The C Word
Mountain Tūī Opinion and Analysis on New Zealand’s “C” word
Environment
science
Advantage’s 2026 predictions
Advantage gets out the crystal ball and postilated what may happen next year.
The Tunnels project and SH 1 to Wellington Airport
The plan ignores standard traffic planning practice, takes no account of predicted sea level rise and will be obsolete before the last stone is turned.
$270 a year more in energy costs for householders – Government pushes fossil fuel / agricultural corporate welfare
Under a series of science driven policy options, National / ACT and NZ First unanimously choose “catastrophic peril”. Anything for the fossil fuel and farmer industry, but at what cost, NZ?
Accelerating climate change under urgency
The Government is legislating to halve methane emission reduction targets and remove the requirement for the ETS to accord with Paris Accord obligations. And intends to pass these changes under urgency despite there being no requirement to do so.
Why the next election will not be easy for Labour
This may be a one term National Government. But electoral law reform, the state of Labour’s coalition partners, a possible economic upturn and a change in National’s leader threaten this.
The Government’s 59 policy changes that are destroying the country’s climate response
Count them and weep.
Is National planning to welch on Paris Climate obligations?
It appears to be more and more inevitable that National will welch on the country’s Paris Accord obligations.
Why does National really hate EVs?
The Government has reversed the clean car standard and by doing this has ensured that the country’s car fleet will be less efficient and produce more greenhouse gasses.
Who’s winning the Climate Change Revolution?
The world’s largest economies are lowering or flatlining emissions at the same time as they are growing their economies.
The Fast Track law is being made worse
Just over a year ago the Government passed a constitutional abomination of a law and is now trying to make it worse and do this quickly. What is going on?
Wrecking the country’s climate change response
If you thought that your contempt for the current administration had peaked let me disappoint you. This week they have taken steps to undermine the Climate Change Commission and the ability of the public to influence future emission reduction plans.
Labour Day: the working class and civil emergencies
On this Labour Day, a massive shout out to all the workers in Southland, Otago and other areas affected by the storms last week. Paid and volunteer, obvious and those in the background doing support for the frontline workers.
More RONS!
National has announced it will be spending nearly three times as much on Roads of National Significance as it campaigned on and has justified dubious investment decisions by changing how benefits are calculated.
Government by the Farmers for the Farmers
In a move that further undermines the country’s response to the climate crisis the Government has halved the methane reduction goal and determined that farms will not pay a price for greenhouse gas emissions.
Luxon’s bad faith stunt
Christopher Luxon recently wrote to Chris Hipkins seeking a bipartisan approach to gas drilling but then immediately turned this into a farce by leaking the letter to the Herald.
Old man yells at rest of the world
Winston Peters has blamed the two most populous countries in the world for contributing to climate change, a problem that many in his party thinks does not exist.
The infantilisation of Western Grand Strategy – and the rise of Eurasia.
The greatest threat Russia poses to Europe is not that it marches west but that it turns its back and builds a brighter future to the east. We may be witnessing the emergence of a Eurasian World Order.
The $671 million dollar woman
The Government is trying to spin that cancellation of the ferry contract will cost the country $144 million when the actual figure is at least $671 million.
Good, Democratic, Easy-To-Support Energy Policies
How to make fundamental changes to the country’s energy systems to ensure that future supply is sustainable and democratically controlled/
Power Companies Collude to Require New Zealand Coal-Fired Electricity
The country’s four main power companies have signed an agreement to stockpile coal and to extend the life of the coal-fired Huntly power station.
Hey Federated Farmers climate change is real
The Commerce Commission has dismissed Federated Farmers’ claim that banks offering lower interest rates to clients who meet greenhouse gas emission targets are engaging in cartel type behavior.
Do humans have to respect the limits to growth?
we don’t have to, but we probably should.
Climate Change and Bumper Sticker Politics
Christopher Luxon has engaged in a classic example of bumper sticker politics by blaming Labour for excessive power prices, not the structure of the power sector. And he has completely ignored the imperitave action that climate change demands the country takes.
New Zealand starting to feel the pointy end of the climate crisis
Nelson Tasman region is still in a civil emergency and our climate denying Prime Minister is signalling an end to future flood bail outs.
The Rainbow Warrior 1985-2025. Part 1: French State Terrorism and the end of innocence.
Immediately after blowing up the Rainbow Warrior the French agents went on a ski holiday in the South Island to celebrate. Such was the contempt they had for Kiwis and our police. How wrong they were.
Oceania: Journey to the Center and other Auckland events
A few things I will be heading to over the coming 5 days in Auckland. A documentary on climate change on pacific islands. Phil Goff on foreign affairs. And the Inaugural Keith Locke Memorial Debate. Moot is “China is a threat to regional peace”. I kind of got caught up in each of these for one reason or another…
The existential moment we are in
As the world re-entangles and pushes our interdependence to the foreground, we need a new thesis on freedom.
Willis’ Roundup Budget will not grow new shoots of the economy
Nicola Willis’ Budget is bad for growth and a Big throwback unfit for NZ.
The Coalition Continues to Defund Science
Another science fund bites the dust in New Zealand.
We’ve Lost Australia
New Zealand was once in a sustained Australasian partnership. Now, with New Zealand tracking further and further into policy extremes, Australia – and our children – are leaving New Zealand behind.
Vale David Parker MP
David Parker’s Deputy Leader ‘s speech in 2014 at the Wellington Labour Party Conference was the best I ever heard from a Labour Leader. Vision matched values in intensity and scope. Parliament now loses one of its very best.
Winston’s war on wokeness
In what looked like an early election campaign launch Winston Peters has done his old man shaking his fist at the sky tirade against everything woke.
Reasons for Optimism
We’re good, but we know we want better leadership.
Is NZ as Stable as Luxon Claims?
By pursuing cuts, selling off assets to multinationals, enabling ACT’s attacks on the Treaty and cutting back on climate commitments, Luxon is guaranteeing that NZ will not be stable for long, writes Elliot Crossan.
NZ Science is in Big Trouble
Science and tertiary education are being ignored in NZ, which is just dumb.