Clive Bibby: ‘Beware the Ides of March’

It is amazing how history has a habit of repeating itself.

Julius Caesar was warned of impending disaster and look what happened to him.

Wouldn’t you think that we should all learn from the mistakes made by these giants of history. Hitler failed in his disastrous invasion of Russia after ignoring what led to Napoleon’s downfall attempting the same thing.

Why is it that we continue pursuing the same objectives that have beaten the best laid plans of mice and men?

Clive Bibby: The day after tomorrow - a year in retrospect

The following is a progress report on how things are in one corner of ground zero following the devastating floods during Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle of 2023. 

For what it is worth, our personal situation 12 months on from the Cyclones is somewhat of a mirror image (less dire than some but perhaps worse than others) of the average casualty tying to rehabilitate themselves after those soul destroying events. 

Clive Bibby: Finally, someone with the ability to make it happen appears to be listening

On Friday the 2nd February 2024, PM Christopher Luxon met with Iwi leaders at Kerikeri in the far North - presumably as an opportunity to have constructive dialogue about how they could work together in the future rather than just talking past each other which is a recipe for declining relationships and confrontation.

During that conversation Luxon is reported to have said “ What would unlock prosperity here in the north. Well it’s very good roads and it’s water storage.”

Clive Bibby: The politicians, the Knight of the Realm and the good idea

These days, unfortunate life experiences tell us as much about ourselves as the good ones - particularly in the lessons we should have learned from reckless decisions made by others on our behalf.

For example, overwhelming evidence suggests that much of the East Coast region decimated during the Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle in early 2023 would not have been  damaged anywhere near as much if politicians at both Local and Central Government level had put aside their prejudices and made decisions in the best interests of the people they serve.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive 25/8/23

O’Connor has $8.4m spending (on grass science) to announce before flying to India – but other ministers are splashing out, too

The travel plans of one Minister of the Crown is among the questions answered on the government’s official website today. Trade and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor will depart for India tomorrow for bilateral talks “to advance the economic relationship” from 27-29 August.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 8/8/23

Govt’s partner for financing renewable energy projects is being investigated by US Senate committee for its China dealings

Hard on the heels of announcing plans to ease the way for more wind farms, our government announced plans for fast-tracking nine solar power projects and – in today’s news – the launch of a $2 billion fund aimed at making New Zealand one of the first countries in the world to reach 100% renewable electricity.

The fund is being established with the help of an American company, BlackRock, which the Beehive press statement describes as one of the world’s largest investors in climate infrastructure and clean technology.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 3/8/23

Millions will go into East Coast clean-up and reconstruction – it’s reassuring to learn Moodys are not discomforted

Well over $400 million of state spending was mentioned in a press statement today that describes what the government is doing to support the findings of the Ministerial Inquiry into the devastating East Coast weather events of recent months.

Each of the inquiry report’s recommendations was carefully considered, and the government is firmly focussed on reducing risk and setting the region up for sustainable longer-term change, Environment Minister David Parker said.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 1/8/23

Parker performs as a party propagandist, as he exposes the potholes in Nats’ transport proposals

Point of Order hopes to find the answers to questions about what ministers are up to, when our staff monitors the government’s official website.

How are they spending our money, who are they appointing, where are they going…that sort of thing.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 31/7/23

Robertson congratulates the Black Ferns, Mahuta will watch the Silver Ferns – but does govt support help a team’s chances?

How our money is being spent – and misspent – is among the burning questions which Point of Order strives to answer by monitoring the government’s official website.

Today we can record a few projects proudly announced by ministers – but we can’t always tell readers how much is being spent because the ministers haven’t bothered including that information in their press statements.

Another question we like to ask relates to the whereabouts of our busy ministers – and their sporting interests.

Clive Bibby: A Winning Formula 

I wrote this before l knew the result of the much anticipated rugby test between the old foes New Zealand and South Africa.

This battle of the Titans has always produced a measure of where we are at in the ratings relative to the rest of the world rugby playing nations especially when compared to those who are considered favourites for the World Cup competition. 

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 18/7/23

Crackdown on youth crime: ram-raiding delinquents (if they are caught) will be ordered to clean up graffiti and pick up rubbish

The Prime Minister apparently fluffed his attempt at showing the government’s toughness on the law-and-order front. At least, that’s the way we heard it from RNZ, which – on interviewing Chris Hipkins about the need for a correction – was given an explanation.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 6/7/23

Govt dishes up $4.6m to help put the kibosh (or should that be ‘kaibosh’?) on food waste

Sums of government spending feature in three of four new ministerial statements posted on the government’s official website since Point of Order’s previous Buzz report.

One of the new spending announcements deals with waste.

Clive Bibby: The debilitating effect of no hope

Most kiwis will have relatives who have been personally affected by the cyclones that ravaged the East Coast regions of Tairawhiti and Northern Hawkes Bay.

This Country’s diverse population is (with the exception of those who live in the Auckland region) spread rather evenly throughout the provinces of both islands and so when catastrophic weather events like the recent cyclones wreak havoc in rural New Zealand, the whole nation is watching to see if their extended family members are in danger. We react as one during times of crisis and that is comforting to know if you are being subjected to unrelenting pressure such as that which is ongoing here at Ground Zero.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 1/7/23

Mahuta (reiterating NZ’s anti-nuclear position in world affairs) says we are a small country but we have sharp teeth

Speaking as Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control, Nanaia Mahuta addressed a conference (unidentified in her speech notes) on the theme of “Populism and Global Politics”.

While discussing foreign policy challenges and the threats from populism, Mahuta said a crucial distinction must be made between populism and popularity.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 30/6/23

The PM is busy in China while Andrew Little deals with Five Countries – but for success, check out the Census numbers

The government’s diplomatic balancing act can be admired on two fronts this week.

In Wellington, Andrew Little released a statement headed Five Country Ministerial Communiqué.

This was the culmination of a gathering of political bigwigs from New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 29/6/23

Ministers busy strengthening relationships with China – but media attention is drawn to Kiri Allan’s office relationships, too

Much of the ministerial action deemed worthy of recording on the government’s official website over the past 24 hours took place in China.

This was reflected in extensive media reportage and commentary.

But there was significant media interest, too, in whatever might have happened in the office of Kiri Allan, Minister of Justice and Regional Development and Associate Minister of Finance and Transport.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 27/6/23

Govt seemed satisfied with Budget funding for universities just a few weeks ago – but today it has announced a rescue package

We are waiting patiently for the statement from Education Minister Jan Tinetti about another dollop of funding – or a rescue package – for our financially struggling universities.

News of a $128 million rescue package has been reported by RNZ and had been portended in many media reports over the past day or so.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 14/6/23

Statements gush from the Beehive but there’s a dearth of figures for taxpayers who might want to check the costings

A gush of press statements has poured from the Beehive in the past 24 hours.

Ministers, plainly, have been busy. But they were sparing with their information when it came to telling us how much is being spent on the initiatives and what-have-you they were announcing.

Point of Order: Code of conduct for school board members is announced.....

.....by a minister whose grasp of Parliament’s rules is in question

Education Minister Jan Tinetti brings news of a book of rules for school board members at the same time as her own grasp of Parliament’s rule book has been brought into question.

Tinetti has announced a compulsory code of conduct to “ensure school board members are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected standard of behaviour”.

How crystal clear she might be on her responsibilities as a minister and the standard of behaviour expected of her is questionable.

Kate Hawkesby: Why isn't there any urgency in distributing the relief funds?

So despite more money being announced yesterday for cyclone recovery, there’s still money floating around that hasn’t even been allocated or spent yet.

Months on from Cyclone Gabrielle, more than 30 million dollars in donations is still unspent. How’s that possible? What is it they’re waiting for? It was reported that, “So far, only 5 million of the 24 million donated to the Red Cross Disaster Fund has been allocated, while none of the 11.7 million raised in a March Lotto draw has been dispersed… as 79 cents of every donated dollar remains unspent, earning interest of 150 thousand dollars, the Red Cross is defending the time taken, saying it's allowed for crucial planning and trials.”