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6:00 am, April 29th, 2026 - 27 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 …
Why the Cook Strait does not need an ocean-going tug boat is explained
It was detailed and it was also a business case, so that is decisive.
Imagine a town where there was no working fire engine. But the town had coped for 5 years already, so why provide one?
What he does not say – what other capability was involved/utilised? And is it still available?
https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360992898/cook-strait-betrayal-money-tugboat-diverted-247-runway-international-flights
Yeah, it's not as though the Cook Strait is getting any wider or the weather getting any rougher … hang on!
A journalist reckons the public need a good reason to vote in a new government.
When a government is as bad as this one, or the one in the USA, getting them out of office, is the first thing that needs to be done with a vote.
Acceptance of something, worse than mediocrity, is complicity. And politicians would take it as mandate.
This government, like the one in the USA, operates outside of regard for process propriety and does so for reasons neither in accord with the well-being of people or protection of the environment and conservation estate for future generations.
The polls show the public is not happy with the direction taken by government – that is mandate to change it.
And say where and why.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360994126/labours-lack-ideas-wearing-thin
This gives me cold shivers!
https://thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin/29-04-2026/what-is-pushing-power-prices-up-the-electricity-regulator-wants-to-know
Since some people seem to think that the sun shines out of Winston’s arse and NZ Frost has their interests at heart:
And the Read More:
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/24-02-2026/big-costs-big-profits-the-state-of-the-electricity-sector-in-2026
So, the lakes are full, solar is strong, heavy users are collapsing all over the country, and it's a warm winter. So why are our power prices going up?
Power bill info sought | Otago Daily Times Online News
Chop chop regulator.
Suspect we'll eventually find a quiet little directive to the boards of the part state owned electricity companies to maximise dividends. Along with boards of other trading SOEs, like Public Trust
Yup.
Also there is the government looking to partner with them for new generation (wonder if they will pocket the money for the imported gas terminal).
The Electricity Authority's new comparison site is well worth a look.
Billy.govt.nz
We loaded a recent bill, discovered our provider Octopus offers a cheaper plan that has been available since October. We queried it with them and sure enough it's cheaper, we're now on that plan and they have refunded $128 – the difference since October.
You're with Octopus.
Sounds like the rest of us are with Kraken.
Well they certainly seem more human after being with those monsters Meridian for years!
So droll! 🙂
Today's The Press on page 30 has a great cartoon by Sharon Murdoch titled Family Jewels- a large gold finger ring with a mountain, kiwi, frog, snail, fledgling, bush.
"Shane!!! It's gawgeous! What did it cost?"
"A world heritage site, some precious ecology, a buggered up landscape, intergenerational slag heaps, and damage to our international reputation".
"A snip!" says Shane as he walks away, flashing his ring……
Thanks for that info Mac…I shared the cartoon on FB
Seems like National is a millstone to all of us sentient beings? Or is it that there's a hole in the bucket dear Liza, dear Liza? Fragmenting, our nation is coming apart, needs patching fast.
We have skilled people who want the best outcome reasonable and attainable for us and our country. Talked to someone doing gardening who is from the old Forest Service this morning. Good guy. knows about wood and why trees blow over.
Let's take our country back on an 'As is, where is' basis and decide on a series of procedures from momentary, moving to stages from 1 to 5 within two years ro keep us floating and asking regions to have free-flowing intensive discussions to a set of questions submitted to them, and all see them and the answers returned. And the same and others meet each three months there and discuss progress and any further ideas. Get people behind their home areas and rewarded, appreciated for their work and more encouraged forward – crime reduced and minor crims able to do something to so they can get brownie points and a better outlook.
But how to get rid of deadwood?
A preview…..
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The State Department is rolling out limited-edition U.S. passports to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. The new passport designs, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, prominently feature President Donald Trump's image on the inside cover.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-state-department-introduces-new-us-passports-celebrating-america250
That leaves us all speechless I am sure Joe90. No sense in looking for a soapbox to spout from – what is left to say – gobsmacked.
A brutal evisceration of Nicola Willis’ disaster economic policies and actions. Willis has her beliefs, but no knowledge, no understanding, and no skills to manage the economy. The Coalition, led by National, has no plan, never had one, and muddles from kneejerk to kneejerk. She’s the worst Finance Minister ever, not because of what she achieved, but by what she destroyed and how she singlehandedly set back the prosperity of this country by years if not a generation, notwithstanding the events & factors outside her control. She’ll have done more damage, in the medium-to-long-term, than the war with Iran but refuses to see this and accept responsibility let alone take corrective action, because that’s simply not in her nature.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/04/28/nicolanomics-is-truly-reactionary-a-victim-of-circumstance-and-events/
Beliefs surely not. This present tech regime with monetarist cloak swirling glamorously showing its ermine lining, is all about feeling great, superior, chosen; weasling the best deals for the cosy family at the top and their funders. Great investments, marvellous returns, and the populace spewing their hearts out. No beliefs are necessary or wanted; these are the New Fascists at work and play.
That was a great article. ‘Nicolanomics’, intellectually bankrupt, shown daily by their inability to articulate the 'plan' other than the usual repetitive slogans. A wholesale rejection of as many of the previous government's policies as they could, then reward their backers. Nothing but politics, pure and simple.
When questioned they always fall back to blame. They have nothing else to justify their actions. I still can't help but feel Peters will put the knife into Willis at some stage over the ferry debacle, while trying to keep his acquiescence to this out of it.
This everyday Kiwi reckons 'Nicolanomics' is clever; tip-top – bought and SOLD even.
How Luxon is out of touch, part umpteen …
75% of NZ voters have a negative view of the USA now. Maybe somebody in the PM's office could tell him to stop pandering to Trump? No votes there, sir.
(and maybe Luxon won't listen, as usual)
Ipsos poll on global attitudes to Iran war finds most New Zealanders oppose conflict, fear fallout – NZ Herald
Also, this is only the first of the new reports from Ipsos, the international polling group. Others will be released soon, including their "Issues Monitor" which always makes headlines in the NZ media. Expect more bad news for the coalition, and more "I don't talk about that" from Luxon.
Luxon is exceptionally sorted – feeling uncomfortable is for bottom feeders. Move-on.
A(t)las, the CoC's "escalating arrogance" and "increasingly hubristic", "high-handed, elitist behaviour" is only natural – our "fantastically talented deputy" PM lacks the self-awareness to see that his "out of touch with the people" jibes ancapsulate ACT attitudes.
“Out of touch with the people” jibes
ancapsulateencapsulate ACT attitudes.You’d think that Nicola’s mind would be 24/7 on salvaging her Budget-2026 off the rocks of Hormuz and that she’d direct all her mental capacity & resources towards resuscitating the NZ economy that’s on life support, wouldn’t you? But Nicola defies all rationality and lies about Labour’s tax policy and makes up an alternative reality, giving new, post-modern, meaning to being alt-right. Nicola is more harmful to NZ than Shane Jones, for example, because she believes [in] what she’s doing, however misplaced and wrong it is, and Shane Jones knows what he’s doing and is simply acting like a buffoon on steroids.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2604/S00154/fitch-report-exposes-labours-secret-tax-agenda.htm
It’s yet another variation on the theme that election maestro Simeon Brown has chosen as the winning strategy because National has got nothing better to offer than spreading lies and aggressive attack lines to divert public attention away from the National-led Coalition’s mismanagement of the NZ economy.
For more background, and a reality check for Nicola, see: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/593615/national-accuses-labour-of-misleading-new-zealanders-on-revenue-gathering-measures
The Greens continue their practical suggestions including greatly subsidised train rides, just like the Labour government did.
Cost Of Living Driven By Fossil Fuels And Power Price Hikes | Scoop News
NZFirst celebrates the continued delivery of heavy rail and rail freight.
Rebuilding Vogel’s Rail System | Scoop News
… and the head of our largest freight company calls for stronger action and better delivery from Kiwirail, while National continues to favour heavy trucking.
Mainfreight CEO frustrated with KiwiRail, AT for not offering additional services | RNZ News
Surely there must be some common ground here which doesn't involve National?
Maybe the Greens should just agree to call Gold Card holders "self loading freight" , and NZFirst should pull its pants on and reject National's sop to the heavy trucking industry?
How to go in NZ in future government style? I uncover a lot of ideas and smarts in Terry Pratchett's 'fiction' about the Disc World. Here is the self-proclaimed 'tyrant' Vetinari advising his Chief of Police (The Watch) Sir Samuel Vimes, (he has been elevated in society to a position the nobs have to respect), about the difficulties of maintaining stability, achieving some sort of justice and redressing wrongs as Vimes wishes:
It seems the proponent believes they only have to engage in good faith to get fast track approval.
Given the runaka submission it is hard to make out where the good faith engagement was.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360994440/ngai-tahu-calls-controversial-central-otago-gold-mine-be-rejected