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6:00 am, June 11th, 2026 - 59 comments
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Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
So now its an Emergency ?!….(never you mind that NACT1 took away the public transport/bus help and funding $billions IMO moronic car-go cult RONS)
And yea…NACT1 ignoring that rampaging elephant
Any Rational Govt would have this covered. And well…yeah.
Not JUST an Auckland issue…..its NZ wide !
‘Some people being left behind’ – demand for bus travel on the rise in Canterbury
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/community/595819/some-people-being-left-behind-demand-for-bus-travel-on-the-rise-in-canterbury
Agreed Psych-the emergency argument is bollocks-should have been in budget. Meanwhile the Labour policy on public transport released yesterday was excellent.
With that policy and the Labour candidacy of the senior police officer suddenly National look all over the place.
Added to this the revelation today that officials advised there was low or no need for the LNG facility, and the government had tried to hide this fact, and this really is a Coalition of Chaos.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/597839/officials-redacted-advice-showing-low-need-for-lng-imports
I still think Labour should say they will cancel the LNG proposal (and direct that cash to renewables) saying that it is contrary to NZ's climate targets. They can argue on this basis that no compensation will be paid. Investors beware.
A week is a long time in politics.
Labour is non-committal (aka timid dithering) although their reasoning is not flawed.
https://www.carbonnews.co.nz/news/37545/labour-on-overturning-lng-wed-need-to-see-the-contract
I guess if Hipkins dithers on the LNG terminal people will just vote Green.
Labour is opposed to the LNG facility but doesn’t want to state that it’ll break the contract. I think this is one reason why the Coalition is so desperate to get anything signed at this stage, as long as it binds the next Government [into knots]. It’s a strange way of ‘opposing’ something – just come out and say it and don’t wait till the deed is done, which leaves the door open to all kinds of attacks. FFS, have some guts!
Agree with all of that Incog.
But I still say Labour could argue that the LNG terminal was inimical to NZ meeting the Paris climate targets and any investors claiming compensation for contracts signed before the election will be refused compensation on this basis, and on the basis that the CoC was advised that the LNG terminal was not needed.
Let them try and take NZ through the courts, where they are likely to lose.
Imported LNG has a bigger carbon footprint than coal.
What overturning that deal would turn into is a repeat of the contractual war that National coalition started by breaking the entire IREX contract.
Infrastructure and large scale procurement will never match 3-year electoral cycles. Nothing of note is procured, designed, and constructed within 3 years.
If the political order on both sides really does that, the entire infrastructure system will seize up within a year and every remaining engineer will simply leave.
Hipkins thankfully understands this.
False equivalence – the iReX project was very different from the LNG proposal. In any case, not all infrastructure is the same, e.g., Dunedin Hospital is not comparable to RoNS.
Your hypothetical speculation amounts to fear-mongering and coercing the next Government, which is what the Coalition appears to be counting on – if the Coalition does barge ahead with signing a contract, the escape clauses will be most interesting (if not blacked out because of ‘sensitivity’).
How many engineers with experience in constructing & operating LNG import facilities does NZ have?
If Labour opposes the LNG facility, and they do, then it is illogical to refuse saying that they’ll break the contract and leaving the door open to the whole stupid project going ahead anyway. It doesn’t make sense.
Reasonable chance that it will be after the election before prices are confirmed and then will be that far outside National's proposed budget that it's easy for a Labour led government to can it with out upsetting the apple cart too much.
And since the timeframe that National is talking for construction is basically yesterday in infrastructure timescales, this thing must be either off the shelf, or sitting in a yard somewhere. So it should be relatively easy to sell, and verify the price National are talking.
That Tim Dither is a hereditary throwback who somehow keeps getting into NZAO politics. Need to give him/her a push before he/she leaves the backdoor open to Farcicalism.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers’ soul looks very much like that of the appalling U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, donchathink?
https://www.thewellnews.com/immigration/federal-judge-orders-ice-chief-to-court-to-explain-why-detainees-are-denied-due-process/
“I am very surprised to see the police commissioner making a statement that basically has no evidentiary base behind it whatsoever, and seems to be asserting that somebody is guilty until they've proven themselves to be innocent, when there is no case to answer, because there is no evidence that anyone's done anything wrong,” Hipkins said on Wednesday."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360990931/has-police-commissioner-richard-chambers-made-his-own-position-untenable
"because there is no evidence that anyone's done anything wrong,"
I suppose that that could mean – "We collected everyone's phone at the door and made sure there was nothing put into writing".
Nah. Chippies not like that.
No, it does not mean what you "suppose", it means, "there is no case to answer, because there is no evidence that anyone's done anything wrong", as Hipkins plainly said.
Maybe time will tell who the wrong 'un(s) is/are on this occasion.
NACT1 honour its agreements? Ha, first they would need to have honour…(and IMO as I have made comment before…they will try to weasel out any way they can : (
Their out card…
However…(there are always consequences)
Someone tell him he's fkn dreaming….(esp considering who he's in Govt with !)
Last word to Chloe Swarbrick….(keep fronting them Chloe !)
Yet another fast-track application causing traffic chaos in Queenstown. District councillor Samuel Beck hits the nail on the head:
Queenstown Lakes district councillor Samuel Beck, who has been a prominent critic of the fast-track process, said as laudable as Simplicity Living’s aims might be in providing affordable accommodation, the district was up against the fact it had not received its fair share of the roading budget.
‘‘There’s just a massive disconnect between what central government wants in terms of houses and what NZTA can provide for roading. Queenstown’s rapid growth and lack of supporting infrastructure meant ‘‘fast-track’’ was entirely unsuitable for the region, he said."
When interviewed on RNZ yesterday Simplicity's MD Sam Stubbs, the subdivision developer, didn't mention traffic at all.
Samuel Beck is right; fast-track is useless and must go on November 8.
Paywalled:
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/huge-queenstown-housing-plan-stokes-gridlock-concerns
From the Bread and Circuses department, a reasonable analysis from an informed pundit on the most criticized job in this country.
It is a refreshing contrast to local views which are either sycophantic or parochial doom and gloom, both of which are useless.
The future looks bright for footy fans under Rennie's guidance.
https://youtu.be/KbTZekrG3Rg?si=fIQet34cmarbFeL9
Thought of you when I read this, gsays, especially regarding the matter of people tasked with food-preparation 🙂
"An ancient Greek concept, sophrosyne – pronounced “suh-fros-uh-nee” – is what we might call “sound-mindedness” today. It’s a constellation of characteristics, including moderation, reflectiveness and self-knowledge. "
Here's the Facebook-link:
https://theconversation.com/why-sophrosyne-an-ancient-greek-virtue-matters-more-than-ever-in-the-age-of-ai-282665
Ah, the bill for Paris!
Who will pay it?
"Not I", said Nicola Willis!
"Not I ", said David Seymour!
"Not I", said Winston Peters!
Then we'll have to, said all of New Zealand, coz if we don't, we'll suffer all sorts of penalties. Of course, we could have taken real steps to reduce our gas emissions from the day we signed, rather than pretending to act, as we are doing now *
HUGE investment in agricultural technologies!! blah blah Fieldday blah
At least the National party remains committed to NZ's emissions targets under the Paris climate agreement, even if its partners in our ‘strong and stable’ CoC ‘govt’ are not.
A(t)las, the 'principle' reason for this laser-focussed commitment is to protect exporters.
Luxon says he's "committed to try" to achieve those targets.
I believe they are all hoping/expecting a global rebellion against paying, the shirt-tails of which they can cling to and avoid doing anything much at all, including receiving trade penalties etc.
The lord (apparently) loves a tryer.
And re..
IMO why they have brazenly nailed their colours to Ol'
blackbeardOrange Trumps piratical mast…..(even though that hasn't quite worked out yet? They must think…. soon ?)Luxon is also committed to the LNG import terminal-he can't in the same breath say he is committed to the Paris targets.
I have posted on TS several times studies that show that imported LNG has a bigger carbon footprint than coal.
BG , Luxo can, and will, use the same breath to blurt inanity. Its his go-to.
And re
Yep, have seen them . And of course we have Renewables…like the Sun's carbon footprint : )
Luxflakes says that his Government believes farmers can be more productive and more sustainable at the same time (Stuff report, 11 June).
I assume he means that farm profits will be sustained.
He pretends that profitability will be for the county's economy, not the back-pockets of individual farmers. Farmers think otherwise. And everyone knows "sustainability" is a word that's easily-weaselled.
This one?
Luxo….on giving it (or something) a good go
Meanwhile ACT abandons even the pretence of good go's (but hey we knew that)
ACT know they can't force the abandonment of our Paris obligations but they also know that many voters strongly support the idea and have no time at all for the Agreement – all ACT wants is their votes.
Not sure how many ? But yes for sure ACT needs this core…no care how actually rotten it is.
It's a very appealing idea though 🙂
For shame indeed. It's a different world – they all do it.
Ahh, Gold$mith. https://sustainabletarras.com/nomine/
Did they do risk analyses of the printing press, mechanical weaving machine, telephone, typewriter, radio, or the entire internet?
No.
And even if someone decided to (like the Catholic Church trying to ban the printing press), it quickly wouldn't have changed anything. Just a few technologies eventually got regulated, like motorcars.
Maybe 'they' should have. Spaceship Earth now supports an overshoot civilisation. Earth's capacity to absorb the outcomes of our risky businesses is finite – evidently.
The modern Internet was 'born' in 1983, when Earth Overshoot Day was Dec 15th. It's now July 30th – 'progress'! Keep on truckin' – there’s gold & AI in them thar hills.
@Mercurio @ 5.1
Chur, good article. Plenty in it.
All of it points to stillness of mind, presence and The Power of Now (Eckhhart Tolle).
The balancing act between principles and living the life of the householder is a toughee. One I've stuck to is not using FB. Because they still had the live stream of the mosque murders up after the perpetrator was in custody.
When mastery in the kitchen is achieved, the other senses come into play. You can tell the Salt and Pepper Squid is ready without looking because it sounds ready. You know who is using a blunt knife by the loud sound it makes when hitting the chopping board.
While we are on kitchens, it is one of the signs, repeated through history, that when society is in decline, cooks become celebrities.
I enjoyed your reply, gsays.
Couldn't help expanding upon your final sentence:
"…when society is in decline, crooks become celebrities…"
I was listening to an oil guy on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-5jHt3TBds) and he was saying that
1) China went out of the oil market when oil got expensive and has been relying on their reserves but when they come back in then prices are going to go up.
2) Houthis targeting Israeli ships is going to screw with the Suez Canal (because the Houthis aren't that great at targeting the right ships).
3) El Niño may screw with the Panama Canal as less water in the canal means fewer ships can pass through the locks.
~~~~~~~
So, it all could blow up in a bad way.
The thing about the Irish famine is that their was enough food in Ireland to feed people but the land-owners exported it for the high prices they could get. I hope the govt is working on how to protect New Zealanders' food security.
Too often the left relies on a crisis or fear of a crisis to drastically ‘correct’ public policy.
But in this one, here we are in June and it's not happened.
In fact the gradual and sustained rise in diesel is simply provoking fleet owners and farmers to convert to battery, solar, and hybrid vehicles.
Dare we call this the transition we always wanted?
The thing is we should be planning for different outcomes, even if not all of those outcomes arise. And the govt should be telling us they are planning. Not all plans have to become policy.
The reason catastrophe hasn't happened is that 1) the Chinese pulled out of the oil market waiting for better times but they have to come back eventually, 2) the Houthis only announced this week that they are going to start targeting Israeli ships and 3) Trump has been saying every Sunday that a deal is almost done satisfying the market at the start of the week – it even remains satisfied when it appears he's clearly lying.
This week it's become quite apparent that the Israelis aren't done … and the Iranians aren't going to make a deal with the USA until the Israelis are done in Lebanon.
The other thing is that if the Ukranians have continued success at hitting Russian oil infrastructure then that takes out Russian oil as well. I believe NZ has been getting processed Russian oil out of Sinapore.
There is no longer any policy solution in the Persian Gulf. There is no state actor who wants peace short or long term.
This version is just the new version of at best Vietnam War and at worst Afghan war.
The fuel and inflation crises are here to stay for years and years.
In an permanent vacillating state below crisis, but above turmoil.
It not's going to stay bubbling away because all the major players are running their oil reserves down. Something has to give or else the Northern Hemisphere winter is going to hit very hard.
What's America going to do if China starts ferry Iranian oil through their blockade?
The Irish famine that we heard about was actually the second one that was major and there had been problems in the past. Probably it gets back to becoming accustomed to things in a 'it'll work out somehow' sort of way. But what do I know – let's check the facts. and they explain some of present mindsets in the west and Kiwiland.
AI Overview is helpful and the truth as I have read it:
https://www.transcontinentaltimes.com/past-how-extreme-bengal-famine/
The Iron Will Wall which we see being practised now has recent history behind. We have to beware of the change that can take some from a value-prating society to viciousness. Think locusts change from solitary grasshopper to mass devouring force.
In Ohio a 10GW data centre is proposed and negotiations are well advanced.
"OpenAI is in advanced negotiations to lease a proposed 10 gigawatt data center campus on federal land in Ohio as part of a deal that could include financial backing from Nvidia…"
The power usage for this data centre is equivalent to 22 Clyde dams.
https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/openai-eyes-massive-10-gigawatt-ohio-data-center
What is curious is that shareholders in particular large institutional shareholders aren't holding AI and hyperdata centre companies to account for their lack of earnings.
If indeed there is an AI bubble, it is proving remarkably strong.
Investors aren't demanding strict AI earnings timelines because they are prioritising growth over profitability.
They view the current phase as an historic "land grab". That means investors are willing to fund massive capital expenditures now – including partnerships with new large energy generators – now, betting that early market dominance will create unbreakable monopolies and massive, long-term cash flows.
Anyone who thinks there's a bust coming is just wrong. This is a big and deep investment cycle.
Food for thought Ad, and I hope that doesn't presage a state of no other food.
The bubble will burst…take a look at the massive expenditure Meta has undertaken on AI that has totally destroyed its cash flow and forced it to borrow.
Did Luxflakes do a DEAL with Trump over importing LNG?
Is that why he can't back out of it now? What did he trade off? If the contract is broken what is the punishment from Donald?
Ah, so many questions, so many secrets and lies. The whole thing stinks.
Why Luxon doesn't want to, or can't delay on the LNG terminal is a question that Kiwis are unlikely to have an answer to if the CoC is re-elected in November.
https://vote.nz/
In addition to Karen Chhour's parking fees of almost $17,000 for leaving her car for extended times as Auckland airport, Disability Minister Louise Upston has spent $168,000 over two years on "surface travel" – for taxis, ride share, fuel and mileage.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2019038717/minister-spent-almost-17k-on-parking-fees-over-two-years
How does Upston rationalise cutting transport funding for Blind Low Vision NZ from 75% to 65%?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/596550/disability-advocates-hope-for-transport-housing-support-in-budget
"A vision impaired man who relies on taxis to get to work says a drop in the transport subsidy next month means he may have to move closer to his workplace in Auckland.
More than 120,000 elderly and disabled people rely on government transport subsidies through the Total Mobility scheme, which are dropping from 75 percent to 65 percent from July.
Disability advocates hope Thursday's Budget will include transport and housing support for the community.
Milton Paul travels across Auckland in the early hours of each weekday in a taxi, to avoid congestion on his way to work.
He is blind in one eye and vision impaired in the other with no ability to see depth – public transport from Massey in the west to Homai in the south is not an option…
…Disability advocate Blake Forbes said reductions in the subsidy for taxi trips would force some to make tough decisions – to forgo trips to the doctor, supermarket or even work…
Forbes and disability advocate Nick Ruane are working together to advocate for more support for people with disabilities – they are concerned an ongoing review of eligibility criteria for the Total Mobility scheme will lock some who need it out…".
There was no extra funding in the budget. In the following linked interview, Blind Low Vision NZ's head of policy and advocacy Bronwyn Larkins advised Lisa Owen that Upston has not responded to the agency's repeated requests to discuss this matter with them, neither has Christopher Luxon nor Transport Minister Chris Bishop.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2019038545/blind-low-vision-to-swamp-disability-minister-with-complaints
Upston's arrogance, sense of entitlement and lack of empathy are characteristics shared by many Coalition MPs.
+100 Vivie….this government is full of hypocrites. Cutting costs is for the rest of the population but not for them.
Upston’s $168,000 travel expenses would have paid the rent for years for people forced to sleep on the streets.
This government has criminalised sleeping on the streets as though it is a life choice.
What do you do when a powerful queer-phobic couple dehumanise a member of the rainbow community? When the couple laugh about calling a human being they don't like, "it"?
If you are this government you give him an ONZM.
And if you are the you are the Radio Broadcasters Association you give her the Sir Paul Holmes* Broadcaster of the Year (*no irony there).
Then, of course, if you are the spineless Minister of Media and Communications you disestablish the watchdog which upheld the complaint against the powerful queer-phobic couple.
https://archive.is/wSnJC
Was the ONZM for wastewater engineering?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/597914/we-re-actually-out-and-about-labour-cops-flack-from-bishop-seymour-over-fieldays-stall
Makes sense to keep on the move in enemy territory!!!
Makes bishop ans seymour look like the negative wet whining idiots like there leader.
I wonder who paid for the vacant Field Days site the CoC MPs are saying is Labour's.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360991374/mysterious-case-missing-labour-party-fieldays-tent
Chippy is saying they never booked it, so someone paid for it, events like that just don't have empty sites, they'd have a waitlist, especially this year.
Labour reserved the only green-space left at the field-day, for all New Zealanders.
Why would Labour want to be fenced in by farmers?
Somebody spotted Matt Burgess running away with a tent, but he’d left a while ago according to Chris Luxon. In any case, Mystery Creek has a reputation of being a larger sinkhole than the Bermuda Triangle with strange appearances and disappearances of men in black claiming to work for the Government.
A positively enlightened point of view from Richard Prebble.
https://archive.li/dPdRF
”After what the Herald’s Audrey Young described as a shambolic press conference, and subsequent clarifications from the Corrections Minister’s office, it emerged that the Government plans to spend almost $1.9 billion more on Corrections over the next four years to accommodate a growing prison population.
Around 40% of those prisoners will be on remand. A remand prisoner is someone who has not been convicted of any crime. They may wait months, sometimes years, for their day in court.
Some will be acquitted. Others, after spending months in jail, will receive a sentence that does not involve imprisonment.
For 800 years, our ancestors thought that was wrong. In 1215, King John reluctantly signed Magna Carta. Clause 39 declared:
“No free man shall be seized or imprisoned … except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.”
Over the centuries, that principle evolved into one of the foundations of a free society. The state must prove its case before it takes away a citizen’s liberty.
Innocent until proven guilty.
Somehow, we have forgotten.”
Not sure this will resonate with National or Act.
In Martin LeFevre's column – Meditations he passes on a striking paragraph about HG Wells 'Outline of History'.
I like the words 'capacious mind' which we need, to do essential thinking today. And this particular passage: 'his concern for the patterns, pathologies and potentialities of humankind since before the beginning of civilization.