Government: Seeking Infrastructure Projects

The Government has tasked a group of industry leaders to seek out infrastructure projects that are ready to start as soon as the construction industry returns to normal to reduce the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones say...More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Advance payments to support contractors
• Auckland Council - Auckland Council Welcomes Package To Stimulate Economic Recovery
• Wellington.Scoop - City Council facing revenue shortfall of $60m; it may borrow to avoid a rates increase
• Infrastructure NZ - Infrastructure Sector Sees 30 Percent Less Jobs
• Nikko AM - COVID-19 And The Fundamentals Of Living On A Timed Borrow
• Business Central - Fixing Wellington’s Infrastructure Deficit Should Be Top Of Government’s To-do List

Gordon Campbell: On Going To Level Four (and Scrapping The Olympics) Right Now

Sure, there’s a logic to having four stages of response to Covid-19, flexible enough to vary region by region. The idea being…. The stepped response will slow down the spread of the virus, minimise social panic and avoid the health system being ... More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Nation Steps Up To COVID-19 Alert Level 2 - Action On Indoor Gatherings And Events To Protect Public Health
• Hastings District Council - Council Closes Splash Planet
• Hamilton City Council - Hamilton’s Anzac Day Services Cancelled
• NZ Govt - New Zealanders Advised Not To Travel Overseas
• Binoy Kampmark - Viral Reactions: The Smugness Of Celebrity Self-Isolation
• Maoriland Film Festival - Māoriland Film Festival: Screenings To Be Cancelled Due To COVID-19
• Waikato District Council - Events Postponed In Waikato District; Residents Urged To Follow MOH Advice
• Ministry For Culture And Heritage - No National Anzac Day Services And Pacific Islands Memorial Unveiling Postponed

COVID-19: Business Response Package

Cabinet today approved the development of a Business Continuity Package to help support the economy through the disruption caused by COVID-19. “New Zealand is well-placed to respond to COVID-19. More>>

ALSO:

• Gordon Campbell - On The Economic Stimulus Package
• United Nations - Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 Likely To Cost Economy $1 Trillion During 2020, Says UN Trade Agency
• OECD - Release Of OECD Composite Leading Indicators Cancelled For March 2020 - Global Economy Faces Gravest Threat Since The Crisis As Coronavirus Spreads
• Common Dreams - 'There Is Genuine Panic': Fears Of Global Financial Meltdown As Human Toll Of Coronavirus Grows
• MOH - Fourth Case Of COVID-19 Confirmed In New Zealand - Second Case Of COVID-19 Confirmed In NZ
• The Conversation - COVID-19 has now reached NZ. How prepared is it to deal with a pandemic?
• Scoop - PM's Post-Cabinet Press Conference 02/03/20: COVID-19 Response
• Science Media Centre - COVID-19 Case Confirmed In NZ – Expert Reaction
• Gordon Campbell - On Our Unreal Optimism About The Economic Impact Of Coronavirus
• NZ Govt - Further Relief For Crayfish Exporters - Travel Restrictions Reconfirmed As Precaution Against COVID-19 - Further Support For Coronavirus-affected BusinessesGovt Books In Good Position To Respond To Coronavirus
• National - Lack Of Cohesion Between Clark And MOH - Response To Coronavirus Totally Inadequate - Coronavirus Poses Risk To Pasifika Community - Quarantine Facilities Needed For Coronavirus - Lack Of Economic Plan Driving Business Confidence Down Further - Quarantine Facilities Needed For Coronavirus
• ACT - Coronavirus: Government Must Delay Minimum Wage Increase - PM Should Return From Fiji As Coronavirus Crisis Worsens - Economic Tide Going Out, Does Robertson Have The Fiscal Togs?
• FIRST - Report Shows Way To Support Workers Suffering After Coronavirus Job Losses - Employers Can Make The Difference In Stopping Spread Of Coronavirus In New Zealand
• Socialist Equality Group - Coronavirus Accelerates Job Cutting In New Zealand
• PSA - Strong, Well-funded Public Services Will Keep New Zealand Safe
• RNZ - Coronavirus: Jacinda Ardern says 'too early to tell wider impacts' on economy - Covid-19 cases: Silent transmission could already be happening - expert - Coronavirus: Air NZ cuts more flights - Coronavirus: Government to consider advice for Covid-19 hotspots - Coronavirus: Cabinet briefings on travel risks, border controls and economic impact - Coronavirus and the economy: Responding to Covid-19 with precision - Coronavirus: Nelson businesses feeling ripple effects of Covid-19 - Coronavirus: Government invites tourism sector heads to advisory group - Regional Tourism Bodies Welcome Government Tourism Package In Response To Coronavirus - How Coronavirus Could Cost Our Universities And Polytechs $100M

Reserve Bank: RBNZ To Implement $30bn Large Scale Asset Purchase Programme Of NZ Govt Bonds

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to implement a Large Scale Asset Purchase programme (LSAP) of New Zealand government bonds. The negative economic implications of the coronavirus outbreak have continued to intensify. The Committee ... More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Govt Backs RBNZ Move To Support Economy With Lower Interest Rates
• RNZ - Reserve Bank announces further measures to support economy
• Science Media Centre - Holding Off The COVID-19 Recession – Expert Reaction

Reserve Bank: Monetary Policy With Very Low Interest Rates

The Reserve Bank is taking proactive steps to ensure it is well positioned to effectively and efficiently manage New Zealand’s monetary policy in an environment of very low interest rates... More>>

ALSO:

• The Reserve Bank - Banking Sector Prepared For Responding To COVID-19
• Social Credit - Reserve Bank’s ‘unconventional Tools’ Are Conventional Elsewhere
• Finder - RBNZ Survey: Experts Say An Out-of-cycle Rate Cut May Cause Panic
• NZ Govt - Next Steps Of Govt And Business COVID-19 Response
• RNZ - NZX falls following US interest rate cut - Coronavirus and the economy: Responding to Covid-19 with precision

NIWA: More Snow On Glaciers But No Good News, Say Scientists

Scientists have recorded more snow on the South Island glaciers this year, but they warn it is simply a temporary break rather than any good news on the climate change front. NIWA and Victoria University of Wellington scientists completed the annual ... More>>

ALSO:

• Niwa - Little Known About Lakes And Climate Change, Says Researcher - Scientists Say Methane Emitted By Humans ‘vastly Underestimated’
• Ata Regenerative - Setting the Record Straight on Regenerative Practices
• The Conversation - I tried to believe capitalism and the planet can coexist
• Common Dreams - Europe Wraps Up Warmest Winter On Record With Massive Youth #ClimateStrike In Brussels - Damning New Report Says Every Nation Undermining Children - Concentration Of CO2 Hits 416 Ppm - highest EVER daily average, but it still wont be breaking news - 23 Former Diplomats Urge Global Leaders To Adopt Paris-Style Agreement To Protect Biodiversity
• Medialens - ‘And Then - Nothing. Silence’: The Deadly Facade Of ‘Democracy’
• Steve Abel - Greenpeace Campaigner Of 22 Years Announces Bid To Stand For Parliament
• Business NZ - Kiwi youth feeling the heat
• RNZ - How NZ would fare during a world catastrophe
• United Nations - Antarctic continent posts record temperature - Climate action ‘both a priority and a driver of the decade'
• Lincoln University - Public surveyed on state of the environment
• Kapiti Coast District Council - Climate change and our coast
• University Of Canterbury - Climate Change Throws Tree Seeding Out Of Sync – New Study
• NZ Carbon Farming - Locally owned carbon forester pledges 20% of climate target
• UN News - 2020: the year for action, to ‘rise up’ and safeguard ocean
• GHD - Innovation Program Puts Emerging Leaders At The Forefront Of Tackling Climate Change
• University Of Waikato - Research On Climate Change Aims To Give Voice To Pacific People

Gordon Campbell: On The Use Of Existing Drugs To Reduce The Effects Of Coronavirus

So now, we’re all getting up to speed with the travel bans, the rigorous handwashing and drying, the social distancing, and the avoidance of public transport wherever possible. Right. At a wider level…so far, the public health system has ... More>>

Gordon Campbell: On Oil Market And Regulation Crusades

Safe to say, Vladimir Putin did not expect the response he has received amidships from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Earlier, Russia chose to walk away from the OPEC talks in Vienna that were aimed at reaching an agreement on how to reduce world oil production (and protect oil prices) in the light of the fall in demand being caused by the coronavirus. No doubt, Russia and its allies in the US shale industry probably glimpsed an opportunity to undercut OPEC and seize some of its customers. Bad move. In reply, Saudi Arabia has smashed the oil market by hugely ramping up production, signing up customers and drastically cutting the oil price in a fashion designed to knock Russia and other oil suppliers right out of contention. More>>

Gordon Campbell: On 22 Short Takes About Super Tuesday

With obvious apologies to the Simpsons….Here’s my 22 short takes on the 14 Super Tuesday primaries that combined yesterday to produce a common narrative –Bernie Sanders NOT running away with the nomination, Joe Biden coming back from the dead, and the really, really rich guy proving to be really, really bad at politics. In the months ahead, it will be fascinating to see if the real Joe Biden can live up to the idea of Joe Biden that people voted for yesterday – namely, the wise old guy who can save the country from the political extremism of the right and the left... More>>

Gordon Campbell: On Bernie Sanders’ Presidential Bid

Bernie Sanders’ campaign for the Democratic nomination is taking on an air of inevitability, and that likelihood has been met with elation by some people, and feelings of dread in others... More>>

ALSO:

• Gordon Campbell - On The Rise Of Amy Klobuchar And Michael Bloomberg
• Caitlin Johnstone - Op-Ed: Stop Revolting, You Insolent Peons - The Belief That Everything Will Be Fine Once Trump’s Gone Is More Dangerous Than Trump
• Eric Zuesse - How Bernie Sanders Will Destroy The Deep State If He Becomes President
• David Swanson - Why This Election Is Different - Let’s Try to Elect Bernie Sanders
• Binoy Kampmark - Bernie Sanders, The Democrats and The Superdelegate Problem - Muddling Democrats: Chaos in the Iowa Caucus - Hillary Clinton versus Mark Zuckerberg
• Common Dreams - Sanders Hits Trump Over NYT Libel Lawsuit - Sanders Leads Popular Vote, Trails Buttigieg With Delegates - Anand Giridharadas On Sanders' Victory In Nevada: 'A Wake Up Moment For The American Establishment' - Progressives To Sanders Skeptics: This 'Big Tent' Movement Is A Winning And Practical Choice - Sanders responds To Oxfam Inequality Report
• Democrats Abroad for Bernie Sanders - Voting For Bernie Sanders In Wellington

Gordon Campbell: On The US (and NATO) Surrender In Afghanistan

The deal that has just been has struck to end the involvement of the US and its NATO allies in Afghanistan bears the usual hallmarks of deals done by Donald Trump... More>>

ALSO:

• Common Dreams - Critics Warn US-Taliban Deal Exposes Fallacies Of Endless War Paradigm
• The Conversation - Turkey And Russia Lock Horns In Syria As Fear Of Outright War Escalates
• Binoy Kampmark - Teflon Lies and Mowing Lawns: The Afghanistan Papers
• Gordon Campbell - Gordon Campbell on compensation for Afghan casualties
• Caitlin Johnstone - The Most Significant Afghanistan Papers Revelation
• United Nations - United States-Taliban Deal: UN Welcomes Efforts To Reach Political Settlement In Afghanistan
• NZ Govt - New Zealand Welcomes Announcement Of US-Taliban Agreement
• UNHCHR - Afghanistan: 10,000 Civilian Casualties For Sixth Straight Year

Howard Davis: Charlotte Yates' Mansfield Project

Katherine Mansfield's vapid verses are of even less interest than her over-rated short stories, but Yates has risen to the challenge of producing a fascinating compilation album by a variety of musicians to accompany her poetry. More>>

Howard Davis: Dazed & Confused by Beats

Beats is both a coming-of-age tale and a romantic movie about endings, set to a nostalgic backdrop of the disappearing tail of the UK's illegal rave scene. More>>

Howard Davis: And The Oscar Goes To … Parasite

For its deliciously dark wit and genre-bending ingenuity, Bong Joon-ho's latest movie has just won four out of a potential six Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay and Director. Only ten foreign-language films have previously been nominated for Best Picture and none have won before. More>>

Howard Davis: 1917's 1,000 Yard Stare

Sam Mendes has created a terrible and barbarous trek, one that we appreciate all the more for being catapulted right into the midst of this ear-splitting melee from the film's opening sequence. More>>