What are people’s thoughts on AI and where it’s going? I’m in the tech industry and seeing it added to everything.
Lots of different things like machine learning and big data analytics are being rebranded as AI which irks me as it’s not all the same.
I think large language models can be useful time savers but their tendency to make stuff up puts me off using them. Plus the energy, cooling water use and cost of the datacenters seems wrong.
I’m much more on the cautious/cynical side after listening to Ed Zitron and his analyses of the costs. How can openAI be sustainable if they lose more money the more their product is used? They lost 7 billion US dollars last year (5 billion revenue, 12 billion in costs) and are on track to lose much more this year. With basically no use-case for their product beyond maybe decimating entry-level positions.
Where does that leave us in ten years when no-one is trained for the more experienced roles?
What of the whole bubble bursts?
How do we shift our education system so people learn rather than using AI to pass courses?
Imagine being 21, you used AI to get a degree but have a big student loan, no knowledge, and there’s no graduate jobs because AI replaced them. Now what?
I do think things are snowballing rapidly and many jobs that currently exist will either go or be done by a much smaller number of highly trained people using advanced tools to do work that was done by many.
When I studied AI at Uni thirty years ago, I had imagined that in the future there would be much more emphasis on hardware, on robotics or on nano-technology driven by AI, and not so much on it directly undertaking everyday "creative" or admin tasks.
What I see now is that a lot of white collar jobs where people draw on a wide domain of knowledge to undertake their work, like a conveyancing lawyer or a GP, will go with humans providing highly specialised services.
It is concerning to see what will happen with writing and graphic design and how much of that will be pale imitations of human work, recycling existing ideas, but richer than the offerings people currently consume. An AI Mike Hosking would not be much of a stretch, although you'd have to ramp up the "hate" setting.
My son is in the situation you describe. He'll be 21 in a couple of months, have finished his degree a couple of months after that, and I'm not envisioning there will be a lot of jobs out there. Having said that, much of that will be due to public sector funding cuts and economic uncertainty, meaning people don't take on grads or interns, not necessarily AI.
It's a brave new world for sure, I suspect the world will look very different ten years from now and we're going to have to do much more to address inequality and provide universal base income to people who are no longer needed economically. If we do it right we could have a lot more people involved in caring and teaching professions, and a lot fewer doing monotonous office work.
How those at the top view those no longer needed other than as consumers is another matter.
My son will finish a degree in Visual Communication (essentially graphic design) this year and clearly his cohort see risks with AI and their future. I don't want to be too optimistic but I wonder if, in the same way the first desktop publishing tools didn't put an end to actual publishing (just gave us a period of eye-wateringly bad self-published newsletters and the like) this may not totally eliminate designers. A lot of it's about curating taste - a skill that not everybody has. SImilar with software engineering where the coding is often the least of it but the problem definition and solution design is everything.
I found this kind of horrifying though. I know people who use the summary/analysis tools of LLMs and feel it's justified as it's not "generative'.
The fakely sincere apologies here are somewhat terrifying as is the clear willingness to lie in order to please the user. It's really the last thing we need and seems to be a relatively new development.
Finally, yes Marlon is the best and we are all very proud of him in Whakaraupo. I did go to a show last year where he tried his hand at a stand-up comedy set. A bit frustrating as most would have been there to hear him sing. I suspect he learned how hard comedy is and we learned how much we like him as a singer.
I have read a newsletter recently that I highly suspect was generated with AI. Indeed, anything related to curating content is now AI's domain.
I don't think we humans are obsolete yet, it doesn't make me laugh or cry - yet, but like the coming of other inventions, it is hard to know how much the world will change or how. I thought the coming of the internet would be positive and lead to greater knowledge and understanding.
I confess I know very little about AI, used it recently, having a tutu for some of my art work. Amazing! Especially one piece I call protest art. Exciting stuff. However I'm always mindful of a warning from Stephen Hawking, about the dangers of AI.
“We could have a lot more people involved in caring and teaching professions…” Wouldn’t that be wonderful. Otoh, those are the very roles that are currently being chopped at the knees, with the non- equity legislation and the insane move to devalue ECE teachers
I’m also concerned about the energy, water and other resources sucked up by data centres. All so Bob can have the same CV as everyone else. We don’t need AI for everything, it is incredibly useful for some applications but not to replace everyday activities.
Sure, there is information at the link below, but the crux of the issue is the amount of power they need to keep running and the water requirements to keep them cool.
I had absolutely no idea about that! And I don't understand why it's the case - not my not knowing, but why data centres are so resource-hungry. Can you explain please? Mxx
One question it seems nobody will ask of the AI corporate evangelists, when AI replaces all these jobs, who are their customers? To me it seems to end in some form of socialism (redistribution of wealth unrelated to 'occupation') or revolution. Neither of which seems to be in their future vision.
Ain’t Marlon great! In the video there were moments of joy, same but more so during the hikoi. I wonder if being joyful is our secret superpower against these bvv’s trying to make our world miserable.
Mine was a bit mean!! I was joyful and full of glee when Seymour lost the debate.
No crowing and a good helping of humble pie. He indoors said "He will say he was given a bad team/audience/topic. " Right on...blamed the audience!! Well!! It couldn't be him could it? Jacinda was soooo correct. "Arrogant Prick" on every occasion.
Today is the anniversary of the Labour government establishing a national nuclear-free zone under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987.
Let's just say that all of us who've been around for a while will remember Lange's famous address to the Oxford Union - but nobody will remember Seymour's.
Marlon's new album accompanies me in my car. I love each of the waiata on it. The particular one you chose Nick has great 'get up and move' energy in it. That for me is part of the superpower of song, how it can change our energy or state. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed by today's world of issues that a get up and go waiata is a great boon.
I'm just gonna say I love Willie Jackson - after having just seen him on Q & A. Willie came from the Meat Workers Union as President, worked with Uncle Syd in the Clerical Workers Union which joined SFWU. I was his boss for a wee while, and he could be a pain in the arse from time to time (!). But he has maintained the foundations of his union background and his work with his mother in the Urban Maori Authority. I even forgave his mateship with John Tamihere, Mr anti-union himself! He is now an experienced Labour politician and worth taking seriously. Last time I saw him was at a reunion for the SFWU (now E Tu).
It was so good that he returned to politics, and he will be an important voice of calm over the next couple of years - who would have ever said that? 😉
I've not always agreed with WJ, but do admire him in spite of. His interview with Jack yesterday, had me in fits of giggles. Surfing the kōrero exchange.
There's so much chat and discussion online these days...I think for a lot of people, it has taken the place of direct action. Who is throwing sand in the gears of the neoliberal machine, rather than just talking about it?
In my view, the two main groups that are getting under the government's skin are Māori and Unions.
There were times when Luxon looked rattled by the protests against the Treaty Principles Bill, but he always had the release valve of saying he wouldn't support it beyond the first reading. If the Regulatory Standards Bill were to ratchet that up a notch and force NZ First and National to own their support, I think that would throw some sand into the mix.
I see the actions of the Privileges Committee coming from a place of fear, that they are worried about losing control. Perhaps a COVID-style campout might hold their attention?
They are creating a generation of young Māori leaders who are willing to do more than chat.
I've been so impressed by the organisation and determination of the Unions in opposing this government, and when it gets people like Doctors, Nurses, and non-politically aligned Kiwis in front of the media talking about the government letting NZ down - that works.
Having said that, I would like to see more direct action - perhaps those impacted by the Pay equity claims could hold more prolonged strikes, or work-to-rule for an extended period? Appreciating that isn't easy in many of these situations.
Craig Rennie is doing excellent work; he seems to have rattled Willis.
I'm not sure I've answered your questions, but continuing to speak up honestly and point out where things are wrong or inaccurate does matter. Imagine if we weren't doing that.
I do think that most Kiwis believe in a fair go and want things like decent healthcare, if we keep standing up and turning up people do see that and gradually shift - and we don't need more than 5% to shift.
Already doing a work to rule, but quietly, to allow for our pay equity being ditched. Also using Te Reo in my emails as much as I can, I am not a natural speaker and am not confident, but I do what I can when I can. Small steps. If any larger steps suggest themselves I'll take them.
I’d be up for à Covid-style camp out if anyone is organising one. Retired, time on my hands, already registered on 350 questionnaire as willing to be civilly disobedient.
Mōrena Nick, koutou, Thank you for opening up an opportunity to just'.....share.
With your invitation, I grabbed my notebook and started writing, Subject matter.
Gosh, that ended up filling a whole page.
Material for my book, perhaps?
Here's the list, and my summary (?) at the bottom. In no particular order, just what jumped into my head.
Begin......Whānau, personalities, my dad. Racism. A better world. Ta moko. Moko kauae. Values, Refugees. Cultural awareness. Health wellness, tino rangatiratanga. Ā different way. Teaching experiences. Jacinda book. (Setting the scene). The word, Honour.
(Quote SM)The Pakehafication of New Zealand. Te Tiriti enacted in the bedrooms of our nation. Not bad for a Sunday Wikitoria!
This is a reply in my email this morning. To a question I asked about the utter disgraceful behaviours against TPM by those in the house by a few.....but in particular by the elder statesman, and Koroua, Winston Peters. Ā man who should' know better.
'Āe, te mutunga kē mai o te takahi mana tūpuna. Ko tāua kōrero nāna e pā ana te
moko kanohi mataora hoki'.
Giving all the above some thought, I finally ended up with asking myself a question. Who is Nick Rockel.
Poupou. (Google) Pillar, Post.
A Wharenui, and by extension poupou, are treated with the utmost respect, seen as
Ancestral guardians.
He rangatira ia.
In this crazy world of ours, some search for the truth, takes one through a host of news/programs/opinions/podcasts/social media. Lies and more lies, misinformation, disinformation, obsfucation. Then, ā chance recommendation by an American friend, led me to you.
One thing is that, even though we live in challenging times, this also provides a backdrop for many to take an interest in things they wouldn't have otherwise.
I'm so inspired by the people I see standing up for what matters to them in this country. Yes, we would rather not have this adversity, but it is generating genuine pearls.
How many of us would know who Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, Eru Kapa-Kingi or Dr Gary Payinda were if it wasn't for this government?
You ask who Nick Rockel is. Someone who has become more proud of my country than I ever thought I would. More inspired by politicians than I thought I would - when I listen to people like Marama, or Chloe, or many of the Labour people, I don't see politicians but folks just like us who love this country and its people. Good people.
I believe that most Kiwis are good human beings. Most of us want a decent society and care about fairness; we don't want our environment wrecked, but I am particularly concerned about the things ACT represents. They are things that are anti-people, and I despair that their supporters revel in that.
Some of you who have been here a while will remember that this newsletter used to be a lot more positive, back when we had Jacinda. I'm looking forward to it being so again.
The shit that’s going down is almost overwhelming. Ukraine, Trump, the Amazon, Palestine, AI, poverty, homelessness, and of course, The CoC.
The best we can do is actually do something.
Get involved with the organisation of your choice and get active. In my case it’s the local Labour Party. And I still teach 2 days a week. Kids can be a great panacea for the times you feel moody. There is no time for your shit when you’re in front of 30 11 year olds!
It is overwhelming and I agree the best thing is to do something.
Politics often lets us down, but individual people are mostly decent, and connection with others is so important. Kids certainly have a way of keeping you honest, you should hear mine take the piss at times, but that's healthy.
Like you, Nick, I grew up in a middle class household, but in Sydney and with a very different culture to the one you did. I was introduced to racism very early in life when I was told I wasn’t allowed to play with my mate next door because he was Aboriginal. I think I was about 6 or 7 at the time, so it made no sense at all. My thinking, from a very early age clashed rather loudly with that of my parents, a diehard mid Western Republican father and a snobbish socialite mother. I’ve grown up with the notion that there are angels and arseholes in every race, creed and colour, so take everyone at face value. It’s worked well for me so far so there’s no need for change. You were very lucky to have been brought up in an environment where everyone was equal, not one where your playmates were vetted for suitability to engage with.
At the moment I’m enjoying the fight of the egos we’re being treated to as the Don and the Dickhead are facing off. It will be very interesting to see whose head explodes first. Elon’s very good at exploding everything he touches but Don may have the upper hand with his band of “patriots” to back him up. Only time will tell….
Hope you get rid of the flu soon. Have a great sunny Sunday!
I think I was lucky growing up in bi-cultural Rotorua, when I would visit right-wing relatives in Christchurch, things felt different and very monocultural. I do remember having a couple of PI mates over and being embarrassed by what we had, perhaps quite typical, but far different from the streets with social housing on the other side of the Utuhina from where I lived.
I like your assessment - there are angels and aresholes everywhere.
It has turned out to be a stunning sunny day, have a good one.
I think it's remarkable that people who grow up being shown racism from such a young age turn out to be awesome human beings despite that.
Thanks Nick. I’d like to think I’m awesome, but I’ll settle for normal, or normal as I see it. That normal treats everyone the same. I was lucky enough to have been one of the “Woodstock” generation. (Read into that whatever you want, it’s probably true). It was, as a mate wrote on the toilet wall of a flat we had, about “peace, love and all that good shit” The world has become the complete opposite of that dream. How long the nightmare will last is unknown. All it would take is for people to talk first, before they shoot. Not hard, is it?
I would disagree with you about Christchurch, Nick. I suppose it depends whether you were in Fendalton or Aranui. TBH I've come across more anti-Māori racism in Hamilton than I did in Chch. But my kids whakapapa to Kai Tahu, so I'm kind of sensitive to it.
"I’ve grown up with the notion that there are angels and arseholes in every race, creed and colour, so take everyone at face value." Nicely put, Jeremy...I,who grew up in Canada and then matured in NZ, am basically the same...but I think that I have been lucky. When I finally spent a few years in Oz, I was subjected to social influences, especially in the realm of openly racist attitudes, that I found extremely repellant, unlike in first Western Canada and then NZ.
Unfortunately, Kim, not much has changed in Oz, as shown by the “No” vote to give the First Nation a voice in their own country to allow the governance of their people. Disgraceful is the most polite way I can describe it.
As a citizen of Australia and AotearoaNZ, I now have two countries to be ashamed of. Not what I expected at all in 2025. Perhaps a New Age of Racial Enlightenment is due 🤔
Well Nick, I can only repeat what I have said before - our political systems is dum-ass and does not in any way provide anything people need to have reasonable living support. They promote the rich and sorted over the majority with "above the law" and promotion of inequality over humanity!
I agree, but I do feel hopeful about the policies of the left, especially those of Te Pāti Māori and the Greens, as they represent values beyond what we have always seen. Getting people to vote for them is another matter.
Also I agree, but I do despair that too many voters are either not interested, or not aware of the significance of the Left or Right overriding control. We cannot really blame the voters (victims) but we do NOT need to stick with the "system" of giving absolute authority to a coalition of Right or Left bias. If we cannot get a 120+ people that can agree on a best option, then we must have the wrong people there?
There is another story in Stuff today about how many people knew about the sleazy behaviour of Michael Forbes for months and how some tried to warn others. Unbelievable that it wasn't known or suspected in the Beehive.
I've deliberately not commented on this as I see it more as a criminal action rather than a political one. To his credit, I thought Luxon front-footed it well, although that is, of course, assuming he was telling the truth about having no prior knowledge.
A few comments:
Why do we have to talk about these women as "Sex Workers"? What is the relevance? Prostitution is legal in this country; I don't like the negative connotations towards the people who are the victims here.
Why are the media reading out statements from Forbes as if he just needed to sort himself out? These activities are a horrible invasion of the rights of those photographed or recorded. Forbes should not be leading the narrative - he should be awaiting court.
Are we expected to believe that police looked into what he was doing, but no information made its way into political circles? For goodness' sake, this man was accompanying Luxon as part of his travelling entourage, surely there is more vetting than that?
Nick, re sex workers as opposed to prostitutes: I think sex workers prefer to be known as sex workers because it has no pejorative overtones - their work is having sex with paying customers. Prostitutes has always been a word that blames/condemns/vilifies the women involved. You can tell this is the case because it's a female word: it's assumed that prostitutes are women, and the term male prostitute is used to differentiate. And also note that a man who is paid by a woman for sex is known as a gigolo - cute, isn't it? Do we have a female equivalent? Not as far as I can find in the dark recesses of my mind ...
By the way, the pejorative also applies to the verb - prostituting oneself is considered reprehensible, whereas selling out/sacrificing oneself/putting one's reputation on the line/... don't sound anywhere near as bad.
And I too am unconvinced that no one in the PM's department knew, up to and including Luxon. They were all keeping their fingers crossed as a strategy, hoping it would stay undisclosed. And I am delighted that didn't work.
And I am gutted that the Police took no action against him. I wonder who sent them an email saying it wouldn't be fair? Was it Polkingthorpe's friend?
Of course, if a bunch of women had recorded and/or photographed Forbes there'd have been a witch hunt, eh?
There will be major PR work going on behind the scenes trying to kill or at least dilute the story and to blame other people and distance the top politicians from it.
Im interested to see if others share my views regarding Acts ideology. If you were to take their goals to their end point we effectively destroy society and community to a point where just we have marauding individuals fighting each other for corporate scraps. Eventually just like a monopoly game one corporation will have taken over all others to own and control every thing on earth. Hardly utopia, why would anyone vote for that?
Although I am a relatively new subscriber to Nick's Kōrero, I have really enjoyed your newsletters even before I subscribed to your writing.
In what has been an incredibly challenging year and a half under this racist and cruel government, I have really appreciated the opportunity to share my whakaaro (thoughts) on many of the tāke (issues) you have written about in a hapori (community) I have felt safe to do so.
It's so refreshing to have a place to share whakaaro where there is no judgement. I have found there is not many places, particularly on social media that happens.
The hapori of Nick's Kōrero you have created, is truly a blessing, and for that I mihi to you and to all the Nick's Kōrero whānau.
Life is pretty dismal when you have a family member who urgently needs to see a specialist about a hip replacement. When this person started 3 years ago with an ankle which now needs fused, which through weight displacement, has caused an old knee replacement requiring another replacement and then the hip goes. It took 2 years to finally get a hospital appointment for the ankle then a year waiting for it to finally push the hospital for it and arrive, only now it is the hip which needs to be carried out first and who knows how long he will be waiting for this first appointment! To fill out two complaint forms to no avail. Dr saying his hip would need to fracture for any urgency. This person can only just get to the toilet unaided. His caregiver is also not a well person. I am aware that Dr Gary PAYINDA and Bryan Bruce may be organizing a day of protest asking all of the over 200,000 people awaiting surgery, to gather in their main streets armed with pots and soup ladles to protest. Have you heard anything and what do you suggest this person can do? (writing to politicians does nothing and no response is what we receive). More staff is the imperative requirement but the COC’s are too focused on privatisation.
I'm very sorry to hear that, and it is the false economy of delayed treatment that things get worse be it a hip or cancer. That sounds like an excellent way to protest, will, definitely look out for that.
That's a dreadful situation Gloria. The inactivity while you wait all that time means that by the time the surgery arrives, you have much less strength to start rehabilitation. It really changes lives. False economy. They would have far fewer bed-ridden people needing full-time hospital care if the health services were funded to deliver timely services
Hi Gloria. If you have more details of the day of protest please let others know. I have been waiting 10 months now for an MRI to find out if I need surgery or not. Hugely frustrating.
I funded my own MRI scan, because ACC decided that I didn't need it. My physio needed it, because her provisional diagnosis was a pinched nerve in my spine, which my GP agreed with. So I paid for it, and it proved that diagnosis, so my physio and GP could provide a well-informed care plan. ACC then accepted a referral to see a spinal specialist. No refund was provided. Mickey Mouse.
Also one to watch today : Te Roopu Taurima (a Kaupapa Māori Disability organisation) have suspended their staff for six weeks for taking partial strike action. They want a 90 day trial period, restrictions on secondary employment and are offering a pay increase that goes no where near the responsibility these workers have in caring for some of our most challenging Maori disabled. There is action outside their offices in Great South Road, Ellerslie, next to E Tu and a media standup at E Tu, just next door at 2pm.
Morena Nick - looks as if you've given yourself a bit of a job replying to our discussion points!
You or somebody may have more information in what is going to happen regarding referendums on Local Maori Wards. As I recall, where local councils (very few) agreed to abolish the Maori Ward that was accepted by our Government. However for the majority of councils who voted to retain Maori Wards, the Government is not accepting those council decisions and they must hold referendums.
If this is correct (gone very quiet on this front at the moment) then the "you can vote on this as long as you vote for what we want" attitude to local government is brazenly bias and again racist. In one instance it is acceptable as a decision by local representatives, in another it is not their decision to make.
Feel as if I must have got it wrong but the world feels a bit like that at the moment.
Just as for speeds limits and Maori Wards and other such issues determined by Councils with these decisions over-ridden by Govt how do Councils stand if they ignore such decrees and continue with their already consulted upon status quo???
I bought Jacinda's book and it's in my ever increasing pile of Books I Must Read. It's disappointing to see the contrast in reviews of thi6s book - in NZ most of the reviews have been negative and by men. In the US and UK they have mostly been positive - except the Torygraph, of course. I saw the interview JA did with Alistair and Rory on The Rest is Politics. Interesting footnote: Alistair said that JA got the second most negative invective from the Russian bots farms after Macron. Makes you think, doesn't it? We think we're so far away from the rest of the world that no-one pays us any attention.
👍 I watched that interview not really knowing much about it, but recognised the names of the hosts from the vast recesses of my mind of useless factoids 🤔 I like the longer form interviews where there is more time to develop a rapport, but I too was gobsmacked at the fact that Russian bot farms had such an outsized campaign against a politician from little old NZ 😱 All the book reviews I've read so far don't align with what I thought after I had finished reading it but hey ho... I don't rely on them to tell me what to think 🤷
What are people’s thoughts on AI and where it’s going? I’m in the tech industry and seeing it added to everything.
Lots of different things like machine learning and big data analytics are being rebranded as AI which irks me as it’s not all the same.
I think large language models can be useful time savers but their tendency to make stuff up puts me off using them. Plus the energy, cooling water use and cost of the datacenters seems wrong.
I’m much more on the cautious/cynical side after listening to Ed Zitron and his analyses of the costs. How can openAI be sustainable if they lose more money the more their product is used? They lost 7 billion US dollars last year (5 billion revenue, 12 billion in costs) and are on track to lose much more this year. With basically no use-case for their product beyond maybe decimating entry-level positions.
Where does that leave us in ten years when no-one is trained for the more experienced roles?
What of the whole bubble bursts?
How do we shift our education system so people learn rather than using AI to pass courses?
Imagine being 21, you used AI to get a degree but have a big student loan, no knowledge, and there’s no graduate jobs because AI replaced them. Now what?
Hi Rob,
I do think things are snowballing rapidly and many jobs that currently exist will either go or be done by a much smaller number of highly trained people using advanced tools to do work that was done by many.
When I studied AI at Uni thirty years ago, I had imagined that in the future there would be much more emphasis on hardware, on robotics or on nano-technology driven by AI, and not so much on it directly undertaking everyday "creative" or admin tasks.
What I see now is that a lot of white collar jobs where people draw on a wide domain of knowledge to undertake their work, like a conveyancing lawyer or a GP, will go with humans providing highly specialised services.
It is concerning to see what will happen with writing and graphic design and how much of that will be pale imitations of human work, recycling existing ideas, but richer than the offerings people currently consume. An AI Mike Hosking would not be much of a stretch, although you'd have to ramp up the "hate" setting.
My son is in the situation you describe. He'll be 21 in a couple of months, have finished his degree a couple of months after that, and I'm not envisioning there will be a lot of jobs out there. Having said that, much of that will be due to public sector funding cuts and economic uncertainty, meaning people don't take on grads or interns, not necessarily AI.
It's a brave new world for sure, I suspect the world will look very different ten years from now and we're going to have to do much more to address inequality and provide universal base income to people who are no longer needed economically. If we do it right we could have a lot more people involved in caring and teaching professions, and a lot fewer doing monotonous office work.
How those at the top view those no longer needed other than as consumers is another matter.
My son will finish a degree in Visual Communication (essentially graphic design) this year and clearly his cohort see risks with AI and their future. I don't want to be too optimistic but I wonder if, in the same way the first desktop publishing tools didn't put an end to actual publishing (just gave us a period of eye-wateringly bad self-published newsletters and the like) this may not totally eliminate designers. A lot of it's about curating taste - a skill that not everybody has. SImilar with software engineering where the coding is often the least of it but the problem definition and solution design is everything.
I found this kind of horrifying though. I know people who use the summary/analysis tools of LLMs and feel it's justified as it's not "generative'.
https://amandaguinzburg.substack.com/p/diabolus-ex-machina?r=i691&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true
The fakely sincere apologies here are somewhat terrifying as is the clear willingness to lie in order to please the user. It's really the last thing we need and seems to be a relatively new development.
Finally, yes Marlon is the best and we are all very proud of him in Whakaraupo. I did go to a show last year where he tried his hand at a stand-up comedy set. A bit frustrating as most would have been there to hear him sing. I suspect he learned how hard comedy is and we learned how much we like him as a singer.
I have read a newsletter recently that I highly suspect was generated with AI. Indeed, anything related to curating content is now AI's domain.
I don't think we humans are obsolete yet, it doesn't make me laugh or cry - yet, but like the coming of other inventions, it is hard to know how much the world will change or how. I thought the coming of the internet would be positive and lead to greater knowledge and understanding.
I confess I know very little about AI, used it recently, having a tutu for some of my art work. Amazing! Especially one piece I call protest art. Exciting stuff. However I'm always mindful of a warning from Stephen Hawking, about the dangers of AI.
Well that’s a bit creepy.
“We could have a lot more people involved in caring and teaching professions…” Wouldn’t that be wonderful. Otoh, those are the very roles that are currently being chopped at the knees, with the non- equity legislation and the insane move to devalue ECE teachers
I’m also concerned about the energy, water and other resources sucked up by data centres. All so Bob can have the same CV as everyone else. We don’t need AI for everything, it is incredibly useful for some applications but not to replace everyday activities.
The environmental impact of these data centres is far greater than most people realise.
Sure, there is information at the link below, but the crux of the issue is the amount of power they need to keep running and the water requirements to keep them cool.
https://climatechange-summit.org/the-hidden-carbon-footprint-how-technology-servers-and-digitalization-accelerate-climate-change/#:~:text=Servers%20generate%20enormous%20amounts%20of,contributors%20to%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions.
I had absolutely no idea about that! And I don't understand why it's the case - not my not knowing, but why data centres are so resource-hungry. Can you explain please? Mxx
One question it seems nobody will ask of the AI corporate evangelists, when AI replaces all these jobs, who are their customers? To me it seems to end in some form of socialism (redistribution of wealth unrelated to 'occupation') or revolution. Neither of which seems to be in their future vision.
Redistribution of corporate evangelists' wealth - yeah nah ...
Ain’t Marlon great! In the video there were moments of joy, same but more so during the hikoi. I wonder if being joyful is our secret superpower against these bvv’s trying to make our world miserable.
Love it, Keith, and what an awesome superpower.
People like to read about negative things, but it is the positive and joyful that moves them. Marlon is a great example.
Yep.
Mine was a bit mean!! I was joyful and full of glee when Seymour lost the debate.
No crowing and a good helping of humble pie. He indoors said "He will say he was given a bad team/audience/topic. " Right on...blamed the audience!! Well!! It couldn't be him could it? Jacinda was soooo correct. "Arrogant Prick" on every occasion.
Today is the anniversary of the Labour government establishing a national nuclear-free zone under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987.
Let's just say that all of us who've been around for a while will remember Lange's famous address to the Oxford Union - but nobody will remember Seymour's.
Jacinda and Norm are both right.
Must have been an audience full of bots...
Haha - even bots don’t like him!
Marlon's new album accompanies me in my car. I love each of the waiata on it. The particular one you chose Nick has great 'get up and move' energy in it. That for me is part of the superpower of song, how it can change our energy or state. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed by today's world of issues that a get up and go waiata is a great boon.
So simple, yet so powerful!
I'm just gonna say I love Willie Jackson - after having just seen him on Q & A. Willie came from the Meat Workers Union as President, worked with Uncle Syd in the Clerical Workers Union which joined SFWU. I was his boss for a wee while, and he could be a pain in the arse from time to time (!). But he has maintained the foundations of his union background and his work with his mother in the Urban Maori Authority. I even forgave his mateship with John Tamihere, Mr anti-union himself! He is now an experienced Labour politician and worth taking seriously. Last time I saw him was at a reunion for the SFWU (now E Tu).
It was so good that he returned to politics, and he will be an important voice of calm over the next couple of years - who would have ever said that? 😉
JT is a weird one.
I've not always agreed with WJ, but do admire him in spite of. His interview with Jack yesterday, had me in fits of giggles. Surfing the kōrero exchange.
There's so much chat and discussion online these days...I think for a lot of people, it has taken the place of direct action. Who is throwing sand in the gears of the neoliberal machine, rather than just talking about it?
In my view, the two main groups that are getting under the government's skin are Māori and Unions.
There were times when Luxon looked rattled by the protests against the Treaty Principles Bill, but he always had the release valve of saying he wouldn't support it beyond the first reading. If the Regulatory Standards Bill were to ratchet that up a notch and force NZ First and National to own their support, I think that would throw some sand into the mix.
I see the actions of the Privileges Committee coming from a place of fear, that they are worried about losing control. Perhaps a COVID-style campout might hold their attention?
They are creating a generation of young Māori leaders who are willing to do more than chat.
I've been so impressed by the organisation and determination of the Unions in opposing this government, and when it gets people like Doctors, Nurses, and non-politically aligned Kiwis in front of the media talking about the government letting NZ down - that works.
Having said that, I would like to see more direct action - perhaps those impacted by the Pay equity claims could hold more prolonged strikes, or work-to-rule for an extended period? Appreciating that isn't easy in many of these situations.
Craig Rennie is doing excellent work; he seems to have rattled Willis.
I'm not sure I've answered your questions, but continuing to speak up honestly and point out where things are wrong or inaccurate does matter. Imagine if we weren't doing that.
I do think that most Kiwis believe in a fair go and want things like decent healthcare, if we keep standing up and turning up people do see that and gradually shift - and we don't need more than 5% to shift.
Already doing a work to rule, but quietly, to allow for our pay equity being ditched. Also using Te Reo in my emails as much as I can, I am not a natural speaker and am not confident, but I do what I can when I can. Small steps. If any larger steps suggest themselves I'll take them.
Agree Nick Craig Rennie is in fact a national treasure with his knowledge and his ability to articulate clearly financial matters.
I’d be up for à Covid-style camp out if anyone is organising one. Retired, time on my hands, already registered on 350 questionnaire as willing to be civilly disobedient.
that is my concern too John
Mōrena Nick, koutou, Thank you for opening up an opportunity to just'.....share.
With your invitation, I grabbed my notebook and started writing, Subject matter.
Gosh, that ended up filling a whole page.
Material for my book, perhaps?
Here's the list, and my summary (?) at the bottom. In no particular order, just what jumped into my head.
Begin......Whānau, personalities, my dad. Racism. A better world. Ta moko. Moko kauae. Values, Refugees. Cultural awareness. Health wellness, tino rangatiratanga. Ā different way. Teaching experiences. Jacinda book. (Setting the scene). The word, Honour.
(Quote SM)The Pakehafication of New Zealand. Te Tiriti enacted in the bedrooms of our nation. Not bad for a Sunday Wikitoria!
This is a reply in my email this morning. To a question I asked about the utter disgraceful behaviours against TPM by those in the house by a few.....but in particular by the elder statesman, and Koroua, Winston Peters. Ā man who should' know better.
'Āe, te mutunga kē mai o te takahi mana tūpuna. Ko tāua kōrero nāna e pā ana te
moko kanohi mataora hoki'.
Giving all the above some thought, I finally ended up with asking myself a question. Who is Nick Rockel.
Poupou. (Google) Pillar, Post.
A Wharenui, and by extension poupou, are treated with the utmost respect, seen as
Ancestral guardians.
He rangatira ia.
In this crazy world of ours, some search for the truth, takes one through a host of news/programs/opinions/podcasts/social media. Lies and more lies, misinformation, disinformation, obsfucation. Then, ā chance recommendation by an American friend, led me to you.
Integrity, honesty, balanced, open, humble, kind, caring, gratitude.
By chance?
So much crap out there, trying to sort the chaff from the wheat.
Ngā mihi mahana Nick.
Aroha mai koutou, any mispelling, mistakes?
It sounds like a fabulous book.
One thing is that, even though we live in challenging times, this also provides a backdrop for many to take an interest in things they wouldn't have otherwise.
I'm so inspired by the people I see standing up for what matters to them in this country. Yes, we would rather not have this adversity, but it is generating genuine pearls.
How many of us would know who Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, Eru Kapa-Kingi or Dr Gary Payinda were if it wasn't for this government?
You ask who Nick Rockel is. Someone who has become more proud of my country than I ever thought I would. More inspired by politicians than I thought I would - when I listen to people like Marama, or Chloe, or many of the Labour people, I don't see politicians but folks just like us who love this country and its people. Good people.
I believe that most Kiwis are good human beings. Most of us want a decent society and care about fairness; we don't want our environment wrecked, but I am particularly concerned about the things ACT represents. They are things that are anti-people, and I despair that their supporters revel in that.
Some of you who have been here a while will remember that this newsletter used to be a lot more positive, back when we had Jacinda. I'm looking forward to it being so again.
My thoughts are still with the horrible week that it’s been this week- how people can vote for these losers is beyond me!
Thanks for the opportunity, Nick.
The shit that’s going down is almost overwhelming. Ukraine, Trump, the Amazon, Palestine, AI, poverty, homelessness, and of course, The CoC.
The best we can do is actually do something.
Get involved with the organisation of your choice and get active. In my case it’s the local Labour Party. And I still teach 2 days a week. Kids can be a great panacea for the times you feel moody. There is no time for your shit when you’re in front of 30 11 year olds!
It is overwhelming and I agree the best thing is to do something.
Politics often lets us down, but individual people are mostly decent, and connection with others is so important. Kids certainly have a way of keeping you honest, you should hear mine take the piss at times, but that's healthy.
Like you, Nick, I grew up in a middle class household, but in Sydney and with a very different culture to the one you did. I was introduced to racism very early in life when I was told I wasn’t allowed to play with my mate next door because he was Aboriginal. I think I was about 6 or 7 at the time, so it made no sense at all. My thinking, from a very early age clashed rather loudly with that of my parents, a diehard mid Western Republican father and a snobbish socialite mother. I’ve grown up with the notion that there are angels and arseholes in every race, creed and colour, so take everyone at face value. It’s worked well for me so far so there’s no need for change. You were very lucky to have been brought up in an environment where everyone was equal, not one where your playmates were vetted for suitability to engage with.
At the moment I’m enjoying the fight of the egos we’re being treated to as the Don and the Dickhead are facing off. It will be very interesting to see whose head explodes first. Elon’s very good at exploding everything he touches but Don may have the upper hand with his band of “patriots” to back him up. Only time will tell….
Hope you get rid of the flu soon. Have a great sunny Sunday!
I think I was lucky growing up in bi-cultural Rotorua, when I would visit right-wing relatives in Christchurch, things felt different and very monocultural. I do remember having a couple of PI mates over and being embarrassed by what we had, perhaps quite typical, but far different from the streets with social housing on the other side of the Utuhina from where I lived.
I like your assessment - there are angels and aresholes everywhere.
It has turned out to be a stunning sunny day, have a good one.
I think it's remarkable that people who grow up being shown racism from such a young age turn out to be awesome human beings despite that.
Thanks Nick. I’d like to think I’m awesome, but I’ll settle for normal, or normal as I see it. That normal treats everyone the same. I was lucky enough to have been one of the “Woodstock” generation. (Read into that whatever you want, it’s probably true). It was, as a mate wrote on the toilet wall of a flat we had, about “peace, love and all that good shit” The world has become the complete opposite of that dream. How long the nightmare will last is unknown. All it would take is for people to talk first, before they shoot. Not hard, is it?
I would disagree with you about Christchurch, Nick. I suppose it depends whether you were in Fendalton or Aranui. TBH I've come across more anti-Māori racism in Hamilton than I did in Chch. But my kids whakapapa to Kai Tahu, so I'm kind of sensitive to it.
"I’ve grown up with the notion that there are angels and arseholes in every race, creed and colour, so take everyone at face value." Nicely put, Jeremy...I,who grew up in Canada and then matured in NZ, am basically the same...but I think that I have been lucky. When I finally spent a few years in Oz, I was subjected to social influences, especially in the realm of openly racist attitudes, that I found extremely repellant, unlike in first Western Canada and then NZ.
Unfortunately, Kim, not much has changed in Oz, as shown by the “No” vote to give the First Nation a voice in their own country to allow the governance of their people. Disgraceful is the most polite way I can describe it.
As a citizen of Australia and AotearoaNZ, I now have two countries to be ashamed of. Not what I expected at all in 2025. Perhaps a New Age of Racial Enlightenment is due 🤔
Sure as hell is a long way past being due, eh.....
Yep…
Well Nick, I can only repeat what I have said before - our political systems is dum-ass and does not in any way provide anything people need to have reasonable living support. They promote the rich and sorted over the majority with "above the law" and promotion of inequality over humanity!
I agree, but I do feel hopeful about the policies of the left, especially those of Te Pāti Māori and the Greens, as they represent values beyond what we have always seen. Getting people to vote for them is another matter.
Also I agree, but I do despair that too many voters are either not interested, or not aware of the significance of the Left or Right overriding control. We cannot really blame the voters (victims) but we do NOT need to stick with the "system" of giving absolute authority to a coalition of Right or Left bias. If we cannot get a 120+ people that can agree on a best option, then we must have the wrong people there?
There is another story in Stuff today about how many people knew about the sleazy behaviour of Michael Forbes for months and how some tried to warn others. Unbelievable that it wasn't known or suspected in the Beehive.
I've deliberately not commented on this as I see it more as a criminal action rather than a political one. To his credit, I thought Luxon front-footed it well, although that is, of course, assuming he was telling the truth about having no prior knowledge.
A few comments:
Why do we have to talk about these women as "Sex Workers"? What is the relevance? Prostitution is legal in this country; I don't like the negative connotations towards the people who are the victims here.
Why are the media reading out statements from Forbes as if he just needed to sort himself out? These activities are a horrible invasion of the rights of those photographed or recorded. Forbes should not be leading the narrative - he should be awaiting court.
Are we expected to believe that police looked into what he was doing, but no information made its way into political circles? For goodness' sake, this man was accompanying Luxon as part of his travelling entourage, surely there is more vetting than that?
It is hard to believe, as you say.
Our Minister of Police has been remarkably quiet?
Nick, re sex workers as opposed to prostitutes: I think sex workers prefer to be known as sex workers because it has no pejorative overtones - their work is having sex with paying customers. Prostitutes has always been a word that blames/condemns/vilifies the women involved. You can tell this is the case because it's a female word: it's assumed that prostitutes are women, and the term male prostitute is used to differentiate. And also note that a man who is paid by a woman for sex is known as a gigolo - cute, isn't it? Do we have a female equivalent? Not as far as I can find in the dark recesses of my mind ...
By the way, the pejorative also applies to the verb - prostituting oneself is considered reprehensible, whereas selling out/sacrificing oneself/putting one's reputation on the line/... don't sound anywhere near as bad.
And I too am unconvinced that no one in the PM's department knew, up to and including Luxon. They were all keeping their fingers crossed as a strategy, hoping it would stay undisclosed. And I am delighted that didn't work.
And I am gutted that the Police took no action against him. I wonder who sent them an email saying it wouldn't be fair? Was it Polkingthorpe's friend?
Of course, if a bunch of women had recorded and/or photographed Forbes there'd have been a witch hunt, eh?
Am I bitter? Yep.
There will be major PR work going on behind the scenes trying to kill or at least dilute the story and to blame other people and distance the top politicians from it.
Im interested to see if others share my views regarding Acts ideology. If you were to take their goals to their end point we effectively destroy society and community to a point where just we have marauding individuals fighting each other for corporate scraps. Eventually just like a monopoly game one corporation will have taken over all others to own and control every thing on earth. Hardly utopia, why would anyone vote for that?
Kia ora Nick.
Thanks for this opportunity to kōrero.
Although I am a relatively new subscriber to Nick's Kōrero, I have really enjoyed your newsletters even before I subscribed to your writing.
In what has been an incredibly challenging year and a half under this racist and cruel government, I have really appreciated the opportunity to share my whakaaro (thoughts) on many of the tāke (issues) you have written about in a hapori (community) I have felt safe to do so.
It's so refreshing to have a place to share whakaaro where there is no judgement. I have found there is not many places, particularly on social media that happens.
The hapori of Nick's Kōrero you have created, is truly a blessing, and for that I mihi to you and to all the Nick's Kōrero whānau.
Tēnei te mihi ehoa.
Have a wonderful day ehoa.
Be proud of Nick's Kōrero.
You really are a gem.
Thank Josephine. 🙂
Lovely words, much appreciated. Have a good one.
🎯
Life is pretty dismal when you have a family member who urgently needs to see a specialist about a hip replacement. When this person started 3 years ago with an ankle which now needs fused, which through weight displacement, has caused an old knee replacement requiring another replacement and then the hip goes. It took 2 years to finally get a hospital appointment for the ankle then a year waiting for it to finally push the hospital for it and arrive, only now it is the hip which needs to be carried out first and who knows how long he will be waiting for this first appointment! To fill out two complaint forms to no avail. Dr saying his hip would need to fracture for any urgency. This person can only just get to the toilet unaided. His caregiver is also not a well person. I am aware that Dr Gary PAYINDA and Bryan Bruce may be organizing a day of protest asking all of the over 200,000 people awaiting surgery, to gather in their main streets armed with pots and soup ladles to protest. Have you heard anything and what do you suggest this person can do? (writing to politicians does nothing and no response is what we receive). More staff is the imperative requirement but the COC’s are too focused on privatisation.
I'm very sorry to hear that, and it is the false economy of delayed treatment that things get worse be it a hip or cancer. That sounds like an excellent way to protest, will, definitely look out for that.
That's a dreadful situation Gloria. The inactivity while you wait all that time means that by the time the surgery arrives, you have much less strength to start rehabilitation. It really changes lives. False economy. They would have far fewer bed-ridden people needing full-time hospital care if the health services were funded to deliver timely services
Hi Gloria. If you have more details of the day of protest please let others know. I have been waiting 10 months now for an MRI to find out if I need surgery or not. Hugely frustrating.
Certainly will.
I funded my own MRI scan, because ACC decided that I didn't need it. My physio needed it, because her provisional diagnosis was a pinched nerve in my spine, which my GP agreed with. So I paid for it, and it proved that diagnosis, so my physio and GP could provide a well-informed care plan. ACC then accepted a referral to see a spinal specialist. No refund was provided. Mickey Mouse.
Also one to watch today : Te Roopu Taurima (a Kaupapa Māori Disability organisation) have suspended their staff for six weeks for taking partial strike action. They want a 90 day trial period, restrictions on secondary employment and are offering a pay increase that goes no where near the responsibility these workers have in caring for some of our most challenging Maori disabled. There is action outside their offices in Great South Road, Ellerslie, next to E Tu and a media standup at E Tu, just next door at 2pm.
Yes, I saw that; if I were fully better, I was thinking of going. Would you happen to know anything about media accreditation with unions?
Not really, but I can put you directly in touch with leaders like Fleur.
An intro to Fleur would be good, thanks, feel like less of a weirdo.
Leave it with me.
Morena Nick - looks as if you've given yourself a bit of a job replying to our discussion points!
You or somebody may have more information in what is going to happen regarding referendums on Local Maori Wards. As I recall, where local councils (very few) agreed to abolish the Maori Ward that was accepted by our Government. However for the majority of councils who voted to retain Maori Wards, the Government is not accepting those council decisions and they must hold referendums.
If this is correct (gone very quiet on this front at the moment) then the "you can vote on this as long as you vote for what we want" attitude to local government is brazenly bias and again racist. In one instance it is acceptable as a decision by local representatives, in another it is not their decision to make.
Feel as if I must have got it wrong but the world feels a bit like that at the moment.
You're right, the government changed the law last year:
"It will require councils that brought in Māori wards without polling residents to hold one, or scrap the ones they had set up.
The Local Government (Māori Wards) Amendment Bill came out of a commitment in the coalition agreements with both ACT and NZ First."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/524376/what-you-need-to-know-about-maori-wards
Just as for speeds limits and Maori Wards and other such issues determined by Councils with these decisions over-ridden by Govt how do Councils stand if they ignore such decrees and continue with their already consulted upon status quo???
I bought Jacinda's book and it's in my ever increasing pile of Books I Must Read. It's disappointing to see the contrast in reviews of thi6s book - in NZ most of the reviews have been negative and by men. In the US and UK they have mostly been positive - except the Torygraph, of course. I saw the interview JA did with Alistair and Rory on The Rest is Politics. Interesting footnote: Alistair said that JA got the second most negative invective from the Russian bots farms after Macron. Makes you think, doesn't it? We think we're so far away from the rest of the world that no-one pays us any attention.
It's evil, really. Hatebots targeting messages of kindness and acceptance.
👍 I watched that interview not really knowing much about it, but recognised the names of the hosts from the vast recesses of my mind of useless factoids 🤔 I like the longer form interviews where there is more time to develop a rapport, but I too was gobsmacked at the fact that Russian bot farms had such an outsized campaign against a politician from little old NZ 😱 All the book reviews I've read so far don't align with what I thought after I had finished reading it but hey ho... I don't rely on them to tell me what to think 🤷