Shows
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Weekly Hoon: Mr Bone Saw, Ford Rangers & ATACMSThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night featured co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Cathrine Dyer and Robert Patman and a special guest about the economy, politics, geopolitics and climate change.This week’s special guest was Drive Electric Chair Kirsten Corson.This week:* Bernard and Peter talked about Peter’s work on a CEO profile special series of articles for BusinessDesk-$, including that Brian Roche’s favourite book was by Jo Nesbo.* Bernard, Peter and Cathrine talked about the Government...
2025-11-2054 minThe HoonThe Weekly Hoon: Mr Bone Saw, Ford Rangers & ATACMSThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night featured co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Cathrine Dyer and Robert Patman and a special guest about the economy, politics, geopolitics and climate change.This week’s special guest was Drive Electric Chair Kirsten Corson.This week:* Bernard and Peter talked about Peter’s work on a CEO profile special series of articles for BusinessDesk-$, including that Brian Roche’s favourite book was by Jo Nesbo.* Bernard, Peter and Cathrine talked about the Government...
2025-11-2054 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Weekly Hoon: A climate cop out; the BBC's crisis; Kids Kiwisaver & how to Jujitsu Nicola Willis on Govt debtThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night featured co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guest Cathrine Dyer, and a special guest about the economy, politics, geopolitics and climate change.This week’s special guest was The IDEA Charitable Trust’s Max Rashbrooke Our topics this week were:* Bernard and Peter talked about the BBC’s crisis.* Bernard, Peter & Cathrine talked about the COP30 conference and Cathrine’s article on it for The Conversation. * Bernard, Peter and Max talked about IDEA’s propo...
2025-11-1356 minThe HoonThe Weekly Hoon: A climate cop out; the BBC's crisis; Kids Kiwisaver & how to Jujitsu Nicola Willis on Govt debtThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night featured co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guest Cathrine Dyer, and a special guest about the economy, politics, geopolitics and climate change.This week’s special guest was The IDEA Charitable Trust’s Max Rashbrooke Our topics this week were:* Bernard and Peter talked about the BBC’s crisis.* Bernard, Peter & Cathrine talked about the COP30 conference and Cathrine’s article on it for The Conversation. * Bernard, Peter and Max talked about IDEA’s propo...
2025-11-1356 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Weekly Hoon: RBNZ independence, Amazon’s data centres & Clark & Key in BeijingThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Cathrine Dyer and Robert Patman about the global economy, local and international politics and climate change. This week’s special guests were tech activist Julian Oliver and The NZ Herald’s Wellington Business Editor Jenee Tibshraeny.This week’s Hoon featured:* An initial discussion between Peter and Bernard about burrowing through to the other side of the world, as depicted in Vincent Ward’s 1988 movie The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey.* Peter...
2025-09-0457 minThe HoonThe Weekly Hoon: RBNZ independence, Amazon’s data centres & Clark & Key in BeijingThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Cathrine Dyer and Robert Patman about the global economy, local and international politics and climate change. This week’s special guests were tech activist Julian Oliver and The NZ Herald’s Wellington Business Editor Jenee Tibshraeny.This week’s Hoon featured:* An initial discussion between Peter and Bernard about burrowing through to the other side of the world, as depicted in Vincent Ward’s 1988 movie The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey.* Peter...
2025-09-0457 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Helen Clark 'Hoon' around around the news of the week to July 18The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Cathrine Dyer and Robert Patman and special guest Helen Clark about the news of the week.This week’s Hoon featured:* a discussion about research showing East Asia’s cleanup of its atmosphere has accelerated climate warming.* a discussion about how New Zealand might respond to an American suggestion we commit to helping to defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack.* Bernard mentioned this deep-dive article about urban pl...
2025-07-1849 minThe HoonBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Helen Clark 'Hoon' around around the news of the week to July 18The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Cathrine Dyer and Robert Patman and special guest Helen Clark about the news of the week.This week’s Hoon featured:* a discussion about research showing East Asia’s cleanup of its atmosphere has accelerated climate warming.* a discussion about how New Zealand might respond to an American suggestion we commit to helping to defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack.* Bernard mentioned this deep-dive article about urban pl...
2025-07-1849 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Jonathan Boston & Wolfgang Rack ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to July 11The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guest Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate, along with special guests Professor Jonathan Boston from Victoria University of Wellington and Professor Wolfgang Rack from University of Canterbury.This week’s Hoon featured:* a discussion about research showing rising Southern Oceans surface salinity and declining sea ice with climate scientist and Antarctic ice specialist Wolfgang Rack. Cathrine mentioned this Katharine Hayhoe post on LinkedIn about conspiracy theories that clo...
2025-07-1048 minThe HoonBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Jonathan Boston & Wolfgang Rack ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to July 11The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guest Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate, along with special guests Professor Jonathan Boston from Victoria University of Wellington and Professor Wolfgang Rack from University of Canterbury.This week’s Hoon featured:* a discussion about research showing rising Southern Oceans surface salinity and declining sea ice with climate scientist and Antarctic ice specialist Wolfgang Rack. Cathrine mentioned this Katharine Hayhoe post on LinkedIn about conspiracy theories that clo...
2025-07-1048 min
The HoonBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Ed Miller ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to July 4The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. This week’s Hoon featured:* a discussion over research showing the sensitivity to climate change of extreme weather events in Aotearoa-NZ.* a chat about an application to take Winston Peters, David Seymour, Christopher Luxon, Peter Beck and Judith Collins to the International Criminal Court.* CICTAR’s Edward Miller talking about his report on UBER’s...
2025-07-0358 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Ed Miller ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to July 4The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. This week’s Hoon featured:* a discussion over research showing the sensitivity to climate change of extreme weather events in Aotearoa-NZ.* a chat about an application to take Winston Peters, David Seymour, Christopher Luxon, Peter Beck and Judith Collins to the International Criminal Court.* CICTAR’s Edward Miller talking about his report on UBER’s...
2025-07-0358 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyPeter Bale, without Bernard Hickey this week, joins Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman, Jonathan Lyons and Treasa Dunworth on a 'Hoon' on the news of the week to June 26 -- an extended international sectionThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-host Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate.This week’s Hoon featured special guests:author, historian and a former colleague from Reuters, former Tehran bureau chief Jonathan Lyons;professor of international law Treasa DunworthThe Hoon’s podcast version above was recorded on Thursday night during a live webinar for over 200 paying subscribers and was produced and edited by Simon Josey.The Hoon...
2025-06-261h 02The HoonPeter Bale, without Bernard Hickey this week, joins Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman, Jonathan Lyons and Treasa Dunworth on a 'Hoon' on the news of the week to June 26 -- an extended international sectionThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-host Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate.This week’s Hoon featured special guests:author, historian and a former colleague from Reuters, former Tehran bureau chief Jonathan Lyons;professor of international law Treasa DunworthThe Hoon’s podcast version above was recorded on Thursday night during a live webinar for over 200 paying subscribers and was produced and edited by Simon Josey.The Hoon...
2025-06-261h 02
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman, Antony Loewenstein, Jonathan Lyons & Andrea Black ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to June 20The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. This week’s Hoon featured special guests:* author, historian and a former colleague from Reuters, former Tehran bureau chief Jonathan Lyons;* Noted author and critic of Israeli policy, Antony Loewenstein talking about this week’s events in Iran and Israel; and, * New Zealand economist Andrea Black on her Post Op-Ed on Budget 2025’s investment...
2025-06-191h 06The HoonBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman, Antony Loewenstein, Jonathan Lyons & Andrea Black ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to June 20The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. This week’s Hoon featured special guests:* author, historian and a former colleague from Reuters, former Tehran bureau chief Jonathan Lyons;* Noted author and critic of Israeli policy, Antony Loewenstein talking about this week’s events in Iran and Israel; and, * New Zealand economist Andrea Black on her Post Op-Ed on Budget 2025’s investment...
2025-06-191h 06
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Andrew Gunn ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to June 13The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. This week’s Hoon featured special guest New Zealand freelance journalist Andrew Gunn speaking from Kyiv.The Hoon’s podcast version above was recorded on Thursday night during a live webinar for over 200 paying subscribers and was produced and edited by Simon Josey.The Hoon won the silver award for best current affairs podcast in this ye...
2025-06-121h 02The HoonBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Andrew Gunn ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to June 13The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. This week’s Hoon featured special guest New Zealand freelance journalist Andrew Gunn speaking from Kyiv.The Hoon’s podcast version above was recorded on Thursday night during a live webinar for over 200 paying subscribers and was produced and edited by Simon Josey.The Hoon won the silver award for best current affairs podcast in this ye...
2025-06-121h 02
The HoonPeter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman, Jamie Shea & Treasa Dunworth ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to June 6The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-host Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. Bernard couldn’t get on because of technical issues.This week’s Hoon featured special guests Jamie Shea from Chatham House and Auckland Uni’s Treasa Dunworth.Peter mentioned this New Yorker article about Curtis Yarvin. The Hoon’s podcast version above was recorded on Thursday night during a live webinar for over 200 paying subscribers and was produced and e...
2025-06-051h 01The Kākā by Bernard HickeyPeter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman, Jamie Shea & Treasa Dunworth ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to June 6The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-host Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. Bernard couldn’t get on because of technical issues.This week’s Hoon featured special guests Jamie Shea from Chatham House and Auckland Uni’s Treasa Dunworth.Peter mentioned this New Yorker article about Curtis Yarvin. The Hoon’s podcast version above was recorded on Thursday night during a live webinar for over 200 paying subscribers and was produced and e...
2025-06-051h 01
The HoonBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Janet Anderson ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to May 30The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey & Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. This week’s Hoon featured special guest Janet H Anderson from the podcast Asymmetrical Haircuts, which covers international justice. Peter mentioned these two articles: * Tom Friedman: Will Israel’s War Ever End?" NYT * M Gessen: Beware: We Are Entering a New Phase of the Trump Era" NYT The Hoon’s podcast version abov...
2025-05-3059 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Janet Anderson ‘Hoon’ around the news of the week to May 30The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey & Peter Bale talking with regular guests Robert Patman and Cathrine Dyer about the week’s news in geopolitics and climate. This week’s Hoon featured special guest Janet H Anderson from the podcast Asymmetrical Haircuts, which covers international justice. Peter mentioned these two articles: * Tom Friedman: Will Israel’s War Ever End?" NYT * M Gessen: Beware: We Are Entering a New Phase of the Trump Era" NYT The Hoon’s podcast version abov...
2025-05-3059 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Margaret Cooney hoon around the week's newsThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey & Peter Bale talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including:* Cathrine Dyer on news about climate change.* Robert Patman about the latest news from Trump and others on Gaza, Kashmir, Ukraine and much more. This declaration in Dunedin was discussed.* Plus: Bernard & Peter talked with Octopus Energy NZ COO Margaret Cooney in the final quarter of the show to talk about the electricity market.The Hoon’s podcast version above wa...
2025-05-161h 01The HoonBernard Hickey, Peter Bale, Cathrine Dyer, Robert Patman & Margaret Cooney hoon around the week's newsThe podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts Bernard Hickey & Peter Bale talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including:* Cathrine Dyer on news about climate change.* Robert Patman about the latest news from Trump and others on Gaza, Kashmir, Ukraine and much more. This declaration in Dunedin was discussed.* Plus: Bernard & Peter talked with Octopus Energy NZ COO Margaret Cooney in the final quarter of the show to talk about the electricity market.The Hoon’s podcast version above wa...
2025-05-161h 01
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyAdding up the climate costLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* Are our institutions capable of bending, not breaking, in the face of accelerating climate risk? Climate risk is systemically underestimated in the climate scenarios that are used by central banks, including the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, to test the stability of the financial system. The latest update to scenarios from the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) forecast much higher econom...
2024-11-1419 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyToxic positivity and toxicity in the kitchenLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A study looking at psychological distress associated with climate change has stimulated discussion about the insistent demands for ‘hope’ and ‘positivity’ in climate communications. The study found that those suffering from higher levels of psychological distress were also more likely to be engaged in collective action to address climate change.* A new report on the health impacts of indoor pollution from gas stove...
2024-10-3115 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyAfter years of cover ups and hacks, the truth on gas is outLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* Gas is worse for the climate than coal, over any timeframe that is relevant for a ‘bridging strategy’. The headlines are calling this a landmark study that changes everything, but the core findings were established by the same researcher 13 years ago. Why the delay? Or perhaps the bigger question is ‘how’, given that we probably already know why ($!).* Have we hit a tipping...
2024-10-2416 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyExtreme weather events coming for us allLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* “Why does everywhere seem to be flooding right now, Vox asks, as a new study predicts that 70% of humanity will be hit by extreme weather events within the next 20 years.* Distilled examines insurance retreat as Hurricane Helene wipes out entire communities in states where fewer than 5% of home owners have flood insurance. A 2020 study predicts full insurance retreat from flood-prone coastal...
2024-10-0313 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyCould a doubling of Co2 trigger 8° of warming?Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A seventh planetary boundary, for ocean acidification will soon be breached, and may have already done so, according to a new report from The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).* A new study published in Science from 485 million years of data suggests a doubling of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere could increase global mean surface temperatures (GMST) by 8˚C in th...
2024-09-2715 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyDeadly floods and streams of non-solutionsLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* Central Europe is reeling from the devastating effects of Storm Boris, which has so far caused 21 deaths and left a wide swathe of destruction. Climate scientists say they aren’t surprised by the intensity of the storm, but troubled by the unpreparedness for such flooding events, despite all their warnings.* There has been a somewhat tepid media response to Simon Watts’ t...
2024-09-1916 min
The Kākā by Bernard Hickey48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million yearsLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A Trump victory in the November US elections would doom global progress on climate change and reverberate through the geological record for a million years, according to Bill McKibben.* Up to 68% of Australia’s tourism assets sit in a major climate risk category, according to insurance industry experts, putting as many as 30% of the industry’s 620,000 jobs and all 31 of the countr...
2024-09-1319 min
The HoonDead even tie for hottest August everLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according to the EU’s Copernicus climate dataset. This is despite the absence of El Niño’s heat amplifying effects that were present last year.* The Government’s National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) plans on executing a U-turn, taking us back in time to a car...
2024-09-0623 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyDead even tie for hottest August everLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according to the EU’s Copernicus climate dataset. This is despite the absence of El Niño’s heat amplifying effects that were present last year.* The Government’s National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) plans on executing a U-turn, taking us back in time to a car...
2024-09-0623 min
The HoonDitch the climate double speak and get realLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* The Government announced changes to the Fast-Track Approvals Bill on Sunday, backing off from the contentious proposal to give final say on development projects to just three government Ministers. Instead they now propose to allow the expert panel (selected by a government-appointed convenor) to make the final determinations. That change may appear substantive, but critics argue that it is a classic 'bait and sw...
2024-08-3021 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyDitch the climate double speak and get realLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* The Government announced changes to the Fast-Track Approvals Bill on Sunday, backing off from the contentious proposal to give final say on development projects to just three government Ministers. Instead they now propose to allow the expert panel (selected by a government-appointed convenor) to make the final determinations. That change may appear substantive, but critics argue that it is a classic 'bait and sw...
2024-08-3021 min
The HoonWeirdly hot oceans that are losing their breath, and solar panels in the wrong placeLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* Scientists are not entirely sure why sea surface temperatures have been accelerating so quickly over the past year, at the same time as air surface temperatures.* A study on the effects of storms in the Southern Ocean has found they are triggering an outgassing of carbon dioxide, which may affect their ability to absorb carbon in the future. Nearly half of all...
2024-08-2323 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyWeirdly hot oceans that are losing their breath, and solar panels in the wrong placeLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* Scientists are not entirely sure why sea surface temperatures have been accelerating so quickly over the past year, at the same time as air surface temperatures.* A study on the effects of storms in the Southern Ocean has found they are triggering an outgassing of carbon dioxide, which may affect their ability to absorb carbon in the future. Nearly half of all...
2024-08-2323 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyWeekly Climate Wrap: Will the planet run AMOC?TL;DR: Here’s the top news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* Two new academic studies attempt to pinpoint tipping risks. One modelled tipping risk from four interconnected tipping elements, based on current policy paths that overshoot 1.5˚C, and estimated the tipping risk to be 45% by 2300, even if temperatures are brought back below the target this century. Climate action this decade can have a significant impact on the level of risk, they say. * Another study...
2024-08-1624 minThe HoonWeekly Climate Wrap: Will the planet run AMOC?TL;DR: Here’s the top news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* Two new academic studies attempt to pinpoint tipping risks. One modelled tipping risk from four interconnected tipping elements, based on current policy paths that overshoot 1.5˚C, and estimated the tipping risk to be 45% by 2300, even if temperatures are brought back below the target this century. Climate action this decade can have a significant impact on the level of risk, they say. * Another study...
2024-08-1624 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyWeekly Climate Wrap: Olympians broil as European temps continue to soarTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* The WHO reports a 30% increase in heat-related deaths worldwide over the past two decades with numbers set to swell (as we all swelter).* Wait and see, says Zeke Hausfather: Climate scientists are holding out for as long as possible in the hope that global surface temperatures will self-correct to a level closer to their model paths in August.* A story...
2024-08-0923 minThe HoonWeekly Climate Wrap: Olympians broil as European temps continue to soarTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* The WHO reports a 30% increase in heat-related deaths worldwide over the past two decades with numbers set to swell (as we all swelter).* Wait and see, says Zeke Hausfather: Climate scientists are holding out for as long as possible in the hope that global surface temperatures will self-correct to a level closer to their model paths in August.* A story...
2024-08-0923 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyWeekly Climate Wrap: The methane messTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A new study published this week in the journal Frontiers in Science shows methane emissions are growing much faster than projected and that rapid reductions are necessary if the world is to stay on track to limit warming to 1.5˚C or 2˚C.* The research emerges at a critical time for Aotearoa as two reviews of methane targets are currently underway, one by the C...
2024-08-0126 minThe HoonWeekly Climate Wrap: The methane messTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A new study published this week in the journal Frontiers in Science shows methane emissions are growing much faster than projected and that rapid reductions are necessary if the world is to stay on track to limit warming to 1.5˚C or 2˚C.* The research emerges at a critical time for Aotearoa as two reviews of methane targets are currently underway, one by the C...
2024-08-0126 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyWeekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsetsTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A draft report from a UN taskforce on the use of carbon offsets was leaked this week, revealing the UN plans to reject companies’ use of carbon credits from the voluntary market, following a seemingly endless run of reports detailing serious integrity issues. Outrage from fossil fuel company representatives, quoted by the Financial Times, is already brewing in anticipation of the announcement.* Rumb...
2024-07-2623 minThe HoonWeekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsetsTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A draft report from a UN taskforce on the use of carbon offsets was leaked this week, revealing the UN plans to reject companies’ use of carbon credits from the voluntary market, following a seemingly endless run of reports detailing serious integrity issues. Outrage from fossil fuel company representatives, quoted by the Financial Times, is already brewing in anticipation of the announcement.* Rumb...
2024-07-2623 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyWeekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failureTL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.* The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP), revealing Aotearoa is no longer on track to meet its third emissions reduction budget, and admitting that ‘more work will need to be done’. The discussion document shows that while the Government’s plans will narrowly meet the second emissions reduction budget, the t...
2024-07-1824 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyGovt flounders while ocean temps soarTL;DR : Here’s the top six items of climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer, most of which they discussin the video above. * According to experts, the rate of ocean surface warming around New Zealand is “outstripping the global average threefold in some areas and twice on average”. They warn that the severity of storms like Cyclone Gabrielle and the ones that recently hit the East Coast are expected to grow even higher in the future as a result.* At the same time...
2024-07-1218 minThe HoonGovt flounders while ocean temps soarTL;DR : Here’s the top six items of climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer, most of which they discussin the video above. * According to experts, the rate of ocean surface warming around New Zealand is “outstripping the global average threefold in some areas and twice on average”. They warn that the severity of storms like Cyclone Gabrielle and the ones that recently hit the East Coast are expected to grow even higher in the future as a result.* At the same time...
2024-07-1218 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyClimate policy axed in broad daylight, while taxpayer liabilities grow in the darkTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* This week, the coalition Government announced moves to ensure Agriculture does not enter the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) next year.* Instead, they will launch a new industry consultation process, run entirely by pastoral sector participants who will recommend what, if any, contribution the sector should make to reducing Aotearoa’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.* The former Chief Science Advisor to the M...
2024-06-1318 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyDid we boil the oceans by cutting pollution?TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* New evidence is increasingly pointing at efforts to reduce marine pollution being the main cause of abrupt increases in ocean temperatures experienced since 2023. A new study in the academic journal Nature claims that the abrupt reduction in sulphur aerosols from marine shipping has inadvertently created a ‘geoengineering termination shock’ that could double the rate of warming in the 2020s.* The findings correlate...
2024-06-0623 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyFalling monkeys and 'kitty cat' stormsTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A year of record-breaking surface temperatures has spawned a month of global extreme weather chaos in May, including howler monkeys falling dead from trees in Mexico during a ferocious heatwave that is also threatening to run Mexico City dry of water* Meantime, Brazil has more water than it can handle as biblical-scale floods displace more than half a million people in the st...
2024-06-0117 minThe HoonFalling monkeys and 'kitty cat' stormsTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A year of record-breaking surface temperatures has spawned a month of global extreme weather chaos in May, including howler monkeys falling dead from trees in Mexico during a ferocious heatwave that is also threatening to run Mexico City dry of water* Meantime, Brazil has more water than it can handle as biblical-scale floods displace more than half a million people in the st...
2024-06-0117 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyAgribusiness following oil and gas playbookTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer* Two experts are demanding the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) retract a seminal food systems transition report recently presented to the world at COP28, saying that it ‘seriously distorts’ their work and misrepresents the scientific consensus on the value of shifting to plant-based diets.* This follows a series of earlier reports suggesting that the FAO has been compromised by livestock in...
2024-05-0221 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protectionsTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer* The Government is systematically dismantling environmental and climate policy architecture, while claiming that targets are safe. This is not credible and suggests a plan to ‘fail quietly’.* Submissions for the Fast-Track Approvals bill close at the end of this week. According to national treasure Dame Anne Salmond, the bill represents a “naked grab for power” and “a shift toward authoritarian governance by ministerial f...
2024-04-1916 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyAntarctic heat spike shocks climate scientistsTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer :* Antarctic researchers have been shocked by the speed of events unfolding there over the past two years. A new paper outlines the evidence supporting their belief that a ‘regime shift’ has taken place in Antarctica over the past decade.* A regime shift is an abrupt change in a system’s response to external drivers (a definition proposed by...
2024-04-1116 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyNew oil and gas to quadruple by 2030, threatening climate goalsTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded this afternoon between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:* A recent surge in oil and gas development activity is threatening to overwhelm climate goals, with plans already approved that would quadruple new developments by the end of the decade, according to a new report by Global Energy Monitor.* If fossil fuel demand peaks in the next couple of years, as currently predicted by the IEA, the st...
2024-04-0424 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyFailing to internalise new realitiesTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer : * An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bay concluded “that the current national emergency management system is not fit for purpose.” * That was the same conclusion reached in three previous reports relating to this and other civil defence and emergency management (CDEM) events across the motu. * The review found...
2024-03-2813 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyLooking at clouds from both sides nowTL;DR: In this week’s wrap of climate news, Bernard Hickey and Cathrine Dyer talk about new research on the role of clouds in climate sensitivity suggesting very-fast warming ahead, how falling ice coverage of the Great lakes is creating heavier cloud cover linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and the potential silver lining of “apocalyptic optimism.”* Non-stop cloud cover over the Great Lakes region of North America is causing psychologists to fear for the mental health of the 34 million people who live in the area. The extra cloud cover is related to declining ice formation on the...
2024-02-1017 min
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Feb 9TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The new National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government itself plans to accidentally and deliberately accelerate inflation via hikes in central and local Government fees and charges in the coming 18 months, which endangers its hopes for lowering mortgage rates. See Monday’s email.* Jobs growth and wage inflation was slightly stronger than expected in the December quarter, which increased market expectations the Reserve Bank may actually start...
2024-02-0857 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Feb 9TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The new National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government itself plans to accidentally and deliberately accelerate inflation via hikes in central and local Government fees and charges in the coming 18 months, which endangers its hopes for lowering mortgage rates. See Monday’s email.* Jobs growth and wage inflation was slightly stronger than expected in the December quarter, which increased market expectations the Reserve Bank may actually start...
2024-02-0857 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyWhen a few climate sceptics skew debates and electionsTL;DR: In this week’s wrap of climate news, Bernard Hickey and Cathrine Dyer talk about how climate sceptics amplify research that confirms their own biases into the mainstream. They also discuss a survey about who are Aotearoa-NZ's climate sceptics and how they’re changing. We also discuss how they influenced the 2023 election result.Cathrine Dyer’s journalism on climate and the environment is available free to all paying and non-paying subscribers to The Kākā and the public. It is made possible by subscribers signing up to the paid tier to ensure this sort of public i...
2024-01-2618 min
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Jan 26TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The Reserve Bank’s proposal this week to loosen Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) restrictions at the same time as introducing Debt To Income (DTI) restrictions is expected to add demand pressure to house prices, just as the central bank is expected to start cutting interest rates. See Thursday’s email.* Cabinet met on Tuesday under intense pressure from councils and the infrastructure industry...
2024-01-251h 00The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Jan 26TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The Reserve Bank’s proposal this week to loosen Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) restrictions at the same time as introducing Debt To Income (DTI) restrictions is expected to add demand pressure to house prices, just as the central bank is expected to start cutting interest rates. See Thursday’s email.* Cabinet met on Tuesday under intense pressure from councils and the infrastructure industry...
2024-01-251h 00
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Jan 20TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The new National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government shut down the Auckland ‘Light’ Rail project to avoid spending up to $29.2 billion over decades, which was the right decision for the wrong reasons and still leaves the Government liable for unachieved emissions reductions and without congestion-reducing solutions for unplanned population growth running at over 3% per annum. Monday’s Dawn Chorus.* We decided The Kaka would stay on Substac...
2024-01-1957 minThe HoonThe Hoon around the week to Jan 20TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The new National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government shut down the Auckland ‘Light’ Rail project to avoid spending up to $29.2 billion over decades, which was the right decision for the wrong reasons and still leaves the Government liable for unachieved emissions reductions and without congestion-reducing solutions for unplanned population growth running at over 3% per annum. Monday’s Dawn Chorus.* We decided The Kaka would stay on Substac...
2024-01-1957 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Dec 15TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* PM Christopher Luxon said the record-high net migration of the last year was “unsustainable” and he had asked Immigration Minister Erica Stanford to look at tightening settings, having argued during the election campaign for looser settings to boost the economy. Wednesday’s email* The new Government cancelled plans for two new ferries and terminals for the Interislander, rejecting a $1.5 billion funding request from Kiwirail a...
2023-12-141h 01The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Dec 15TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* PM Christopher Luxon said the record-high net migration of the last year was “unsustainable” and he had asked Immigration Minister Erica Stanford to look at tightening settings, having argued during the election campaign for looser settings to boost the economy. Wednesday’s email* The new Government cancelled plans for two new ferries and terminals for the Interislander, rejecting a $1.5 billion funding request from Kiwirail a...
2023-12-141h 01
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Dec 8TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* New Finance Minister Nicola Willis set herself a very high bar for retaining confidence in her rhetoric by accusing Labour of “economic vandalism” in handing over a set of books ridden with ‘hidden’ “fiscal cliffs” worth billions, but without detail. That will come on December 20. Tuesday’s email* The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost $1.5 billion per km, according to a g...
2023-12-071h 00The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Dec 8TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* New Finance Minister Nicola Willis set herself a very high bar for retaining confidence in her rhetoric by accusing Labour of “economic vandalism” in handing over a set of books ridden with ‘hidden’ “fiscal cliffs” worth billions, but without detail. That will come on December 20. Tuesday’s email* The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost $1.5 billion per km, according to a g...
2023-12-071h 00
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Dec 1TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Christopher Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters signed coalition-forming agreements, announced a ministerial list, were sworn in, held their first Cabinet meetings and released a 100-day plan with 49 to-do items; See Friday’s email* National, ACT and NZ First agreed to drop National’s plan for a foreign buyers tax and adopt ACT’s plan for faster tax cuts for landlords, to be paid for b...
2023-11-301h 02The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Dec 1TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Christopher Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters signed coalition-forming agreements, announced a ministerial list, were sworn in, held their first Cabinet meetings and released a 100-day plan with 49 to-do items; See Friday’s email* National, ACT and NZ First agreed to drop National’s plan for a foreign buyers tax and adopt ACT’s plan for faster tax cuts for landlords, to be paid for b...
2023-11-301h 02
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyCathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planetTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to climate financing and the role of people and nature in achieving the Paris Agreement targets. So, what signs of progress should we be watching out for at this year’s conference?* China and US agree to triple global growth in renewables in order to hasten the energy transition. But growing renewables and transitioning away from fossil fuels are not the same thing and attempts to characterise them as such are mi...
2023-11-2613 min
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Nov 24TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* National Leader Christopher Luxon announced last night he had agreed policies and ministerial roles with ACT Leader David Seymour and NZ First Leader Winston Peters yesterday, with final signoffs from party boards expected last night, before a signing and the release of policy details this morning, and the naming of a ministerial lineup this afternoon; * Westpac last night cut its two-year fixed mortgage rate...
2023-11-2357 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Nov 24TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* National Leader Christopher Luxon announced last night he had agreed policies and ministerial roles with ACT Leader David Seymour and NZ First Leader Winston Peters yesterday, with final signoffs from party boards expected last night, before a signing and the release of policy details this morning, and the naming of a ministerial lineup this afternoon; * Westpac last night cut its two-year fixed mortgage rate...
2023-11-2357 min
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Nov 18TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Vacuums formed in Government where there would usually be decisions by ministers and the Cabinet about ongoing issues. Public servants are now having to second-guess what they think potential ministers might want, going from their manifestos; Friday’s Chorus* A record-high net 44,730 New Zealand citizens left the country permanently in the year to the end of September, Stats NZ reported this week. They were m...
2023-11-171h 00The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Nov 18TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Vacuums formed in Government where there would usually be decisions by ministers and the Cabinet about ongoing issues. Public servants are now having to second-guess what they think potential ministers might want, going from their manifestos; Friday’s Chorus* A record-high net 44,730 New Zealand citizens left the country permanently in the year to the end of September, Stats NZ reported this week. They were m...
2023-11-171h 00
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Nov 11TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* A new official report quietly buried by the Labour Government in its final months in power identifies over 300,000 people are now living in housing and energy poverty so severe that they are unable to afford the power needed to stay warm in winter, have warm showers or cook their own food; Friday’s email* European Union scientists estimated that 2023 was on track to be the...
2023-11-1059 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Nov 11TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* A new official report quietly buried by the Labour Government in its final months in power identifies over 300,000 people are now living in housing and energy poverty so severe that they are unable to afford the power needed to stay warm in winter, have warm showers or cook their own food; Friday’s email* European Union scientists estimated that 2023 was on track to be the...
2023-11-1059 min
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Nov 4TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The Electoral Commission declared the final election results after counting special votes, including National (48) losing two election-night electorate seats to Labour (34), Te Pāti Māori (6) winning two more electorate seats from Labour (6), the Greens winning one more list seat (15), and ACT (11) and NZ First (8) unchanged;* the final results mean National-ACT on 59 (soon to be 60 after National wins Port Waikato) won’t have the requ...
2023-11-041h 00The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Nov 4TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The Electoral Commission declared the final election results after counting special votes, including National (48) losing two election-night electorate seats to Labour (34), Te Pāti Māori (6) winning two more electorate seats from Labour (6), the Greens winning one more list seat (15), and ACT (11) and NZ First (8) unchanged;* the final results mean National-ACT on 59 (soon to be 60 after National wins Port Waikato) won’t have the requ...
2023-11-041h 00
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Oct 21TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* National won last weekend’s election and has started talks to form a Government with both ACT and New Zealand First, although they’ll only start in earnest after the November 3 declaration of the final makeup of Parliament after the counting of special votes. National didn’t win quite enough seats on election night to govern comfortably alone with ACT so will have to so something...
2023-10-201h 00The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Oct 21TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* National won last weekend’s election and has started talks to form a Government with both ACT and New Zealand First, although they’ll only start in earnest after the November 3 declaration of the final makeup of Parliament after the counting of special votes. National didn’t win quite enough seats on election night to govern comfortably alone with ACT so will have to so something...
2023-10-201h 00
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Oct 14TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Population growth from immigration of temporary workers to replace and supplement emigrating resident workers rose to more than 2% in the last year, without nearly enough infrastructure built or planned for two decades at that level, and without any real debate just days before an election. Thursday’s email.* National’s tax switch plan would create a direct wealth transfer from beneficiaries to landlords totallin...
2023-10-141h 10The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Oct 14TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Population growth from immigration of temporary workers to replace and supplement emigrating resident workers rose to more than 2% in the last year, without nearly enough infrastructure built or planned for two decades at that level, and without any real debate just days before an election. Thursday’s email.* National’s tax switch plan would create a direct wealth transfer from beneficiaries to landlords totallin...
2023-10-141h 10
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Oct 7TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The failure of yet another pre-fabricated house builder and a legal threat against our biggest council to force more greenfields development showed how our economy and society are now just a residential land market with bits tacked on. Thursday’s email. * A CTU analysis of National’s tax cuts finds less than 3,000 households will get the top tax cut of $252/fortnight, surprising those who beli...
2023-10-0755 minThe HoonThe Hoon around the week to Oct 7TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* The failure of yet another pre-fabricated house builder and a legal threat against our biggest council to force more greenfields development showed how our economy and society are now just a residential land market with bits tacked on. Thursday’s email. * A CTU analysis of National’s tax cuts finds less than 3,000 households will get the top tax cut of $252/fortnight, surprising those who beli...
2023-10-0755 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Sept 30TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, but did so at the same time NZTA/Waka Kotahi cut $50 million from funding for cycleways from the Climate Emergency Response Fund. Friday’s email.* National and ACT unveiled policies to label and sanction beneficiaries, just as fresh research emerged showing the need for many, many more s...
2023-09-291h 06The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Sept 30TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, but did so at the same time NZTA/Waka Kotahi cut $50 million from funding for cycleways from the Climate Emergency Response Fund. Friday’s email.* National and ACT unveiled policies to label and sanction beneficiaries, just as fresh research emerged showing the need for many, many more s...
2023-09-291h 06
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Sept 16TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Treasury published the Pre Election Fiscal Update (PREFU) on Tuesday, including a one-year delay in Labour returning the Budget to surplus to 2026/27 and an extra $9 billion in borrowing over the next four years. But it also showed Aotearoa avoiding a recession, largely due to record high net migration this year. I wrote and podcasted about it in Wednesday’s email and did an episode of Gone B...
2023-09-161h 00The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Sept 16TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Treasury published the Pre Election Fiscal Update (PREFU) on Tuesday, including a one-year delay in Labour returning the Budget to surplus to 2026/27 and an extra $9 billion in borrowing over the next four years. But it also showed Aotearoa avoiding a recession, largely due to record high net migration this year. I wrote and podcasted about it in Wednesday’s email and did an episode of Gone B...
2023-09-161h 00
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyRepeat: The Hoon around the week to Sept 9TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā for paying subscribers in the last week included:* I interviewed Labour Leader and PM Chris Hipkins about Labour’s pitch for re-election for When The Facts Change, which was published yesterday here in video form.* National Leader Christopher Luxon and Hipkins laid out their visions for economic and business growth this week, but failed again to address the elephants in the room of our political economy. I wrote about that in Thursday’s email.
2023-09-081h 00The HoonRepeat: The Hoon around the week to Sept 9TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā for paying subscribers in the last week included:* I interviewed Labour Leader and PM Chris Hipkins about Labour’s pitch for re-election for When The Facts Change, which was published yesterday here in video form.* National Leader Christopher Luxon and Hipkins laid out their visions for economic and business growth this week, but failed again to address the elephants in the room of our political economy. I wrote about that in Thursday’s email.
2023-09-081h 00
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Sept 9TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā for paying subscribers in the last week included:* I interviewed Labour Leader and PM Chris Hipkins about Labour’s pitch for re-election for When The Facts Change, which was published yesterday here in video form.* National Leader Christopher Luxon and Hipkins laid out their visions for economic and business growth this week, but failed again to address the elephants in the room of our political economy. I wrote about that in Thursday’s email.
2023-09-081h 00The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Sept 9TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā for paying subscribers in the last week included:* I interviewed Labour Leader and PM Chris Hipkins about Labour’s pitch for re-election for When The Facts Change, which was published yesterday here in video form.* National Leader Christopher Luxon and Hipkins laid out their visions for economic and business growth this week, but failed again to address the elephants in the room of our political economy. I wrote about that in Thursday’s email.
2023-09-081h 00
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyResend: What a real climate dividend looks likeTL;DR: National announced this week it would create a ‘climate dividend’ that simply re-purposes over $2 billion of Emissions Trading Scheme fund cash for tax cuts generally. (Resent with fixed audio in podcast above)The Kākā’s Climate Correspondent Cathrine Dyer spoke to independent ETS expert Christina Hood about:* how Aotearoa’s ETS doesn’t currently direct all its revenues to the existing Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) because it is the world’s only ETS that includes pine forest planters so they can receive cash from ETS revenues for planting trees;* how Canada’s ‘...
2023-09-0227 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyWhat a real climate dividend looks likeTL;DR: National announced this week it would create a ‘climate dividend’ that simply re-purposes over $2 billion of Emissions Trading Scheme fund cash for tax cuts generally. The Kākā’s Climate Correspondent Cathrine Dyer spoke to independent ETS expert Christina Hood about:* how Aotearoa’s ETS doesn’t currently direct all its revenues to the existing Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) because it is the world’s only ETS that includes pine forest planters so they can receive cash from ETS revenues for planting trees;* how Canada’s ‘climate dividend’ (see more in the graphic below...
2023-09-0127 min
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Sept 2TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā for paying subscribers in the last week included:* National launched its Election 2023 plan for $14.6 billion of tax cuts paid for with government spending cuts, a raid on climate funds and a few new taxes on home-buying migrants and migrants paying for visas. I previewed the plan in Wednesday morning’s email.* National’s plan directs most of the $14.6 billion at the ‘squeezed middle’ of home-owning and car-driving families with children in childcare, but leaves behin...
2023-09-0158 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Sept 2TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā for paying subscribers in the last week included:* National launched its Election 2023 plan for $14.6 billion of tax cuts paid for with government spending cuts, a raid on climate funds and a few new taxes on home-buying migrants and migrants paying for visas. I previewed the plan in Wednesday morning’s email.* National’s plan directs most of the $14.6 billion at the ‘squeezed middle’ of home-owning and car-driving families with children in childcare, but leaves behin...
2023-09-0158 min
The HoonThe Hoon around the week to Aug 19TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Reports emerging that hundreds of migrants on new Accredited Employer Work Visas paid as much as $30,000 for their visas, only to find no work and ending up stranded in overcrowded rentals. Eventually, after weeks of denial, Immigration Minister Andrew Little launched a ministerial inquiry into Immigration NZ’s operation of the scheme, effectively throwing the ministry under the bus over Labour’s rushed loosening of migration settings last yea...
2023-08-191h 00The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe Hoon around the week to Aug 19TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā for paying subscribers in the last week included:* Reports emerging that hundreds of migrants on new Accredited Employer Work Visas paid as much as $30,000 for their visas, only to find no work and ending up stranded in overcrowded rentals. Eventually, after weeks of denial, Immigration Minister Andrew Little launched a ministerial inquiry into Immigration NZ’s operation of the scheme, effectively throwing the ministry under the bus over Labour’s rushed loosening of migration settings last yea...
2023-08-191h 00