Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 21/10/24

Don’t forget the Paddle Ferns, while saluting Kiwi sports teams’ weekend triumphs – and please note Peters’ success in Thailand

Our sports teams did the country proud over the weekend.

Besides holding on to the America’s Cup and winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, our teams beat Aussie netballers (here in Wellington) and Indian cricketers on their home turf.

Clive Bibby: The Trans Debate

As our community matures and does away with former prejudices towards minority groups we previously chose to ignore, our association with people who have been regarded as outcasts or worse - even criminals, improves to the extent that we are bending over backwards in order to include them in every aspect of modern society.

That is as it should be but unfortunately, for some Woke citizens, our steps in what the majority see as the right direction will never be enough. 

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 29/4/24

If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fiscal facts – can’t we?”

Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 17/1/24

Govt kicks in $3.9m to help prop a women’s rugby tour in 2027 – and score for the economy – but Lee sounds like a social engineer

The government has announced it will be spending $3.9 million (to prop up the inaugural Women’s British and Irish Lions Tour) and, more immediately, collecting an unspecified sum (from the owners of light electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids).

Clive Bibby: Watching on TV isn't the same as being there

Recently, l tuned in to watch the NZ cricket team doing battle with their Aussie counterparts at the 50,000 seat Sydney Cricket Ground, a place steeped in history that usually offers the viewer an experience worth the effort.

Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus restrictions, the two teams were playing in a stadium that was totally empty.  It was a charade but it also quickly became unwatchable irrespective of who was winning at the time.

I quickly switched channels to the Super Rugby game in Hamilton where there were about 10,000 loyal fans in attendance. The difference in atmosphere for anyone who couldn't be there in person was remarkable and the difference was the crowds reaction to the closeness of the scores. You could sense the tenseness.