Labour govt 2020-23

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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/cyclon...TIPJFCFZTOPHAE

Govt’s red-sticker buyout scheme: Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson confused over ‘funding split’

Auckland’s deputy mayor has expressed confusion over who will foot the bill for about 700 red-stickered homes the Government yesterday announced will be voluntarily bought out - describing it as an extra burden on the council’s already dire finances.

Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson last night told the Herald Auckland Council “didn’t know” how the estimated $1 billion price tag for the buyout would be split between the Government and local councils.

“If you say it’s 400 [Auckland homes] times $1.2 million, give-or-take just like the average house price, you’re talking half a billion dollars,” Simpson said.

“This could cost us a lot. We don’t know what the split is between the taxpayer, the ratepayer and the homeowner themselves.

Ignoramous Gobbo Robbo's $1 billion buck find to buy out worst of cycloned plots seems to have landed in the thick sticky muck of much Local Govt confusion

No-one seems to know how it's supposed to work .. Robbo probably doesn't know himself either

All Smoke, Mirrors & thick clouds of BS - Robbo as countdown to your final days in the seat draw closer

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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-po...MLPY7WMDHHJZM/

New poll on crime and safety shows New Zealanders feel less safe today than five years ago

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https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/...fertiliser-tax

Rumours grow after farming Minister tackles fertiliser tax

Agricultural Minister Damien O'Connor refused to rule out a tax on fertilisers, sparking speculation of a Government U-turn on farming.

Labour has planned to charge farms for their greenhouse gas emissions from 2025, with the money recycled to reward agribusinesses introducing carbon-cutting tech and trees.

This would take the form of levies on methane and nitrous oxide.

But Damien - just look to your left and right - far more dangerous Methane & Nitrous Oxide is being
exhaled by your own mates on the Govt Front benches .. shouldn't you rein in these clueless oxygen
wasting lifeforms first ?

[nztx]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/132...efusing-to-act

Labour's Kiri Allan to the Watermelon Munchers - We dont smell or see any Oil

A Northland shipwreck has been labelled an environmental time bomb - so why is the Government refusing to act?

In April, 20 people gathered in an Auckland office, some shaking hands with new acquaintances, some nodding at old friends, some beaming in by Zoom.

Some were lured by the scent of sunken treasure, some by the prospect of an extreme technical challenge, all had ecological disaster on their minds.

They’d come together to discuss a shipwreck lying off Northland’s east coast, its hull corroding millimetre by millimetre, year by year; its hulk swept by storms and snagged by trawler nets; five gold ingots from its cargo still somewhere within it.

For 83 years, the steel encasing the RMS Niagara’s fuel tanks had been gnawed at to the point their collapse was imminent.

With that came the risk of its oil spilling and coating areas including the Poor Knights and Goat Island marine reserves; Little Barrier Island, and Hen and Chicken Islands nature reserves; and even Great Barrier and Waiheke Islands – a risk so high that the Hauraki Gulf Forum’s chief executive, Alex Rogers, decided someone had to do something.

So he organised the meeting, where concerns could coalesce, with the aim of sparking action on the looming catastrophe of the Niagara.

Because nobody else seemed to give a sh!t.

Seemingly ignoring firsthand reports of leaks, it argued the oil had virtually solidified in the cold temperatures below 100m, or had dissipated.

In 2005, while claiming incorrectly that the wreck had almost disintegrated, a Maritime NZ spokesperson put the threat to the environment as “very low-key, if at all”.

But at the same time, Maritime NZ admitted it hadn’t examined the wreck, and actually had no idea how much oil remained on board.

The Niagara had capacity for over 4300 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, and likely had close to that when it left Auckland, some of which spilt when it sank, covering local beaches.

More was discharged when salvage crews recovering the gold used explosives to access the strongroom.

In September 2018, a Maritime NZ report to associate transport minister Julie Anne Genter and conservation minister Eugenie Sage recommended a comprehensive underwater survey and environmental risk analysis be carried out

Genter and Sage twice put in Budget bids to fund this work.

Both were turned down by senior ministers.

So nothing happened, leaving nobody any wiser about the wreck’s condition, or the threat of an oil spill.

Associate transport minister Kiritapu Allan has responsibility for the Niagara shipwreck. She was previously also conservation minister.

Nyree Manuel, the Northland Conservation Board’s chairperson, says authorities are playing Russian roulette with the disintegrating Niagara.

“We’re dodging bullets, mate.”

She wants an explanation from new conservation minister and Northland MP Willow-Jean Prime why the government isn’t acting, and has already begun discussions with her.

“Which is more than the kōrero we did not get with our last minister, Kiritapu (Allan).”

Gosh .. a mere $5 million to determine & fix it - compared to the Billions Robbo has been throwing around
wastefully willy nilly like there is no tomorrow ..

“We have a 100-year-old vessel that’s been sitting on the bottom of the ocean for 80-odd years.

“It’s a tin can. It’s rusting away. And it will haemorrhage.

“It’s going to take very, very little to burst this thing open - and then we have an ecological disaster.”

[nztx]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/...-little-carbon

Labour's $327 million climate policy that will save little carbon

Nelson Hospital’s coal boilers each puff out more carbon than will be saved by the Government’s $327.4 million proposal to make public transport cheaper.

Free public transport for under-13s and half-priced fares for under-25s and Total Mobility cardholders will prevent between 625 and 3825 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, according to the Ministry of Transport. (The two boilers burn up to 4000 tonnes of coal annually, producing about 9000 tonnes of emissions in total.)

Of all the Budget spending announcements, just one could significantly benefit the environment: $300m provided to the Green Investment Finance, a bank investing in companies’ emissions-cutting efforts.

Economist Eric Crampton criticised the spending, calling it “a grab-bag of subsidies”.

Hey Meathead Robbo - don't your windows face out towards Nelson ?

Looks like your recent shallow Fudget Duckup is further fraying badly around the edges

Budget 2023 spent $1.7 billion from the proceeds of carbon penalties, paid by polluters and consumers. The funded policies would collectively prevent 4.3m tonnes of emissions entering the atmosphere.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins did not comment on the spending announcements. His office referred Stuff to Climate Minister James Shaw who passed questions to Finance Minister Grant Robertson.

And the expected School Boy Clown Face pass-the-buck shuffle ..

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https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/edu...otago-students

PM Chris Hipkins strolls down memory lane before being grilled by Otago students

Dozens of protesters angry over proposed cuts to the University of Otago awaited Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on his visit to Dunedin.

‘’We thought Labour supported universities,’’ was the chant as the former education minister was ushered to speak to hundreds of students at a forum organised by the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA).

On Friday, Hipkins acknowledged the impact of rising living costs and declining enrolments on students, but also the uncertainty facing staff at the tertiary institution, where hundreds of jobs could be cut due to a $60million deficit.

‘’Why can’t you just fix it?’’ asked one student.

Sounds like those Students didn't like the Clown Face BS, History lesson & Rolls tossed at them - Chippie

They might be more awake to reality, while the clueless Chippie continues a sleep walk to Political oblivion

[nztx]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/pol...t-off-the-list

US promises bolstered alliances to deter China, NZ left off the list

Austin did not mention New Zealand in the long list of countries he spoke about throughout the speech – an omission noticed by the New Zealand delegation in attendance.

He said there the US would increase military planning and co-operation with partners across the East and South China Seas, and the Indian Oceans.

“That includes staunch allies such as Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand. It includes as well such valued partners as India, Indonesia, Vietnam.”

“We’re working with our Pacific partners to combat illegal and unregulated and unreported fishing,” he said.

Uncle Sam seems to be giving Labour's Dippy Clown Face & 'Hide Behind Me' Little Andy the One Finger salute

[nztx]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/132...nation-honours

... Dame Jacinda Ardern recognised in King Charles Birthday and Coronation Honours


Looks like poor old Charlie has screwed up a bit .. the Dame might be better substituted with "Dim" 'Dismal" or 'Dizzy' .. a bit of AI needed - old boy ?

Obviously the Queen's notebook hasn't been passed down & HRH QE II probably saw straight through the shallow spin being generated to what was actually being achieved on local turf in contrast

On this basis, all those in regions off their own bats on Cyclone Rescues & the Homeless for having suffered as a consequence of "Nothing Happening" should all be awarded higher Medals

[nztx]

From OZ:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-...ards/102427594

Wages rise but sorry, you're probably still going backwards

Inflation means only rare workers are getting ahead, despite award wage boost

A lesson for Labour & NZ's fans of Labour here

[nztx]

From Australia:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-...ined/102409528


What is the PwC tax scandal?

In the meantime, more details will continue to come to light through Senate Estimates hearings, the inquiry into the government's use of consulting firms, and media reporting.

Many PwC clients are evaluating their relationship with the consulting firm — especially the federal government and its slew of departments.

But given the scale of the operation and how many questions remain unanswered, the investigation into the PwC scandal has only just begun.

NZ Govt & Local Government must feature on Consulting Client lists here too ?

With the shallow depth of Govt Front bench talent akin to that of a Bird bath on a hot day, without Large Consulting firms contracted in - Labour would have long ago gone sailing down the stream upside down bumping their heads on the bottom

Perhaps Labour need to come clean on the extent of Consulting Contracts to these large firms and the level of Total Cost relating to each and every large consulting contract ?