New Zealand got caught in a pro-cyclical trap
New Zealand has fallen deep into a per-capita recession and policymakers are likely to make it even worse with contractionary fiscal and monetary settings. “Policymakers have locked themselves into procyclical monetary and fiscal policy which, while deepening the slump, should support bonds,” it said. “The asymmetry of fiscal policy (it is easier to spend than it is to cut) reinforces why fiscal policy should be used judiciously in macro stabilisation,” she said. “Though the New Zealand fiscal balance sheet is exceptionally healthy, the country itself remains highly dependent on international financing,” he said. In lieu of a policy strategy, it would eventually be a weaker New Zealand dollar that would do the work of narrowing the deficit.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 04, 2024 00:34 UTC
And now ACT are here to steal free school lunches
This drive for wealthy landlord tax cuts means the Disabled will get $2300 less each year. This drive for wealthy landlord tax cuts means 13 000 children will be pushed into poverty. On top of all this, ACT now want to take free school lunches away…School lunches: Health campaigners blast ‘extremely concerning’ David Seymour appointmentAct leader David Seymour has described free school lunches as ‘wasteful’ public spending and argued that the new Government should cut them. TDB Recommends NewzEngine.comA coalition of health charities has slammed the Government’s decision to give ministerial responsibility for free school lunches to David Seymour after the Act leader campaigned for the programme to be abolished. So ACT will slash free school lunches AND fine parents for truant children – it’s like stick, stick, stick, no carrot.
Source:Stuff
March 04, 2024 00:25 UTC
TV’s moment of truth
“The Moment of Truth” was a livestreamed event held at a packed Auckland Town Hall just before the general election of 2014. The impact of the “Moment of Truth” was however a turning point in New Zealand media and in particular television. “The Moment of Truth” proved to be a watershed because of the timing. It came at that point where high-speed internet had just rolled out to the cities and into provincial areas and when the terrestrial and satellite TV channels were being reduced. If the live elements are stripped away – no live sport, no live events, no live news – what are these channels except archive material?
Source:Stuff
March 03, 2024 21:42 UTC
MEDIAWATCH: Look – I’ve been blacklisted by Newshub and even I see its importance
I’ve been banned form RNZ, blackballed by NZME and if we can ever harness the energy that The Democracy Project exerts each week to fastidiously ignore The Daily Blog, we’d solve climate change, look – I’ve been blacklisted by Newshub and even I see its importance! It’s like the Cook Straits Ferry, or the fucking Harbour Bridge, you can’t just leave Newshub to implode! Ultimately Newshubs demise is a story of ruthless Trans National interests and geopolitical cultural hegemony. Remember – the Trans National ain’t your friend regardless of its pronouns! If you can’t contribute but want to help, please always feel free to share our blogs on social media.
Source:Stuff
March 03, 2024 21:38 UTC
$30m cost to fix 'uncomfortable' Premier House
The New Zealand Herald has seen part of the report from the Premier House Board which advises the Prime Minister on the condition of the Wellington house. The Premier House Board report had noted other ministers could rent far superior accommodation on the private market. It says running Premier House would cost the same whether the Prime Minister was living in it or not, so there were no savings. The report also points to the history of Premier House as a political football, saying that the politicisation of Premier House had contributed to its current bad condition. It noted that elements of the last refurbishment of Premier House in the 1990s had been to the detriment of the layout and heritage of the house.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 03, 2024 12:46 UTC
Australian found dead at Canterbury lake named
Lake Benmore. Photo: ODT filesPolice have named a man found dead at Lake Benmore in Canterbury last month. Mr Otworowski went missing while fishing on February 18. The following day, LandSAR teams consisting of members from Omarama and Oamaru were deployed and began scouring the lake and Ahuriri River. Police expressed their condolences to the family and thanked Search and Rescue and Coastguard volunteers, ‘‘whose dedication and professionalism resulted in finding Mr Otworoski, enabling him to be returned to his family’’.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 03, 2024 11:14 UTC
Tom Dunne Disappears from Agent’s Site After Criticizing Tubridy
Broadcaster Tom Dunne vanished from his agent Noel Kelly’s website after he called Ryan Tubridy’s social media posts ‘desperate’. Key takeawaysBroadcaster Tom Dunne’s profile was removed from Noel Kelly’s agency website. Tom Dunne later reassured that everything is fine between him and his agent. Tom Dunne’s headshot reappeared on Noel Kelly’s agency website, and Dunne confirmed that all is well with his agent, following a peculiar incident involving a WhatsApp message and public commentary. The Initial DisappearanceInitially, the removal of Tom Dunne’s headshot from the talent agency’s site led to a wave of concern.
Source:Stuff
March 03, 2024 08:47 UTC
An Ode to .. Newshub
The New Dark AgeThe icy winds blowThrough the dim and lost Valley of Legacy Media. The moonlit ruins of a once mighty cityLie scattered for miles around. There stand the silent stony statuesOf the ancient Lords of the Fourth Estate:King Mike and Queen Samantha,Earl Ryan of the Hot Take,Lady Melissa Chan–Green,And the Mighty Wizard Gower the Grey. The fortresses of the Public Good,The guardians of the Democratic Spirit;The unbreachable walls of Free SpeechNow all just a misty half-forgotten legend. Victor Billot has previously felt moved to write Odes to such legends as King Luxon, Lord Winston, and Toad of Seymour.
Source:Stuff
March 03, 2024 07:55 UTC
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Elijah McClain death: Paramedic gets 5 years in prison in rare case against medical responders
Sheneen McClain, left, the mother of Elijah McClain, and a supporter leave the Adams County Justice Centre in Brighton. Paramedic Peter Cichuniec, convicted for his role in Elijah McClain's death. The second convicted paramedic, Jeremy Cooper, Cooper, is scheduled to be sentenced in April. Demonstrators carry a giant placard during a rally and march over the death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain. Sheneen McClain, Elijah McClain's mother.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 03, 2024 02:28 UTC
Chandler Cunningham-South: I’ve lost my Kiwi accent – and now I know who Richard Hill is too
“All of them were very good men and helped me a lot,” says Cunningham-South. “When I first came over here I had a full Kiwi accent and I’ve lost it while being over here. Not that anything could really prepare Cunningham-South for running out at Twickenham for the first time. A first Test start does not feel too far away either given how well Cunningham-South has done so far off the bench. Lots of good things have happened and bad things but they have all happened for the right reasons, I guess.
Source:Stuff
March 02, 2024 22:26 UTC
Broadway comes to town
Broadway on Thames first-time show director and production manager Hannah Cruickshank (left) and co-production manager Trish Hurley are excited to bring their show to the Oamaru Opera House. PHOTO: JULES CHINSome of the world’s favourite show tunes will ring out in Oamaru’s Opera House this weekend. Musical Theatre Oamaru’s (MTO) newest show, Broadway on Thames, will feature a collection of Broadway songs performed by local talents. "They’ve put a lot of hard work into it, so to see the audience engage with that, will be great," Mrs Cruickshank said. Mrs Hurley has been with MTO since its award-winning show, Mamma Mia!, in 2018 and Mrs Cruickshank joined in 2020.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 02, 2024 21:02 UTC
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MetService National Weather: March 2nd
How does the OCR affect you? Inflation is still higher than New Zealand's central bank would like, which means the official cash rate is staying at 5.5 per cent. NZ Herald asks the public how the OCR is affecting them. Video / Alyse Wright
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 02, 2024 10:31 UTC
Blink-182 have pissed off the wrong New Zealand city
The recent cancellation of the Christchurch Blink-182 concert and an inflammatory comment from the lead singer have left locals asking: what’s my consumer rights again? Pop punk bad boys Blink-182 have enraged Christchurch fans to the point of potential legal action after cancelling their sold out concert two weeks prior to the gig, and then exclaiming “Fuck Christchurch” while onstage in Australia this week. “Fuck Christchurch? Blink-182 fan and Christchurch resident Kate was slightly less restrained than the mayor. “Things happen, cancellations happen, but the way you speak to your fans about it really matters,” she added.
Source:Stuff
March 02, 2024 10:12 UTC
Know Your Stuff Finds a Bad Batch of MDMA
A bad batch of gear was making the rounds during O-Week, leaving students both impoverished and with severe stomach pains after consumption. Gauging the extent of the damage, Critic Te Ārohi spoke to Max Phillips, the KYS co-regional manager. Whilst bath salts lowkey get the job done (don’t tell your mates), Know Your Stuff warns that users taking synthetic cathinones can suffer adverse side effects such as hypothermia, abnormal heartbeat, insomnia, and even paranoia in extreme cases. The scientists at Critic Te Ārohi estimate that a gram of gear sets you back around $200, a price few students would be willing to flush down the drain. No more samples of the bath salts have been found since the Thursday of O-Week
Source:Stuff
March 02, 2024 09:53 UTC
New listings flooded the housing market in February
The housing market was flooded with new listings in February, giving buyers plenty of choice. Property website Realestate.co.nz received 11,788 new residential listings in February, up 45% on February last year and the highest number of new listings the website has received in the month of February since 2017. That pushed the total number of residential properties available for sale on the website to 31,424 at the end of February, up 8.1% on February last year. That means the amount of stock on the market at the end of February was the highest it has been in any month of the year since June 2015. It was also the only time since November 2015 that the total number of residential properties for sale has been above 30,000.
Source:Stuff
March 02, 2024 09:46 UTC