JournalismStudy published in 2022, and they found that
65% of journalists admitted that they leaned left in their political views, and just 12% leaned right.
And there has also been research on the coverage by the NZ media of some recent crucial social issues. Coverage should be balanced and close to 50/50.
During the cannabis debate in 2020, an analysis of all the media coverage found that 66% of the coverage leant in favour of a yes vote.
During the debate about a conversion therapy ban and despite concerns about freedom of expression & belief, and the criminalising of parents and pastors and professional counsellors, there was a 78% bias in support of the law
And when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the media manifested their opposition to the decision with an 82% bias against the decision.
Shocking.
And that’s why trust in the media is at an all time low.
Now please note that is not just my personal view as a social conservative. These are from random sample professional surveys.
It seems that even those on the side of the media – the left – are getting sick of the bias.
And that was on display for all to see last week.
In 2019, I actually attended a conference in Atlanta Georgia, so I popped down to check out the head office of CNN. As someone who has been heavily involved in the media, CNN was always held in high esteem – up until about 10 years ago.
Last week, left leaning host Stephen Colbert in front of a left leaning New York audience make a comment about CNN being balanced – or “objective” was the word I think he used – to a host of CNN, and the audience burst out laughing. It was very telling. Have a watch
Ouch. Remember this is a left wing host with a left wing audience with a left wing interviewee.
They almost laugh as to say – yeah we’re objective – ha ha ha ha. Sarcasm!
A couple of days later, in an interview with the same CNN host on the HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher,
Maher called himself a big supporter for CNN – but he also argued that many consider CNN extremely biased and he completely understands why.
“CNN is the place where both sides can watch, and I think my show is evidence of that. We have lawmakers on from both the parties. We’ll have Elizabeth Warren on one night and we’ll have Ted Cruz on another night. I think lawmakers from both parties should take questions, and you should push both of them,”
Well, that sounds nice in theory – but let me explain how that actually works. And it’s a case in New Zealandinvolving me as the token conservative.
During the same sex marriage debate back in 2013, I was invited onto 1 News Breakfast. My understanding was that it would be an interview with me. Just me v the interviewer. But for the last 18 years of doing this job, the interview is never balanced and definitely not tilted in our favour.
Not only do they bring in someone from the opposite side as another interviewee, but usually the interviewer is also against our position.
So the interview was with the breakfast host, who, of course, was certainly not on our side. But they also bought inpop psychologist Nigel Latta. Now in my view, he was deliberately positioned behind me so I couldn’t see what he was up to, but he was making faces and gestures when I was speaking. I didn’t realise this until after the interview.
But not only that. They timed the interview to the exact day when a pro same sex marriage campaign was launched by none other than the weather presentator on the breakfast show – Tamati Coffey who is gay.
And so leading into the interview, they did a puff piece. On this new campaign.
So that makes it the interviewer, one of the guests.
AND even the weather guy.
And me. The token conservative.
3 to 1. And they called it balance.
(Plus the famous people in the promo campaign.)
Have a watch of the first 2 minutes of the interview that followed the campaign advert. This is from 2013.
That sounded really fair eh
But not only were they 3:1 biased, but they were also promoting the website for the pro gay marriage website in the ribbon along the bottom.
Are you feeling sorry for me? No – don’t. These types of biased interview setups are typical of the mainstream media these days. They can’t win 1-1 so they have to stack the table.
But they claim that they’re balanced because they’ve had a stack debate with a token social conservative.
As Bill Maher said to the CNN host,
“When you look at the panel, it does look like tokenism…”
“They come across that way. In a moment like that. It was like 5 to 1..”
MSNBC make no excuse that they are rabid left wing.
But in NZ, 1News and Stuff and Radio NZ and the NZ Herald and the Newstalk ZB newsroom pretend to be balanced. But they’re not.
We all know that.
But even the left are getting sick of the left wing bias, it seems.
And that’s a good thing.
In fact, there was a study which has just been released in the US. The US Media Research Center study looked at all 2024 presidential campaign coverage on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts from July 21, the day Biden exited the race through the next four weeks. 194 reports with a combined airtime of 437 minutes.
84% positive for Kamala
89% negative for Trump. So just 11% positive.
Shocking eh.
Now you know why trust in the media is at an all-time low and will continue to deteriorate.
Just to give you one more example, let me show you the Editorial from the Press (formerly the Christchurch Press) at the weekend. It’s truly one of the most biased pieces you will ever read.
Entitled “Now the race is really on”, let me quote some lines from it
๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐, “๐ค๐๐๐๐”, ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐’๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ก, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ง, ๐ก๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ต๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐.
.. ๐คโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐ ๐๐๐๐–๐ก๐๐ค๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. * ๐ผ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ , “๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐โ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐”, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐, ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐.
..๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ , โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฆ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ถโ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐. ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ “๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐” ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐.
๐ป๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐–๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ค๐๐๐ง, ๐กโ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ.
๐ต๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ ๐คโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐, ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ “๐ด๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐” ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ “๐พ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐?” ๐ด๐๐ โ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐? ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐คโ๐๐โ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐.
How truly embarrassing. Editorials are usually written by the senior journalists at a newspaper. It is quite evident that the newsroom at The Press is controlled by a bunch of activists, and you’ll be able to hear the sobbing and wailing in their newsroom from Auckland if Trump does win in November.
If you pay to read the Press, you may have no cents left.
And if you rely solely on the mainstream media for watching and reading the news, maybe its your head that needs reading.
Bob McCoskrie is the National Director of Family First New Zealand, he has a Masters of Commerce with Honours from the University of Auckland and a Diploma of Teaching from the Auckland College of Education. He posts regularly on McBlog - Where this article was sourced.
JC: RFK Jnr’s Move Is Seismic for Trump
On Friday of last week America played host to the equivalent of a political earthquake. It came in the form of the confirmation of a rumour that had been doing the rounds earlier in the week: that Robert Kennedy Jnr was going to pull out of the presidential race and endorse Donald J Trump.
Kerre Woodham: How have people become so desensitised?
“Look, can I just say I thought that was disgusting. It really was. I mean, I saw some of the footage, it was filmed before emergency services arrived. There were close-ups of people deceased in the van and injured lying on the road. As I say, I thought it was horrible. As I said, a lot of my colleagues, that's not acceptable. You know, we should not be doing that, and I say to the people that are filming that, how would you feel if that was your family?”
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 28/8/24
Bishop outlines challenges for new National Infrastructure Agency while Collins names woman as Army chief
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop announced plans for the establishment later this year of the National Infrastructure Agency, unlocking access to more capital for infrastructure and strengthening the Government’s private finance and commercial capability, when he addressed the Building Nations 2024 conference.
He also informed his audience about the National Infrastructure Plan.
Andrew Hoggard: Scope of Significant Natural Areas review revealed
In May, the Government introduced a Bill that proposes to suspend requirements for councils to identify new SNAs to provide time for a review of SNA provisions in the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPS-IB).
'Chris Lynch: Minister unveils plans for national infrastructure agency
“Right now, our infrastructure system is not performing as well as it needs to be. We rank in the bottom 10% of high-income countries for the quality and efficiency of our infrastructure investments. Put simply – we get less and poorer quality infrastructure for our spending,” Bishop said.
Dr Eric Crampton: Difficult to see method in the Government’s moves to tackle youth vaping
The line came to mind while reading the cabinet paper on proposed vaping reforms.
The government is clearly responding to schools and parents’ concerns about youth vaping.
Mike's Minute: The Goldsmith scandal is no scandal
Paul Goldsmith as Treaty Negotiations Minister is in a meeting with the seafood people, who are not happy about their lack of input into the government's foreshore plan to revert a court ruling back to the original intent of the law as passed in 2011.
Goldsmith, it was reported, said customary title will drop to 5 percent. 1News fell over themselves breathlessly reporting this as some sort of scandal on Sunday.
Dr Oliver Hartwich: ‘Career suicide’ - the price of dissent in NZ universities
“I feel my job is at risk if I question the direction the university is taking. The last round of redundancies was definitely about getting rid of those who were not boot lickers,” another reported.
A third warned, “Questioning anything about the radical current interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi is likely to be career ending.”
Ele Ludemann: Stupidity & sabotage
Labour would re-instate a ban on oil and gas exploration if it got back into power. . .
David Farrar: NZ Initiative on academic freedom
Heather du Plessis-Allan: Labour can't hold on to the oil and gas ban forever
Not only because this is now so serious, with businesses closing down and cutting jobs because they can’t afford the power bill, that it really requires everyone in Parliament to be grown ups about it - but also because I think this is going to politically snooker Labour on that oil and gas ban.
DTNZ: Financial risks loom over universities
Andrew Dickens: Reality always catches up to politics
It's all about seeming to be the best instead of necessarily being the best.
This is why politicians often say the most ridiculous things and make the most outlandish promises. It’s also why they boil complex issues down to simple catchy slogans which are repeated ad nauseum until they gain their own reality.
Dr Jonathan Newman: What the Media Says about Homeschooling
