APEC, TPP, Crosby-Textor, Philip Morris & John Key

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:33 am, October 8th, 2013 - 76 comments
Categories: australian politics, capitalism, climate change, crosby textor, democracy under attack, energy, john key, slippery, Unions, us politics - Tags:

It’s curious than John Key has stepped into the breach to chair the TPP discussions, in Obama’s absence from APEC Summit. Of course the anonymous NZ Herald Editorial claims it is something to cause kiwis to be proud.

I guess we won’t hear or read of Key being critical of the likes of Big Tobacco company Philip Morris, and the pressure it’s putting on the TPP negotiations to over-ride democratic legislation within (supposedly) sovereign states. Prior to the start of the APEC Summit, some concerned medical experts had urged Key not to bow to one of the APEC sponsor’s Philip Morris.

Philip Pattemore and George Laking on NZ Doctor site last Friday stated:

Dear Mr Key

We note you are a featured speaker at the APEC CEO summit in Bali on 5-7 October. This meeting has, as a major sponsor, Sampoerna, an Indonesian subsidiary of Philip Morris, the tobacco giant that manufactures and markets Marlboro cigarettes.
[…]We are concerned that you as Prime Minister by participating in an Industry-sponsored conference will thereby accept an Industry service. We do not see how it can be appropriate for the Prime Minister of New Zealand to speak at a tobacco company sponsored event.

We note that Philip Morris is engaged in an investor-state dispute with the Australian government over legislation for the plain packaging of cigarettes. The industry claims this measure will cause billions of dollars of lost investment earnings based on its intellectual property – its logo and branding. It is abundantly clear that the tobacco industry expects this legislation will decrease smoking. Yet they ignore the public health implications and persist in trying to over-ride the democratic action of the Australian government.

The APEC website does indeed show that Sampoerna/Philip Morris is a platinum sponsor, though not one of the main hosts. However, the main hosts are no less cause for concern, with them being mainly investment and/or BIG Energy type companies.

Nevertheless, I have been wondering how John Key got to be the Chair for the TPP discussions, given the networks of influence that link John Key and Philip Morris via Crosby-Textor, as I have already posted. These networks also incorporate Big Oil, with anti-climate change agenda, as I included in my post:

John Key -Crosby Textor- big tobacco- big oil & fracking-Crosby Textor-David Cameron.

As I reported in that post, David Cameron had received a lot of public criticism for his Crosby-Textor linked connections with both Philip Morris and the fracking industry.

And to that, I would add London Mayor, Boris Johnson, who Key recently cosied up to in some photo ops.

Philip Morris Tobacco, is also linked with Big Oil. Until recently they were part of the Altria group, which includes Big Oil (and wine). According to Wikipedia,

According to the Center for Public Integrity, Altria spent around $101 million on lobbying the United States government between 1998 and 2004, making it the second most active organization in the nation.^[16]^[17]

Altria also funded astroturf organisations such as The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition which lobbied against the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change.^[18]

The Australian Council of Trade Unions, named Philip Morris as one of its concerns about the TPP discussions at APEC this week.

ACTU calls for leadership and restraint during the APEC leaders’ meeting in Bali amid fears the Coalition could sign away Australia’s right to protect itself against international lawsuits and enter patent deals that could see the cost of PBS medicines skyrocket by as much as 20 per cent.

ACTU president Ged Kearney said, “After almost four years of negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) Australia should expect immense pressure from the US to sign agreements that are not in our interests.”

“We could end up in a situation where foreign corporations are able to sue the Australian Government and vicariously tax payers for making laws that protect our best interest – for example, laws that protect farm land or our health. It’s outrageous.”

With the USA’s push to have certain clauses called “ISDS” foreign corporations could sue the Australian Government in response to developments like we are seeing in the area of coal seam gas exploration. Communities and farmers want appropriate analysis completed before exploration can begin. State governments have agreed to this but it could be overturned by foreign companies who would complain about lack of trading rights.”

“We are already seeing this issue with Phillip Morris suing the Australian government for introducing plain cigarette packaging. This is possibly due to an early 1990s investment treaty with Hong Kong.

“The ‘ISDS’ clause effectively gives corporations more rights than governments.

“It is important that the Prime Minister holds strong on these issues and not cave into pressure that would benefit the multinational corporations but handicap the Australian Government.

The ACTU statement goes on to express concern of issues like intellectual copyright and affordable medicine, which are also TPP concerns for many Kiwis.

So, John Key’s appearance as an Obama surrogate in Indonesia, is more cause for concern than celebration – just more of his crony capitalist, elitist, big corporate serving interactions that lack democratic transparency.

76 comments on “APEC, TPP, Crosby-Textor, Philip Morris & John Key ”

Comments are now closed

King Kong 1

8 October 2013 at 10:43 am

I didn’t read this because it looked too long and boring but the title had the whiff of conspiracy theory so can anyone sum up and tell me if the moon landings were faked or not?
- Sable 1.1
  
  8 October 2013 at 10:46 am
  
  Yes just like internet spy networks that see data from Kiwis handed over the US was all a conspiracy theory. Wake up.
- travellerev 1.2
  
  8 October 2013 at 10:52 am
  
  Bankster John Key has most of his money in shares in BOA. The TPP is a bankster financial deregulation tool and a backdoor looting institution making everything the big Corps do legal while the 99% are gagged, tied and bound to serve in the neo-feudal system this will create.
  
  What better to have John “the Smiling Assassin” Key do what he has been doing for the last 30 years. Close the deal with another difficult “customer or two. Lisping, effeminate and looking bloke, the collonial clot, who could not fall for his stumbling bumbling act!
  
  That short enough for ya. KK?
- karol 1.3
  
  8 October 2013 at 10:55 am
  
  So you are commenting without any knowledge of what you’re commenting about? Cool. Don’t expect anyone to take you seriously then.
  
  Maybe things need to be written in comic strip form in short simple sentences to get your attention then, KK.
  - King Kong 1.3.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 11:38 am
    
    To be fair, a comic strip is probably not a bad format for some of these fevered fantasies.
    
    The Neo Lib/Evil Corporate Avengers, volume 1 – “Trading in Death”
    - Paul 1.3.1.1
      
      8 October 2013 at 11:44 am
      
      Did you read it or are you judging the story without evidence?
- fender 1.4
  
  8 October 2013 at 11:17 am
  
  Well you are a bigger fuckwit than I had previously realised King Kong. Why you would even bother commenting on something you aren’t prepared or able to study makes you look like the perfect Key supporter, again…you are a major fuckwit. Please do something worthy of a ban, because you are a complete waste of space on this great site.
  
  Another great post Karol, thank you, and don’t go changing to a one sentence writing format to appease any monkeys with concentration issues.
  - weka 1.4.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 2:27 pm
    
    “Why you would even bother commenting on something you aren’t prepared or able to study makes you look like the perfect Key supporter, again…”
    
    I think you are being overly generous there fender. On a good day I’d call KK an out and out tr0ll. Other days he just strikes me as an arsehole.
    - fender 1.4.1.1
      
      8 October 2013 at 2:40 pm
      
      +1
      complete arsehole
      - peterlepaysan 1.4.1.1.1
        
        8 October 2013 at 9:39 pm
        
        Excuse me arse holes serve a useful purpose. I dare you to get rid of yours.
        
        It follows KK is not an arse hole.
        
        He is obviously capable of emitting shit.
        
        Not sure what the correct term for that is, DPF, whaleoil?
- Paul 1.5
  
  8 October 2013 at 11:43 am
  
  Then don’t read it KK and go play with your friends at the sewerblog.
  Aren’t you on holiday at the moment?
  
  “The whiff of conspiracy theory”
  A conspiracy theory is an explanatory proposition that accuses two or more people, a group, or an organization of having caused or covered up, through deliberate collusion, an event or phenomenon of great social, political, or economic impact.
  
  I guess you believe in ‘coincidence theory’ in life then.
  - Tracey 1.5.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 2:07 pm
    
    are you feeding the trolls, Paul.
- Paul 1.6
  
  8 October 2013 at 11:51 am
  
  Conspiracy Fact # 1
  
  1605 The Gunpowder Plot to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament as prelude to a popular revolt in the Midlands, during which James’s nine-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was to be installed as the Catholic head of state; often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot.
  
  “A conspiracy theory is an explanatory proposition that accuses two or more people, a group, or an organization of having caused or covered up, through deliberate collusion, an event or phenomenon of great social, political, or economic impact.”
  
  Or maybe it was a coincidence?
  - David H 1.6.1
    
    9 October 2013 at 9:13 am
    
    And the most interesting things about the Gunpowder Plot,
    1: Guy Fawkes managed to cheat the ‘Hangman’ because as he was being moved from the Gallows to the area for the Quartering he managed somehow to throw himself off of the gallows and break his neck.
    
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes#Trial_and_execution
    
    And 2: The most interesting, Guy Fawkes is the only terrorist, who’s crimes have been celebrated every year since his attempt to destroy the English Government.
    - kenny 1.6.1.1
      
      9 October 2013 at 3:15 pm
      
      The ‘celebrations’ are to mark the fact he was caught, not that he tried to commit the act.
- Paul 1.7
  
  8 October 2013 at 12:01 pm
  
  Conspiracy Fact # 2
  Conspiracies do actually happen a lot.
  
  The Manhattan Project 1940s
  
  The Manhattan Project was the code name for a project conducted during World War II to develop the first atomic bomb. The project was led by the United States, and included participation from the United Kingdom and Canada. Born out of a small research program in 1939, the Manhattan Project eventually employed more than 130,000 people and cost nearly US$2 billion ($22 billion in current value). It resulted in the creation of multiple production and research sites that operated in secret. With the total involved, this makes it one of the largest conspiracies in history. Entire towns were built for short periods of time, employing people, all under secrecy and top national secrecy at that. The government never admitted to it, the media never reported on it, and people had no idea for over 25 years.
  
  Or maybe it was a coincidence?
  Conspiracy theory is a term that originally was a neutral descriptor for any claim of civil, criminal or political conspiracy.
  - Lanthanide 1.7.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 12:59 pm
    
    I don’t think a “conspiracy” involving 130,000 people is really a “conspiracy” so much as a “secret government programme”.
    - Paul 1.7.1.1
      
      8 October 2013 at 1:04 pm
      
      “A conspiracy theory is an explanatory proposition that accuses two or more people, a group, or an organization of having caused or covered up, through deliberate collusion, an event or phenomenon of great social, political, or economic impact.”
- Paul 1.8
  
  8 October 2013 at 12:03 pm
  
  Conspiracy Fact # 3
  Conspiracies do actually happen a lot.
  
  Watergate 1970s
  
  Watergate: Republican officials spied on the Democratic National Headquarters from the Watergate Hotel in 1972. While conspiracy theories suggested underhanded dealings were taking place, it wasn’t until 1974 that White House tape recordings linked President Nixon to the break-in and forced him to resign.
  
  Or maybe it was a coincidence?
- Paul 1.9
  
  8 October 2013 at 12:04 pm
  
  Conspiracy Fact # 4
  Conspiracies do actually happen a lot.
  
  The Iran-Contra Affair 1980s
  
  In 1985 and ’86, the White House authorized government officials to secretly trade weapons with the Israeli government in exchange for the release of U.S. hostages in Iran. The plot was uncovered by Congress in 1987.
  
  Or maybe it was a coincidence?
  - Colonial Viper 1.9.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 12:34 pm
    
    🙂
    
    The cycle time from tin-foil hat wearer to widely accepted fact has today become shorter than ever!
    - King Kong 1.9.1.1
      
      8 October 2013 at 12:44 pm
      
      Come on now!
      
      It turned out that it was true that the US traded arms to Iran in the 80’s therefore it must be true that the US Government brought its own buildings down on 9/11.
      
      You can do better than that.
      - blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 1.9.1.1.1
        
        8 October 2013 at 12:52 pm
        
        @King Kong
        
        Strawman argument. You can do better than that. (Or perhaps not)
        
        Pauls points are very valid; that just because an interpretation of an event is labelled as an outlandish ‘conspiracy’ because it seems unbelievable at the time, hasn’t stopped it from being an accurate reflection of what is occurring.
        
        This point was made in relation to the post, which you didn’t read and the post had nothing to do with 911.
        
        Read up or shut up.
        
        It would be nice to see your comments moved to open mike because they have no relevance to this post.
        
        [karol: I generally leave it to someone else to move comments, as I have no confidence I’ll do it correctly – who knows where the comment may end up? If it becomes necessary, I’ll probably send the comments to moderation and ask someone else to put it in Open Mike]
        
        King Kong 1.9.1.1.1.1
        
        8 October 2013 at 12:54 pm
        
        So conspiracy theories can be true apart from the 9/11 one?
        
        [karol: can you all please keep your comments to the topic of the post, and not on any alleged conspiracies on other topics. KK, having not bothered to read the post, started this, & Paul moved it further into that territory, in order to be critical of KK’s comment]
        
        framu …
        
        8 October 2013 at 1:13 pm
        
        your the only one saying that KK
        
        stop being so thick
        
        blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) …
        
        8 October 2013 at 1:20 pm
        
        Thanks for saving me the bother Framu 🙂
        
        blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 1.9.1.1.1.2
        
        8 October 2013 at 1:32 pm
        
        @ Karol,
        I was aware that my comment was heading in the direction of telling you how to moderate, and I apologise for that, I very much tried to word it in a way that wasn’t doing that!
        
        In short, your post is excellent, thank you, and it is a drag to have someone create such a severe distraction.
      - Paul 1.9.1.1.2
        
        8 October 2013 at 1:03 pm
        
        Where did you get that from?
        I did not say the US Government brought its own buildings down on 9/11.
        
        I simply provided 4 pieces of evidence that suggest events happen because of conspiracies, not coincidence, which would seem to be your case as you use the disparaging definition of the word conspiracy. I tend to go for the less pejorative description of the words, where conspiracy theory is a term that is a neutral descriptor for any claim of civil, criminal or political conspiracy.
        
        On 9/11, I’m assuming you don’t believe that the buildings came down by coincidence. You believe that there was a conspiracy, I assume, organised by Osama bin Laden. That, KK, is a conspiracy theory.
        
        So you are a conspiracy theorist yourself. You just believe in different conspiracies.
  - weka 1.9.2
    
    8 October 2013 at 2:30 pm
    
    “Conspiracies do actually happen a lot.”
    
    Great list Paul, would make a good guest post 🙂
    - Paul 1.9.2.1
      
      8 October 2013 at 2:41 pm
      
      I have a few more, but thought I’d made my point!
      It was prompted by KK’s dismissive ‘conspiracy theory’ comment, which is now used all the time to shut down debate and discussion, when of course pretty much everything happens because of a conspiracy of some sort or other..if you accept the basic description of the words, where conspiracy theory is a term that is a neutral descriptor for any claim of civil, criminal or political conspiracy.
      
      It is interesting how the control of language by the neo-liberals is the way they get to control the discussion. Unquestioning believers like KK can’t see this.
      
      9/11 is the perfect example of this.
      People who believe the story about Osama Bin Laden, 19 hoijackers, box cutters, etc etc are conspiracy theorists as this was clearly a ‘conspiracy.’ Not a very believable one either.
- Linz 1.10
  
  8 October 2013 at 1:19 pm
  
  Just ignore King Kong. He’s craving attention again, poor little chappy.
- emergency mike 1.11
  
  8 October 2013 at 2:42 pm
  
  Tr0ll hungry, tr0ll got fed.
  
  Why feed it folks?
- risildowgtn 1.12
  
  9 October 2013 at 7:45 am
  
  nah clown
  u cant read its THAT simple
- North 1.13
  
  9 October 2013 at 8:43 am
  
  Real classy King Kong – “I didn’t read this……..” but sneer sneer sneer nevertheless.
  
  Well done. Classy !
- David H 1.14
  
  9 October 2013 at 9:03 am
  
  Every Morning the Knuckles drag a little lower!
captain hook 2

8 October 2013 at 11:45 am

kk is just a shit stirring little dweeb with no ideas of his own but to kissass from his masters who fund his whole little shabby show.
no amount of antiseptic or anti biotic is suficient to put down his brand of suppurating evil.
tinfoilhat 3

8 October 2013 at 11:46 am

Sponsorships at these international conferences doesn’t really amount to much influence at all. Back in the day when I was working, medical conferences were almost always sponsored by medical companies so they could get their banners up in the trade display halls and programmes – it didn’t make a jot of difference to the what we did in the hospital though.

I’m sure both the learned gentleman also attend such conference where the sponsors are similar big name multinationals and it doesn’t colour the way they practice medicine.

….. oh and I am opposed to the TPPA unless I can see what it entails and what benefits there are in it for NZ.
- BM 3.1
  
  8 October 2013 at 12:05 pm
  
  This
  
  I was having a chat about conference sponsorship with the woman a couple of days ago
  She was showing me one conference she was involved with, they had sponsors for everything.
  
  And I really do mean everything, for example
  
  Sponsor for the after event drinks
  Sponsor for the bottled water
  Sponsor for the onsite cafe
  Sponsor for lunch
  Sponsor for Dinner
  Sponsor for the pens and paper
  etc
  etc.
  
  Big money events, these conferences.
- karol 3.2
  
  8 October 2013 at 12:35 pm
  
  Well if sponsorship doesn’t result in much influence, then why do companies spend money on it?
  
  And actually the APEC Summit foregrounds sponsors and talks up the opportunities for Big Business to engage with government reps.
  
  From APEC’S “Programme Highlights”:
  
  Hear from the Leaders of the Asia Pacific including President Xi Jinping of China, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, President Park Geun-Hye of Korea, President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico and Secretary of State John Kerry of the USA.
  
  Over 1,000 global business and thought leaders are expected to be in attendance, providing extensive networking opportunities with senior delegations in particular from China, the USA, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and Indonesia.
  
  And from APEC’s overview of the Summit:
  
  The Summit program will be exceptional and will include the Presidents and Prime Ministers of the Asia Pacific, some of whom are new, CEOs of global corporations and thought leaders in a dynamic interactive format.
  
  Through the discussions on stage, and through the high quality networking, delegates will gain the latest and perspective on the issues that matter most to your business and the region.
  
  And then there’s the dinner hosted by Philip Morris at this week’s APEC Summit, as on youtube:
  
  President Benigno S. Aquino III was honored with a sumptuous dinner hosted by Philip Morris Chief Executive Officer and APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) member Andre Calantzopolous after speaking at the APEC CEO Summit on “Why Inclusive Growth Matters”.
  
  The President was joined by other ABAC members from the Philippines, USA, South Korea, Indonesia, Peru and Russia.
  - Puddleglum 3.2.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 12:52 pm
    
    Exactly. This isn’t sponsorship in the usual sense. It is buying access and influence – not a stall to advertise your wares.
  - blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 3.2.2
    
    8 October 2013 at 1:14 pm
    
    Re sponsorship:
    
    ‘a new approach to marketing ideas has been created on the basis of psychological research that no longer is interested in directly targeting an audience’s conscious mind, but rather appeals to a subject’s unconscious and influences its behaviors and beliefs without he or she being aware of it. This is not ‘subliminal messaging,’ but rather a calculated and very well documented set of techniques”
    
    This article explains techniques that target the unconscious. The article is about muzak, mall design and product placement in films, however I believe that sponsorship is a form of product placement that employs just such techniques aimed at the unconscious.
    
    “All of these occurrences employ some level of unconscious influence exactly because they are encouraging consumers in a way that would not be popular if the public was aware of it. Unconscious motivation is not employed solely because of its success rates or as a result of the dramatic increase in advertising competition, but rather because it can make the public act on and believe in ideas that they would consciously reject. ~Brian Walsh
    
    Edit: Unsure whether the links are working
    
    http://www.ibiblio.org/nmediac/winter2002/mind.html
  - miravox 3.2.3
    
    8 October 2013 at 5:43 pm
    
    thought leaders
    
    huh?
- Tracey 3.3
  
  8 October 2013 at 2:11 pm
  
  bullshit. That you think that doesnt make it true.
  
  sponsorship like advertising works
  
  THAT’S WHY COMPANIES SPEND MILLIONS/BILLIONS ON IT.
  
  It’s about access, inside running, inside info and sub conscious permeation of the punters. Yu are being very naive to think otherwise tinfoil
  - tinfoilhat 3.3.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 3:52 pm
    
    Oh dear Tracey, I suppose I could respond with the same retort to you.
    
    Of course these gigantic conglomerates spend vast amounts of money they have vast amounts of morons at various echelons justifying their existence by spending it just because they do so does not automatically mean it causes a corruption. Let’s face it you have buffoons in NZ like Matthew Hooten who will happily spend up large and achieve very little indeed.
    
    It all depends on how open those who are subjected to the various PR and spin are to accepting and acting on it. For example George Laking is by all accounts an excellent oncologist up at Auckland and will attend conferences sponsored by pharma companies and medical companies regularly to suggest this effects the way he treats his patients would IMO be quite wrong.
    
    On the subject of tobacco companies I wish they wold all disappear tomorrow but I don’t think they have much, if any effect on NZ governments.
    
    I believe that the fact that last several NZ governments have been quite cowardly towards tobacco in NZ has far more to do with the loss of the tax take and alienating smoking voters than anything else.
    - Tracey 3.3.1.1
      
      8 October 2013 at 4:24 pm
      
      Of course you are entitled to your opinion. I am not saying they have total control but nor do I assume that people are able to repel every tactic they use.
      
      Jaques Ellul postulated that in fact the intelligentsia were the most susceptible to propaganda and its tactics because they are like sponges to information they receive and love to disseminate it. These are the very people who scoff at propaganda because “they” are able to rebuff it.
      - karol 3.3.1.1.1
        
        8 October 2013 at 4:35 pm
        
        Actually, in the case of APEC, I don’t think it’s just about the dark marketing arts of persuasion (with strong use of propaganda techniques). The whole Summit is promoted as a place for business people to network with government reps.
        
        Networking is a strategy promoted by many kinds of workplaces, as a way to achieve things for your workplace. in the case of APEC, and it’s association with TPP this week, is that it’s all the big corporates that are primarily positioned to network with government spokespeople.
        
        And then there corporates like Philip Morris hosting dinners.
        
        And John key is very much into that kind of networking with influential business people and others – since he decided to play golf way back.
        
        Tracey 3.3.1.1.1.1
        
        8 October 2013 at 4:38 pm
        
        I agree that it is being touted as an opportunity for business and delegations of govts to network. My comment regarding propaganda was specifically to tinfoil’s last comment.
        
        the “sponsorship” is just the smokescreen to legitimise their presence.
        
        Wayne has rarely commented, that I have seen, on the presence of the 400-600 corporates in this whole process of defining the TPP. They wouldnt be part of it if they weren’t trying to achieve something beyond what comes their way via the standard FTA.
        
        Paul …
        
        8 October 2013 at 4:40 pm
        
        Yes, Wayne, still not had an answer to this simple question.
        “But it’s o.k. for 600 corporations to give advice and be in on the meetings, ?
        
        karol …
        
        8 October 2013 at 4:44 pm
        
        Yes, Tracey. Agree with you. I was commenting on Tinfoil’s comments as as much as your’s.
        
        Tracey 3.3.1.1.1.2
        
        8 October 2013 at 4:41 pm
        
        For example I know of a major event in NZ which is televised and sponsored by a large bank. That Bank, as part of its sponsorship demands, and I use that word accurately to be sat next tot he PM every year. The event lasts a minimum of 4 hours. Each table has about 10 people. Sponsors are buying the opportunity to have the ear of an influential politician for the evening. For a member of the electorate to get that opportunity (dinner with the PM), they have to bid on it to win at an Auckland Grammar Cricket fundraiser!
        
        tinfoilhat 3.3.1.1.1.3
        
        8 October 2013 at 5:03 pm
        
        Yes….. ?
        
        I must admit I’m not sure what we’re arguing about, if anything.
        
        As I said i’m not convinced of any benefits of the TPPA as I haven’t seen any of the details, but I can’t really get excited about the sponsors at a conference organised by a foreign government at which we are pretty much obliged to attend. There’s certainly lots to have a go at Key about but I don’t see anything in this at all.
        
        karol …
        
        8 October 2013 at 5:39 pm
        
        One of my points is that there’s not a lot to get exited about with Key chairing that discussion – in contrast to the NZ Herald saying we should be proud Key is chairing it.
        
        Also, it’s in the discussions behind the scenes at such summits that fair bit of the deal making, or groundwork for it, is done.
        
        The doctor website I referred to also is keen for Key to reject Philip Morris’s influence at the summit.
        
        tinfoilhat …
        
        8 October 2013 at 5:47 pm
        
        Don’t know why anyone bothers reading the herald, they’ll conflate any little non event into a story on a slow news day.
        
        As I commented previously in relation to the two Drs press release – I don’t think it would be politic for Key to comment on the sponsors of a conference at which he’s an invited attendee – I pretty much doubt he knows who most of the sponsors are, I really think this is a non story.
        
        karol …
        
        8 October 2013 at 9:46 pm
        
        The sponsors would be upset to learn they’ve paid so much to be sponsors and to get front row seats for their CEOs etc, and the pollies didn’t even notice them.
        
        I was alerted to the sponsor angle by the Doctor statement, then went to the APEC site. There looked to be too much focus on the engagement with the big corporates in the raitonale for the Summit. This is in keeping with who has the power in the TPP negotiations and other policies.
        
        Also, there’s a lot of evidence about how corporates like Philip Morris, in tandem with Crosby Textor have had the ear of politicians – David Cameron in the UK for instance – I’ve linked to that evidence in previous posts.
      - tinfoilhat 3.3.1.1.2
        
        8 October 2013 at 4:58 pm
        
        John Key part of the intelligentsia….. thanks for that I haven’t laughed so much in ages.
        
        karol 3.3.1.1.2.1
        
        8 October 2013 at 5:41 pm
        
        Key is part of the propagandensia. The intelligentsia referred to above are the ones who claim that are not influenced by snake oil promotions.
        
        tinfoilhat …
        
        8 October 2013 at 5:43 pm
        
        I’m sure the first thing that’s given to new MPs is a membership card to the propagandensia !
fender 4

8 October 2013 at 12:04 pm

Obama has been quite a disappointment in too many ways, but having Key substitute for him has to be the ultimate booby prize. Highlights how sycophantic head nodders can get new gigs though, yes-men on parade.
- blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 4.1
  
  8 October 2013 at 12:36 pm
  
  +1 Fender
blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 5

8 October 2013 at 12:41 pm

The ‘people at the top’ must be utterly crazed. They are the ones who have most benefitted from the way the system is and yet they are acting to completely undermine it in trying to push through an ‘agreement’ like the TPP.

Ergo they are the ones who will end up losing the most when their actions cause this system to come crashing down. And it will. In fact it already is.

I’ll correct that to utterly crazed self destructive twerps.
Tracey 6

8 October 2013 at 2:08 pm

“This meeting has, as a major sponsor, Sampoerna, an Indonesian subsidiary of Philip Morris…”

The fact that it is sponsored by those seeking to benefit from it leaves more than just a sour taste in the mouth. The sponsor wont be privy to drafts or negotiations? Yeah Right.
- Paul 6.1
  
  8 October 2013 at 2:18 pm
  
  Governments need sponsors nowadays?
  - Tracey 6.1.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 2:33 pm
    
    under the guise of saving the people money they can let corporates wield their influence.
    - Paul 6.1.1.1
      
      8 October 2013 at 2:42 pm
      
      It’s New Zealand brought to you by Fonterra….
Wayne 7

8 October 2013 at 2:43 pm

Karol,

I know I will see you tomorrow, but I just don’t get your issue here, other than your general view about conspiracies and John Key.

Obviously a PM or President of one of the negotiating nations has to chair the meeting. It seems that NZ was largely chosen because we are the registry for the TPP. Clearly all 12 nations in the TPP negotiations because they want TPP to happen.

Although it would be a true conspiracy theory if a nation had joined the TPP negotiations to specifically sabotage the negotiations. Try Canada anyone?

In any event that nation will not be NZ.

I would also note that ACTU giving advice to PM Abbott is unlikely to be well received. If they were serious they might have tried to use a “friendlier” conduit for their message. But I guess PM Abbott was not really the target audience for the press release.
- Paul 7.1
  
  8 October 2013 at 3:14 pm
  
  “I would also note that ACTU giving advice to PM Abbott is unlikely to be well received. If they were serious they might have tried to use a “friendlier” conduit for their message. But I guess PM Abbott was not really the target audience for the press release.”
  
  But it’s o.k. for 600 corporations to give advice and be in on the meetings, Wayne?
- karol 7.2
  
  8 October 2013 at 3:30 pm
  
  Wayne, what does it mean that NZ s the Registry for TPP, other than NZ was one of the original countries involved in the negotiations and is the “administrator”?
  
  TPP has moved on since the earlier days and now, as well as more countries being involved, the US is dominating the negotiations.
  
  Then, after meeting with other countries’ reps. Key had talks with the US trade rep Mike Froman.
  
  Given that Obama is dominating the negations, and it seems likely nothing will be decided without him, it looks like Key is considered a subservient enough ally to chair the discussion.
  
  Key will be in the hot seat for the 12-member Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, after United States President Barack Obama pulled out of the conference.
  
  The talks will be crucial to meeting the US target of a deal by the end of the year, although
  
  After a tough round of bilateral talks on the fringes of the summit, Key heading into the meeting with Froman late last night (NZ time) warned of difficulties ahead to achieve the deal.
  - Wayne 7.2.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 3:54 pm
    
    Not really that surprising he would talk to the US trade rep, actually for the reason you stated, they are the largest economy among the 12 negotiating states.
    
    Actually this government values the US relationship, and getting to speak to their main players is sought after. Basically the NZ government puts its main focus on Australia, China and the US. I would ask, realistically would you have it any other way?
    
    And getting to speak to the main players in China and the US is always sought after by everyone. For a small country it is pretty hard to get “face” time with them, since so many other nations also are looking for it.
    - karol 7.2.1.1
      
      8 October 2013 at 4:03 pm
      
      I would prefer if our government took more of an independent line in negotiating with the various countries. I think Key’s government panders too much to the US government and to US-based (and other) corporates.
      
      I would expect US reps to be quite a bit of pressure on Key, given Obama’s absence. There were also signs that the US administration put heavy pressure on Clark re Trade & military deals, during her time as PM.
      
      BTW, if NZ is the administrator of the TPP, why was the leader of late arrival in the negotiations, the US government/President, initially going to chair the TPP discussions this week?
    - Paul 7.2.1.2
      
      8 October 2013 at 4:04 pm
      
      And what would you sell for that Wayne?
      Copyright law
      Pharmac
      The ability of corporates to sue the NZ government it it changes the law against their interests.
    - Anne 7.2.1.3
      
      8 October 2013 at 8:39 pm
      
      Actually this government values the US relationship, and getting to speak to their main players is sought after.
      
      No more so than the previous government Wayne. In fact it was the Labour govt. that took the initiatives to rebuild the relationship between 1999 and 2008. The fruits of their ‘labour’ became apparent after National came to power, which enabled your PM to claim all the credit. A decent PM would have acknowledged the work done by the previous government but I certainly don’t recall it happening. I guess that has never been Key’s style. He likes to have all the honour and glory for himself.
Ramsay 8

8 October 2013 at 3:10 pm

This is all a bit Glen Beck for my tastes.
- Tracey 8.1
  
  8 October 2013 at 4:27 pm
  
  arguing with idiots?
  - Ramsay 8.1.1
    
    8 October 2013 at 4:41 pm
    
    I’m referring to the drawing of lines between supposedly related parties on the (digital) chalkboard and the “through the looking glass” mentality.
    - karol 8.1.1.1
      
      8 October 2013 at 4:51 pm
      
      Ramsay, I have done a long string of posts on the theme of Key’s networks. So I tend not to repeat everything I have said before. It’s a dense mix of intersecting and overlapping networks. And they are something crucial to key’s MO.
      
      I recall under one post way back, I indicated a particular weekend when I thought Key had met with Ian Fletcher prior to his appointment as GCSB chief. Some right winger made exactly the kind of comment you have made here, about that guess on my part – it was a very educated guess, and I was pretty certain I was correct – and later it was confirmed by Key, in a public statement, that he had met Fletcher that particular weekend.
      
      I have a fairly strong background in research, and am used to following strongly indicated hunches and educated guesses – I look carefully for clues. Sometimes, with the lack of transparency around a lot of Team Key’s dealings, with the likes of TPP, we can only read carefully through and with the information we have.
Tracey 9

8 October 2013 at 6:51 pm

Tinfoil

who accused key of being part of the intelligentsia?

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Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Point of OrderBy gadams1000
4 days ago

EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
Skeptical Science
4 days ago

Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
4 days ago

The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
PunditBy Brian Easton
4 days ago

A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
4 days ago

On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
4 days ago

New Zealand has never been closed for business
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
4 days ago

Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
4 days ago

Release: Budget blunder shows Nicola Willis could cut recovery funding
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
Labour Blog
5 hours ago

Further environmental mismanagement on the cards
The Government’s resource management reforms will add to the heavy and ever-growing burden this Government is loading on to our environment. ...
Greens
8 hours ago

Release: RMA changes will be a disaster for environment
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour Blog
9 hours ago

Release: Labour supports urgent changes to emergency management system
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
Labour Blog
10 hours ago

Release: Labour calls for New Zealand to recognise Palestine
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: Three strikes law political posturing of worst kind
The Government is bringing back a law that has little evidential backing just to look tough, Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: Government cuts unbelievably target child exploitation, violent extremism, ports and airpor...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Three strikes has failed before and will fail again
Resurrecting the archaic three-strikes legislation is an unwelcome return to a failed American-style approach to justice. ...
Greens
1 day ago

Release: Environmental protection vital, not ‘onerous’
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: Govt cuts doctors and nurses in hiring freeze
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Fast-track submissions period must be extended
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
Greens
4 days ago

Release: Progress on climate will be undone by Govt
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Release: Dark day for Kiwi kids as a third of Govt cuts affect them
News that 1000 jobs at the Ministry of Education and Oranga Tamariki could go is devastating for future generations of New Zealanders. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

Release: Alarm as Government signals further blow to school lunches
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

Release: Quick, submit – stop Govt’s dodgy approvals bill
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Government throws coal on the climate crisis fire
The Government’s policy announced today to ease consenting for coal mining will have a lasting impact across generations. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Public transport costs to double as National looks at unaffordable roading project instead
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: Cost of living in Auckland still not a priority
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Greens look to fast-track submissions on harmful law
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Govt should stop making people’s lives harder and build more homes
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Melissa Lee missing in action on media
The action Melissa Lee promised to protect democracy and the media sector is missing, Media and Communications spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Landlord Government leaves little hope for renters
The Government’s announcement on tenancy rules prove that it does not care about renters. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Opportunity to build a more sustainable economy
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Significant step forward in fixing cruel and unjust past
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Missed opportunity but NZ will surely one day recognise the right to a sustainable environment
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to Government
Tens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention Office
Labour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

CCC issues warning over further climate delay
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadership
If talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Luxon targets are lousy example of leadership
If talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt priorities
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Methane target review is dangerous duplication
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled students
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Release: National must take mental health seriously
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwards
The Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...
Greens
3 weeks ago

Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cuts
New Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 hours ago

Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
10 hours ago

Overseas decommissioning models considered
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
11 hours ago

Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
12 hours ago

Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

Trade relationship with China remains strong
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

$41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Judicial appointments announced
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Taupō takes pole position
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Government backing mussel spat project
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Government focused on getting people into work
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Inflation coming down, but more work to do
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Elon Musk vs Australia: global content take-down orders can harm the internet if adopted widely
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 hours ago

Elon Musk says ‘disc replacement’ worked for him. But evidence this surgery helps chronic pain i...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 hours ago

The NSW treasurer says a slashed share of GST will cost his state $11.9 billion. But where did he ge...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 hours ago

Anti-gang laws faces heavy criticism at select committee
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
Radio NZ – political
3 hours ago

Anti-gang laws face heavy criticism at select committee
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
Radio NZ – political
3 hours ago

PNG’s PM Marape to ‘give hand to his bro’ Albanese on Kokoda Trail
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
4 hours ago

Ministry of Social Development accepts 200 voluntary redundancies – PSA
The Public Service Association says further job cuts are likely. ...
Radio NZ – political
5 hours ago

Many Australians face losing their homes right now. Here’s how the government should help
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
5 hours ago

French security forces in Nouméa ahead of two opposing marches today
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
5 hours ago

Just 1 In 6 Oppose ‘Three Strikes’ – Poll
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
Scoop politics
5 hours ago

Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko reveals the frightening talent of Ana Scotney
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
The SpinoffBy Madeleine Chapman
6 hours ago

Curious Kids: who makes the words? Who decides what things like ‘trees’ and ‘shoes’ are call...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

We’re only using a fraction of health workers’ skills. This needs to change
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at am Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

Malcolm Evans: A new low in NZ media’s record of bias over Palestine
COMMENTARY: By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
6 hours ago

New Zealand Survey Finds 65 Percent Agree The Economy Is “rigged To Advantage The Rich And Powerfu...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
Scoop politics
7 hours ago

Is Olivia Rodrigo about to announce a New Zealand show? An investigation
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence. Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
7 hours ago

Govt Repeal Of Te Mana O Te Wai Condemning Rural Communities To Unsafe Drinking Water – Greenp...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Scoop politics
7 hours ago

Vastly bigger than the Black Summer: 84 million hectares of northern Australia burned in 2023
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
7 hours ago

RMA Changes Welcome, But Must Go Further
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
Scoop politics
8 hours ago

Papua New Guinea: Slow Progress On Reforms And Ongoing Restrictions To Freedom Of Expression
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Scoop politics
8 hours ago

Familiar laxity on show in Cyclone Gabrielle findings
Comment: An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
NewsroomBy Sam Sachdeva
8 hours ago

Existing roads could be tolled, officials tell Transport Minister Simeon Brown
Simeon Brown is being encouraged to look at charging for existing roads to relieve pressure on transport funding. ...
Radio NZ – political
8 hours ago

Independent Review And Interim Coverage Rates Highlight Successful Census
Approximately five million people will be represented in 2023 Census data – that’s more than 99 percent of the population. ...
Scoop politics
9 hours ago

Is it time for anti-capitalists to embrace shopping? An argument with myself
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
The SpinoffBy Gabi Lardies
9 hours ago

The Criminal Bar Association Of New Zealand (CBANZ) Strongly Opposes The Proposed Return Of The Thre...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
Scoop politics
9 hours ago

No clear winner as lobbying to form next Solomon Islands government intensifies
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
9 hours ago

Government reveals first changes to Resource Management Act
Farming, mining and other industrial regulations are being scrapped and altered in a reformed RMA. ...
Radio NZ – political
9 hours ago

Space as a tool for change: Inside the innovation of two/fiftyseven
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond. By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
The SpinoffBy Claire Mabey
10 hours ago

TrueBliss react to their most iconic Y2K Popstars looks
Popstars wasn’t just a reality television revolution, it was also a huge moment for Y2K fashion. It’s 25 years since girl group TrueBliss was formed on New Zealand national television, breaking new ground for both the reality television industry and the shiny clothing industry. With the first episode on NZ ...
The SpinoffBy Alex Casey
10 hours ago

Would you be happy as a long-term single? The answer may depend on your attachment style
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Pepping, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Griffith University Marvin / Shutterstock Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume it’s because single people have insecurities that make ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
12 hours ago

Gone in a puff of smoke: 52,000 sq km of ‘long unburnt’ Australian habitat has vanished in 40 ye...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Geary, Lecturer in Quantitative Ecology & Biodiversity Conservation, The University of Melbourne Trismegist san, Shutterstock Landscapes that have escaped fire for decades or centuries tend to harbour vital structures for wildlife, such as tree hollows and large logs. But these ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
12 hours ago

Ecosystems are deeply interconnected – environmental research, policy and management should be too
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Lecturer in Marine Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Shutterstock/S Curtis Why are we crossing ecological boundaries that affect Earth’s fundamental life-supporting capacity? Is it because we don’t have enough information about how ecosystems respond to change? Or ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
12 hours ago

What if the Reserve Bank itself has been feeding inflation? An economist explains
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Crocker, PhD Student in Economics, Deakin University Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
12 hours ago

The cost of being: A frugal charity director with two teens and two houses
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a charity director outlines how she’s saving for retirement and buying secondhand. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female Age: 45 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Charity director, mum of ...
The SpinoffBy The Cost of Being
12 hours ago

Choice and control: people with disability feel safer when they can select their NDIS providers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophie Yates, Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late last year. Now a ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
12 hours ago

Government chalks up ‘tough on crime’ point with resurrected three strikes law
It’s been called a failed experiment and a judicial straightjacket but the government says the revised three strikes law will be a more workable regime, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Three ...
The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell
13 hours ago

Israeli Ambassador To New Zealand’s Unchallenged On TVNZ Q+A Programme, Allowed To Spread Misinfor...
New Zealand’s Palestinian community and Palestinian Youth Aotearoa are voicing alarm and disappointment with the lack of factual rigour present during the Israeli Ambassador’s appearance as a guest on TVNZ’s Q+A With Jack Tame Sunday (21/04). ...
Scoop politics
13 hours ago

Selwyn residents fighting for homes after being told they need to leave them by 2039
And entire community has been told it'll be evicted - but some are feeling stressed and cannot afford to buy anywhere else. ...
Radio NZ – political
14 hours ago

Tax cuts: Finance Minister maintains commitment to no extra borrowing
Nicola Wills says tax cuts will be fully funded through reprioritising money and targeted revenue measures - and won't add to inflation. ...
Radio NZ – political
15 hours ago

End of Life Choice Act: Changes needed in review, say advocates
Both ACT leader David Seymour, who played a key role in drawing up the assisted dying law, and hospice leaders say it's time the legislation was changed. ...
Radio NZ – political
15 hours ago

Have gang numbers really ‘skyrocketed’ in recent years?
Public submissions on proposed gang control laws are being heard today. Rising gang membership has been cited as rationale for a crackdown – but what do we actually know about how many people belong to gangs in New Zealand? What’s all this then? A rise in the number of gang ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
16 hours ago

Why Restore Passenger Rail has set its sights on stopping cruise ships
Climate activists are setting their sights on an unpopular target, and hoping to bring lots of the public with them. It’s hard to miss the Majestic Princess: the enormous cruise ship, docked at Auckland’s Prince’s Wharf, looms over the nearby buildings. The ship, which can fit nearly 6,000 people, ...
The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias
16 hours ago

Rotorua kuia: ‘I’m disgusted at the investment of my own iwi in a luxury spa’
The following korero between Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku, author of the newly published memoir Hine Toa, one of the year’s most important books, and Dale Husband from e-tangata, was first published in October. It traverses her involvement with the activist group Ngā Tamatoa at Auckland University in the early 1970s, her ...
NewsroomBy Dale Husband
16 hours ago

The de-railing of New Zealand
In the 16 years since it was bought by the government for $690 million, KiwiRail has had several overhauls and turnaround plans worth billions of dollars. Its ambitions as a successful, profitable operator of tourism, freight and ferries have often been derailed by disasters from earthquakes to cyclones, mine explosions ...
NewsroomBy Sharon Brettkelly
16 hours ago

Daily crossword, Tuesday 23 April
The post Daily crossword, Tuesday 23 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
16 hours ago

King of backs begins her Black Ferns reign
Black Ferns trailblazer Kendra Cocksedge was on the verge of tears when her young protégé, Hannah King, unassumingly broke the news. Three-time Rugby World Cup winner Cocksedge and Lincoln agriculture student King meet every few weeks over a hot chocolate, in an enduring mentorship that’s spanned years. “Before we even ...
NewsroomBy Suzanne McFadden
16 hours ago

New emergency services radio network plans off-track
A new radio network for emergency responders should already be up and running in Canterbury The post New emergency services radio network plans off-track appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Emma Hatton
16 hours ago

West is best? How we stack up against Australia
Opinion: We’ve kicked the tyres on the perception NZ’s economy is in a parlous state compared to Australia. We take a quick tour of relative trends in GDP, housing markets, labour markets, trade, the fiscal situation, and the outlooks for inflation and interest rates. We find the cyclical positions of ...
NewsroomBy Mike Jones
16 hours ago

Political donor fails in final appeal over Chinese cultural defence
The Supreme Court rejects a bid to argue a Chinese New Zealander convicted of lying to the SFO did so for cultural reasons The post Political donor fails in final appeal over Chinese cultural defence appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Tim Murphy
16 hours ago

From ling to liquidation for New Zealand Coastal Seafoods
A former director of the Australia-listed company is asking tough questions about disclosure as local operations are liquidated The post From ling to liquidation for New Zealand Coastal Seafoods appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Andrew Bevin
16 hours ago

A new kind of city deal
Opinion: Making sure developers, local and central government, and landowners are all on the same page makes sense The post A new kind of city deal appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Dr Eric Crampton
16 hours ago

Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 23 April
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 23 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
16 hours ago

NZ’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters ‘defers’ recognition of Palestine
By Russell Palmer, RNZ News digital political journalist New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters is putting off recognition of Palestine as a state, despite opposition Labour’s formal request that he make the move. Peters said diplomatic recognition of Palestine was a matter of “when not if”, but doing so now ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
20 hours ago

Three strikes 'political posturing' with 'grossly unfair results' – opposi...
The opposition has laid into the government's plan to reintroduce a "three strikes" regime, saying it's inequitable and there's very little evidence it works. ...
Radio NZ – political
23 hours ago

High Court reserves decision on Waitangi Tribunal summons to Minister for Children Karen Chhour
The Crown claims the Tribunal has acted in an unlawful and coercive manner, despite having the authority to summons Karen Chhour. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Elon Musk is mad he’s been ordered to remove Sydney church stabbing videos from X. He’d be more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Nicholls, Senior research associate, University of Sydney Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has ordered social media platform “X” (formerly known as Twitter) to remove graphic videos of the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Sydney last week from the site. The incident ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Nearly 140 roles proposed to go at Customs and DIA
Nearly 140 roles are proposed to go at Customs and at the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), a larger number than PSA announced this afternoon. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

More than coral: the unseen casualties of record-breaking heat on the Great Barrier Reef
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Turnbull, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Sydney John Turnbull, CC BY-NC-ND In past bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, the southern region has sometimes been spared worst of the bleaching. Not this time. This year’s intense underwater heat has ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

New play The Exact Dimensions of Hell explores the chaos and contradiction of teenage girlhood – a...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Austin, Lecturer in Theatre, The University of Melbourne Darren Gill/Mackey, Darling & Collaborators The relationship between witchcraft and teenage girls has been the subject of many books, films and television shows. Over time, the traditional image of witch as crone ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Bryce Edwards Analysis – Time for “Fast-Track Watch”
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz) Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure ...
Evening ReportBy Bryce Edwards
1 day ago

Far North mayor hits out at government's Māori ward changes
Moko Tepania says the government's plan is 'disheartening' when they are already on the back foot with issues facing the region. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Fast Track Approval Bill: Government watchdogs seek substantial curbs on ministers' powers
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says the role of ministers as decision-makers should be scrapped. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

The UK plans to phase out smoking. What does this new law mean for tobacco control in Australia?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Becky Freeman, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney Andres Siimon/Unsplash There are no silver bullets, magic tricks or secret hacks to solving complex public health problems. Taking on the global tobacco industry and reducing the devastating consequences of ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

We mapped a massive explosion in space, showing how galaxies ‘pollute’ the cosmos
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam B. Watts, Research Associate in galaxy evolution, The University of Western Australia ESO/A. Watts et al., CC BY We breathe oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere every day, but did you know that these gases also float through space, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Watch: Three strikes policy to return with changes, PM announces
The coalition will reintroduce the sentencing law later this year - but it will be slightly different than last time. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Opioids more potent than fentanyl have been detected in Australia. So what are nitazenes?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Nielsen, Professor and Deputy Director, Monash Addiction Research Centre, Monash University Maxime Bhm/Unsplash A new group of drugs called nitazenes has been detected in Australia. They have been sold as heroin as well as other drugs like ketamine. Concerns ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Two people want to share the job of MP for Higgins. Is it constitutional?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor emerita, University of Sydney Image from Bradlow + Bock campaign Can the job of being a federal member of parliament be shared by two or more persons? Two prospective candidates for the inner-Melbourne federal seat of Higgins, Lucy ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Family law has been overhauled. With the new changes about to kick in, how will they affect children...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zoe Rathus, Senior Lecturer in Law, Griffith University Shutterstock In October 2023, the federal parliament passed major changes to how children’s cases are decided under the Family Law Act, which kick in next month. Among other things, they repeal a ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Archie Moore’s Venice triumph: the sublime kith and kin is simultaneously somber and stirring
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wes Hill, Associate Professor, art history and visual culture, Southern Cross University Archie Moore in kith and kin 2024. Australia Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2024. Photographer Andrea Rossetti. © the artist. Image courtesy of the artist and The Commercial This article ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Activists defy Israel with Gaza-bound ‘freedom’ flotilla and humanitarian aid
By Salwa Amor in Istanbul Palestine solidarity activists are preparing a flotilla to deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, vowing to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory on board the Akdeniz, a seven-deck passenger ship. Currently docked in Istanbul, the ship will carry 800 people from more than ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
1 day ago

Auditor-General's Submission On The Fast-track Approvals Bill
We’d like your feedback: Our website includes a feedback form. Please tell us if you found our information useful. ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

More Frontline Cuts As Government Goes Soft On Organised Crime
The Government is putting at risk the defences of our land and sea borders against organised crime, and our online defences against child exploitation, terrorism and online crime with cuts to critical frontline roles at Customs and Internal Affairs. ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

Supermarket facial recognition failure: why automated systems must put the human factor first
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Rickerby, Lecturer, School of Product Design, University of Canterbury Getty Images The incident of a woman misidentified by facial recognition technology at a Rotorua supermarket should have come as no surprise. When Foodstuffs North Island announced its intention to trial ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Job cuts: Proposal for 79 roles to go at airports, ports
Workers from teams such as boarder operations, intelligence and compliance service delivery are on the chopping block, PSA says. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a good cry: All of Us Strangers (Disney+) It’s the dreamlike, emotional film that had viewers running from the cinema in floods of tears, and ...
The SpinoffBy New to streaming
1 day ago

APEC, TPP, Crosby-Textor, Philip Morris & John Key

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