𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴
banner
appropriations.bsky.social
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴
@appropriations.bsky.social
Minister of Appropriations (NAT).

Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Spathlin.

𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘆 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀.

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.
Well, it's not really a hybrid, it's got under 5 km battery range. The batteries are there only to provide extra power and to remove turbo lag lol. They're one of the more rare BMW's, harder to find. But they're around and quite interesting.
youtu.be/bcYLReUpqE8
BMW Active Hybrid 3 - One of The Rarest BMW's Ever Made (Info & POV Drive in 🇫🇮)
YouTube video by Nico Evaluates
youtu.be
January 31, 2025 at 2:51 AM
You can get an Active "Hybrid" 3 for about the same money, which is my favourite of that era. Nearly bought a mint condition blue one in... Wellington? Only a single turbo, but it'll have more power, 20 more horses, and no turbo lag.
January 30, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Oh, that's pretty good. Should be available off the shelf, not prescribed. Same goes for a lot of other medication in NZ.
January 30, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Still not bad on the price though. It's less Jeep and more Stellantis e-CMP vehicle. Should be very similar to the Opel Mokka and Peugeot e-2008.
January 21, 2025 at 9:09 AM
And if you're from Christchurch, this is a damn good buy $50k for a BMW i4, more expensive for more k's in Auckland, one of the best EV's I've driven (at least the top spec M50 model).
www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car...
January 21, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Polestar 2 and Jeep Avenger have deep sales at the moment on their 2024 stock.
January 21, 2025 at 7:18 AM
The cherry in the bunch here is that MG4. Other great options are: Polestar 2 @ $45k (RRP $70k) and Jeep Avenger @ $40k (RRP $70k). And just because it's a damn good deal at the moment, the Lexus Rz450e Core @ $66k (RRP $142k).
January 21, 2025 at 7:11 AM
New Zealand doesn't require you to get a visa if you have a US passport. You get issued a 3-month visitor on arrival (if you don't have anything else). There is an ETA, which does not function as a visa, but is a requirement that you have to apply for if you are visiting.
January 21, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Australia isn't getting the no cost deal, it's usually provided to developing nations, US allies that can't afford it. I can't even tell you what job it is that I do, that should be an indicator that, US/UK military hardware, isn't a poor investment. There are other options, but this one isn't bad.
January 15, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I'd go for the global standard. But really the US standard is the most accurate. Being addicted to fossils, it shows the most pragmatic range, rather than a figure that is exaggerated. Obviously if I hypermile, I can get way more range, but usually my range is about 5-10% less than EPA.
January 15, 2025 at 5:51 PM
That's like saying, China has no credibility because Temu exists. WLTP is a global standard, not just a German one.
January 15, 2025 at 9:41 AM
They are higher maintenance even when new. Australia does lack that infrastructure, but Australia can build that infrastructure. Which is what was always intended in the first place. Both options, at least for the RAN, would be upgrades, but we're considering worst case here.
January 14, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I wouldn't be too worried about that, the US has traditionally enjoyed providing allies with arms, even at no cost, not unheard of in the APAC region. Aus also purchased the GCS from the UK, while similarly the US picked a more traditional design from Fincantieri. F-35 was an unknown at a point too.
January 14, 2025 at 4:52 PM
You know you're getting nuclear submarines. NZ wants to sign a deal that, doesn't exist yet. Though more diesel-electrics would be better than less nuclear subs for Australia, doesn't mean that, it's inherently a terrible option. Even the older LA-class are still very capable.
January 14, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Every single study I've seen at best, does show a small amount of nuclear complementing renewables can be financially feasible in certain scenarios. Australia is less suited to them & really shouldn't be a primary goal for governments. Unless tech/mil priorities etc. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Stylized least-cost analysis of flexible nuclear power in deeply decarbonized electricity systems considering wind and solar resources worldwide - Nature Energy
Advanced nuclear reactors may lead to a significant reduction in the cost of nuclear energy. Duan et al. incorporate a wide range of potential advanced nuclear costs in their assessment of future deca...
www.nature.com
January 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Even governments elected on nuclear policy are quick to "clarify" their position, most likely due to the vast cost. I mean, if private companies are able to build and insure them by themselves, why not. If they can price gouge healthcare, why not nuclear?

www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/Q7...
Regeringen svänger om kärnkraftsreaktorerna: ”Inte fastställt mål”
Klimat- och miljöminister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) annonserade stort att minst tio nya kärnkraftsreaktorer krävs till 2040-talet. Men regeringen har nu dragit ti
www.aftonbladet.se
January 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
So how many GW do you think? Over say, just solar alone? You see this industry wide. EDF was nearly broken up to separate the profitable renewable side from the expensive nuclear. As with all nuclear projects it takes state intervention for it to work.
January 13, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Ruined his entire presidency as well. He managed to go from a compliant Senate, to a stone wall, that he never was able to budge, with that move.
January 13, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Which is true, but then there would have to be another replacement program it'll just be all a waste of time. At least, eventually Australia will have something with AUKUS. It will be good I'm sure, just much more expensive, at longer time scales. At least you know what you're getting, unlike NZ.
January 12, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The Model 3 is a way better vehicle than the Seal. UI isn't as good, app isn't as good. Power delivery and handling isn't as good either. Still, massive improvement over the other BYD's.
January 12, 2025 at 6:43 AM
That's because, after lobbying the government for ages (eventually other investors actually lost interest). Before the Tories left, they caved and approved the RAB funding model for SWC. Allows investors to make a profit without actually producing power.

www.bbc.com/news/busines...
New funding plan paves way for Sizewell C nuclear plant
The new rules are expected to boost the prospects of the £20bn nuclear power station in Suffolk.
www.bbc.com
January 12, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Even in China. But they keep them around for a combination of reasons. They need the energy (they're building basically everything), and they're experimenting with nuclear tech for various reasons, including for military purposes.
www.colorado.edu/cas/2022/04/...
Even China Cannot Rescue Nuclear Power from its Woes
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? This well-known Irresistible Force paradox comes to mind when considering the role that China
www.colorado.edu
January 12, 2025 at 6:27 AM
It was too late to sign the AUKUS deal in the first place. Too late now to back out. I always thought, in terms of capability, the French diesel-electrics would've been better anyways, something the US and UK don't have. Between the US and UK they've already got a glut of very capable nuclear subs.
January 12, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Not many NZ banks have physical stores anymore. There's TSB and SBS. There's still a few Cooperative Bank branches. Heartland is virtually entirely online. I was last with TSB, service was good for me. They still have a very good Platinum cash-back credit card. Depends on what you need.
January 12, 2025 at 3:23 AM