And then there were four

Written By: - Date published: 6:33 pm, October 11th, 2014 - 156 comments
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And then there were four?

David Parker is likely to join the leadership race tomorrow.

David Parker has announced he’s holding a press conference tomorrow, but hasn’t disclosed what for.

He’s the man behind the complicated policies like raising the age of super that Andrew Little says frightened voters away.

Looks like we might have a contest of ideas after all.

Update: Confirmed – David Parker is standing.

156 comments on “And then there were four ”

  1. Colonial Rawshark 1

    Let me get this straight. Slightly under 1/3 of the white men in the Labour caucus have now put their names up for the leadership selection. WTF.

    • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 1.1

      How about all of them 20+ (how many exactly, readers? I am not bothered to look up such a tiny detail) put their names forward?

      That way, the voting can be done on the basis of ranking the Labour MPs.

      Voters, collectively/in aggregate, can send a clear message about what they think about each of the MPs and their priority in the scheme of who voters would like to be represented in Parliament.

      Hey, the collective membership can do the list ranking of Labour MPs!

      🙂

      • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 1.1.1

        edit.

        My good friend tells me there are 32 Labour MPs in the House.

    • i have just announced over on the general debate thread..

      ..that i am formally stating my intention to stand for the leadership of the labour party..

      ..i am the circuit-breaker labour needs…

      [lprent: Are you sure you got that correct. I can’t imagine why Labour would need a broken circuit? I trust the volume of weed wasn’t the cause? ]

      • Clean_power 1.2.1

        I support your candidacy Mr Ure. I believe your excellent command of the English language and wonderful writing abilities make you the right person to spread Labour’s message.

        You have won my vote.

      • phillip ure 1.2.2

        @ lprent..

        ..so that neo-lib/fuck-the-poor circuit needs to remain intact..?

        ..(remember labour 2014 said they wd raise the incomes of the very poorest..to match the/any raise in inflation..that was it..!.)

        ..and ‘volume of weed’..?

        ..i wish..!

        • ghostwhowalksnz 1.2.2.1

          Dont you just love it how ‘everybody’ has invited themselves to the party who selects the next labour leader!

          The national party blogs are in full selection mode, the newspapers are a buzz with who should stand, who will stand, who will go.

          Of course The Standard features the candidates themselves, perhaps uniquely, why is that ?

  2. quartz 2

    He bags his leader for the loss despite being the deputy throughout the campaign, then he says he won’t stand and instead becomes the acting leader, then he stands? What kind of a game is he playing?

    • Bill 2.1

      What kind of a game is he playing?

      A losing one in which he’s the laughable pawn in the hands of Shearer, Goff, Cosgrove, Mallard, King…?

    • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 2.2

      It reveals his d-i-s-c-o-n-n-e-c-t and a game of being a garbled and mixed up mess?

      Btw, wasn’t he meant to be the caretaker, neutral, let’s-keep-it-seemly leader to steer caucus through the leadership primary? Ho ho ho.

      For his sake, I hope the press conference tomorrow is not about him putting his name forward.

    • ankerawshark 2.3

      1000+ Quartz @2

    • alwyn 2.4

      “becomes the acting leader, then he stands”
      Perhaps he found out just how comfortable the Crown limo the Leader of the Opposition gets is and decided he would like it permanently?

  3. karol 3

    Is it most likely that he will stand – or that the press conference is about something else: eg who he will be supporting in the leadership contest?

    • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 3.1

      An ‘acting’ leader, no matter how good an actor, should not be drawn into stating who s/he will be supporting in the leadership contest.

    • Cave Johnson 3.2

      Maybe he’s planning to announce that he will be resigning once the leadership contest is decided?

  4. Blue 4

    How many wannabe leaders do we need? This is getting ridiculous. All we need now is Stuart Nash running and the farce will be complete.

    • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 4.1

      I should write to Kelvin Davis and encourage him to run too.

    • BM 4.2

      Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.

      I think the best bet would be to can the primaries and just play Russian roulette until there’s only one left.

      • wekarawshark 4.2.1

        Actually I think Labour’s problem is definitely too many Indians not enough chiefs.

      • b waghorn 4.2.2

        @ bm as long as you go first sounds like a good idea.

        • The Al1en 4.2.2.1

          Assume 6 players and a six-shot revolver.

          Without spin:
          A has a 1 in 6 chance of eating lead; if A survives,
          B has a 1 in 5 chance of death; if B survives,
          C has a 1 in 4 chance of death; if C survives,
          D has a 1 in 3 chance of death; if D survives,
          E has a 1 in 2 chance of death; if E survives,
          F is dead.

          With spin:
          Every shot fired has a 1/6 chance of killing someone.

          A’s chance of dying is 1/6 for the first shot + (5/6)^6*1/6 for the second shot (since six shots have to miss to get to A’s second shot) + (5/6)^12*1/6 for the third shot + …

          A: Sum of (1/6)*(5/6)^(6*round number) – about .25

          B’s chance of dying is 5/6*1/6 for the first shot + (5/6)^7*1/6 for the second shot (seven shots have to miss to get to B’s second shot) + …

          B: Sum of (1/6)*(5/6)^(6*round number+1) – about .20
          C: Sum of (1/6)*(5/6)^(6*round number+2) – about .17
          D: Sum of (1/6)*(5/6)^(6*round number+3) – about .14
          E: Sum of (1/6)*(5/6)^(6*round number+4) – about .11
          F: Sum of (1/6)*(5/6)^(6*round number+5) – about .09

          http://ask.metafilter.com/80129/Russian-Roulette-Odds

      • Chooky Shark Smile 4.2.3

        lol…well it is better than sending all Labour’s rejects over to the Greens …as some idiot suggested

      • Foreign waka 4.2.4

        BM you still have not cottoned on what democracy is? Clue: not a corporation,…

    • Rodel 4.3

      What’s the problem ? 4 people, maybe more would like to be leader. So?

  5. ankerawshark 5

    WE might yet have David Shearer putting his hat in the ring…………wtf! Surely Robertson, Parker and Little will split the caucus vote. This could favour DC?

    I thought the likes of Robertson, Parker and Shearer were united?

    • It’s a preferential vote.

      • The Al1en 5.1.1

        Yes, but Parker, who won’t win the members or unions gives the GR supporters in caucus a second choice vote that won’t anoint DC or AL in the process.

        If only these idiots ran an opposition with as much intensity and planning as they do their leadership elections.

        • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 5.1.1.1

          Is that like Parker being put forward to supply a ‘spoiler’ effect against DC and AL so as to provide advantage to Grant?

          • The Al1en 5.1.1.1.1

            If Cunliffe wins the members, Little the unions, grant gets the caucus vote.
            Second choice votes by abc in caucus would give DC or AL the win. Probably not what they intended a couple of weeks ago.
            Having Parker stand get’s those second votes and GR is still in the leadership race.

            • Cave Johnson 5.1.1.1.1.1

              I ‘m not so sure that DC will win the membership vote. Much as the members might like to stand by him, they will be concerned that re-electing DC as leader could simply prolong the factional in-fighting in caucus. If Little can perform well in front of members I suspect he might swing it his way.
              I’m expecting to join up after the contest, but depending on who’s leader that could get deferred. 2 candidates would get my sign-up. One I’d probably wait a bit and see how he worked out. One would be a definite no.

              • The Al1en

                In my opinion the fight needs to happen and is long overdue, but yep, you could be correct about DC not winning, vilified as he has been, and thus seen as damaged, even if he is the best person for the job.

        • That doesn’t really make sense to me. What scenario are you proposing where it makes a material difference to the outcome by having David P run/not run?

  6. les 6

    hes easily the best…a haircut and some new glasses…yes..best of the bunch.

  7. TheContrarian 7

    I wouldn’t think Parker would have a chance. He is clever and knowledgeable but too much of a policy wonk. A good guy with good skills but skills better suited in strategy and policy formation….my 2c

    • Troubled Soul 7.1

      Parker is only there because Robertson’s bid is faltering against the prospect of a Cunliffe Little platform.

  8. Andrew Welsh 8

    Confusion in the Labour ranks? Goes to show why the majority of Middle NZ like JK and are turned off by the perpetual Labour bickering and preference for minorities and whacky ideas (such as quotas and CGT)

  9. Anne 9

    Are they deliberately turning it into a pig’s feast because Cunliffe has thrown his hat back in the ring?

  10. odysseus 10

    I think Mr Parker is very credible actually. Is knowledgeable, competent, does not appear to represent an ” interest “, and can do a good speech when required. My 86 year old mother says he is a very nice man. And he kinda looks like M J Savage.

    • Hamish 10.1

      I could never vote for a guy who thinks that raising the age of super is a good election campaign policy. HOw the fuck could anyone think that would be a vote winner with workers??

      • Cave Johnson 10.1.1

        That was a party policy. Not down to one man.

        • Hamish 10.1.1.1

          Nuh, that was Parker driving that one and he wouldn’t let it go in the face of popular opposition.

          • Cave Johnson 10.1.1.1.1

            I might be wrong about how Labour policy is arrived at (as a former GPANZ member I might be assuming Labour has similar conference-based policy ratification process as the Greens).
            How is it that a policy like this could be announced without the wider party being involved in policy development and ratification?
            How is it done in NZLP?

            • Cave Johnson 10.1.1.1.1.1

              OK, so I’ve done some research and NZLP’s policy process is rigorous as one would expect.
              .
              It does appear however that raising the superannuation age to 67 might not be a Labour party policy, despite what the press and Robertson, Parker, Cunliffe, Shearer and Goff have been saying (google easily confirms that all of these folks have spoken publicly in support of 67).
              .
              67 is not down to Parker. It was originally announced by Goff in 2011.
              .
              My question now, is why do NZLP MPs think they have the right to create policy on the fly, that is not actual ratified party policy?
              If indeed they have been doing this I would not support any of them as leader.
              .
              [if anyone can find any reference to 67 in actual policy documents I’d be pleased to have a link to it].

              • wekarawshark

                thanks for that!

                I’ve asked here before, and a few members have said various things at various times but the general gist seems to be that the policy was pushed from the beltway and the members had a hard time getting heard if they opposed it. I’ve also heard some members say they understood the rationale and so went along with it. It seems like beltway Labour believe it’s a financial necessity if they want to fund their other policies.

                There’s some discussion here,

                http://thestandard.org.nz/the-monkeywrench/#comment-900515

              • Colonial Rawshark

                Yes a very good summary, which avoids the fact that a simple word from Parker to Conference in 2013 that there was no fiscal or monetary reason to raise the Super Age, and that would have been the end of the useless, mistaken, damaging policy.

                • Ad

                  +1
                  But have you heard Parker take responsibility either for the policy or its electoral effect? Nope.

                  On election night, with the nations cameras thronging, Parker the deputy leader was in the same hall, but spent the entire night nowhere near Cunliffe or the media. He spent the time usefully outside the hall by himself, on his cellphone, doing the numbers, while hundreds of party workers who’d worked their guts out stood by DC.

                  • Colonial Rawshark

                    Ahhhh I didn’t know that. A major problem, and clearly a bad choice by DC for deputy. DC needs to figure out who his friends are and reward them, not his enemies.

                  • Anne

                    He spent the time usefully outside the hall by himself, on his cellphone, doing the numbers…

                    Aha, as I suspected. There’s a conspiracy (of sorts) operating here. We will need to work out exactly what it is, and who is involved. My own thoughts suggest the [apparent] sudden change of heart by Parker and the potential for one or two more candidates to enter the race is an attempt to spread the votes around as many candidates as possible. That could lead to the ABC- backed candidates, Robertson/Parker or Parker/Shearer coming through the middle?

                  • ankerawshark

                    AD ………..very interesting about Parker.

                    The number of times I heard DC warmly praising Parker would be counted on more than one hand.

          • Matthew Hooton 10.1.1.1.2

            I thought that under Labour’s new constitution, all policy was based on an agreed platform and signed off by party committees? How was policy signed off for this election?

        • phillip ure 10.1.1.2

          parker is notoriously stubborn..

          ..and that was his baby…

          ..and given that no potential coalition partner wd have gone along with it..

          ..so it was dead in the water..

          ..just compounds the mindfucking stupidity of the policy..

          ..killing all those votes..and for nothing..

          ..just that lack of strategic nous should disqualify parker from running anything more complicated than a cake-stall..

    • alwyn 10.3

      Just which M J Savage did you have in mind?
      I fail to see much similarity to the best known one. I guess if I squint and cross my eyes and do my best Clint Eastwood imitation there might be something.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Joseph_Savage#mediaviewer/File:Michael_Joseph_Savage.jpg

    • Clemgeopin 10.4

      All that may be true, but he undermined Cunliffe on national TV after the election thereby pinning the election loss on Cunliffe alone. Nice people wouldn’t do such untenable mean stuff in public, rather than sorting issues internally within Labour, would they? That is the reason I have gone off Parker, Shearer, Cosgrove now, and Hipkins for his historical unfair public demeaning of Cunliffe a couple of years ago.

      • ankerawshark 10.4.1

        Clem @ 10.4……………I agree.

        There was no reason at all to tell the msm and therefore the public that he had no confidence in DC. Very poor indeed and now that he is standing its looking even worse than that.

        • kiwisaver 10.4.1.1

          I agree.
          The fact that he did so publicly speaks volumes about him. Yes he has a very good brain obviously, but the way that he and other Labour caucus behaved after the election is dreadful.
          I think Cunliffe and Little in that order are the way to go.
          Parker should never have gone back on his word not to stand. Just gives MSM and Nats more reason to ridicule Labour.

  11. We’re one third of the way to Labour’s leadership election genuinely being ‘Twelve Angry Men’.

    And Cunliffe ain’t no Henry Fonda.

    • i thought more lord of the flies..

      ..and naked mud/jelly-wrestling appeals as a leadership criterea/contest option..

      ..throw them all into a room together..

      ..and see who walks out at the end..

    • alwyn 11.2

      Of course not.
      Fonda was the one on the jury.
      Cunliffe is the one in the dock.

  12. Cave Johnson 12

    Is this then a ‘Little Vs Parker’ contest?
    If we have two new and highly credible candidates, it would seem to highlight that Cunliffe and Robertson are both damaged brands whatever one might think of them personally.

    • Colonial Rawshark 12.1

      “damaged brands” – an utterly superficial way to think about people, and about politicians.

      • Cave Johnson 12.1.1

        Yeah I agree it’s superficial, but so is a lot of voter decision-making. It comes back to the old problem – do you want to win government or do you just want to have a new leader for your political club. Somehow it feels dishonorable to choose a leader based on wanting to win, but I presume winning govt is the priority for most members.

        • Hanswurst 12.1.1.1

          Cunliffe is not a “damaged brand” in any useful sense, simply because most people don’t spend all their time thinking about politics. Given the short time he has been leader, he doesn’t have anything like the name or face-recognition of somebody like Key, Clark or Goff, and there is no major scandal, damaging policy or cumulative feeling of disappointment/boredom/distrust etc. surrounding him.

          There has been a concerted media effort to undermine him, but most of it involves feints and stabs involving things that are very far removed from people’s daily lives. It is only effective in drowning out positive reasons to connect with him. Given time and the odd bit of good fortune, positive messages would eventually cut through, at which point any minor beta-ups like letters from eleven years ago, one-second pauses in debates three years ago (come 2017) and misrepresented apologies for being a man would make no difference.

  13. Clemgeopin 13

    May be he will say that his candidacy is untenable.

  14. Craig Glen Eden 14

    If Parker stands it show’s the Labour members he cant be trusted, what a Judas.

    • Chooky Shark Smile 14.1

      agreed!

    • boldsirbrian 14.2

      .
      @ Craig Glen Eden (14)

      Rubbish. Another example of Whaleoil 101.

      I had no idea until AFTER the election that Parker could no longer support Cunliffe.
      It’s perfectly reasonable for the leadership to be contested after a significant loss in an election. It’s why the Labour Party have a rule that the Leadership MUST be considered after every election.

      Cunliffe came in on the basis that he could make a difference. If he thought he had insufficient time to do so before the election, he made a major strategic mistake. I’m totally unsurprised that other MPS with leadership aspirations have been considering both their own personal aspirations, and their own abilities to lead the Party at this stage, with an election taking place. I cannot think of a better time to make a decision to stand for leader than this time. MUCH better than three months after the leadership election!

      I imagine that the entry of Little into the race was a catalyst for Parker to have a change of heart. Good on him. Seems to me he is starting from the back of the pack. But this is not even the start of the race.

      ALL candidates need to be given a fair go. Isn’t that what New Zealanders pride themselves on? Isn’t that what Labour supporters believe that they are better at representing? Robust discussion, surely. But Judas comment? Over the top. Of Everest.

      Mr. Botany (B.)

      • Craig Glen Eden 14.2.1

        You conveniently miss a few crucial points while be oh so far minded Mr Botany. One he said he wouldnt stand and then was put in as a caretaker leader, two his public display of he couldnt support Cunliffe because ………….. who the hell knows? 3 Its clear he had his own motives which where about what he see’s as being good for him and not about doing the right thing for the Party which is what he made out in the begging. So Judas it is Judas Parker what a piece of slime.

      • Colonial Rawshark 14.2.2

        Parker was deputy. Do you see him shouldering any burden for bad campaign decisions and bad leadership during the campaign? Do you see him wearing any blame for the stupid and unnecessary retirement age increase policy? Or do you just see him pointing all fingers at Cunliffe and none towards himeself?

  15. Gosh, too many chiefs and not enough indians. This leadership race is emphasising why Labour cannot come together as a team. The contenders (including the ones who may still put their hats in the ring) each have their own ideas and supporters in caucus, highlighting the factions in the party. I don’t think Labour is ever going to be able to come together until they can collectively and honestly back one leader. At the moment it is becoming a farce and perhaps more Labour voters are going to turn away. I for one am becoming confused about who to vote for now.

    • Rodel 15.1

      I repeat What’s the problem ? Just choose the one you want-pretty simple really. It was done last time when Shearer stepped down with 3 contenders.Now it’s 4 people, maybe more . Don’t be confused just because Rws are trying to tell us its farcical…it’s not.
      It’s called democracy.

      • Colonial Rawshark 15.1.1

        It’s a fine line between showing the electorate and the membership that you are a party which believes in internal democracy, and a party which is tearing itself apart because of MPs who can neither lead nor follow.

        That’s the problem.

        • boldsirbrian 15.1.1.1

          @ Colonial Rawshark (15.1.1)

          I see no evidence of a party tearing itself apart.

          We celebrate general elections in New Zealand as an example of good governance. Labour has certainly suffered a significant defeat, but the current Labour Leader election is a positive process, being conducted at the most appropriate time.

          I imagine that the result of the election will unify the Party. Some members will disappear, and others will join as a consequence.

          Mr. Botany (B.)

          • Jenny Kirk 15.1.1.1.1

            Goodness Mr Botany B @ 15.1.1.1 you are extremely hopeful.

            CR has it almost right – this is not a political party tearing itself apart, but a group of individually elected MPs who would like to rule without the necessity to have a political party behind them.

            I think it was Shearer who said yesterday on The Nation that if the party chose a Leader who (some) in the caucus deemed unsuitable, then there would be a revolt (presumably by those caucus members).

            These guys are incredibly arrogant, and are not there for the Party nor for the people they purport to represent. They are just there for themselves, and their cosy salary ,,,, oh, and the obsequious bowing and scraping which comes with the job !

            • Clemgeopin 15.1.1.1.1.1

              Well said.

            • Annie 15.1.1.1.1.2

              A revolt might be welcome, they could revolt themselves right out of Parliament so we can rebuild the party.

            • swordfish 15.1.1.1.1.3

              “….a group of individually elected MPs who would like to rule without the necessity to have a political party behind them.”

              Shades of Blairite New Labour in the UK. A core feature of Blair’s “modernisation” of the British Labour Party in the mid/late 90s was the centralisation of power around a few Party elites , the undermining of democracy within the Party, and a reliance on the media to set the broad policy agenda. UK Labour became an elite-driven vehicle profoundly influenced by media elites, rather than a mass-membership Party with strong grassroots input .

      • boldsirbrian 15.1.2

        .
        @ Rodel (15.1)

        Tick. Score 11 on a 10 point scale.

        Mr. Botany (B.)

  16. ankerawshark 16

    CGE @ 14 100+

  17. Vaughan Little 17

    There’s quite a bit of bluster around about the contenders.

    they all have their good points, and none of them is a genuinely terrible idea.

    surely magnanimity is a naturally leftist virtue…

    I’m starting to suspect, from reading comments here, that if you’ve been around the block enough times you’ll go crosseyed. i.e., cynicism is an occupational hazard for older people, and it can prevent them from seeing things in the most helpful light…

  18. Clemgeopin 18

    I am suspecting that some of these candidates are just cunning knives aimed to defeat Cunliffe somehow, by hook or by crook or to make it harder for DC to win.

    • Chooky Shark Smile 18.1

      If Cunliffe loses despite the membership voting again for him ( it is the membership vote which should count )

      ….he should leave the rogered Labour Party and take the membership with him

      ….and set up an alternative Labour Party ( not sure what you would call it)

      • lurgee 18.1.1

        What, you’re saying it’s okay for people to ignore the result of a contest held under pre-agreed rules because they don’t like it?

        • AmaKiwi 18.1.1.1

          No. What he’s saying is a democratic party is governed by the majority of its members, not by two dozen MPs.

          • lurgee 18.1.1.1.1

            It was rather a rhetorical question as he (?) is clearly saying it’s okay for people to ignore the result of a contest held under pre-agreed rules because they don’t like it. He (?) is wrong. If Cunliffe loses under the pre-agreed rules and quits in a sulk, it will diminish him still further. No-one likes a sore loser.

            As for a new party, it is just possible Cunliffe could hang on in New Lynn, but his new ‘party’ would be little more than the new United Future vanity project. Is that really the future you want for him?

            • Chooky Shark Smile 18.1.1.1.1.1

              @lurgee…..i am hermaphrodite ok…no more “(?)” question marks about my sexuality….i dont care if I am thought to be a male Chooky..i find it amusing

              @ Amakiwi …yes really it is the grassroots membership vote that MUST count….NOT the caucus vote and NOT the unions vote

              ( this is one of the reasons Labour lost the Election….because of backstabbing and lack of support for the elected Labour Leader by caucus)

              Labour should run their elections the way the Greens do…this gets rid of factional groups…careerists( past their use by date), special interest groups ( which are not necessarily an electoral winner) etc ….and there are no questions/problems about whether the grassroots elected leader should be supported or not…(so anyone who undermines the leader or does not cooperate should be put in their place or expelled as a trouble maker )

              ….also Labour should be continually testing policy formulations on the grassroots membership ….this is the acid test for a successful policy that will be a vote winner for Labour in General Elections

              • Clemgeopin

                Good points to consider. The caucus should learn to be loyal to their leader and to the membership. If they can not do that, leave.

  19. AmaKiwi 19

    Reply to 18.1

    Cunliffe could well leave politics for a “normal” job, but he won’t start a new party.

    • Chooky Shark Smile 19.1

      well yes that is probably true….but imo if the Labour Party continues on the fractionated leadership battles way it is going ….and does not stay loyal to Cunliffe ( who faced an up hill battle from both within and without) …the prognosis is not good for Labour

      ….. and Left ( Labour) alternative(s) will be found

  20. dave 20

    don’t be to sure of that Parker is highly thought of amongst the members

    • ankerawshark 20.1

      Where is your evidence that Parker is highly thought of by the members?

      There was some talk of his conference speech, which was an o.k. speech, but I think it got praise, because people were expecting so little of him.

      BTW I was there for his conference speech and thought it was ok/good, but it didn’t set the world on fire imho

  21. karol 21

    Sunday Star Times reckons Parker is standing because of Little attacking his economic policies:

    Little launched his bid by signalling he’d dismantle Parker’s flagship economic policies including raising the pension age and a capital gains tax.

    Parker is popular with the party and carries mana within the Labour caucus and will take votes away from caucus favourite Grant Robertson.

    But Little’s targeting of contentious policies such as raising the pension age, free doctor’s visits for over 65s and a capital gains tax, has resonated with many in the party.

    That’s Tracy Watkins saying Parker is popular with the party.

    • Anne 21.1

      He may have been popular once, but I have my doubts he is now. His intransigence over the CGT and Super policy would have annoyed a lot of members.

      If indeed the SST is right, then it shows exactly what is wrong with Labour. Prima-donnas whose perceived loss of reputation weighs more heavily on their minds than party unity.

  22. Ad 22

    Russell Norman should put his name in the ring. At least we’d have a functioning opposition.

    • karol 22.1

      Or Metiria Turei – if you really want a functioning opposition. And it’d mean there was at least one female candidate.

  23. Ad 23

    Winston Peters would be an excellent Labour leader.

    • Skinny 23.1

      Peters signaled all was not well within Labour during the election. You couldn’t get that agreement from him, his laughing would be hard to stop. He does not rate Labour at all. And now with all the infighting, it’s little wonder he is spouting he is the legitimate leader of the opposition.

      I’m half expecting Parker to defect to NZF if he doesn’t win. Peters will see a deal can be done. NZF are in a strong position to build on their good election result.

  24. Skinny 24

    Parker always wanted the leadership from the time Helen threw the towel in, I believe she even preferred him as the chosen one.

    problem is too many MP’s want to be the Leader. Throw in Tyford, Lee Galloway, Ardern, Hipkin, Nash, and rejects Goff & Shearer. I can see another party formed at some stage after this leadership challenge if the caucus don’t get their way.

    • Anne 24.1

      I believe she even preferred him as the chosen one.

      No. Her chosen successor was Steve Maharey. He decided to quit politics after the untimely death of his wife.

      Her next choice as a far as I can ascertain was David Cunliffe. I was told he turned it down in 2008 probably because at that point he saw it as a poisoned chalice. It was around the same time that the anti-Cunliffe sentiment seems to have started and you have to wonder if it was originally prompted by jealousy.

    • greywarshark 24.2

      Skinny
      A new party might be the logical and useful way of sorting out the divisions. But I think the limpets will stick to the existing wall of Labour, and the disagreeing will have to start from scratch.

  25. Ad 25

    Labour’s most popular MP is Jacinda Ardern.
    Anyone remember Phil Goff saying politics isn’t a popularity contest?
    Whe it is.
    There’s a major part of the problem.

    • Colonial Rawshark 25.1

      Labour’s most popular MP is Jacinda Ardern.

      Amongst the membership or amongst the public? Cunliffe scored a 17.9% preferred PM rating just before the election. What did Ardern score?

      • Skinny 25.1.1

        Cunliffe will win back my vote if he campaigns publicly on a major clean out of dead wood MP’s within the party. It will be a ‘everything to gain nothing to lose approach’. This is what has been needed since 2007. I might start talking publicly on the matter outside of here.

        • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 25.1.1.1

          The membership is very clear sighted as to who are the MPs really doing their jobs as Parliamentary REPRESENTATIVEs, as contrasted with who are the ones playing games, calculating their self interest or hanging on for post-Parliamentary jobs.

  26. Troubled Soul 26

    Stop Press:
    Annette King is putting herself forward for the Labour Party Leadership. Trevor Mallard will be her campaign manager.

    King says she is disgusted with Shearer and Goff for pushing Parker forward as the fall-back should Robertson slip into third in the preferences after Cunliffe and Little.

    King says that on the daily “Anything But Co-operative” conference call it had been agreed that a Wellington Region MP was to be the back-up for the faltering Robertson.
    King says she has proven leadership skills having driven the successful ABC faction since October 2007 when Helen Clark appointed Cunliffe Health Minister rather than her. King insists that is was very mean of Helen to not give her Health for reasons un-related to the Hawkes Bay.

  27. les 27

    Parker and Adern as dep…best combo.

    • Troubled Soul 27.1

      Two LIST MPs! Yeah right!
      Electorate: Ardern has not done the hard yards. She has not developed a broad church base in Auckland Central. She has a few hard working and bright fans but that is not an organisation. She needs to bind members to Labour rather than herself.

      Parliament: She was to mark Paula Bennett. Did she?

      Membership: I’ve seen her at some regional conferences. She wanders in late with a naughty air, looks around the ceiling or her phone when others are giving a speech and then leaves early. The Membership have each two eyes, a memory and a vote.

      Television: good and getting better.

      Caucus smarts? I don’t know. Robertson used her to do some of his dirty work under Cunliffe in the same way as he used Maryan Street to undermine Shearer.

      Nah!

  28. hoom 28

    Fucking ridiculous.
    And with the utterly useless Shearer even not ruling out candidacy Goff might as well throw his hat in too.

    Maybe the ABCs could exhume MJS & put in a Weekend at Bernies style campaign?

    Do these fools not realise that there is no ‘right’ candidate that the Dirty Columnists won’t praise as candidates but savage constantly when leader?

    At this rate Labour won’t ever get back in Govt unless some rump leftover MP or Two does a coalition deal with the ever governing Nats.

    NZ will continue on our rapid descent into 1 party, 3rd world, right wing banana republic until there is nothing left to sell out/off.

    • ankerawshark 28.1

      Homm @ 28 100+

    • Hanswurst 28.2

      And with the utterly useless Shearer even not ruling out candidacy Goff might as well throw his hat in too.

      I’m not a Goff fan, but even with the electoral baggage of a three-decade parliamentary career, fifteen years in government and previous incumbency, he would still be a better bet for electoral success in 2017 than Robertson or Parker.

  29. I’ve heard that Robertson has taken up yoga so that he can stab himself in the back.

  30. greywarshark 30

    “NZ will continue on our rapid descent into 1 party, 3rd world, right wing banana republic until there is nothing left to sell out/off.”
    We will not end up one party only. The Green Party has been going since it started as the Values Party and will continue as an alternative and numbers will build.
    And NZ First for now will also be there and if People get their heads straight Mana would be back.

    • Chooky Shark Smile 30.1

      +100 greywarshark….and a Left coalition is what is required ( without the undermining and backstabbing of other Parties on the Left)

    • hoom 30.2

      Sure but Greens are very stable about 10% on election night.

      They often poll quite a bit higher and they are often much more effective at being Opposition than the Labour clusterfuck has been & as much as I’d love to see them up in 20s or 30s %, I don’t think we will ever actually see it.

      With all the proven terrible stuff from Key still failing to put the slightest dent in the Key monstrosity, I really can’t see an end to it unless he gets taken out from within National & unlike Labour the righties are much better at sticking with a thing that works.

    • Marksman33 30.3

      Yeah, thats a thought Grey, if NZ did descend into a classic right-wing banana republic and the men in black uniforms started rounding up opposition in the middle of the night, wonder how many LP caucus members would be putting their hands up for leader ??????
      I can see a few of them jumping on the first plane out to Raro, and setting up an opposition in exile. Very brave.

  31. RedBaronCV 31

    Interesting. Parker doesn’t strike me as having the emotional nous to be a leader. More the person who makes the bullets rather than fire them. But I can’t get past his policy that everyone has to join kiwisaver without supports in place for those with lower or non existent lifetime earnings. That one policy removes universal super payments without discussion.

    As for Grant Robertson, I hesitate to say this but, despite his large personal vote in Wellington Labour had no scrutineers all afternoon in the Micheal Fowler booth, the largest in Wellington and none in some of the other booths that I was in. When I saw that I knew Labour where in trouble and frankly he should probably thank the Greens for getting a vote out for him.

    I still don’t think anyone would have done better than Cunliffe given the multiple policy handicaps he worked under.

    • Anne 31.1

      To be fair RedBaronCV, scrutineers are becoming less relevant. Once upon a time when the checking of each voter amounted to crossing them off a list with a ruler and pencil, it was important to ensure they were doing the job properly. Now, voters are electronically checked and about the only use the scrutineer has is to show off the party rosette. I know Labour – and probably the Greens too – prefer to have the workers out on the roads door knocking or ringing identified voters and encouraging them to the booths to vote etc.

      • RedBaronCV 31.1.1

        In a a practical sense yes but there is the last minute impact on the undecided voter and the overall image that simply not enough people are working for you. Oh and keeping other scruitneers honest??

        • Colonial Rawshark 31.1.1.1

          Psychologically it is extraordinarily important to voters – red and blue – to have a scrutineer with a red Labour rosette there at the polling place.

          Just consider how many people turn up at polling booths with their minds still not fully made up on who they are voting for.

          • Lanthanide 31.1.1.1.1

            “Just consider how many people turn up at polling booths with their minds still not fully made up on who they are voting for.”

            Yep, even if it’s only 2-3% who can be swayed, if they turn up and see a smiling person dressed sharply with a blue National rosette on, vs no one for Labour, that could easily be enough to sway them.

            • Lindsey 31.1.1.1.1.1

              Yes, very important to have at least 1 scrutineer in each Polling place. There are older people who will not or cannot door knock who are happy to be the smiling face with the Labour rosette. A chap I worked with was a Poll Clark in Auckland Central last election and several people asked him why there was no Labour scrutineer.

              • Lanthanide

                But similarly, if all of your scrutineers are oldies, then you just look like a party for oldies.

          • Keir 31.1.1.1.2

            This is complete and utter nonsense. Scrutineers are only useful if you’re running a full Reading System election day, which no-one in New Zealand has the resources or skills or systems to run these days. The idea that voters are swayed by the sight of a rosette in a polling place is bizarre and has no evidential basis.

            If someone will only scrutineer on election day, fine, that’s ok. But if they are willing to do anything else – knock on doors, make calls, hell, make the tea – they should be doing that.

            I’m pleased to hear that Grant and Jacinda’s campaigns had sensible allocations of resources on election day.

    • ankerawshark 31.2

      REd Baron CV @ 31

      No Labour scrutineers at another Wellington Central booth, where a contact of mine was employed.

      • fisiani 31.2.1

        No Labour scrutineer at Aro Valley just National and Greens. Interesting the Party vote for both those parties increased at that booth probably due to last moment seeing a blue or green rosette. Robertson did not want a high Party Vote and got his wish, less than 10,000.

  32. greywarshark 32

    Don’t forget to think about what you might like to ask Andrew Little to get a better idea of his thinking his intentions. Go to –
    http://thestandard.org.nz/cum-a-disputatione-andrew-little-3pm-sunday/
    Q&A with Andrew Little 3pm Sunday
    Written By: lprent – Date published: 8:38 pm, October 10th, 2014 –

    He is coming here at 3 pm this afternoon and there aren’t a lot of comments. Perhaps just a short question and why you think something should be done in that area in 25 words say.

    It wouldn’t need a big detail of what Labour should do and hasn’t been doing etc That would go elsewhere. I realised when I put something up the other day that it was in the wrong place so suggest others don’t make my mistake.

  33. Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 34

    “Tombstone” appears twice this afternoon in his quotes. How to subliminally put people off. Not clever at all. Well well, if that is his poor choice of language heralding his announcement to enter the race, he should own the word as also having the probability of being prophetic for his leadership ambition.

  34. fisiani 35

    Cunliffe supporters will rank C ,P, L , R or C L P R
    Robertson supporters will rank R P L C or R L P C
    Do the rules state that candidates HAVE to be ranked or MAY be ranked? I do not know.
    Little supporters and Parker supporters have to decide which of C or R they dislike the most.
    Little simply has to avoid coming last and thus is bound to share in the likely Parker allocation and should get the lion’s share of this since a vote for P indicates a strong antithesis to both C and R
    If Little is then in second place for round 2 then virtually all the 3rd place votes would fall to him since first choice C would not vote R and first choice R would not vote C
    If Shearer chooses to stand then he would number 4 or 5 and this would increase the odds of Little winning

  35. Karen 36

    Did Parker back Shane Jones in the last leadership contest? There have been suggestions that this was the case, but does anyone know?

    • Troubled Soul 36.1

      Parker himself probably does not know! He is a ditherer. I don’t know how he decides which sock to put on which foot in the morning….or is it the night?

  36. Cave Johnson 37

    The report on Stuff has more details than the one on the Herald website.

    In reference to Super and CGT “scary” policies he said they were up for review.

    “Look, I am the money man and I was responsible for our finances, I produced a balanced budget where all our promises were paid for. The problem was, some of our promises weren’t wanted.”

    Parker says Little will win the unions, but he thinks he has strong support in caucus and the membership.

    It’s still looking like a Little Vs Parker contest to me at this stage and I think a lot will depend on how they come across between now and the vote.

  37. dave 38

    iam indecided i voted cunliffe last time i will be looking for a reformer not the statis quo
    and another thing who thinks we are off to war because our economy is fucked ????

  38. ankerawshark 39

    https://www.facebook.com/cunliffeforleader

    Just thought I would post this Cunliffe for leader facebook page in case people have not seen it.

  39. Cave Johnson 40

    DP on morning report still talking up 67 as something he thinks NZers would support in a referendum.
    Reporters saying DC was coming under pressure to withdraw?

  40. les 41

    Little needs to win an electorate seat to be credible.Cunnliffe…public hate him,Robertson…no WASP appeal…Shearer um,er,um….Parker has the most potential by a miles.

    • Cave Johnson 41.1

      I don’t see how winning an electorate seat is relevant.
      DP clinging to 67 shows poor instincts.

      • les 41.1.1

        an electorate seat is a pretty telling barometer of public popularity!The 67 policy can be quietly dropped for another day.It beggars belief that Labour have not figured out the worst 3 letter word in politics is TAX.No place for naievity in politics these days..KISS!

  41. Tom Gould 42

    Fascinating to watch the Cunliffe supporters moving into full attack mode on Parker over election policy their hero advocated and pushed hard for and that Little was happy to vote for. At least Little is big enough to now say he made a mistake, I guess.

    • NeutObserver 42.1

      Yes, the gulf between DC & DP appears to be widening by the day.
      Nobody would have thought that up until a few weeks ago they were leader and deputy leader. That’s loyalty for the rest of us.

  42. Pat O'Dea 43

    And then there were three.

    The ABC’s get their wish.

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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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