Icebird
@icebirdmail.bsky.social
Reposted by Icebird
National's Local Water Done Well will come to be recognised as a generational cock-up. Simon Watts's vague claim that rates will not increase is farcically untrue. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
Revealed: Councils expected to foot a near $48 billion bill for Local Water Done Well
Officials estimate water service infrastructure will cost $47.9 billion to 2034.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 30, 2025 at 5:17 PM
National's Local Water Done Well will come to be recognised as a generational cock-up. Simon Watts's vague claim that rates will not increase is farcically untrue. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
Reposted by Icebird
Paywall lifted: At every turn, the Govt has opted for whatever would actually lead to more pollution and a warmer world – even if it costs more, jeopardises NZ’s reputation, overturns a campaign promise or clashes with the Govt’s other priorities.
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
Govt's climate strategy: Let it burn
Comment: The Government has relentlessly pursued policies that boost climate pollution – even if they cost more or jeopardise NZ's reputation, Marc Daalder writes
newsroom.co.nz
November 7, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Paywall lifted: At every turn, the Govt has opted for whatever would actually lead to more pollution and a warmer world – even if it costs more, jeopardises NZ’s reputation, overturns a campaign promise or clashes with the Govt’s other priorities.
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
The long retreat:
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...
This might be a question for @graemeedgeler.bsky.social - but if someone makes a phone call to a minister, how do you determine if that information "is held by a Minister of the Crown in his official capacity" or the minister was wearing a different hat at the time?
Rimmer plays the hat game to avoid admitting that - as always - he has no evidence, and those "phone calls from outraged parents" never happened.
[Response] David Seymour replied about A record of phone calls received from parents regarding Marae visits and Māori words in math classes
November 5, 2025 at 12:42 AM
This might be a question for @graemeedgeler.bsky.social - but if someone makes a phone call to a minister, how do you determine if that information "is held by a Minister of the Crown in his official capacity" or the minister was wearing a different hat at the time?
"Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said the changes were about removing complexity, not lowering ambition."
November 4, 2025 at 11:52 PM
"Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said the changes were about removing complexity, not lowering ambition."
Reposted by Icebird
Opinion: The proposed Hope Bypass is projected to cost between $1.1 billion and $1.4 billion for just 4km of road, representing an unaffordable step backwards in terms of fiscal and environmental responsibility.
The Roads that Bankrupt New Zealand - and Our Region
Opinion: The proposed Hope Bypass is projected to cost between $1.1 billion and $1.4 billion for just 4km of road, representing an unaffordable step backwards in terms of fiscal and environmental responsibility.
dlvr.it
November 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Opinion: The proposed Hope Bypass is projected to cost between $1.1 billion and $1.4 billion for just 4km of road, representing an unaffordable step backwards in terms of fiscal and environmental responsibility.
This policy is very on-brand for Labour: timid, easy to attack, hard to explain, won't raise much money.
Labour just went for CGT-lite. It won't raise much money & won’t change the incentives in our housing-market-with-bits-tacked-on economy. It’s focus-group-hugging performative politics. It tells low wage renters flying to Australia: not much will ever change. It says; ‘Fly my pretties. Fly’. #nzpol
Tuesday's Chorus: Where's the solar & batteries? And a proper CGT?
30% of dairy farmers in Southland & Otago still without power five days after wild winds flattened power poles; Locals surprised & farmers scramble for diesel generators; Labour goes for CGT-lite
thekaka.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
This policy is very on-brand for Labour: timid, easy to attack, hard to explain, won't raise much money.
Reposted by Icebird
I have a very bad feeling about this...
October 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I have a very bad feeling about this...
Reposted by Icebird
With a nifty Christchurch EQNZ connection www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLzs...
The engineer causing a storm with his playgrounds | 7.30
YouTube video by ABC News In-depth
www.youtube.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:41 PM
With a nifty Christchurch EQNZ connection www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLzs...
Residents of Christchurch feel the same way about Parakiore.
Please god, when is the CRL going to open?
Please god, when is the CRL going to open?
One man’s desperate and slightly unhinged search for an answer to the question on every Aucklander's mind....
thespinoff.co.nz
October 19, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Residents of Christchurch feel the same way about Parakiore.
Reposted by Icebird
My analysis: The Government’s methane announcement is the policy equivalent of a steaming cowpat on cross-partisan climate consensus and international efforts to tackle the crisis.
The headline effect of a new, weaker climate target is a warmer, more dangerous world.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/13/f...
The headline effect of a new, weaker climate target is a warmer, more dangerous world.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/13/f...
Farmers off the hook on climate means rest of us pick up the slack
Comment: The Government's methane announcement is the policy equivalent of a steaming cowpat on cross-partisan climate consensus.
newsroom.co.nz
October 12, 2025 at 10:44 PM
My analysis: The Government’s methane announcement is the policy equivalent of a steaming cowpat on cross-partisan climate consensus and international efforts to tackle the crisis.
The headline effect of a new, weaker climate target is a warmer, more dangerous world.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/13/f...
The headline effect of a new, weaker climate target is a warmer, more dangerous world.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/13/f...
Reposted by Icebird
Today's ridiculous announcement from the National Party penalizing young people and their families had me thinking of this meme again
October 5, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Today's ridiculous announcement from the National Party penalizing young people and their families had me thinking of this meme again
It might not be enough to overcome the advantages of incumbency, but Sara Templeton gave a far better performance than Phil Mauger in the Press debate.
September 4, 2025 at 7:13 AM
It might not be enough to overcome the advantages of incumbency, but Sara Templeton gave a far better performance than Phil Mauger in the Press debate.
Reposted by Icebird
Ironically the Regulatory Takings clause in the proposed Planning Act would enable developers to sue the arse off Seymour for denying them the enjoyment of property rights
Here’s my Pick n’ Mixes hot off the virtual presses: David Seymour to campaign to block Chris Bishop's up-zoning of inner-city Auckland, including Epsom; "This plan is not necessary, and will have negative unintended consequences," he says #nzpol. thekaka.substack.com/p/libertaria...
Libertarian leader turns chief NIMBY
David Seymour to campaign to block Chris Bishop's up-zoning of inner-city Auckland, including Epsom; "This plan is not necessary, and will have negative unintended consequences," he says
thekaka.substack.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Ironically the Regulatory Takings clause in the proposed Planning Act would enable developers to sue the arse off Seymour for denying them the enjoyment of property rights
Reposted by Icebird
The most National party thing ever is happening, and captured perfectly in this headline.
Govt spends $10m to fix national war memorial bells, fires only person who can play
Govt spends $10m to fix national war memorial bells, fires only person who can play
The government spent over $10 million to do up the national war memorial bell tower, but is now getting rid of the only person who plays it.
www.rnz.co.nz
August 28, 2025 at 7:08 PM
The most National party thing ever is happening, and captured perfectly in this headline.
Reposted by Icebird
What are you on about? We don’t have an oversupply of housing
What are you on about? We don’t have an oversupply of housing
We don't have too many houses, and even if we did, having ‘too many houses’ is like having ‘too many bowls of Kiwi onion dip’. It's not a real problem....
thespinoff.co.nz
August 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
What are you on about? We don’t have an oversupply of housing
Reposted by Icebird
New Zealand must move beyond empty statements on Gaza
New Zealand must move beyond empty statements on Gaza
Nothing will change without overwhelming international pressure – and meaningful disruption....
thespinoff.co.nz
July 28, 2025 at 6:50 PM
New Zealand must move beyond empty statements on Gaza
Reposted by Icebird
Removing the median barriers from SH16, while it’s still being built, is completely bonkers.
www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/06/30/n...
www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/06/30/n...
NZTA's self-contradictory changes to SH16 Brigham Creek to Waimauku - Greater Auckland
A couple of months ago, NZTA reversed its plans to install a median wire barrier on SH16 for stage 1 of the section 20.” And yet as we’ve seen, the former Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, seemingl...
www.greaterauckland.org.nz
June 29, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Removing the median barriers from SH16, while it’s still being built, is completely bonkers.
www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/06/30/n...
www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2025/06/30/n...
Reposted by Icebird
I told you we’d be back
June 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I told you we’d be back
Reposted by Icebird
A Brief History of Young People Today Don't Want to Work
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May 27, 2025 at 10:01 PM
A Brief History of Young People Today Don't Want to Work
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Reposted by Icebird
OK - there we have it ... shifting debate 'till 5 June isn't anything to do with allowing a more sober consideration of the Committee report. It's simply putting it off to a point which doesn't mess with what the Government wants to do this week. Deeply cynical shit.
May 20, 2025 at 3:37 AM
OK - there we have it ... shifting debate 'till 5 June isn't anything to do with allowing a more sober consideration of the Committee report. It's simply putting it off to a point which doesn't mess with what the Government wants to do this week. Deeply cynical shit.
Reposted by Icebird
May 16, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Reposted by Icebird
Melissa Ansell-Bridges has published a useful piece examining the pay equity changes in detail and explaining how they are not small policy changes but rather a structural demolition of pay equity law that will lock in pay discrimination for years to come. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3606...
What the Equal Pay Act changes really mean for women
OPINION: This is not a policy adjustment—it is a structural demolition of pay equity law, and it will lock in pay discrimination for years to come.
www.thepost.co.nz
May 15, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Melissa Ansell-Bridges has published a useful piece examining the pay equity changes in detail and explaining how they are not small policy changes but rather a structural demolition of pay equity law that will lock in pay discrimination for years to come. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3606...
Could someone in the committee debate ask Brooke Van Velden how many of the existing pay equity claims meet the proposed 70% / 10 year threshold and why they shouldn't be allowed to continue if they do? @duncanwebbmp.bsky.social @julieannegenter.bsky.social questions.parliament.nz/download/wri...
questions.parliament.nz
May 6, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Could someone in the committee debate ask Brooke Van Velden how many of the existing pay equity claims meet the proposed 70% / 10 year threshold and why they shouldn't be allowed to continue if they do? @duncanwebbmp.bsky.social @julieannegenter.bsky.social questions.parliament.nz/download/wri...