NZ Politics
Taranaki Civic Leaders Play Politics with Democracy
Paul C This Wednesday, the Taranaki Daily News ran two items: “Forum seeks ward law change” and “Nothing Democratic about Race-based wards” The first is a report that the three Taranaki mayors, and the Regional Council Chairman have written to the Prime Minister stating: “We are deeply concerned that
Daily News Roundup – 15 January 2021
Tiwai Point Smelter deal Tom Pullar-Strecker (Stuff): Aluminium smelter deal – who caved? Hamish Rutherford (Herald): Power play: Meridian Energy reaches deal with Rio Tinto over Tiwai Point Smelter Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Tiwai Point negotiations continuing despite breakthrough on smelter RNZ: Locals ‘absolutely thrilled’ about Tiwai Point’s revival Evan
Judith Collins and David Seymour’s Misstep
I am both an ACT supporter and a fan of both Judith Collins and David Seymour but they both have made a misstep in withdrawing their support for New Zealander Chris Liddell. Liddell has had the privilege of advising President Donald Trump for the past four years and the President
A New Set of Ethics, but Where Is the Morality?
It’s that time of year when the Auckland CBD homeless return from their baches in the Coromandel to live another year of gluttony and excess on the streets of our fair city. The last time I encountered them, one bloke, who is roughly the size of a small car,
2021: A Cruisy Year for Some
Information Satire My Spyfly was ready and waiting on the wall of the room wherein the worshippers were to assemble, my mole in the parliamentary cleaning ranks having informed me that the PM, Justinda Ardeau, was scheduled to give a beginning of year pep talk to her new quiverful of
With No Handbrake, Government Accelerates in Reverse
Just prior to Christmas, as things were winding down, Gordon Campbell wrote an article advising Labour to hit the accelerator. As a former researcher for the Green Party, Gordon would no doubt like the accelerator hit with the vehicle rounding a succession of left-hand bends. The result of that
Ivermectin Now a Proven COVID Treatment
Covid Plan B covidplanb.co.nz A WHO-commissioned meta-analysis of Ivermectin shows that using this generic medicine in hospitals leads to a 83% reduction in covid mortality (95% CI 65%-92%). The WHO is understood to be waiting for the results this month from three trials before issuing
Onward, Comrades. It’s Back to the Polish Shipyard for You.
In a sign that drugs – or threats (both are equally effective I’m informed) – work, and proving the steady decline of standards in NZ media, where the flow of intellect has been reduced to a mere dribble, Damien Grant has succumbed to the sinking lid of stupidity and thrashed out
Next 10 Years: Growth Decade or More Decadence?
They say three is a lucky number (“third time lucky”, “hat trick”, etc). So how do we feel today as we embark on the early days of the third decade of the third millennium? And what will be our name for this new decade, which follows the “Nuisance Noughties” and
Why I Don’t Want to Live in NZ
Recently I read a news item regarding the 2020 road toll here in Victoria. The numbers seemed very low to me. In Victoria, we had 213 deaths last year which some would say was low because of coronavirus restrictions. New Zealand had a lockdown as well, yet almost every time
Daily News Roundup – 13 January 2021
Covid Nick Wilson & Michael Baker (The Conversation): With COVID-19 mutating and surging, NZ urgently needs to tighten border controls Craig McCulloch (RNZ): Government’s latest Covid measures described as both too strong and too weak RNZ: Covid-19: Ban on UK flights should be considered – Professor Nick Wilson
Don’t Worry, the Gun Register Will Be Secure
We are told that the Government will create a secure database of gun owners, despite the fact they can’t even manage the existing register. Also despite the fact that they seriously breached privacy due to a data breach during the gun confiscation process. And despite the fact that Police
The True Colours of Jacinda Ardern
It has been interesting over the holiday break to look at the conduct of our, to some, beloved Prime Minister. It was somewhat predictable as to when she would pop her cover girl head over the parapet and to see the subject matter she would address. Also noteworthy were the
Power to the People
This article is about Otago but is relevant to the whole of New Zealand. It is typical of how councils are operating. The Otago electricity lines company, Aurora, is owned by the Dunedin City Council on behalf of the people of Dunedin – except it isn’t. It is owned by
No One Else to Blame
Eliora Those who voted for Labour (and the Green party) have no one to blame but themselves. Poor roading infrastructure is becoming a symptom of a larger problem. The public are getting extremely impatient in and around Tauranga. New overpasses are taking years to complete. Cars are backed up on