Govt still refuses to act on youth smoking

Written By: - Date published: 1:53 pm, April 21st, 2009 - 42 comments
Categories: health, john key, national - Tags: , , , , ,

A couple of months ago you may remember Tony Ryall rejecting a health select committee recommendation that cigarettes and tobacco be kept out of sight in shops to help make them less inviting.

On Sunrise this morning Oliver Driver wanted to know, in the light of fresh evidence, why Key’s government is still intent on supporting the tobacco industry instead of Kiwi kids.

It’s almost painful to watch Key struggling to justify his government’s do-nothing approach as Driver keeps on wheeling out the facts.

42 comments on “Govt still refuses to act on youth smoking ”

  1. lprent 1

    Oh that interview is so painful. Key didn’t have a view that he could articulate… At least not one that he would say.

    Perhaps the donkey should ask Tony Ryall to justify why he thinks that the link is unproven. Oliver was certainly giving him ample stuff to check.

    As a reformed smoker, I certainly notice the cigarette display and get the urge…

    • Dean 1.1

      “Perhaps the donkey should ask Tony Ryall to justify why he thinks that the link is unproven. Oliver was certainly giving him ample stuff to check.”

      And I’m sure he cares about the opinion of someone who just can’t help but call him names. Try “dickhead” next time – I hear it’s one of your favourites.

      • lprent 1.1.1

        I just call them as I see them. It is hard to respect a flutter-head like John Key. He and Sue Kedgeley seem to be of a kind. Incapable of focusing on one thing long enough to complete it. John seems to have figured out how to win an election (with a lot of help), but not how to run a country. We have to rely on Bill English for that.

        I tend to reserve dickhead for people with more testosterone than brains, I’m very selective about who I use it on.

        • Dean 1.1.1.1

          I see.

          The next time you call out the right for being nasty and lacking of any substance when they call someone names I’ll be sure to take your opinion with a grain of salt.

          And you actually wonder why your party lost the last election. Amazing.

          captcha: “grand cronies”. Which reminds me, is Feild still only guilty of working hard for his electorate?

          • lprent 1.1.1.1.1

            Perhaps you’ve forgotten why your parties won the election. Amazing. Let me remind you.

            The right set the low standard – perhaps you’ve ‘forgotten’. Who can forget some of those classics that denigrated the fact that there were women in powerful positions being more effective than the misogynist wingnuts preferred woman to be. Or having a responsible finance minister intent on repairing the damage from decades of fiscal mismanagement by the Nat’s and the founding members of Act, rather than continuing to give unwarranted tax-cuts. The last two elections were not fought on policy, they were fought from the right on the basest of PR.

            Just go to whaleoil or the sewer that is the comments section of kiwiblog and you’ll see them now. For that matter the trash that is Investigate and Wishart. When are you going to issue a blanket apology on your behalf for associating with your fellow wingnuts?

            Your opinion is valued rather lowly by me because I perceive you as being part of the continuum of pathetic ill-educated misogynists who used slogans rather than reasoned policy to influence the last 5 years of political debate.

            Since my preferred parties are now in opposition and the tactic obviously worked, we are now having to run on the MAD scenario (as I warned through 2007/8). So the same tactics will be used by some of the left (like me) against the idiots who currently run our government and their mindless minion trolls. Except we will do it better, earlier, and with more of a focus on policy (or lack of). This is to ensure that a defeat in 2011 and probably 2014 manages to penetrate the thick skulls of the conservatives that this type of political behavior is a negative sum game.

            In the meantime, I’d point out that you are now trying to change what we say. Read this

  2. Tigger 2

    Doofus. It’s the only word that describes this performance. I mean, Mr Bean could have done a better job!

  3. Bill 3

    If they ever get sensible on all this they might want to consider banning anti-smoking ads too.

    Nothing like an anti-smoking ad for reminding you that you have just been in a space where smoking was the last thing on your mind.

  4. Trevor Mallard 4

    And McCully has confirmed in a wpq 2b published tom that they are to gut push play by taking out social marketing funding. Why do they want to load our health system with cancer + diabetes?

    • George Darroch 4.1

      I’m sure the Maori Party are conflicted on this, but thus far they haven’t said anything publicly. I wonder how long they can bite their tongues.

      • Tigger 4.1.1

        English himself said at a meeting of Crown CE’s that ‘the last government were interested in stopping diabetes while we just want more front line services, more doctors and nurses’. That sounds nice and slogany – who doesn’t want more doctors and nurses? But all the front line services in the world won’t help when you lose a leg or eyesight that could have been prevented if someone had empowered you to change your diet/exercise.

        NACT only see the symptoms – they don’t see the disease.

  5. George Darroch 5

    One decent interview – this is what journalism is supposed to be. And it isn’t ridiculously hard either. Driver is no health professor, but he’s done some research, so Key can’t get away with openly misleading and fudging the issue.

    Which is what should have happened months ago. Still, good to have a start.

  6. gobsmacked 6

    “Which is what should have happened months ago. Still, good to have a start.”

    Indeed.

    When Sarah Palin became the VP candidate last year, there was about a week or so of soft coverage, with human interest stories.

    Then Katie Couric and the other interviewers (forget the names) got to work. They did their job, which was to find out if Palin was up to the job she wanted. She flunked, and it was over.

    John Key has bluffed and parroted his way through any questions about anything that matters, since the day he became leader. His interviewers have been either unable or unwilling to master the basics of their job: thorough research, forensic questions, firm follow-ups, thinking on their feet.

    No other Western leader has had an easier ride. It is a national (sic) embarrassment.

  7. Paul Robeson 7

    Driver: Just a basic warning saying that drinking can lead to death

    Key: Oh yeah. I see what you mean, a basic warning, well, well…

    OMG this man is representing us. If he can’t handle Oliver Driver, how on earth did he make play in China?
    *shudder*

    and re the comment of Trevor Mallard above (assume its genuine) *despair* We better stop putting out reports saying things are working and benefitting large numbers of New Zealanders because they’ll axe them.

  8. I got so angry watching that man just now.
    What is he on? What mickey finn does English slip this mutt with his weetbix ? Indeed Mr Mallard, why does this administration want to load up our society with these horrid outcomes?
    On top of Olivers connecting the tobacco/nact dots there would seem to be some BigPharm influence coming hard.
    So, how many BAT shares does donkeys family trust own? How many merke sharp dome shares?.
    horrible horrible, as Bomber says: hows that ‘change’ feeling?
    In fact can we supress any of this before other nations get to view this shitty governance? Can’t be good for out touris….oh,…HE’S the Minister if Tourism.FFS.

    captcha: fatherly bidder hah! Daddy state indeed!

  9. bobo 9

    Key could have done with a smoke after that awkward interview.. One of Helen Clark’s lasting legacies was her anti-smoking policy in 1990 banning it in the workplace before most other countries did. Notice the nervous gulp/cough Key has developed or is that asian flu from his recent trip?

  10. BLiP 10

    Hey – c’mon people! Haven’t you read the OECD report on the future cost blow outs in the provision of health and pensions to New Zealanders?

    John Key and his mates are looking at reducing these costs by killing off as many kiwi’s as possible before we reach pension age. With no kindergarten, pies and coke in schools, and advertising for smoking, a sound policy package has been put together that should save billions “going forward”.

    Just think of the state of the coffers.

  11. Paul Robeson 11

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/on-the-house/2350526/Keys-return-home-a-mixed-bag?comment_msg=posted#post_comment

    Actually Colin Espiner seems to be doing a better job at this the Standard! When is the rest of the media going to start with the journalism, and when is this ‘honeymoon’ going to end.

    They sold us a pup, time to call it a pup before it grows up to become the mongrel government we all fear.

    • BLiP 11.1

      Looks more like C Espiner has been rummaging around at The Standard looking for material – apart from Brownlee’s latest mendacity, its all yesterday’s news.

  12. jerry 12

    Arghhhhh – how hard is it to either put cigarrettes below the counter or behind a cupboard door more to the point how hard is it to regulate for and why has no government regulated it.

    Seems to me it’s an easy piece of regulation and hardly anyone will get pissed off about it – from a health perspective I’d love to see cigarettes phased out of supply over a ten year period … fat chance.

  13. DeeDub 13

    And it takes a talented ACTOR to do arguably the best journalistic job in the last year?

    REAL journalists: NIL
    Actors and Comedians: TWO (Oliver Driver & John Stewart)

    • George Darroch 13.1

      Driver’s pretty smart, and has been interviewing for years. A lot of NZ television journalists are actors too, only they ham their lines.

  14. Kevin Welsh 14

    The more I see of Key in unscripted situations, the more I piss myself and realise he has to be just a figurehead and not running the show.

    The whole point of POS advertising, John, is that it WORKS. That is why companies spend tens of millions of dollars on it every year. Its not a gamble.

  15. Steve Reeves 15

    And what about the precautionary principle, John?

    You know, it goes like this: there’s evidence smoking kills and there’s evidence (which John says he’ll look at…) that POS advertising helps sells cigarettes, so…..because the damage *might* be so great, let’s take the precaution of banning them while John takes a look at the evidence.

    What are the objections?

    And the fact this has apparently been ruled out does suggest that Oliver’s “conspiracy theory” has foundation—who might be telling John not to take precautions?

  16. Lindsay 16

    From 2002 Canadian provinces began instituting tobacco display bans. Instead of going to a biased source, the tobacco industry or public health department, I went to Canadian Statistics to see what effect that had on smoking rates;

    “In 2007, one in five Canadians reported smoking either every day or occasionally, the same proportion as in 2005 and 2006. In addition, smoking prevalence across all age groups remained stable.”

    Saskatchewan was the first cab off the rank;

    “Smoking rates in the provinces continued to be within 5 percentage points of the national average. Once again, British Columbia had the lowest rate, and Saskatchewan, for the second year in row, had the highest.”

    http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080825/dq080825b-eng.htm

  17. Parks 17

    However – those Canadian smoking stats do not prove anything for or against. It’s largely meaningless to use them out of context.

    As Driver points out this is about stopping kids starting. As the evidence in New Zealand shows the displays encourage them to start. So, why would adult smoking stats from Canada show this? It’s not about making people stop, but stopping kids from starting.

    Marketing works – so why market something deadly in front of kids. It’s about stopping the promotion of a deadly product in a way that suggests it’s ‘normal’. It’s a basic no-brainer not to do this as Key struggles to justify.

  18. gfraser 18

    spot on Kevin.
    Unbelievable that our MSM could not pin Key down on so many points during the lead up to the election.
    Shameful.

  19. Yes some actual probing questioning would reveal how empty this decision actually was and probably reveal al lot on many other issues Key has stumbled into blindly.

  20. outofbed 20

    Fuck when you see Driver doing the basics and asking the obvious questions of a politician and not taken bland nothing answers, one realises how bad journalism is in NZ.
    I wonder how many interviews he (Driver will get now?)
    I would like to see him present an “Question time” (BBC) type program in depth interviews with our politicians being asked hard questions and demanding proper answers. ..

  21. George Darroch 21


    I wonder how many interviews he (Driver will get now?)

    I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets shelved from doing interviews with National MPs for a while. I would hope not.

    More likely National simply go to Paul Henry for the soft breakfast option.

  22. Lindsay 22

    Parks, “However – those Canadian smoking stats do not prove anything for or against. It’s largely meaningless to use them out of context…this is about stopping kids starting…So, why would adult smoking stats from Canada show this?”

    The statistics are not out of context. “…smoking prevalence across all age groups remained stable.” That means that the prevalence did not drop amongst the youngest people.

  23. Lew 23

    Lindsay, it’s an interesting point, requires one to check one’s premises. The implication is that tobacco marketing doesn’t increase sales. If that’s so, why do tobacco companies bother marketing? Conversely, why do they object to advertising bans?

    L

  24. Parks 24

    If you check the Canadian stats you’ll see they are for adult smoking. All Age groups 16+

  25. Tom Semmens 25

    John Key is clearly an irrelevance in this government. His job is just to be “that nice man Mr. Key”. Besides, Key has already got what he wants – another box ticked on his C.V.

    If Oliver Driver wanted answers, he should have asked someone who is actually in charge of something in this government – I suggest Ryall is the guy in charge of this.

    Oh and by the way – is it really surprising that a leaderless government clearly bereft of ideas is already succumbing to the corruption of influence peddling lobbbyists?

    George W. Bush’s administration ring a bell anyone?

  26. Lindsay 26

    Lew, The ‘implication’ is that a ban on displaying tobacco, which came long after a ban on mass media tobacco advertising, didn’t further decrease sales. The NZ ban on advertising isn’t currently decreasing sales so it is unlikely a ban on displays will.

    “The number of cigarettes available for consumption was up 4.3 percent, to 2.5 billion in 2008. This increase in cigarettes contrasts with a decrease in the amount of tobacco available for consumption, which was down 3.7 percent to 870 tonnes in 2008.” Statistics NZ

    Like my earlier observation about the limits of social engineering (or state attempts to control behaviour if you prefer), they succeed to a point only.

    Without advertising and displays is there any sign cannabis production and consumption is decreasing?

    Parks, 16 and 17 year-olds are ‘young people’.

    • Lew 26.1

      Lindsay, your arguments here (no comment on your other work) suggest either a. that a little bit of knowledge about statistics is a dangerous thing; or b. that you’re actively trying to bullshit your audience, or c. both.

      The ‘implication’ is that a ban on displaying tobacco, which came long after a ban on mass media tobacco advertising, didn’t further decrease sales. The NZ ban on advertising isn’t currently decreasing sales so it is unlikely a ban on displays will.

      I’m not sure why this is an ‘implication’, not an implication, but anyhow – this is exactly my point. If a POS display/advertising ban doesn’t decrease sales, why would the tobacco lobby object to it? Wouldn’t they be inclined to concede this one on the grounds that it would get the do-gooders off their backs for a while, you know, show them to be cooperative and reasonable while not actually harming their business model?

      Of course not – check your premises. They object to the ban because POS advertising does work and the ban would harm their business model – it’s not a figment of some marketroid’s imagination; it actually really does result in more sales, greater brand exposure and loyalty and at an earlier age.

      Without advertising and displays is there any sign cannabis production and consumption is decreasing?

      Straw man. Since there was never any POS cannabis advertising on display, there’s no benchmark to measure any decrease against. It’s a meaningless comparison.

      Like my earlier observation about the limits of social engineering (or state attempts to control behaviour if you prefer), they succeed to a point only.

      This point is quite right – they do only work up to a point; the matter for debate is the utility “state attempts to influence behaviour” is more correct for me, but I accept that’s a minor semantic distinction. I do object to “social engineering” since it begs the question that the state (representing in a democracy the aggregate views of its electorate) should not have a role enforcing the norms held by that electorate.

      Parks, 16 and 17 year-olds are ‘young people’.

      Without answering for Parkes, if you don’t have a breakdown it’s fallacious to try to draw conclusions for one very limited demographic. Do you even know what proportion of smokers in the Canadian sample were aged 16 and 17? How their behaviour changed (as distinct from the population at large)? Or do you assume that their behaviour was the same as the rest of the population, and if so, upon what grounds?

      Also far as Canada goes, there are also other important factors in play which aren’t in New Zealand and could jeopardise the relevance of their numbers (unless you can control for them) – for one thing the significance of tobacco as a traditional/ceremonial commodity and gift material among First Nations people. There will be others as well – the point I’m trying to make is that you can’t just take some numbers and assume they apply universally.

      L

  27. Observer 27

    Kevin Welsh

    Is it true that you have stopped beating your wife?

    .

  28. Lindsay 28

    Lew, I don’t try to “actively bullshit” anyone. I look at the available facts and try to understand what is going on. When a reliable statistical source says that over three years “…smoking prevalence ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS remained stable,” I accept it.

    I don’t assume that the Canadian numbers will apply universally but it is normal practice to look for the results of a policy where it has been implemented when deciding whether to go down the same road.

    It may well be that the tobacco industry is misguided in fighting a ban on displays but retailers, for whom it means expense, disruption and inconvenience, opposition is understandable.

    Whether the state reflects the wishes of the electorate simply because we live in a democracy is highly arguable. Clearly some law changes are not campaigned on during elections and are driven by minority opinion and interest.

  29. Dean 29

    lprent:

    “Perhaps you’ve forgotten why your parties won the election. Amazing. Let me remind you.”

    I didn’t vote for any of the parties that make up the current government, but I’m not overly suprised that you’d assume that I did. After all, it was Bush who said “you’re either with us or against us” and that kind of thinking does seem to be something you take a shine to. How perfectly dreadful – you have become what you hate.

    “The right set the low standard – perhaps you’ve ‘forgotten’. Who can forget some of those classics that denigrated the fact that there were women in powerful positions being more effective than the misogynist wingnuts preferred woman to be. Or having a responsible finance minister intent on repairing the damage from decades of fiscal mismanagement by the Nat’s and the founding members of Act, rather than continuing to give unwarranted tax-cuts. The last two elections were not fought on policy, they were fought from the right on the basest of PR.”

    I see. And Labour’s policies had nothing to do with it. It was a cabal of mysoginsts. You actually believe this, dont you?

    Stunning.

    J”ust go to whaleoil or the sewer that is the comments section of kiwiblog and you’ll see them now. For that matter the trash that is Investigate and Wishart. When are you going to issue a blanket apology on your behalf for associating with your fellow wingnuts?”

    Show me the last time I commented on any of those sites. To make it easier on you, I use the same name as I do on here.

    “Your opinion is valued rather lowly by me because I perceive you as being part of the continuum of pathetic ill-educated misogynists who used slogans rather than reasoned policy to influence the last 5 years of political debate.”

    But you only think that because you’d like to believe I am a right voter. You’ve let your assumption cloud your opinion because it suits your tiny world view.

    Whereas you’ve made your own party membership and support crystal clear, which allows me to draw a much more accurate set of conclusions about your opinion – particularly when coupled with your knee-jerk reaction towards anybody who doesnt think Clark and Labour walk on water.

    PS: I see you chose to ignore the question about Field. What was it that Clark had to say about him again?

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    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    1 day ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    1 day ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    1 day ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    1 day ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    1 day ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    3 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    4 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    5 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    6 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    43 mins ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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