Category Archives: Politics

in case I just have to comment

Name suppression – the judge’s findings and how to do it properly

Whale Oil failed in his case (at least so far) and is up for some eight thousand of dollars in fines and fees. To me it was clear that his actions were breaching the law, but it’s the considered opinion … Continue reading

Posted in NZ Business, Politics | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

What I’m looking for from the Tax Working Group

The Tax Working Group is due to issue their report this week. Here are the things I’ll be looking for as I  judge their proposals: Simple. Paying tax is an administrative burden, and compliance takes time and money. A great … Continue reading

Posted in NZ Business, Politics | Tagged | 5 Comments

5 Recent posts that I like – and a new page

I’ll be on Kathryn Ryan’s Nine to Noon program on Radio NZ at about 9:20am Monday 22nd. There are a few potential topics to cover – including why NZ is a good place to be right now, what businesses can … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Internet Business, Life, NZ Business, Politics | Leave a comment

Let’s deliver mail once a week

From this great illustration of the average US Postal Service residential customer’s mailbox we can glean some interesting facts. Amongst them is numerical evidence as to why I don’t check my mail very often. There are almost 200 billion pieces … Continue reading

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Two McKinsey pieces on education – do read them

Two astonishing reports on education from McKinsey. The first shows the effect that the USA’s poor schools have had on their economy – and was just released. It finds the economic loss in the order of US$2,400 billion to $4,200 … Continue reading

Posted in New Zealand Institute, Politics | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

How to blog anonymously

As we progressively lose our freedoms on the internet, it was timely to have a read of some of the excellent material written by Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society – it’s part of the Harvard Law School … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Global Macro Trends, Internet Business, Politics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

We are being watched now

Via the NBR I hear that ISPs can snoop on us from April the 5th. S92 was nothing. The Telecommunications (Intercept Capability) Act, coming into full force on April 5, will let the Police, SIS and the GCSB (Government Communications … Continue reading

Posted in Internet Business, NZ Business, Politics, telecom | 1 Comment

Trains, buses and cars – we need them all

A nice rant by Bernard Hickey against the rushed Auckland electrification decision. I’m not arguing with him on the rushed aspect, nor on the specifics of this particular decision, which seem to be remarkably absent. However the comments have unveiled … Continue reading

Posted in Business, NZ Business, Politics | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Dissecting the NZ job summit output – Top twenty

After reviewing the raw output from the 6 groups, let’s now turn to the published “Top Twenty” list, and some quick comments. Job Summit – Top Twenty Core Workplace and Employment Issues 1. Retain and Upskill – the nine day … Continue reading

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Dissecting the NZ Job Summit output – Group outputs

The Government sponsored Jobs summit was on Friday, and on the beehive website you can read the input documents, breakout descriptions, attendees, power point bullet outputs and  a top 20 laundry list. So lets get to it. I believe a … Continue reading

Posted in New Zealand Institute, NZ Business, Politics | 2 Comments

Why this site is in #blackout

#blackout Section 92A of  Amended New Zealand Copyright Act comes into effect on the 28th of February, 2008. The chilling effect of 92A has been reported here before – one email to an unused address, and a family’s internet connection … Continue reading

Posted in NZ Business, Politics | Tagged | 4 Comments

Alcohol and driving: make it 0.0% or forget it

Good news  - the NZ Government wants to look at reducing the drink driving limit from 0.8 g/l to 0.5 g/l.  It’s been 0.5g/l in Australia for years – folk over 40 will remember Peter Brock always had had 05 … Continue reading

Posted in Life, Motorcycling, Politics | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Less death on the roads, but more to do

A huge reduction this year in NZ road fatalities, continuing a fantastic series. What’s stark is the reduction since 1987, which is around about the time, as I recall, when the advertising campaigns really stepped up, drink driving was finally perceived … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

No Black backgrounds please

Its always food to see new blogs. However if you are going to launch a new blog, like aotearoarenamemovement and newmasses did this week, then please make it easy to read. I don’t mean the content, but the design. White words on … Continue reading

Posted in Internet Business, media, NZ Business, Politics | Leave a comment

Let’s stop MPs drinking and lawmaking

At BHP Billiton sites you have to be able to blow 0.00 on an alcohol breathalyzer before walking into any facility. This is not only to prevent operators of machinery from causing harm, but also to prevent poor decisions being … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Tagged , | 5 Comments