Written By:
- Date published:
6:00 am, March 25th, 2026 - 31 comments
Categories: open mike -
Tags:
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 …
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360955099/marsden-point-refinery-probably-wouldnt-be-saviour-shane-jones-telling-you-it-heres-why
Isn't it refreshing when a reporter does their job, and digs all the story up, a comprehensive slap down of the the government's constant misinformation especially the wind bag jones,
Windbag Jones' disinformation (deliberate lying) is not news – he’s a rich vain of pollie-waffle.
The photo at the top of that Stuff article speaks volumes – Luxo only has to keep NZ on the CoC's self-serving track for a few months more and his knighthood is in the bag.
Once again, whenever the refinery is mentioned, there is only a sliver of the story is mentioned.
Stuff claims to tell you the "why". Not a mention of Aussie company, Ampol, making the closure of Marsden Point a condition of buying Z petrol station chain. How the state used to have an intetrest in Z through the super fund. Back when there was a desire to lessen dependence on fossil fuels.
Similarly it is hard to talk about Marsden Point and not mention bitumen. How the refinery made 70% of the countries road surfacing. Evn before we have made the repairs needed after the last weather event, we are reliant on the 'global market' for pricing and long supply chains for supply of a fairly basic commodity.
CO2 doesn't get a mantion. Not just for brewing but packaging medical supplies, packaging meats, dairy and other foods, dry ice and for plant growth in horticulture.
There is something smelly when we are getting a very slim narrative peddled to us time and time again.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360955099/marsden-point-refinery-probably-wouldnt-be-saviour-shane-jones-telling-you-it-heres-why
Are we currently facing a potential bitumen or CO2 crisis? Are we currently monitoring national stock piles of bitumen or CO2? Do we have National Security Plans in place for bitumen or CO2? Is the Government providing targeted, temporary, and timely financial assistance to people or businesses because of steep price rises in bitumen or CO2?
Indeed, bitumen and CO2 were part of the equation to close the refinery, but they were not equal parts relative to fuel.
The crisis you left out was in journalism and media reportage. Same cause as the fuel and the change in cost for CO2 and bitumen. Neo-liberalism.
Past minister's defer to 'advisors' and faceless mandarins for their decisions. At least this mob have some principles (abhorrent as they are) and act on them, often in defiance of said experts.
Neither bitumen nor CO2 are the issue at hand and they would distract from the key message of the article.
I've been told by a friend who used to work for Fulton Hogan that the quality of the bitumen from Marsden Point was much better than what is currently being imported. (I'm not advocating for reopening the refinery!!!)
I learnt a lot from that article thankyou.
There is an attempt to do a work around.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/576396/scientists-work-to-secure-supply-of-carbon-dioxide
It's all about trying to get re-elected in 2026.
Petulant Jones got a slap-down from the Speaker yesterday after insulting the co-leader of Te Pati Māori and her iwi with a had-to-be-translated-for-the-Speaker slight on Tainui. Jones, when advised to apologise, offer the standard, "If blah, blah, blah, offended…" but Gerry wasn't having it and squeezed a simple "Withdraw & apologise" from the Big Mouthed Frog from the North.
The revamped Lake Onslow hydro project has got fast-track approval.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/03/25/minister-fast-tracks-nzs-biggest-ever-hydro-project-lake-onslow/
Small semantic there, it's been accepted into the Fast Track process. Still got to submit a substantive application and have it heard by a panel, who will call whatever evidence they deem suitable or required to test the proposal. A bit to go yet, but I wish them all the best, I hope this one gets to be built.
No, that’s an important distinction and more than small semantics, so thank you for the correction.
It was my bad; somehow this in the Newsroom article got stuck in my memory: “Bishop has approved the project …”.
@ Matiri @ 2.1.1.2 (I'm not advocating for reopening the refinery!!!)
Similarly I'm not in lockstep with Jones.
I can see the politics of what he is saying EG differentiating themselves from Labour, having empathy for the jobs that went missing in his rohe and waving the economic nationalist New Zealand first flag.
It's all an unfortunately familiar story. Like half our supermarket outlets and the banks the Aussies are just having their way with us and our neoliberal masters are disinclined to stop them
It is one thing when a foreign company buys Watties and then x years later they stop buying from local suppliers, but then McCain's does the same thing – to get cheaper product from offshore.
This on top of the lack of protection for horticultural land (property development) will have long term consequences for our future resilience.
Similar to the business dynamics behind the loss of the refinery.
Of course with the importing of bitumen, there was a lack of regulation, so lower quality bitumen comes in (on price) – transferring cost to road maintenance.
To quote the Daily Show, crack head thinking.
Fight for the food system you deserve (posted on Farmers Weekly) https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/opinion/fight-for-the-food-system-you-deserve/
(regarding the closure of McCains)
Angela Clifford, CEO of Eat New Zealand
[Yeah, it takes special skill to use block-quotes and I’m not familiar with the text editor in the front-end, so I’m afraid I’m no help here. Block-quoted now – Incognito]
Allowing foreign owned supermarkets to undermine our domestic supply base reduces cost but has economic consequences.
An issue older than the Corn Laws.
Two hundred dollars a month water bills starting next year
And that is only the starting point.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/590521/wellingtonians-face-average-2400-water-bill-next-year-massive-increases-to-follow
Who will be able to afford to pay them?
Many households are struggling to pay their power bills as is – let alone these high water bills
https://theconversation.com/almost-a-third-of-nz-households-face-energy-hardship-reform-has-to-go-beyond-cheaper-off-peak-power-259140#:~:text=Electricity%20bills%20reflect%20several%20costs,is%20medically%20dependent%20on%20electricity.
Things are bad and getting worse.
The cost of power is set to increase. So to is rates, insurance and internet use. Not to mention petrol (thus largely everything related) and new road user charges.
And backup is also in a bad state
More than one in three (approximately 36%) New Zealanders have less than $500 in savings, according to early 2026 data from Westpac and Kiwibank.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/587794/new-zealanders-dismal-savings-balances-revealed
High living costs are causing significant financial pressure, leaving many households living paycheck to paycheck. Leaving me guessing many won't be able to pay.
There are a couple of solutions to this. Tiaki Wa would need to borrow over a longer term, thus reducing repayments (ie lower water bills). Also, Tiaki Wa would need to keep expenditure more within realistic means.
Another solution would be to nationalize under central government and fund via the tax system.
Thus, sharing the burden in a more progressive way while reducing costs (ie less CEOs and boards required etc).
Three waters? For example.
What were the projected costs under that (3 Waters)?
Three waters was at least in part… "Another solution would be to nationalize under central government and fund via the tax system".
The 36% who don't have any savings also don't own houses, so they will not be paying the large water bills.
Maybe the water bills in the past have simply been too low to finance a sustainable and viable water system?
Er, rates are paid by the landlord. Tenants pay the water bills.
This is a transfer of cost from landlord to tenant – under user pays (water meters).
Ah ok. Wasn't the case when I rented flats in UK. Tenants paid for electricity only.
Maybe all the savings went on buying the house? Nevertheless, it will no doubt be attempted to be passed on in rents.
Yes, maybe water bills were to low in the past but these increases are widely out of touch with what many can afford to pay
Landlords stop paying for the water use component of the water charge once a meter is installed. The plan is to spend $500M buying meters, so tenants pay.
Was unaware of that, so thanks.
A Warehouse owned company, one of their trusted sellers, supplies corded phones that only work at the old copper wire outlets.
They do not say what the connection point the line supplied with the phone was in the advertising.
They must know that most buyers would have to have a connection to their modem & would need a line for this to use it.
They could at least be honest and mention the customer would need to buy the RJ11 as it is not supplied.
So typical of New Zealand retail.
The Spinoff is awful, but I like it.