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« NZ Police abandon Armed Response Teams
Daily review 10/06/2020 »

Black lives matter Aotearoa version

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:35 am, June 10th, 2020 - 53 comments
Categories: child discipline, child welfare, Donald Trump, police, racism, Social issues, uncategorized, us politics

The Black Lives Matter movement has been on steroids since the murder of George Floyd in the United States.  Over there previously unimaginable things have been occurring.

The Mayor of Washington DC, Muriel Bowser, in as big a middle finger to Donald Trump as you can imagine, has had the street in front of the White House renamed “Black Lives Matter Plaza” and just in case the orange one missed it she had “Black Lives Matter” emblazoned in large yellow lettering on the road.

We turned on the night light for him so he dreams about #BlackLivesMatter Plaza pic.twitter.com/1hrKnfaE4h

— Muriel Bowser (@MurielBowser) June 6, 2020

Elsewhere there is a stampede to either cut Police funding or even more dramatically to disband Police Forces and replace them with community safety organisations as is being proposed in Minneapolis, Floyd’s home town.  From Oliver Milman in the Guardian:

Nine members of Minneapolis city council have vowed to dismantle the city’s police department, which was responsible for the death of George Floyd, and replace it with a new community-based system of public safety.

Jacob Frey, the Minneapolis mayor, demurred when asked if he would abolish the police department – but the nine city council votes will be enough to override Frey’s veto.

Efforts to reform the police have not been sufficient, said Lisa Bender, the Minneapolis city council president.

She said: “Our commitment is to end policing as we know it and to recreate systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.”

And here in Aotearoa New Zealand this week has had had two instances where Government agencies have done the right thing in recognition of the racist elements of what was happening.

The first was the Police discontinuing the Armed Response Teams trial.  From Radio New Zealand:

The controversial police Armed Response Teams have been axed for good, with the Police Commissioner saying they failed to get public support.

The six-month trial in Counties-Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury was fiercely criticised by justice advocates, concerned about a lack of community consultation, and that the armed squads would disproportionately target Māori and Pasifika communities.

The Labour Maori Caucus, and good on them for doing so, had earlier come out against the trial.  From Mark Quinlivan at Newshub:

Labour’s Māori Caucus has voiced its concerns about the general arming of New Zealand police officers.

A six-month trial of the country’s first armed police officers – the Armed Response Teams (ARTs) – was launched in October. Then-Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the teams would focus on any crime that caused “significant risk”.

But Labour Māori Caucus co-chair Willie Jackson said it’s discussed its concerns about the trial with Police Minister Stuart Nash.

“The Labour Māori Caucus made our view very clear that we are totally opposed to the general arming of our police force,” Jackson said.

He said there’s a feeling the ART trial commenced with a lack of consultation – especially with Māori.

Documents obtained by Radio New Zealand’s Checkpoint last week revealed disadvantages to Māori were one of the risks identified by those overlooking the trial.

Jackson said any form of racism is unacceptable in any organisation.

“Continuing the conversation around intolerance and racism is crucial to Aotearoa New Zealand recovery post-COVID-19, and the Labour Māori Caucus will do our part, to make sure that happens,” Jackson said.

And Jacinda Ardern also expressed major reservations about the trial.  From Radio New Zealand:

Ardern said the government did raise concerns with the Commissioner of Police about the [Armed Response Teams] trials at the time.

“They were operational decisions so not something we were consulted on before those trials began, but we did raise concerns.”

Ardern said it was important not to interfere with police operational matters, however, the government did not consider the general arming of police a matter they could not take a view on.

“I’ve always had a very firm view on the general arming of police, I’m totally opposed, always will be. The Police Commissioner himself has also said he shares that view.”

Message received obviously.

The second was the production of a scathing report by the Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft into the uplifting of babies from their mothers.  From Isaac Davison at the Herald:

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner, which is an independent Crown entity, based its report on the personal accounts of 13 families of babies which were either at risk of removal or had been removed into state custody.

Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft said their stories highlighted “deep systemic issues” in the state care and protection system.

…

Becroft said today that the best interests of the child were “always the paramount consideration” and were inextricably linked to their mothers’ interest and wellbeing.

“It is vital we hear the voices of mothers within the system,” he said.

“The cries of the Māori mothers in this report, irrespective of whether a child was removed or not, is that the right kind of early support be provided to them.

“They want to be treated with humanity, and to have the long-term wellbeing of their babies put first, by respecting and acknowledging their place within whānau, hapū and iwi rather than a system that strengthens the chains of inter-generational state care.”

In an introduction to the report, he said the personal accounts were backed by statistic analysis in an earlier report produced in January. Among the earlier report’s findings were that Māori children aged between 0 and 3 months were five times more likely to be uplifted than non-Māori.

Becroft also said any recommendations for change would be produced in a later report.

“I have chosen to share this report without recommendations at this stage so the voices can speak powerfully and stand by themselves.

“It will allow time to reflect on and absorb them. The voices themselves suggest areas where change could be considered and, indeed, could begin to take place without the need for specific recommendations now.”

Oranga Tamariki has responded negatively to the report and questioned its methodology and criticised its lack of recommendations.  But Becroft has said why the report has been structured in this way.

The surge of the Black Lives Matter movement with worldwide protests against racism is forcing countries to analyse their history and their practices.  And will hopefully result in change.

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« NZ Police abandon Armed Response Teams
Daily review 10/06/2020 »

53 comments on “Black lives matter Aotearoa version”

Comment numbers have changed to permanent references. Older quoted numbers may no longer identify the same comment.

  1. 1
    RedLogix
    10 June 2020 at 2:07 pm

    In the meantime it turns out that the idea there is some kind of epidemic of racist white cops murdering blacks may in fact be complete bullshit:

    The findings – published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, or PNAS – are based on an independent database Cesario and his team created that catalogued each police shooting from 2015. The team – led also by co-author David Johnson from University of Maryland – contacted every police department that had a fatal police shooting to get the race, sex and years of experience for every officer involved in each incident. The team also leveraged data from police shooting databases by The Washington Post and The Guardian.

    “We found that the race of the officer doesn’t matter when it comes to predicting whether black or white citizens are shot,"

    I know a bunch of the regulars here are going to hate on this; but there it is …

    Of course black Americans are disproportionately the victims of police deaths, that's undeniable and totally unacceptable; in no manner am I trying to justify or excuse it.

    But did you also know there is another group of Americans who are 50% of the population, but comprise 96% of all police FOIS deaths? What on earth could be the explanation for that?

    1. 1.1
      McFlock
      10 June 2020 at 2:33 pm

      lol you might want to read their correction:

      “Although we were clear about the quantity we estimated and provide justification for calculating Pr(race|shot, X) in our report (see also 2, 3), we want to correct a sentence in our significance statement that has been quoted by others stating ‘White officers are not more likely to shoot minority civilians than non-White officers.’ This sentence refers to estimating Pr(shot|race, X). As we estimated Pr(race|shot, X), this sentence should read: ‘As the proportion of White officers in a fatal officer-involved shooting increased, a person fatally shot was not more likely to be of a racial minority.’ This is consistent with our framing of the results in the abstract and main text.

      And, of course, Floyd wasn't shot.

      1. 1.1.1
        RedLogix
        10 June 2020 at 2:50 pm

        And the significance of the correction is? And why do you find it so funny?

        And, of course, Floyd wasn't shot.

        Well I could be pedantic and ask why then the calls to disarm the police?

        But the obvious answer is that because non-firearm involved shootings are in such low numbers, everyone on all sides are using shootings as a proxy.

        And of course there is this reality:

        The vast majority – between 90% and 95% – of the civilians shot by officers were actively attacking police or other citizens when they were shot. Ninety percent also were armed with a weapon when they were shot. The horrific cases of accidental shootings, like mistaking a cell phone for a gun, are rare, Cesario said.

        Floyd George’s death is obviously different :

        “We hear about the really horrendous and tragic cases of police shootings for a reason: they’re awful cases, they have major implications for police-community relations and so they should get attention,” Cesario said. “But, this ends up skewing perceptions about police shootings and leads people to believe that all fatal shootings are similar to the ones we hear about. That’s just not the case.”

        1. 1.1.1.1
          McFlock
          10 June 2020 at 3:03 pm

          The correction isn't funny. You're funny.

          Every time you give an "obvious" answer or some other assumption you treat as it it's self-evident, it simply illustrates your own conceptual constraints.

          Why disarm police if fatal shootings are fine? Because there are non-fatal shootings, and the mere presence of a weapon changes the entire dynamic of every interaction they have.

          Why have a problem if 90% of people shot were attacking police? Because of the other 10%, and whether lethal force was a resonable response to the alleged attack (how many "attacks" were the equivalent of a 75-year-old's "tripped and fell"?).

          And lastly, if the majority of the police are white and the police have a collective culture of "mutual support above all else" (including above law enforcement), what does the ethnicity of the specific shooter have to do with any damned thing whatsoever?

          1. 1.1.1.1.1
            RedLogix
            10 June 2020 at 3:09 pm

            Because the data conclusive shows that the probability of being shot is directly and highly correlated with the probability that you are involved in a violent crime.

            I mean why else would men who are only 50% of the population be 96% of the police shooting victims? No-one would dream of claiming this was because of some perverse kind of 'systemic sexism'. There is an obvious reason why this is, and it's because males are overwhelmingly involved in violent crime.

            1. 1.1.1.1.1.1
              McFlock
              10 June 2020 at 3:24 pm

              How is anything you wrote relevant to my comment?

              I mean, the gender thing was an interesting dodge, but even if the "no-one would dream" were true, it's not like there's a centuries-long demonstrated pattern of misandrist bias in US policing, is there.

              1. 1.1.1.1.1.1.1
                RedLogix
                10 June 2020 at 4:25 pm

                Indeed the USA has a history of gross racism, (as does in fact every other nation of earth) but being Americans they hold a deep seated belief that if something is worth doing, it's worth over-doing. So yes there was always a case to be answered.

                And at every step in this extended discussion I've repeatedly stated that racism exists, there are good evolutionary and biological reasons why, but complex societies find ways to overlay it with more sophisticated mechanisms of social reciprocity, loyalty and cohesion.

                So no surprise there is history. But equally it's useful to remember that it's not like nothing has happened in the USA since the 1600's. That social progress is real, and that the extremist left wing doctrine of original white racist sin that can never be expunged is probably a really bad idea.

                This makes an interesting argument around Jamaican immigrant families in the USA. Exactly the same skin colour as black Americans, but completely different outcomes.

                1. 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
                  McFlock
                  10 June 2020 at 4:32 pm

                  The only argument you seem to be interested in is why people of colour deserve to be killed some of the time, never interested in why innocent ones get murdered.

                  1. 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
                    RedLogix
                    10 June 2020 at 4:47 pm

                    never interested in why innocent ones get murdered.

                    You mean like this?

                    Would you draw from this tragedy that there is an epidemic of black cops killing whites in the USA? Nah. It was a plain case of an overanxious cop, reacting recklessly to an imagined threat.

                    It would be very weird indeed if there were no incompetent, overtly racist, volatile unstable police who should not be in the job. Get rid of them, prosecute and convict. Reform and align the incentives so the system gets better at doing this, modernise and standardise training, build professionalism and attract the very best people you can afford to the job.

                    I've made this case several times now, it is the obvious and direct way to reduce the number of innocent lives lost.

                    1. 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
                      McFlock
                      10 June 2020 at 5:00 pm

                      The real research that would be interesting is how many of these bad cops are fired and charged, analysing by ethnicity of the victim and whether it was caught on camera.

                      Because the official repercussions seem to be based on those two factors.

                      And the other 90% of cops aren't doing their jobs.

                      But keep looking for excuses for them.

                    2. 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2
                      RedLogix
                      10 June 2020 at 5:10 pm

                      And the other 90% of cops aren't doing their jobs.

                      Every workplace has this problem to some degree, it's never as straightforward getting rid of dodgy colleagues as you imply.

                      But if you want a better outcome, look to the incentives. I've already made three suggestions on this.

                      Why do I get the feeling you don't want a better outcome, you just don't want any cops. And you remain silent on what the would really mean for the vulnerable and the minorities in our societies. They are the ones who depend on the police the most.

                    3. 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.3
                      solkta
                      10 June 2020 at 5:16 pm

                      @RL

                      How about giving it a rest. You've crapped all over this post before anybody else has even had a chance to say something constructive.

                    4. 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.3.1
                      Incognito
                      10 June 2020 at 10:45 pm

                      The Post went up @ 9:35 AM and RL posted the first comment @ 2:07 PM, i.e. about four and half hours later.

                      If you disagree with a comment, you say so and why. Give your counter argument, defend it, find some middle ground, or agree to disagree. Or call the Moderators or say nothing.

                      This is how it works here 🙂

                    5. 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.4
                      RedLogix
                      10 June 2020 at 5:54 pm

                      @solkta

                      The argument I have brought is substantive, highly pertinent and backed with references. I fully realise it contradicts the dominant and fashionable left wing narrative at the moment, and I've endeavoured to be respectful of that. But the purpose of The Standard was never to be an echo chamber and dissenting views have always, every day, every post been the norm.

                      There was nothing stopping you or anyone else saying anything you pleased here, or lower down. The machine that runs The Standard is very accommodating and there is no upper limit on the number of comments permitted under a post. (Well not that I’ve ever seen us reach.)

          2. 1.1.1.1.2
            RedLogix
            10 June 2020 at 3:24 pm

            Because of the other 10%, and whether lethal force was a resonable response to the alleged attack

            No-one is saying there are no dangerously racist cops, or just plain incompetent, volatile or angry cops who shouldn't be in the job. As with every trade or profession there are bad people who need to be weeded out.

            But that as you say isn't as easy as it sounds, there is a culture of mutual support in the police, and given the unique pressures and risks of the job this will is hard to change.

            But one of the big problems the US has is that the incentives are all misaligned. I guarantee you there would be a LOT more responsiveness to these kinds of tragedies if any monetary compensation came out of the police retirement funds, or individual police had to carry personal insurance and after one or two adverse findings their policy became unaffordable.

            Or dare I say it, the police unions look like a big part of the problem, maybe if they had to carry the fiscal consequences they'd be far less keen on protecting cops who shouldn't be in the job.

            1. 1.1.1.1.2.1
              McFlock
              10 June 2020 at 3:26 pm

              So there are bad cops and a culture of protecting bad cops. The system is broken. Stop defending it, start thinking up ways to replace it.

              1. 1.1.1.1.2.1.1
                RedLogix
                10 June 2020 at 3:53 pm

                You are the one demanding police be replaced, the obligation lies with you to tell us what with. I'm not demanding details, just a non-vague outline will do, so that we have something to concrete to scrutinise and work with.

                Because I'm assuming you'd be keen to see the same de-policing effort rolled out everywhere.

                1. 1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1
                  McFlock
                  10 June 2020 at 4:26 pm

                  God you love to assume, don't you.

                  Eerywhere the current system is borken.
                  And not the same – let the communities choose a more appropriate replacement from any in their imagination or human history prior to thr 1820s.

              2. 1.1.1.1.2.1.2
                Wayne
                11 June 2020 at 5:39 pm

                Surely you mean improve the system. Abolishing the police is a only slogan. Is there a single large scale society that does not have police?

                Are the police in the US likely to become similar to the NZ police. Probably not. The US has way more gun violence that is deeply rooted in their culture.

                Anyway isn't this whole item supposed to be about NZ police?

                The NZ Police have very good leadership, and generally a very good internal culture. Although they have not always had.

                There are eight Assistant Commissioners at present (I think) and five Deputy Commissioners. None of the Deputy Commissioners are women. Three of the eight Assistant Commissioners are women, with two being in the uniform branch. The two women (I know one of them thought my prior work) need to be rapidly promoted to Deputy Commissioner as soon as there are openings. The government can directly influence this.

                I appreciate that top command its only an aspect of police culture, but it is an important aspect of the culture. A number of the senior leadership, including the new Commissioner, embody a new style of police leadership. This needs to be spread more widely.

                Promotions to Assistant Commissioner are primarily an internal responsibility with limited/no ministerial oversight. However promotions to Deputy Commissioner will have some ministerial involvement. That means the Police Minister can ensure the expectations of government can be met be who gets promoted to Deputy Commissioner.

                1. 1.1.1.1.2.1.2.1
                  McFlock
                  11 June 2020 at 9:28 pm

                  "Improve" suggests taking a broken department and making it better. At least one municipality is closing the dapertment down and redesigning a replacement.

                  As for how the enforcement of laws is conducted, maybe that will involve a standing force of fulltime personnel, maybe not. Either way, at least one department is slated to be abolished.

                  As for NZ, I think the armed response teams were a step towards the current US policing debacle. And we have also had a trend towards police as substitutes for addressing social ills like poverty, drugs, and access to mental healthcare.

                  The way I see it, we are closer to the scylla of paramilitary policing than the charybdis of local mobs and warlords. Probably best to steer away from the closer threat, even if we don't know exactly how far away the other one is.

        2. 1.1.1.2
          Tricledrown
          11 June 2020 at 9:30 am

          I would not believe police produced figures especially those who turn off body cameras

    2. 1.2
      Drowsy M. Kram
      10 June 2020 at 2:55 pm

      "…may in fact be complete bullshit"

      Floyd’s family and friends might derive some 'comfort' from the apparent knowledge that, if Floyd had been killed by a police bullet, then the shooter’s skin colour would not have been a factor. But I doubt it.

      Please note that the paper you cite has accrued correspondence, and a correction (thank-you McFlock).

      Young unarmed nonsuicidal male victims of fatal use of force are 13 times more likely to be Black than White
      https://www.pnas.org/content/117/3/1263

      Making inferences about racial disparities in police violence
      "Despite the value of this much-needed research, its approach is mathematically incapable of supporting its central claims."
      https://www.pnas.org/content/117/3/1261

      1. 1.2.1
        RedLogix
        10 June 2020 at 3:14 pm

        I first read all the corrections, and their replies, and concluded they did not materially change the study's conclusions.

        1. 1.2.1.1
          Drowsy M. Kram
          10 June 2020 at 5:30 pm

          I concluded otherwise – once again we must agree to disagree.

          I hope we can agree that “Black Lives Matter” is a just cause.

          1. 1.2.1.1.1
            RedLogix
            10 June 2020 at 6:11 pm

            I concluded otherwise

            On what basis? Just making assertions without argument or reference doesn't count for much.

            Sure, there has been one challenge but it has been answered:

            However, as there is debate over which proxy is most appropriate, we also conduct analyses where we account for racial differences in exposure by controlling for crime rates, population rates, or both simultaneously.

            That is, we test whether a person fatally shot is more likely to be Black or Hispanic than White if crime rates in a county were equal, if population rates in a county were equal, or if both were equal. Thus the claim that we somehow failed to account for encounters or population differences is unequivocally incorrect.

            1. 1.2.1.1.1.1
              Drowsy M. Kram
              10 June 2020 at 7:04 pm

              I concluded otherwise on the basis of the challenges to Johnson et al (2019).

              Johnson et al. (and you) believe that the challenges do not invalidate their conclusions – colour me surprised!

              You assert that you are right and I am wrong. I don't agree with your view, but will defend to the death your right to state it.

              I've decided that we must agree to disagree on this matter. What you decide is entirely up to you, but I still hope we can agree that “Black Lives Matter” is a just cause.

              1. 1.2.1.1.1.1.1
                RedLogix
                10 June 2020 at 9:00 pm

                The letter complained that in order to usefully calculate probability of any given race being killed had to be 'the number of deaths of that race' compared to a base rate of 'exposure to police for that race'.

                The numerator, the first number is measured directly by the number of deaths, but the denominator can only be inferred via some proxy, in other words some other known data set that strongly correlates to police exposure.

                There are two obvious candidates as proxies, one is the population of an ethnicity in a given county (obviously if no people of a given group are in a given area, then you'd expect no deaths for them either), the other is rates of violent crime (again crime rates must reasonably correlate to police callouts rates).

                There is room for some debate on which is the best proxy to use, population or crime rate. It's a fair question to which the answer was in essence … we used both and found it makes no significant difference to the conclusion. No bias.

                It's all dressed up in technical jargon and a bit of math, but that's what it boils down to.

                1. 1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1
                  McFlock
                  10 June 2020 at 9:26 pm

                  Dude, an extended blab about one document will not make someone suddenly agree about the multiple documents they mentioned when they withdrew from the discussion.

                2. 1.2.1.1.1.1.1.2
                  Drowsy M. Kram
                  10 June 2020 at 10:49 pm

                  I’m back! Johnson et al. (2019) naturally believed their conclusions to be correct; most scientists do, at the time of publishing. And (I'm speculating here) you believe their conclusions are correct because they seem compatible with your worldview.

                  The conclusions of Johnson et al. may be completely correct, partly correct/incorrect, or completely incorrect. I'm happy to acknowledge that their conclusions may be correct; are you able to accept the possibility that they may be incorrect? Is there room for that possibility in your worldview?

                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Most_Published_Research_Findings_Are_False

                  The Johnson et al. (2019) paper has already been cited by several others (excluding correspondence and corrections) – the authors' peers have a range of views regarding their conclusions. One thing's for sure – if you're 'stopped' by random cops in the U.S., it particularly sucks to be black. And it's not much 'fun' being a police officer either.

                  Are Police Racially Biased in the Decision to Shoot?
                  "Consequently, depending on data, measures, and methods, studies draw contradictory conclusions, ranging from significant differences in the likelihood and speed of shooting Black civilians compared to other civilians (Mekawi and Bresin, 2015) to no racial disparities in fatal officer-involved shootings of civilians (Johnson et al., 2019). In short, even when relatively good data are available, allowing social scientists to observe and describe racial patterns in policing, scholarly consensus on whether police discriminate by race of civilian when using lethal force, let alone nonlethal force, remains elusive."

                  Does Race Matter for Police Use of Force? Evidence from 911 Calls
                  "Consequently, difference-in-differences estimates from individual officer fixed effect models indicate black (Hispanic) civilians are 30 – 60 (75 – 120) percent more likely to experience any use of force, and five times as likely to experience gun use of force, compared to if white officers scaled up force similarly to minority officers. These findings highlight race as an important determinant of police use of force, including and especially lethal force."
                  https://www.nber.org/papers/w26774

                  Considering violence against police by citizen race/ethnicity to contextualize representation in officer-involved shootings
                  "Racial/ethnic over-representation (or the lack thereof) in officer-involved shootings appears to be a function of the specific benchmark for comparison as well as the outcome being examined. Studies focusing exclusively on fatalities represent an incomplete and non-random sample of all officer-involved shooting incidents. Data limitations may omit factors, such as place or departmental policies, that are confounding the relationship between race/ethnicity and fatal police-citizen violence."
                  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047235219304398

                  Using allegations to understand selection bias in organizations: Misconduct in the Chicago Police Department
                  "I highlight how status characteristics such as race and gender may bias the creation of archival data. For example, black officers received allegations at similar rates to white officers, but were more likely to have them sustained, and allegations made by black complainants were less likely to be sustained than those made by white complainants—even when including extensive sets of control variables. These findings indicate that accounting for allegations may be a fruitful methodological avenue to better understand the optimal use of archival behavioral field data for research on ethics and misconduct."
                  http://lbsresearch.london.edu/1393/

                  1. 1.2.1.1.1.1.1.2.1
                    RedLogix
                    10 June 2020 at 11:54 pm

                    Is there room for that possibility in your worldview?

                    Of course, there is nothing absolute about one study. But your point above cuts both ways.

                    Yes it sucks to be black in the USA. That's what I have been saying all along, it pretty much sucks to be any minority anywhere. It's just a question of degree.

                    My worldview looks like this; over millenia we have gradually become better and better at reducing that suckiness, we have moved from a purely genetic loyalty, one based on biological characteristics none of us can control, to more sophisticated, higher order loyalties based on behaviour, reciprocity and values that are the outcome of personal choices and responsibilities.

                    When we frame the debate in terms of race we revert everything back to skin colour and genetics. That's the entirely the wrong direction to be going in.

                    There are other factors at work here, beyond skin colour, that are feeding into black disadvantage in the USA, but talking about them on the left is a taboo at present.

                    1. 1.2.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1
                      Drowsy M. Kram
                      11 June 2020 at 12:35 pm

                      People of colour can't (or shouldn't need to) 'lose' their skin colour (genetics, etc.), nor their history, to achieve equitable outcomes, so how best (now, and in the future) to decrease the current disadvantages impacting on people of colour in white-dominated societies?

                      A previous Labour-led government introduced a "Closing the Gaps" policy, later rebranded as "reducing inequalities". Do you think that a "Closing the Gaps" policy would be more successful and politically palatable in NZ now, is there a better framing/approach for closing those very real gaps, or should 'we' just accept the (growing) gaps?

                      "Over the term of the 1999–2008 Labour Government, social statistics for Maori and Pacific Islanders did generally improve; however, the statistics for Pakeha New Zealanders showed a greater improvement, resulting in the 'gaps' actually increasing. Closing the Gaps failed to reduce socio-economic inequalities between Māori and non-Māori and did not resolve structural inequalities that socio-economically excluded Māori from mainstream society."
                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closing_the_Gaps

  2. 2
    solkta
    10 June 2020 at 2:44 pm

    Hey let's be fair, if you are going to mention the Labour Maori Caucus and Ardern what about the Greens? They have been staunchly opposed to this from the start.

    https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_welcome_police_ruling_out_of_armed_response_teams

    https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_urge_police_to_rule_out_armed_police_patrols_following_george_floyd_s_death

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/green-party-overjoyed-at-police-decision-to-dump-armed-response-teams.html

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121740714/police-union-appalled-at-greens-for-connecting-death-of-george-floyd-to-arming-new-zealand-cops

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/418661/armed-response-teams-lack-of-consultation-just-not-on

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12337200

    1. 2.1
      weka
      11 June 2020 at 4:33 pm

      I put up a Notices and Features post the other day about the Greens' part in this and didn't mention Labour. Authors have their own reasons for what they write.

  3. 3
    roblogic
    10 June 2020 at 4:07 pm

    NZ under lockdown had many attributes of a police state. We are lucky that it was only temporary. Let's see..

    The organic emergence of checkpoints

    Police 0800 number for narking on your neighbours

    Prevention of mass gatherings & churches

    Nation gripped by fear and groupthink, and general vilification of dissent

    New Zealand white settler culture has a rather dubious record on policing, yes we could do worse, we could also be aware of recent history and do a lot better

    1. 3.1
      McFlock
      10 June 2020 at 4:38 pm

      Yes, the test of the institutions of democracy is for it to survive disasters like pandemics that do sometimes require dictatorial powers. The next hurdle after returning to democratic freedoms is for future governments to resist going into full emergency mode for the power to do things not emergency-related.

      1. 3.1.1
        RedLogix
        10 June 2020 at 5:04 pm

        that do sometimes require dictatorial powers.

        Nah … you don't want any police to enforce them remember?

        And while the ChCh massacre was in progress, should we have sent in squad of social workers armed with headlamps and clip board?

        1. 3.1.1.1
          McFlock
          10 June 2020 at 5:20 pm

          lol obviously you think there were no dictators before there were police forces.

          1. 3.1.1.1.1
            RedLogix
            10 June 2020 at 6:04 pm

            That's odd, do you really think there were no coercive forces of any kind before the police?

            1. 3.1.1.1.1.1
              McFlock
              10 June 2020 at 8:27 pm

              that do sometimes require dictatorial powers.

              Nah … you don't want any police to enforce them remember?

              cf:

              do you really think there were no coercive forces of any kind before the police?

              Try to get your patronising stupidity straight, there's a dear. Either dictatorial powers require police, or there can be coercive actors other than police to enforce dictatorial powers.

              1. 3.1.1.1.1.1.1
                David Mac
                10 June 2020 at 9:32 pm

                I think it's all to do with how it's pitched.

                Are we seduced into joining this huge team or does the draconian plea for compliance meet push back?

                So far, I don't regret joining the team.

  4. 4
    David Mac
    10 June 2020 at 8:49 pm

    We're on a different footing here in NZ. Black Americans live with a history of being taken somewhere against their will. Maori live with their somewhere being taken against their will.

    I think solutions look similar, we need an accessible pathway for everyone to feel good about themselves and their place amongst others.

  5. 5
    stunned mullet
    11 June 2020 at 12:26 pm

    Hopefully we don't go the full Orwell….

    “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”

  6. 6
    common sense
    11 June 2020 at 2:17 pm

    Black lives matter is a racist movement, have others not seen "whites" being told to kneel and renounce their existence as being detrimental to society

    To move forward requires enough intelligence to recognise that most people arent actually racist and the ones that are ,are normally full of hate in all directions not just racisim .

    Inequality is the largest producer of hate , A well educated black man and a well educated white man that had nurture from their upbringing will more than likely find common ground

    We have a long road in front of us in terms of equality but as long as we hold an intention of progress we will slowly legislate and move in the right direction

    In regards to the comments towards the police , you have drunk yourself retarded on the kool aid . There are some very bad people with very bad intentions in this world , if they have greater force available than society in terms of offense/ defense the we the collective are in big trouble .

    I have personally seen the police do unethical things with no accountability and have been frustrated myself, would i want to live in a world without a police force to keep peace in the community , HELL NO .

    If people still had the balls to settle a dispute with a punchup then i would feel at ease but we live in mentally ill society of people who dont know how to conduct themselves proportionately

    My thoughts on where blm issues lie is that it is discrete racisim , I have watched videos from the RIOTS of innocent people being beaten senseless that i wish i could unwatch. If a black man (or any man) comes to me and asks me to kneel , i would never bend a knee. If any person of any colour says hello brother i ask only for the mutual respect that i offer you then i will reply hello brother how is your day and how may we be of service to each other

    I commend any person that strives for equality , peaceful protests i hold in high regard. There are times when force can be justified in the interests of the collective but i have seen zero justification for the force used towards innocent people during the RIOTS , it leaves a fowl taste in my mouth. If the protesters were being gunned down behaving peacefully then i would say use force you have no choice

    1. 6.1
      WeTheBleeple
      11 June 2020 at 2:28 pm

      "the balls to settle a dispute with a punch up"

      And in the same paragraph

      "don't know how to conduct themselves proportionately"

      Meanwhile cherry picking instances of individuals acting out and playing the victim card like you personally have been slighted.

      Change your name, it makes no sense.

      1. 6.1.1
        common sense
        11 June 2020 at 2:57 pm

        Yes a punchup.. A one on one dispute.. not a pack beating. No big deal really if both consent.. maybe my perception is different i happily concede to that. i see two consenting adults throwing a few punches as no big deal. It is proportionate in my eyes. if one party dosnt consent then it should not happen.. Just like innocent people shouldnt be beaten senseless ..

        Im not cherry picking. like i said i fully endorse any and all peaceful movements .

        I havnt and never will be a victim.. i hold myself accountable for all my decisions

        Maybe my name does make sense but you are so blinded by your emotions that it has dsimantled your logic

    2. 6.2
      roblogic
      11 June 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Is it opposite day today? BLM is a mass movement against racism and police brutality, you have been watching too much Fox or OANN

      1. 6.2.1
        common sense
        11 June 2020 at 3:02 pm

        i watch neither they are propoganda so is cnn and msnbc.. All of the above are simply collective hypnosis and should be illegal.. the truth is available if one puts the time into research..

        Their are many cellphone videos floating around that are long enough to provide context. not just a sound bite

        Some shouldnt be watched , they are harmful to the spirit

        Its not opposite day of course black lives matter. all lives matter.. police brutality is non discriminate to any race but i also cant stand police brutality

        1. 6.2.1.1
          roblogic
          11 June 2020 at 11:30 pm

          maybe expand your "research" beyond watching cellphone clips, and read something about the history of the USA

          1. 6.2.1.1.1
            common sense
            13 June 2020 at 3:42 pm

            And your knowledge comes from where?

            Do you really think floyd was about racisim. is face value all that you see?

            I see a man killed another man. i stand by my statement inequality is the problem.

            all races in poverty are struggling.. please show me evidence of a billionaire or millionaire dieing the same way..

            My research is varied and broad .. perhaps most history is bullshit . he who pens history decides history.

  7. 7
    WeTheBleeple
    11 June 2020 at 2:23 pm

    I'd love to know the nature of NZ Police training. This article, which is about US police methods, is extremely revealing. Some of the training is like a page out of A Clockwork Orange:

    https://medium.com/@OfcrACab/confessions-of-a-former-bastard-cop-bb14d17bc759

    Having been in our judicial system I have met many Maori who have graduated from State care to State Prisons. They share harrowing tales of abuse, neglect, assault and hopelessness.

    We can and must do better. Any move toward an American model should be met with utmost resistance.

    Racism is deeply ingrained in many NZ'ers. Anyone who can't say Black Lives Matter and spends most of the day arguing that there isn't a problem – is part of the problem.

    A pathetic weaseling out of responsibility. Racism is everyone's problem, and everyone involved needs to check their shit.

  8. 8
    Corey Humm
    11 June 2020 at 5:29 pm

    Demilitarize the us cops, give them proper funding so they can hire more officers and provide mental health support and actually do proper vetting, modernize and diversify the force, reform the complaints procedure, compulsory body cams , yes to all.

    Abolish or defund the police? No way. Hell American police forces are so broke they often drive bald tyres , don't have any mental health care , can't afford to investigate or do psych evaluations and their officers are paid and trained so badly most only take the badge to help them become security guards defunding them would make everything so much worse.

    The left in NZ have made huge progress with the police, many officers are contemplating voting Labour and kiwis overwhelmingly trust them, so you won't get much support in wanting to abolish the police, not in in NZ or USA or anywhere, protesters and anarchists,woke and libertarians might wanna blame the police and not the elected officials who create the rules and control the system but it'll make life in poor areas absolutely apocalyptic if gangs and mob rule just take over, I grew up in a mixed race family in one of the poorest electorates in NZ and have experienced first hand the classism and discrimination of the police but I think the force has gotten better I think we need reform for the complaints process and numerous other things but abolishing them is mental.

    I'd never do the job and witness the things and mental scars they do, NZ cops went into buildings falling down in the quakes to save people, will the woke or the libertarians or anarchists? Yeah Na.

    If we abolish the cops what are going to do in the next march 15 ? Call the greens or the libertarians and have them tweet mean hash tags till the terrorists feel bad?

    Reform, modernize and educate but the police have a part to play in society.

    1. 8.1
      I Feel Love
      11 June 2020 at 5:46 pm

      "Defund the police" means many things, instead of sending armed cops to evict someone because they're a week late with the rent (regular occurance in Virginia USA) they instead create better laws to protect landlord and tenant. For the last few decades the police are being asked more and more to become social workers, mental health workers, bouncers, school security, etc etc…

      &espousing the BLM movement is racist screams "white privilege", no one is forcing anyone to kneel. White paranoia, will that ever go away? (for NS).

      1. 8.1.1
        common sense
        13 June 2020 at 3:57 pm

        racisim is simply division , weather one elevates or surpreses… racisim ,they are one and the same

        ."white privilege " is racist ..

        my bloodline is so diluted i would not have any idea as to which race to identify or label myself . its just too much of a mixed bag

        in my mind racist people see racisim . people see people. and intellect sees the true problem

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  • Greens’ fiscal plan takes working people’s priorities seriously
    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (NZCTU) welcomes the Green Party’s fiscal plan, which tackles the issues working people most want fixed: the cost of living, job growth, broken infrastructure, and the public services we all rely on. “Working people are asking for bold reform, and this plan treats their concerns… Read More »Greens’ fiscal plan takes working people’s priorities seriously The post Greens’ fiscal plan takes working people’s priorities seriously appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Friday
  • The threshold of consent.
    Long-time readers will recognise that consent (specifically, mass contingent consent) is something that I have written about regularly, here at KP as well in my academic life. In light of what is happening in Europe and elsewhere with regards to popular unrest in democracies, the concept is worth reviewing. There is a phrase in comparative … Continue reading "The threshold of consent."
    Kiwipolitico by Pablo · Friday
  • China’s infrastructure advantage could shape Southeast Asia’s AI choices
    China is positioning itself to become a key provider of the infrastructure underpinning Southeast Asia’s AI ambitions. Chinese companies are embedding AI into telecommunications networks, cloud services and critical infrastructure across the region. Their advantage ...
    The Strategist by Gatra Priyandita · Friday
  • Ruling out Opportunity only harms Luxon’s election chances, right? It’s not that simple
    National’s repeated refusal to work with potential king-making party Opportunity might appear self-sabotaging – but there’s a hidden logic at play.
    The Conversation by Grant Duncan, Research Associate, Public Policy Institute, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau · Friday
  • Gangs are bad, so ... what about crime?
    Is there any grey in the discussion around photos with gang members?
    Mountain Tui by Mountain Tūī · Friday
  • An "opposition" that doesn't want to win
    I was going to post today about how I was bored with the election: I know who I'm going to vote for, National's "don't change sheep midshag" campaign is the saddest since Wag the Dog, and Labour's pathetic, cringing, small-target strategy means they are utterly uninspiring. There's so much wrong with the country, and Labour are explicitly promising to not fix it. They won't end austerity, which underlies all the other problems. They won't tax the rich, despite clear public support for doing so. They won't d
    No Right Turn by Idiot/Savant · Friday
  • Hughesy, Karl and co: what happens when celebrities turn political?
    Celebrities may not directly sway people’s votes but they do shape conversations in the media. That is a significant form of political power.
    The Conversation by Susan Grantham, Senior Lecturer in Communication, Griffith University · Friday
  • Sins & Tragedies
    Gang witch hunt claims first victim.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · Friday
  • Early closure set to strip 80,000 voters from roll
    107,000 voters still missing from electoral roll with three days before it slams shut; Unless enrolment speeds up by Sunday, the final roll could be 80,000 short of total implied by 2023’s 94.7% rate
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Friday
  • Early Bird: Final enrolment set to be 80,000 below par due to early closure of electoral roll
    107,000 voters still missing from electoral roll with three days before it slams shut; Unless enrolment speeds up by Sunday, the final roll could be 80,000 short of total implied by 2023’s 94.7% rate
    The Kaka · Friday
  • Weekly Roundup 23-October-2026
    Kia ora and welcome to our regular roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. Today’s header image, by Jolisa, shows Sky Tower at sunset as seen from Albert Park. IMPORTANT: If you plan to vote in this election, the rules have changed: you must be registered to vote by midnight on Sunday 25th October.… The post Weekly Roundup 23-October-2026 appeared first on Greater Auckland.
    Greater Auckland by Greater Auckland · Friday
  • Australia’s antimony mines don’t yet guarantee reliable supply
    Australia has spent years discussing the strategic importance of critical minerals. We have identified the resources, developed the strategies and established financing mechanisms to encourage investment. Yet there remains a considerable distance between having antimony ...
    The Strategist by Paul de Wet · Friday
  • The next government faces transport tests that new roads or cheap fares won’t solve
    Election promises focus on new roads and cheaper fares. But making transport affordable also means giving New Zealanders practical alternatives to driving.
    The Conversation by Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau · Friday
  • ‘It’s pretty toxic… but just a little, I want to be like that’: what young men think of manosphere content
    New research surveying 142 young men in Australia, the US and UK reveals their mixed views of masculinity content online.
    The Conversation by Zac Seidler, Associate Professor, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne · Friday
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #43 2026
    Open access notables Rapid Increase in Geogenic CO2 Emissions from Antarctic Permafrost, Ruggiero et al., Global Biogeochemical Cycles Antarctic permafrost and ice-free soils are generally assumed to make only a minor contribution to the global carbon cycle. This study shows that this assumption is incomplete. Using repeated field measurements and carbon isotope analyses, we document a marked multi-year increase in carbon dioxide emissions from Antarctic permafrost terrain and identify a substantial contrib
    Skeptical Science · Friday
  • The Weekly Hoon: Luxon’s Opportunity and risk; Stories from the front line of NZ’s systemic health system collapse
    Bernard Hickey & Peter Bale discuss the week in geopolitics and NZ’s political economy with regular guest Robert Patman, plus special guests Drs David Galler & Malcolm Mulholland
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Friday
  • America’s death penalty: why executions are rising again
    Death penalty expert Carolyn Strange tracks the modern history of executions in the United States on The Conversation Weekly podcast.
    The Conversation by Justin Bergman, International Affairs Editor, The Conversation · Friday
  • Job-Based Health Plan Costs Rise, With Little Relief in Sight
    Health insurance cost in the US continue to rise to the sky. Guess what? AI is a big driver.
    Naked Capitalism by Yves Smith · Friday
  • The Rings of Power Season 3 Trailer
    Ahead of Rings of Power’s season three release in November, we have ourselves a new trailer: It’s a genuinely promising trailer. The show has clearly decided that this season stands or falls with Sauron – without Adar and Celebrimbor, our friend Tar-Mairon is the last big draw-card. We’re being set up for the forging of […]
    A Phuulish Fellow by strda221 · Friday
  • Links 10/22/2026
    Image article
    Naked Capitalism by Conor Gallagher · Thursday
  • Iran War: Iran Believes Attack Imminent as Netanyahu Reported to Persuade Trump to Launch Before Midterms ; Global Stocks Fall as Oil Price Increases Continue
    Today's Iran war news: Markets go wobbly as the date for loudly-signaled US/Israel attacks on Iran nears.
    Naked Capitalism by Yves Smith · Thursday
  • Book Essay: The Sixth Extinction and the Demise of Biodiversity
    Species loss ought to be a topic of paramount importance. Satyajit Das uses a new book on biodiversity, Lost Animal, as a point of departure.
    Naked Capitalism by Yves Smith · Thursday
  • Grattan on Friday: Politics reflects society, and our society is in poor shape on many fronts
    As the national political conversation descended into fear and loathing after the attack on Helen Haines, two politicians stepped back from instances of offensive behaviour.
    The Conversation by Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra · Thursday
  • How’s Your Crapification?
    Before following the various US/Western hegemony-defending conflicts became a large task when done properly, we’d occasionally quiz readers on the condition of their economy, meaning personal, local and industry indicators. These queries provided informative sightings that would check the accuracy of official statistics and storylines. It should have occurred to me a long time ago […]
    Naked Capitalism by Yves Smith · Thursday
  • Preventing intelligence politicisation means more than just avoiding partisanship
    Upholding the apolitical nature of Australian intelligence is critical to the agencies’ ability to deliver in the national interest, especially as our strategic circumstances deteriorate. But avoiding politicisation means more than just avoiding partisanship. The ...
    The Strategist by Chris Taylor · Thursday
  • Join us at 5pm for this week's Hoon
    Join Peter Bale & Bernard Hickey for the weekly 'Hoon' around news in geopolitics, climate, politics & more with Robert Patman, plus Drs Malcolm Mulholland & David Galler
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Thursday
  • Northern Australia: so much economic wealth alongside so much disadvantage
    The Australian’s reporting on the suffering of Indigenous children in Port Hedland should sicken everyone in this country. Three children murdered by their mother after repeated warnings about their safety. A grandmother pleading for intervention. ...
    The Strategist by John Coyne · Thursday
  • 22 October 2026
    A large update on Union News today, with more on our crumbling health system with APEX, ASMS, and NZNO all having some media pick-up. Job losses continue at Archives NZ, National Library, and Woolworths, as well as strike action by the TEU, NZNO, and E Tū workers at TVNZ. Union coverage Employment The post 22 October 2026 appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Thursday
  • Pink vs Green
    Act’s James Christmas up against Ricardo Menéndez March
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · Thursday
  • Inflation data shows Luxon’s Government has failed on the cost of living
    Consumer prices rose 3.7 percent in the year to the September quarter, according to StatsNZ figures released today. Petrol prices were a major driver, up 19.1 percent. But prices for other household essentials have also continued to skyrocket. “Household energy costs increased 9.4 percent, council rates and services 6.2 percent, and early childhood education 5.7… Read More »Inflation data shows Luxon’s Government has failed on the cost of living The post Inflation data shows Luxon’s Government has failed on
    NZCTU by Aaron · Thursday
  • When thinking about national security, think about local businesses
    The next national security crisis may expose a vulnerability that rarely appears in Australia’s strategic assessments: the disappearance of the local businesses that keep communities functioning. A defence facility may survive a cyclone, but what ...
    The Strategist by Anna Alexander · Thursday
  • As El Niño fuels drought in Panama, trees help ranchers maintain their water supply
    This article by Nicolas Scibelli first appeared on Yale Climate Connections and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. [Haz clic aquí para leer en español] A single stream nourishes the cattle of Ismael “Jim” Solis’ ranch on Panama’s Azuero Peninsula, which juts out into the Pacific Ocean. Solis has raised cattle through countless droughts and dry spells over the years, weathering them with little concern. But as El Niño builds strengt
    Skeptical Science · Thursday
  • Will we have PM Erica Stanford by Christmas?
    National backers say Luxon would be rolled if he refused to deal with Opportunity; Erica Stanford (or Mark Mitchell) would then negotiate to be PM, if Willis & Bishop missed list seats, as expected
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Thursday
  • We asked about policies for Auckland – which parties responded?
    At the beginning of last week, we reached out to the main political parties with a questionnaire about their policies for transport and infrastructure in Auckland. We asked some yes/no questions, and some open-ended ones. You can see the questions and the responses below.… The post We asked about policies for Auckland – which parties responded? appeared first on Greater Auckland.
    Greater Auckland by Greater Auckland · Thursday
  • WA has less gambling harm than the rest of Australia. There’s one simple reason
    Western Australians spend about the same as people in other states when it comes to gambling, but gambling problems in WA are much, much lower.
    The Conversation by Nicola Thomas, Lecturer in Economics · Thursday
  • Australia’s foreign-investment gatekeeper needs defence expertise
    A common misunderstanding is that governments need public support for big national security decisions. If a government waits for public backing, it will act only when the populace demands a response to a crisis – and ...
    The Strategist by John Coyne and Justin Bassi · Thursday
  • Politics and your business
    ×Parliament doesn’t run the economy, but it does set your tax, employment law and the rules your business trades under. Our free 2026 Policy Worksheet lets you score the six parliamentary parties on what they’ve published, based on your own priorities.
    Matt's views by Mel Cains · Thursday
  • Luxon lies about 54 nurses
    And the “both sides are the same” myth in NZ Healthcare
    Mountain Tui by Mountain Tūī · Thursday
  • Coffee Break: Netflix Purges the C-Suite While Larry Ellison Goes Deep to Fund Skydance
    The media landscape continues to shift as Netflix purges its executive class while Larry Ellison borrows big dollars to backstop his son's Skydance media empire.
    Naked Capitalism by Nat Wilson Turner · Thursday
  • Luxon set to be rolled after election if he won’t talk to Opportunity
    Luxon would be rolled straight after election if he sticks with current plan not to talk to Opportunity; NZ First wants to spend 3% of GDP on Defence; Front Page, Scoop, Op-Ed & Cartoon of the day
    The Kaka · Thursday
  • Non-Classic Classics: Another Reply to Hilary Layne (The Second Story)
    I have had cause to write essays in response to Hilary Layne before: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2026/07/02/the-dawn-of-the-dystopia-the-second-story-and-the-napoleon-of-notting-hill/ https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2026/01/09/the-absence-of-good-a-reply-to-mr-zod/ https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/of-fantasy-babies-and-genre-bathwater-a-reply-to-the-second-story/ I think she’s a bit silly, but at least she’s interestingly silly. And today is no exception. I have stumbled across
    A Phuulish Fellow by strda221 · Thursday
  • Democrats Should Get Behind a National AI Data Center Moratorium
    Democrats have an opportunity to take real action on AI data centers to protect people and the environment. But will they take the risk?
    Naked Capitalism by Yves Smith · Thursday
  • Gordon Campbell On The Quiet Death Of Our Independent Foreign Policy
    Now that Donald Trump has come out of the closet and made the United States an open ally of Russia against Ukraine, what response can [...]
    Werewolf by lyndon · Thursday
  • Links 10/21/2026
    Image article
    Naked Capitalism by Conor Gallagher · Wednesday
  • Iran War: Iran Hardens Position as Israel Promises Strikes on Energy Infrastructure, US Moves in New Carrier Group; Will Saudis Get Mecca Accord Help?
    Today's Iran war news: Pressures grow as Iran takes a harder posture, Israel vows infrastructure destruction, and Turkiye may back the Saudis
    Naked Capitalism by Yves Smith · Wednesday
  • On the Futile Search for the Modern Fountain of Youth
    I visited the Fountain of Youth several times as a child. St. Augustine, oldest city of European origin in North America (1565), is full of tourist attractions directed primarily at children, from the Old Jail to Potter’s Wax Museum, to the remarkable Castillo de San Marcos. The latter is the only one that still has […]
    Naked Capitalism by KLG · Wednesday
  • Governor-general appeals to Australians to ‘exercise our muscle of decency’; Haines’ husband reveals MP has lost second leg
    The governor-general has called for Australians to ‘choose to be better’ in the wake of the horrific attack on Haines.
    The Conversation by Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra · Wednesday
  • View from The Hill: Mathias Cormann offers blunt advice on countering populism and reforming the economy
    In a weekend speech, Cormann delivered a sharp message about surging populism – one both sides of politics would do well to take to heart.
    The Conversation by Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra · Wednesday
  • A Scuff on Your Bag, A Dent in Your Mug – and Suddenly It Feels Like Time for a New One
    Why do some people always need new goods, even when the ones they have are just fine?
    Naked Capitalism by Yves Smith · Wednesday
  • KiwiStack Live with Bernard Hickey and Simon Wilson
    A recording from Simon Wilson and Bernard Hickey's live video
    Hopetown by Simon Wilson · Wednesday
  • KiwiStack Live with Bernard Hickey and Simon Wilson
    A recording from Bernard Hickey's live video
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Wednesday
  • Join us for a Wellington election special
    Tamatha Paul, Craig Renney and Julie Anne Genter - chaired by Ollie Neas. Featuring Wellington Bays and Wellington North progressive candidates: Tamatha Paul, Craig Renney and Julie Anne Genter (with apologies from Ayesha Verrall) and chaired by Ollie Neas. This is not a sparring session between the Greens and Labour. Instead we will look ahead to the prospect of a progressive government and the practical steps it could take from day one. The session runs at the usual time - from 5.30 to 6.30pm on 21 Octobe
    Fabian Events · Wednesday
  • Some banter to make the election bearable
    Overseas voting begins today, and there are just four days left to enrol. So what better time to have a chat about how we are all feeling about the election?
    Emily Writes by Emily Writes · Wednesday
  • Australia has let abuse of its representatives become ‘part of the job’ – and women bear the brunt
    The alleged attack on Helen Haines has renewed focus on MPs’ safety. More needs to be done to stop abuse and violence against public officials.
    The Conversation by Rob Manwaring, Associate Professor, Politics and Public Policy, Flinders University · Wednesday
  • A victory for trans kids!
    In November 2025, out of the blue, weirdo fundie Simeon Brown banned the use of puberty blockers in trans (but not cis) healthcare, over-riding the medical decisions of doctors. The decision was swiftly enjoined by the courts, ensuring it did not come into effect, and today it was officially overturned on the grounds that the Minister had failed to consulted queer kids, and that it was discriminatory. Interestingly, the latter was not on the basis of sex - Crown Law has long held that the Human Rights Act's
    No Right Turn by Idiot/Savant · Wednesday
  • Another model: Canada integrates defence acquisition and industry funding
    Australia should use Canada’s new defence procurement model to test whether its forthcoming Defence Delivery Agency (DDA) will have enough commercial freedom and industrial tools to deliver military capability quickly. The DDA will have substantial ...
    The Strategist by Bryce C Barros · Wednesday
  • Letter to the editor: I'm sorted, so you can bugger off.
    . . The editor
    Frankly Speaking by Frank Macskasy · Wednesday
  • Weathervane elections.
    Here is something short from my other social media accounts. Weathervane elections forthcoming: Brazil presidential run-off, Israeli parliamentary elections, US midterms and NZ general elections. These are true tests of where voters want their countries to go. The choices are foremost about reaffirming or rejecting the Right as a governing force. These elections occur in … Continue reading "Weathervane elections."
    Kiwipolitico by Pablo · Wednesday
  • Te Pāti Māori launches Mana Takatāpui Policy
    Te Pāti Māori has today launched its Mana Takatāpui Policy, committing $200 million over three years and establishing an independent, Takatāpui governed Commission with real authority over Takatāpui specific funding. Te Pāti Māori Co Leader Rawiri Waititi says the policy is built on a simple principle: Nothing about Takatāpui without Takatāpui. “For too long, decisions have been made about Takatāpui without Takatāpui. Our policy changes who holds the power,” Waititi said.
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 23 September 2026
  • We Want Cheaper Power And We Want Our People To Own It.
    Te Pāti Māori has today announced its Energy Sovereignty policy, a plan to cut power costs, build Aotearoa’s energy future and shift ownership into the hands of whānau, hapū, iwi and communities. “Every party is talking about generating more electricity. We’re asking the question they keep avoiding: who will own it?” said Te Pāti Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi “If we replace fossil fuels with renewables but leave ownership and profits concentrated in the same hands, we haven’t transformed the system. We’ve just c
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 16 September 2026
  • GOVERNMENT'S LAST ACT IS ANOTHER ATTACK ON TE TIRITI
    In its final days, this Government is trying to strip Te Tiriti from our laws. Three Treaty-related Bills before Parliament would weaken Te Tiriti protections and reduce Crown accountability. Te Pāti Māori opposes every one of them. Instead, Te Pāti Māori are calling for Te Tiriti to be protected through enforceable Crown obligations that no Government can simply discard.
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 15 September 2026
  • TE PĀTI MĀORI LAUNCHES TE TIRITI ENTRENCHMENT POLICY
    Te Pāti Māori has today launched its Te Tiriti Entrenchment Policy, a major constitutional reform package that will make Crown obligations arising from Te Tiriti legally enforceable and resource the next stage of Māori-led constitutional transformation. “Te Tiriti is the constitutional foundation of Aotearoa. Its mana does not rise and fall depending on who forms the Government,” Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi said. “Our policy is about certainty, accountability and making sure the Crown keeps its p
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 1 September 2026
  • MP for Hauraki-Waikato Hana-Rawhiti Calls on Govt to Honour its Commitments to Waikato and Waipaa Awa
    Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke says the Government’s decision to delay key provisions of Plan Change 1, which sets rules to protect and restore the health of the Waikato and Waipaa awa, puts 3-yearly electoral interests ahead of its obligations to iwi and the environment. “This is bigger than a plan or a process. It is about whether the Crown will keep its word to Waikato-Tainui and honour the commitments it made – and written into legislation” says Maipi-Clarke. “The power of Te Ture Whaimana
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 24 August 2026
  • Luxon chose culture wars while basic services failed
    Christopher Luxon has spent too much of his term legislating culture wars while the basic services New Zealanders rely on have been allowed to deteriorate, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says. “The Prime Minister had a finite term to govern. He chose to spend an extraordinary amount of it undoing Māori rights and weakening Crown obligations while the services New Zealanders depend on were deteriorating,” Ngarewa-Packer said. “He found the time to mobilise 13 government agencies to trawl throu
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 18 August 2026
  • Luxon survives today, but he will not survive November 7
    Today’s National Party caucus meeting may have saved Christopher Luxon’s job, but it has not solved National’s deeper problem. This government is consumed by its own survival while whānau are left to carry the cost. For days, New Zealanders have watched a governing party turn inward while families face rising costs, job losses and an economy going backwards. “Luxon may have kept the job, but National has lost the country’s confidence,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi.
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 12 August 2026
  • Oriini Kaipara MP extends aroha following fatal workplace incident in Ōtāhuhu
    Oriini Kaipara, MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, extends her deepest condolences to the whānau, friends and work colleagues of the worker who tragically lost their life at the Auckland Meat Processors facility on Portage Road, Ōtāhuhu. "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the whānau who are now navigating an unimaginable loss. No one should leave for work and not return home to their loved ones." Following notification of the incident, Oriini's office has been actively seeking information to better understand t
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 7 August 2026
  • Te Pati Maori will make the Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding
    Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi says New Zealand First's call to review the Waitangi Tribunal proves the coalition has learnt nothing from the Tribunal's latest report. "The Waitangi Tribunal has found that the Government's Treaty clause review is a major breach of Te Tiriti. Instead of fixing the breach, Shane Jones wants to investigate the institution that exposed it." Waititi says this is about far more than constitutional law.
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 6 August 2026
  • Government’s patriarchal noise cannot hide cervical-screening failure
    While this Government and its allies manufacture patriarchal noise and drag public debate into personal attacks, a serious health-system failure involving nearly one million cervical screening notifications demands urgent answers. Health New Zealand says there is “no indication of harm”, but the Government has produced no evidence that proves nobody missed screening, follow-up care or an earlier diagnosis.
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 5 August 2026
  • Government rips up another promise of partnership with Māori
    Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the Government’s reported decision to scrap existing Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements is not planning reform it’s another deliberate step in dismantling the Crown’s relationship with tangata whenua. “This Government isn’t just rewriting planning law. It is rewriting the place of Māori in Aotearoa.” “One law at a time, one institution at a time, one agreement at a time, they are removing the practical ways Te Tiriti is honoured.”
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 21 July 2026
  • MFAT Must Act Urgently to Free Everlee Wihongi After Another Delayed Hearing
    Everlee Wihongi was set to appear in court today to be freed from ICE detention. Unfortunately, approximately 80 minutes before it was scheduled to begin, the Immigration Court decided to postpone the hearing until June 30, 2026. ICE has no reason to continue to detain Everlee after the conviction that formed the basis of the immigration case was successfully overturned. Everlee has now been detained for over two months, and this is just the latest in a long line of unnecessary delays. “Our aroha goes out t
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 18 June 2026
  • Te Pāti Māori Announces Lisa Marie Murch as Te Tai Tonga Candidate for 2026
    Te Pāti Māori is proud to announce Lisa Marie Murch as its candidate for Te Tai Tonga in the 2026 General Election. Born and raised in Murihiku, Lisa brings lived experience, education, service, and a deep commitment to whānau Māori across Te Waipounamu. A young Māori mother at sixteen, Lisa knows firsthand the realities many whānau face. Her journey from cleaning and baking, to becoming a head baker, bilingual primary teacher, kaupapa Māori educator, and specialist across Murihiku and Ōtepoti schools, is g
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 15 June 2026
  • Government Hid Its Own Evidence on LNG
    Te Pāti Māori is calling on the Government to release all remaining redacted advice on the proposed Taranaki LNG import terminal and halt the contract process until full public disclosure has occurred. This week RNZ revealed that officials redacted modelling commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment showing low need for LNG imports. In some scenarios, no need at all. That information was only made public after RNZ lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman. Parts of the document remain
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 11 June 2026
  • Seymour Admits He Never Checked Impact on Māori with Diabetes
    David Seymour Associate Minister of Health confirmed in answers to Written Parliamentary Questions that he supported removing Māori and Pacific priority access to Type 2 diabetes medicines, without any equity analysis, without modelling of Māori complications, and holds no data on how many Māori currently rely on the pathway they're removing. Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the admissions were negligible. "They don't know who they're harming. They don't know how many Māori with diabetes r
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 10 June 2026
  • If The Government Really Wants To Lower Power Bills, This Is The Way
    Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the government’s LNG announcement today exposes a fundamental failure of energy policy leadership. “Simeon Brown says he has an answer to our energy security problem. A billion-dollar contract to import liquefied natural gas. From the Middle East. With no plan to pay for it. That’s not energy security, that’s energy dependency,” says Ngarewa-Packer. “Initially the government planned a levy on power bills to fund this facility. Now they want the same gentail
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 9 June 2026
  • Govt will Erase Iwi Representation Across Aotearoa
    Today the government announced that they will be removing the voting rights of iwi representatives from all councils across the country. They will be amending the Local Government (System Improvements) Bill after it has already gone through select committee, meaning that there will be no public submission process. “This is another gut punch, and our people are fed up” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Every time we think this government couldn’t possibly harm te iwi Māori any more, they always
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 2 June 2026
  • TPM to Entrench Te Tiriti: Government’s Tiriti Purge is Constitutional Vandalism
    Te Pāti Māori is condemning today’s announcement by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith to strip or weaken Te Tiriti o Waitangi references across 19 pieces of legislation. “This is not policy reform. It is constitutional vandalism.” After failing to redefine Te Tiriti through the Treaty Principles Bill, the Government is now dismantling it clause by clause through legislative review instead. Different vehicle. Same destination.
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 15 May 2026
  • Te Pāti Māori responds to announcement of new political party
    Te Pāti Māori acknowledges Mariameno Kapa-Kingi’s announcement that she intends to contest the 2026 General Election under the newly announced Te Tai Tokerau Party. We wish Mariameno well. Te ao Māori has always carried many voices, many rohe, many whakapapa, and many expressions of mana motuhake. We respect the right of whānau, hapū, iwi, rohe and candidates to determine their own political pathway.
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 11 May 2026
  • MP Govt Floats Nuclear Jones Must Front Up
    Te Pāti Māori is demanding answers after Shane Jones casually floated nuclear fission in the House today. Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said, “Aotearoa is not neutral on nuclear. We are proudly anti-nuclear. That position was fought for, defended, and embedded in who we are as a nation.” “Is this Government marching us away from our nuclear-free legacy? Because Aotearoa deserves to know,” said Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
    Te Pāti Māori by Te Pāti Māori · 29 April 2026
  • KiwiRail to fund additional ferries works in Picton
    KiwiRail will directly fund up to $37.5 million for Picton rail yard upgrades and adding auto-mooring technology to the new wharf as part of the New Ferries project, Rail Minister Winston Peters announced today. “Selecting KiwiRail as the long-term operator of the Interislander has given the company confidence to invest its own funds in commercial assets, meaning the taxpayer is not paying a cent more than our $1.7 billion allocation but still achieves the benefit as the ultimate owner of KiwiRail,” Mr Pete
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 16 October 2026
  • Resilience work underway for key South Island route
    Work to bolster the resilience of a key South Island route vital to New Zealand tourism will soon begin, South Island and Associate Transport Minister James Meager says. “The Government allocated around $40 million in Budget 2026 to fund resilience upgrades to State Highway 94 (SH94) between Te Anau and Milford, as part of a wider $150 million-plus package to strengthen five of the mainland’s most vulnerable state highways,” Mr Meager says. “There will soon be spades in the ground at key sites on SH94 in Fi
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 16 October 2026
  • King’s Counsel appointments 2026
    Attorney-General Chris Bishop today announced the appointments of 12 King’s Counsel. The rank of King’s Counsel is primarily awarded to barristers sole who have met the overarching criteria of excellence in their careers. The 12 new King’s Counsel appointed, from over 100 applications, are Matanuku Mahuika, Karen Radich, Janette Campbell, Matthew Harris, Kirsten Gray, Tim Smith, Polly Pope, Kerry Cook, Sam Lowery, Rob Kirkness, Isaac Hikaka, and Annabel Maxwell-Scott. “The appointment of King’s Counsel reco
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 16 October 2026
  • Levy reduction for cruise industry
    Cruise ship passengers will pay significantly lower Border Processing Levy rates from 1 July 2027, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. From 1 July 2027, cruise passengers will see a net reduction of NZ$19.91 per person through the combined arrival and departure levy rate changes. The Border Processing Levy for arriving cruise passengers will lower from NZ$27.14 to NZ$7.20, while the levy for outgoing passengers will increase by three cents per person. “The levy system is working as intended. Where f
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 16 October 2026
  • New construction ACOP to bring health and safety clarity
    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today launched a new Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) that outlines practical steps businesses and workers can take to meet their health and safety responsibilities on residential construction sites. “This ACOP will provide practical, sector-specific information to help clients, principal contractors, contractors, subcontractors and workers prepare for upcoming changes to health and safety law, and support better outcomes across New Zealand's residen
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 16 October 2026
  • West Coast infrastructure upgrades on course
    Investment from the Regional Infrastructure Fund is delivering progress on key projects on the West Coast, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson says. "Improvements to key shipping ports and the upgrade of Hokitika Airport are part of the government’s support for the West Coast’s economic growth and resilience,” Mr Patterson says. Mr Patterson joined local leaders and iwi today at the blessing of Greymouth Port's new port sounding vessel, which will be used to monitor and manage the port’s
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 16 October 2026
  • Hunua Quarry development fast-tracked
    A third substantial Auckland quarry project has gained Fast-track approval to expand operations, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Resources Minister Shane Jones say. This is the 37th project approved through the Fast-track process. Winstone Aggregates lodged its application in March 2026, with approval taking around four months from the appointment of an independent expert panel. The redevelopment of Hunua Quarry will expand existing quarrying activities to allow Winstone Aggregates to deepen the ex
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 15 October 2026
  • SH54 resilience improvements on the way
    A crash-prone bridge in Manawatū currently down to one lane is set to be replaced with funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Transport Minister Chris Bishop say. The project to replace Haynes Bridge on State Highway 54 will receive funding of $6.5 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund. Mr Jones says the investment in the new bridge on a key Manawatū-Whanganui route will deliver benefits for communities and businesses throughout the region. "Safe
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 15 October 2026
  • New term, same story; attendance up again
    Provisional school attendance data for Term 3 2026 shows despite a tough flu season in person attendance rates were the highest of any Term 3 since 2022, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. In Term 3 2026, 52.2% of students met the criteria for regular attendance, representing a 1.7 percentage point increase from 50.5% in Term 3 2025. A student attends school ‘regularly’ when they are in class for more than 90 per cent of the term. “This data shows attendance rates continue to rise under this G
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 15 October 2026
  • International tourism nears full recovery
    International visitor numbers are now within a whisker of pre-pandemic levels, with four months left to go in the year and the summer season yet to hit, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. Stats NZ data out today shows the total number of overseas visitor arrivals in August 2026 was 99 per cent of the 251,100 in August 2019. “In 2025 I set the ambitious goal to increase the number of international visitors to New Zealand to at least 2019 levels by 2026. “This monthly data shows we are well
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 14 October 2026
  • Open ocean opportunities for iwi aquaculture
    The Government has set aside areas suitable for aquaculture to ensure Marlborough iwi have the opportunity to contribute to the region’s open ocean aquaculture boom, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The two Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) ensure suitable space in the region remains available while the Crown and Te Tau Ihu iwi negotiate a settlement under the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act,” Mr Jones says. “With the launch earlier this year of New Zealand’s first open
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 14 October 2026
  • Diesel reserve extended to maintain fuel security
    The Government has extended an agreement for a 550,000-barrel strategic diesel reserve until August 2027 to maintain New Zealand’s fuel resilience, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones say. “Maintaining our national fuel security, particularly through a period of global uncertainty, remains a top priority for the Government. That’s why we’re pleased to announce this extension to our existing deal with Z Energy for the diesel reserve at Marsden Point,” Nicola Willis says.
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 14 October 2026
  • Survivor Support and Recognition Fund to open next year
    The Government has approved a third and final round of the Survivor Support and Recognition Fund (SSRF). The fund supports community-led services and initiatives for survivors of abuse and neglect in care This $820,000 contestable fund will be available to non-government organisations and community groups that directly support survivors of abuse in care,” says Lead Coordination Minister Erica Stanford. Applications are expected to open in February 2027. The Department of Internal Affairs' Community Operatio
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 14 October 2026
  • Long overdue replacement for critical bridge
    Another bridge on South Canterbury’s State Highway 82 will be replaced, through funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Transport Minister Chris Bishop say. The Deep Creek Bridge on SH82 will be replaced at a cost of $7.5 million. Elephant Hill Stream Bridge has already been replaced, and Waihao North Bridge is in the process of being replaced Deep Creek Bridge carries about 1850 vehicles each day and supports local journeys, agricultural activity and fre
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 14 October 2026
  • It's all adding up: More maths gains for Kiwi kids
    New independent assessment results show primary and intermediate students made the equivalent of four months' additional progress in mathematics between 2024 and 2026, signalling a turnaround in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. The latest Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) data, released today by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), show statistically significant improvements in mathematics and reading comprehension and vocabulary. “Our number one priority in educati
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 14 October 2026
  • Auckland gets another Crisis Recovery Café
    People in Auckland in need of mental health or addiction support will have another place to turn for faster access to support, with a new peer-led Crisis Recovery Café officially opening in Mt Eden, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Emergency departments aren’t always the best environment for someone experiencing mental distress. They can be busy, brightly lit and feel far too clinical, when often what someone needs is a calm place to sit down and talk to someone who understands. “That’s why we are
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 13 October 2026
  • Damning report shows Teaching Council failed to protect children
    A damning new independent review has revealed how repeated failures by the Teaching Council allowed a teacher with a known history of offending to remain in the profession before he went on to commit indecent acts against children, Minister of Education Erica Stanford says. The independent regulatory review undertaken by Katherine Anderson KC follows the equally damning 2025 Debbie Francis review, which exposed a deeply concerning culture within the Teaching Council. “First and foremost, my thoughts are wit
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 13 October 2026
  • New ward boosts capacity at Hawke’s Bay Hospital
    Hawke’s Bay patients will benefit from faster access to surgical care with the opening of a new 28-bed ward at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “This new ward is a practical solution to meet growing demand, delivering the extra capacity Hawke’s Bay Hospital needs right now and making a real difference for both patients and staff,” Mr Brown says. “It gives surgical patients dedicated space before and after their procedures, along with space for surgical assessment and planning. That m
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 12 October 2026
  • First state school converts to a charter school
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Pakaraka School in Northland has become the first state school to convert to a charter school. “Charter schools give educators more freedom to provide students with an education that suits their needs,” Mr Seymour says. “The Pakaraka community has chosen a new path for its school. They want to be able to build on what is already working for its students, and the charter school model enables them to do that. “In 2024 the school partnered wit
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 12 October 2026
  • Government ambitious for every child’s education
    Thank you, Prime Minister. Over the past three years, we have been focused on one overriding objective: lifting educational achievement for every young New Zealander. And a huge part of that has been closing the equity gap, ensuring that your means do not determine your destiny by providing a world-leading education for every young person in our schools. Because we are ambitious for every child in this country. A world-leading education system starts with ensuring every child learns to read, write and do ma
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 12 October 2026
  • Additional domestic student places for veterinary science at Massey University
    “An increase in the number of funded domestic places in Massey University’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science programme from 125 to 140 per year from 2027 onwards will help address demand for veterinarians in the future,” says Minister for Tertiary Education Penny Simmonds. Minister Simmonds made the announcement during her visit to the university’s Palmerston North campus on Friday, 9 October. “The veterinary workforce plays a key role in our biosecurity, animal welfare, food safety, and export industry. Incr
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • District Court Judges Appointed
    Attorney-General Hon Chris Bishop has announced the appointment of Leighvi Maynard of Gisborne and Nicola Graham of Napier as District Court Judges. Mr Maynard began his legal career at Simpson Grierson in Auckland, where he was a member of the firm’s Environment, Planning and Resource Management team. In 2006 he moved to Gisborne and entered general practice, working across civil, employment, Māori land, family and criminal law jurisdictions before joining the Office of the Crown Solicitor for Rotorua, Tau
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Simpler food safety, stronger focus on risk
    The Government is proposing changes to make it easier for food businesses to meet their food safety obligations, with less paperwork and a sharper focus on the risks that matter, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says. Consultation opened today on an updated Simply Safe & Suitable food control plan template. This is New Zealand's main food control template: a pre-approved, plain-language checklist that tells businesses what steps to follow and what records to keep so their food stays safe. "Businesses hav
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Food and fibre exports hit record $65.2 billion
    Food and fibre exports reached a record $65.2 billion in the year to 30 June 2026, up $4.8 billion on the year before, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. "Kiwi farmers and growers keep delivering for the New Zealand economy," Mr McClay says. "This year was already on track to be a record. Their hard work has delivered a result that beats expectations." Exports are up 8 per cent on the previous year and ahead of the Ministry for Primary Industries' June forecast of $64.3 billion. "It's a gre
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Investigation into Apollo Stadium site planning rules
    An investigation has been launched into whether Christchurch planning rules are getting in the way of new housing, economic growth and the future redevelopment of the former Apollo Projects Stadium site, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. The investigation follows a request from Christchurch City Council Mayor Phil Mauger to consider changes to the Christchurch District Plan for the 4.93-hectare site at 95 Jack Hinton Drive in Addington. “The temporary Apollo Stadium has served Christchurch well. Now th
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Four more school redevelopments get the green light
    The Government is investing a further $37 million to redevelop four schools, taking investment in school redevelopment projects approved this year to more than $200 million, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “When we came into Government, school property was a mess. Around 350 projects could not be delivered within the funding available, schools had been waiting years for certainty, and classrooms were costing around $1.2 million each. “We said we would fix it, and that is exactly what we have been do
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • Next steps in fight against organised crime
    The new Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Chief Executive Board has met for the first time today, Associate Police Minister Casey Costello has announced. “We need better organised government to fight organised crime, and the Board will help deliver that,” Ms Costello says. “The Government has made a series of decisions to improve our response to TSOC, including appointing a Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), and putting in place a new TSOC strategy and Action Plan. A key recommendation of the
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • More Kiwis choosing teaching
    More New Zealanders are choosing to become teachers, with initial teacher education enrolments up 40 per cent since 2023. Education Minister Erica Stanford says the increase shows more Kiwis want to be part of New Zealand’s teaching workforce. “We’ve had a real focus on getting more New Zealanders into teaching so we can grow our own workforce and reduce our reliance on recruiting teachers from overseas. “Overseas-trained teachers make an important contribution to our schools, and we will continue to need t
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • RMA national direction reforms complete
    The Government has completed the biggest overhaul of national direction in the history of the Resource Management Act – with the final changes making it faster, easier and more affordable to build and upgrade New Zealand’s electricity and telecommunications networks, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. “Over the past two years the Government has developed or amended 16 national direction instruments to remove unnecessary barriers to housing, infrastructure, energy and the primary sector,” Mr Bishop says.
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • Government cracks down on rockpool vandals
    Major fishing rule changes will come into force this summer to stop people from stripping rockpools of marine life on the Auckland and Coromandel coastlines, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones and Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft say. “Fossicking in a rockpool is a Kiwi tradition. It’s a pastime that’s been enjoyed by generations of New Zealanders. However, it’s being exploited by a selfish few who are taking far too much kaimoana. This behaviour is endangering these fragile ecosystems and putting at r
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
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    Newsroom by Newsroom Puzzles · Yesterday
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  • Diagnostic uncertainty: why losing a diagnosis can be as difficult as receiving one
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  • The Jackdaw gasfield passed the legal test for North Sea drilling – Rosebank will find it much harder
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  • Scientists aim to give lung cells a memory of how to fight viruses
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  • Could lawfare become warfare between Brussels and Beijing?
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    National’s repeated refusal to work with potential king-making party Opportunity might appear self-sabotaging – but there’s a hidden logic at play.
    Evening Report by The Conversation · Friday
  • Is Labour Opening The Door To A Return To Balanced Literacy?
    Labour's education spokesperson, Ginny Andersen, has confirmed her party's support for structured literacy but expressed concern about a “one-size-fits-all approach”.
    Scoop politics · Friday
  • Keith Rankin Analysis – Are we really ALL living longer?
    Keith Rankin writes; ... by the way, that the cost of retirement is the resources that go into supporting retired people whether their money comes from a pension or from drawing down private savings. The biggest 'burden' is a country's affluent retired, who draw resources away from everyone else.
    Evening Report by Keith Rankin · Friday
  • #BHN NZ lawyer has his Identity and career stolen and used for an AI youtube channel 😲🤖
    Article
    Big Hairy Network by Big Hairy Network · Friday
  • New Caledonia pro-independence leaders boycott EU critical minerals deal
    By Patrick Decloitre of RNZ Pacific Pro-independence leaders in New Caledonia’s Congress have boycotted the signing of a strategic partnership deal on critical raw materials between the European Union (EU) and the French Pacific territory, citing concerns over a lack of local consultation. On Tuesday, the EU signed the non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) on
    Evening Report by Asia Pacific Report · Friday
  • FACT CHECK: Full List Of Everything Missing From Greens’ Fiscal Plan
    These 17 policies total $176.374 billion, or $85,122 per household.
    Scoop politics · Friday
  • Friday essay: AI is devastating higher education, but the system was already broken
    AI is a project of the powerful, implemented in the name of an efficiency that has nothing to do with the good, writes Jeff Sparrow.
    Evening Report by The Conversation · Friday
  • ‘Gutless’ Ministry Of Health Is Responsible For High Court Ruling Against Puberty Blockers Ban
    “To be clear, as the Court found, it is the role of the Minister and Cabinet to decide what, if any, restrictions should be placed on access to puberty blockers for what Justice La Hood terms ‘gender dysphoric/incongruent young people’,” ...
    Scoop politics · Friday
  • Is Australia’s gas reservation scheme really aimed at Santos?
    The success of the Domestic Gas Reservation Scheme relies on consistent enforcement and tangible benefits for Australian consumers.
    Evening Report by The Conversation · Friday
  • #BHN "I don't know what you're talking about"; Temu style CEO pleads ignorance 😵‍💫
    Article
    Big Hairy Network by Big Hairy Network · Friday
  • Dissent at Winton AGM: ‘What it has lacked is trust’
    Shareholders worry that despite sexual harassment complaints, Chris Meehan may seize back control of the company he founded The post Dissent at Winton AGM: ‘What it has lacked is trust’ appeared first on Newsroom.
    Newsroom by Jonathan Milne · Friday
  • Hughesy, Karl and co: what happens when celebrities turn political?
    Celebrities may not directly sway people’s votes but they do shape conversations in the media. That is a significant form of political power.
    Evening Report by The Conversation · Friday
  • #BHN Leaders Special: Chris Hipkins, Labour
    Article
    Big Hairy Network by Big Hairy Network · Friday
  • Israel votes against decolonisation for Pacific at UN – then says it has become PIF partner
    COMMENTARY: By Stefan Armbruster Israel voted against all UN resolutions concerning decolonisation of the six Pacific territories at the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee (Decolonisation — C-24) meeting last week. Decolonisation has been a founding principle of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) since its establishment in 1971. The announcement by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar
    Evening Report by Asia Pacific Report · Friday
  • Green MP still waiting for Peters to apologise or be disciplined over ‘racist’ comments
    Winston Peters' comments against a Chinese-born MP re-emerge, with coalition partners labelling them 'disgraceful' and as having led to NZ First's poll drop The post Green MP still waiting for Peters to apologise or be disciplined over ‘racist’ comments appeared first on Newsroom.
    Newsroom by Tim Murphy · Friday

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