Bernard Hickey
@bernardchickey.bsky.social
Podcaster and newsletter writer about housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa. Free and paid versions here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thekaka?r=akd4&utm_medium=ios
In my Chorus email/podcast today: Retail sales above forecasts & business activity picks up in ANZ survey; Chinese fighter jets stage mock attacks on HMNZS Aotearoa in Taiwan Strait; Audrey Young thinks Luxon will survive, for now #nzpol
Finally, some green shoots poke out of the economy
Retail sales above forecasts & business activity picks up in ANZ survey; Chinese fighter jets stage mock attacks on HMNZS Aotearoa in Taiwan Strait; Audrey Young thinks Luxon will survive, for now
thekaka.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM
In my Chorus email/podcast today: Retail sales above forecasts & business activity picks up in ANZ survey; Chinese fighter jets stage mock attacks on HMNZS Aotearoa in Taiwan Strait; Audrey Young thinks Luxon will survive, for now #nzpol
Join paying subscribers to The Kākā for our weekly ‘Hoon’ news webinar from 5-6pm tonight. Myself, Co-host Peter Bale, and regular guests Cathrine Dyer & Robert Patman will be joined by special guest Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong (5.05pm to 5.20pm) to talk politics et al. #nzpol #kikorangi
We're on. Join us at 5pm for this week's Hoon
Join Bernard Hickey & Peter for a 'Hoon' around the week’s news on politics, geopolitics, climate & economics with Robert Patman & Cathrine Dyer, plus special guest Opportunity Leader Quilae Wong
thekaka.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Join paying subscribers to The Kākā for our weekly ‘Hoon’ news webinar from 5-6pm tonight. Myself, Co-host Peter Bale, and regular guests Cathrine Dyer & Robert Patman will be joined by special guest Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong (5.05pm to 5.20pm) to talk politics et al. #nzpol #kikorangi
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
A Heartbreaking Tale of Staggering Mediocrity. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
‘In Triage Every Day’: A Beleaguered Speaker Says He’s Overwhelmed
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
A Heartbreaking Tale of Staggering Mediocrity. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
In today’s NZ Herald
November 26, 2025 at 7:17 PM
In today’s NZ Herald
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Thursday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...
November 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thursday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
The “debate”.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
November 26, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The “debate”.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Another Monetary Policy Statement, another 'whoopsie we over-cooked the whole job crushing thingy'. Forecast GDP still falling away (bye). What else? [1/n]
November 26, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Another Monetary Policy Statement, another 'whoopsie we over-cooked the whole job crushing thingy'. Forecast GDP still falling away (bye). What else? [1/n]
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
An uptick of hope in the job ads - that little blue prick below the smiley face is a cause for celebration. But, jeez it's a long slog. Few random reckons on the power of RBNZ... (🧵 1/n)
November 25, 2025 at 6:15 PM
An uptick of hope in the job ads - that little blue prick below the smiley face is a cause for celebration. But, jeez it's a long slog. Few random reckons on the power of RBNZ... (🧵 1/n)
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
On the lowering of the Clean Car Standard, right after COP30.
My #cartoon today #NZpol #CleanCarStandard #Emissions #FossilFuels
My #cartoon today #NZpol #CleanCarStandard #Emissions #FossilFuels
November 25, 2025 at 5:58 PM
On the lowering of the Clean Car Standard, right after COP30.
My #cartoon today #NZpol #CleanCarStandard #Emissions #FossilFuels
My #cartoon today #NZpol #CleanCarStandard #Emissions #FossilFuels
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
November 25, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
November 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
November 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Govt plans to demolish regional councils in a fresh bid to ramp up development, but the self-imposed budget restraints are the real problem; US may unwittingly force a proper population & migration debate in NZ; Govt gives up on fossil fuel phaseout #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/more-magic...
More magical thinking borne of 1989
Govt plans to demolish regional councils in a fresh bid to ramp up development, but the self-imposed capital funding restraints are the real problem; Govt gives up on NZ fossil fuel phaseout
thekaka.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Govt plans to demolish regional councils in a fresh bid to ramp up development, but the self-imposed budget restraints are the real problem; US may unwittingly force a proper population & migration debate in NZ; Govt gives up on fossil fuel phaseout #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/more-magic...
Here’s my Early Bird post for paying subscribers online only: US warns NZ not to 'accept globalised migration narrative'; Govt to dissolve regional councils; MFAT allowing imports of refined Russian oil; NZ backtracks on fossil fuel phaseout at COP30 #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/wednesdays...
Wednesday's Early Bird: US warns NZ of migration 'risk'
US warns NZ not to 'accept globalised migration narrative'; Govt to dissolve regional councils; MFAT allowing imports of refined Russian oil; NZ backtracks on fossil fuel phaseout at COP30
thekaka.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Here’s my Early Bird post for paying subscribers online only: US warns NZ not to 'accept globalised migration narrative'; Govt to dissolve regional councils; MFAT allowing imports of refined Russian oil; NZ backtracks on fossil fuel phaseout at COP30 #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/wednesdays...
Why are our Government, banks, media companies et al still doing business with this company?
No other way to put it other than an absolute clusterfuck | Court Filings Allege Meta Downplayed Risks to Children and Misled the Public time.com/7336204/meta...
7 Allegations Against Meta in Newly Unsealed Filings
Court filings allege Meta tolerated sex trafficking, hid harms to teens, and prioritized growth over user safety for years.
time.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Why are our Government, banks, media companies et al still doing business with this company?
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
Thank me.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
November 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Thank me.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
The Government is set to abolish regional councils later today, The Post understands.
www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
End of regional councils tipped in local government reforms
It is understood reforms to be announced today will mean the dissolving of regional councils, and the first steps could be within this current three-year council term.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The Government is set to abolish regional councils later today, The Post understands.
www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
A captured Government.
Fossil fuel companies were given confidential drafts of legislation during their (successful) two-year campaign to weaken oil and gas regulation and overturn the offshore exploration ban - new reporting from me via the OIA
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
How the oil and gas industry helped rewrite New Zealand’s drilling rules
A paper trail shows just how far ministers went to accommodate the oil and gas industry's wishlist.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 8:41 PM
A captured Government.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
It is understood reforms to be announced today will mean the dissolving of regional councils, and the first steps could be within this current three-year council term.
End of regional councils tipped in local government reforms
It is understood reforms to be announced today will mean the dissolving of regional councils, and the first steps could be within this current three-year council term.
dlvr.it
November 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
It is understood reforms to be announced today will mean the dissolving of regional councils, and the first steps could be within this current three-year council term.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
The Cook Islands allowed over a hundred shadow fleet tankers trafficking sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil. A Big Read from me looking at the curious case of Maritime Cook Islands with an investigation employing big data analysis and fieldwork in Raro. www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
The dark fleet hiding in our own backyard: How the Cook Islands sold its flag to Moscow and Tehran
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: How shadow fleets made the Cook Islands flag inconvienent.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The Cook Islands allowed over a hundred shadow fleet tankers trafficking sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil. A Big Read from me looking at the curious case of Maritime Cook Islands with an investigation employing big data analysis and fieldwork in Raro. www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
New: Christopher Luxon said in 2023 he would ‘draw the line at’ using AI video ads, but after National published two AI videos in the past month, his office now says that only applied to fakes of real people.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
National deletes AI video of police seizing gang patches
Christopher Luxon said in 2023 he would 'draw the line at' using AI video ads, but his office now says that only applied to fakes of real people.
newsroom.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 8:37 PM
New: Christopher Luxon said in 2023 he would ‘draw the line at’ using AI video ads, but after National published two AI videos in the past month, his office now says that only applied to fakes of real people.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/n...
This is not very polite about monetary policy.
India has a big inflation problem. It's too low and a major policy shit is overdue
What India Can Do About Its Low Inflation Problem
India’s economy, so often touted for potential to supplant China as a global engine, is having a hard time getting its arms around inflation. Not that it's too high, but because the pace of price increases is worryingly low. Fixing this will require more than the standard prescription — simply cutting interest rates. The promise of an aggressive and sustained easing is needed, one that brings its own share of challenges.
bloom.bg
November 24, 2025 at 8:32 PM
This is not very polite about monetary policy.
Reposted by Bernard Hickey
