Good lord. If we cede control of the strait to Iran…. And agree to REPARATIONS…. This will be the biggest humiliation in American history

So Trump agrees a deal where Iran gets to keep charging tolls, gets to keep its nuclear program, and of course, keeps the same regime in power.

This was all a terrible waste and so far a catastrophic defeat for the USA.

$2 million per ship — to cross a Strait that was free six weeks ago.

@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/w...

Again...

This is the laugh we needed.

It's TACO Tuesday... thankfully. #TACO #TrumpCaves

Today?

The government has boxed itself in over fuel saving strategies – but there is a way out Promoting fuel saving measures as vital to energy security would help frame the oil shock as a technical problem to be solved, not a political issue to be fought.

Every effective tool for reducing fuel demand right now (free PT, cycling, EVs, lower speed limits) is a policy the NZ coalition government has spent two years dismantling.

My new piece in The Conversation on why they've gone quiet and how they get out of it.
theconversation.com/the-governme...

Mini-Hoon with Bernard Hickey and Anna Fifield I talked with Anna Fifield about her new substack, Between Giants, about China's links with Iran, about Winston Peters' chat with Marco Rubio, and how NZ is sadly tiptoeing between these giants

I talked with @annafifield.bsky.social about her new substack, Between Giants, about China's Iran links, about Winston's chat with Marco Rubio, & how NZ is tiptoeing between giants, rather than speaking up on humanitarian issues & the rules-based world order. #nzpol open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...

Luxon rejects calls for help as diesel hits $4.15/l PM says lower fuel excise or RUCs relief for households & businesses would be "irresponsible & unaffordable," for Govt finances, even though Govt debt barely a quarter of household debt

Chorus out: PM says lower fuel excise or RUCs relief for households & businesses would be "irresponsible & unaffordable," for Govt finances, even though Govt debt barely a quarter of household debt #nzpol open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...

A much-needed timeline cleanser this morning.

Oil and Gas=Peril and Poverty/ Solar and Wind=Prosperity and Protection 2026 has changed the psychological meaning of energy forever

Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuel has meant Freedom, Power.

Now, thanks to DJT, those meanings are shifting fast--it means Scarcity, Peril.

You want to feel safe now, you turn to the sun

And that psychological shift is enormous!

billmckibben.substack.com/p/oil-and-ga...

How Pakistan’s solar boom is shielding it from worst of Iran war crisis A quarter of Pakistani households are now using solar panels. This insulates millions of families from the energy crisis

“Now, I don’t care if the prices of diesel increase,” he says, proudly pointing to the sun above. “As long as there is this sun, I can grow my watermelons.”

*That* is energy independence.

But watching the last few days, I *am* increasingly worried about nuclear use. Yes, it's my focus and I'm sensitive to it to begin with. And yes it remains unlikely! But there are few other ways to take the visible frustrations of the WH and imagine which options they are considering.

Good news

Looks to me like the launch of the next generation Hilux Diesel Hybrid (after years of an old design) was a hit in March. www.toyota.co.nz/about-toyota...

Moonlighting? Did he get paid by both? Case for clawback? Or at least the IRD could have a crack. As it did at Sutch.

The plan to double tourism exports is unfunded MBIE report finds infrastructure hole of up to $3.5b in Govt plan to bring in extra 1m tourists & double exports to $20b by 2034; Yet Govt reaps $10.5b/year in GST, PAYE & levies from tourism

Chorus out: MBIE report finds infrastructure hole of up to $3.5b in Govt plan to bring in extra 1m tourists & double exports to $20b by 2034; Yet Govt reaps $10.5b/year in GST, PAYE & levies from tourism #nzpol #nz #newzealand open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...

Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by end of April? $2,531,088 has traded on "Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to no..." as of April 4, 2026. View real-time odds or trade on The World's Largest Prediction Mark...

10% chance Hormuz traffic returns to normal this month.

Great interview, one of the most enlightening especially around the New Zealand food system. The public narrative and reality are certainly oceans apart.

Thanks Dan. I’m in New Zealand.

🧵People often ask me if where I live in New Zealand is as great as my posts suggest and I always say that we've got all the usual problems (a few more lately with global shenanigans). BUT last night, I saw some things that perfectly sum up how awesome this place is. They're as follows: (1)

+1

Stone Age man

I'll finish where I started with Central Govt. See the yellow line - that's the big scary debt (financial liabilities). The green area is Govt's financial assets. Yes, there are more financial assets than liabilities. More than twice as much if you include land, property etc. [Ends]

Latest Crown accounts tell a depressing story in cold numbers. Our permaslump economy and tax cuts have stalled tax revenue. But higher benefit numbers and the inevitable march up in health and super costs are pushing spending up. (1/3)

Good news

Stuff did not put a paywall on The Post until 2023. A decade later than it should have.

Mini-Hoon Live with Bernard Hickey, Catherine Knight & Mike Joy on the Reality of Everything & Food Bernard Hickey talks with Mike Joy and Catherine Knight about food security and the Reality of Everything conference coming up at Vic Uni on June 26

I had a great chat recently with fellow substackers Catherine Knight and @mikejoyecologist.bsky.social about the upcoming Reality of Everything conference, and the issue of food security. This is open to all. #nzpol open.substack.com/pub/thekaka/...

Risky commando plan to seize Iran’s uranium came at Trump’s request A plan briefed to Trump last week to insert ground forces to remove Iran’s nuclear material would be a very difficult endeavor of a type never before attempted in wartime.

Risky commando plan to seize Iran’s uranium came at Trump’s request
A plan briefed to Trump last week to insert ground forces to remove Iran’s nuclear material would be a very difficult endeavor of a type never before attempted in wartime.
Gifted piece
wapo.st/4c1GyNi