Blame Goff?

Written By: - Date published: 4:14 pm, June 10th, 2011 - 61 comments
Categories: dpf, john key, making shit up, phil goff - Tags: , ,

The Right wing gutter of politics is still trying to use the Darren Hughes affair to damage Phil Goff. With no police investigation into Hughes to proceed, the Right try to argue that the story now is all about how Goff “mishandled” it, by not going public with the events for three weeks. So let’s have a look at what Goff said in trying to explain his decision:

[he] would not disclose any details, saying that to do so could “contaminate” the police investigation. …

“I think I acted as fast as I could,” he said. “People are entitled to a degree of natural justice … It took some time to get all the information that was required.”

An attempted coverup? Terrible leadership? A huge mistake? Goff is to blame? Maybe not. The words above are actually the words of John Key explaining why he didn’t immediately go public with the the Richard Worth affair. But Goff said much the same things, for much the same reasons, as both leaders tried to handle a similar situation in much the same way.

Serial liar DPF is actively rewriting history to try and argue that the two cases are different:

The second factor different is how the Leaders dealt with their MPs. John Key sacked Richard Worth as a minister within days of hearing of the complaints. Phil Goff kept quiet for three weeks…

In point of fact Key received complaints about Worth over a month before events became public, and the police had been investigating for two weeks. Then Key dithered even further as to whether Worth should remain as an MP:

Mr Key said Dr Worth should use the two weeks of leave he started yesterday to consult family and friends on his future as a member of Parliament.

Prompt decisive action? Far from it. In short there are far more similarities than differences in the Hughes / Goff and Worth / Key affairs, but that doesn’t stop the Right trying to rewrite history and blame Goff!

61 comments on “Blame Goff? ”

  1. Richard 1

    I’m not sure what you are trying to say here.

    Yes, both Key and Goff seemingly fumbled their response to Worth and Hughes respectively.

    While Goff is not directly responsible for what Hughes did (if anything), and Key is not directly responsible for what Worth did (whatever that was), both leaders are responsible for their own responses.

    The fact that Key is useless doesn’t excuse Goff for displaying similar uselessness.

    • lprent 1.1

      The significant difference is that Worth was on about his 5th public strike when Key finally got around to doing something about it.

      This was the first time that Hughes has besmirched his party with poor judgement.

      You don’t dump people because of a mistake. You dump them because they fail to learn from their mistakes.

      • Richard 1.1.1

        You don’t dump people because of a mistake.

        Depends on what the mistake is.

        And if you are a political leader, you don’t arrange matters so that it appears that you have been caught trying to clumsily cover something up.

        • Tigger 1.1.1.1

          DPF is spinning like a top to make Goff seem weak and Key decisive. That’s the real point here. None of us should argue he said/he did, look at how DPF is trying to paint Key as being a great man while Goff is a snivelling cretin.

        • lprent 1.1.1.2

          Cover it up? WTF.. From whom?

          The police had it, and there has been absolutely no suggestion that Goff or Hughes or anyone was attempting to subvert the course of justice.

          So all Goff is ‘guilty’ of is not confirming to those lard arse lazy journos that there had been a single complaint against Hughes.

          Fuck off. In my time as a volunteer in politics, I have had four complaints against me to the police by various people for everything from assault to trespass. All of which were never carried through to charges. Just being involved in politics means that complaints are made against you.

          Basically you sound like a political innocent who hasn’t had a lot to do with actual politics.

          • Richard 1.1.1.2.1

            I’m not saying that Goff was actually trying to cover anything up — if he was he certainly did a terrible job of it.

            However, he allowed the initial events to play out in a way that made it very easy for his political opponents to portray it as a failed cover-up.

            Things like:
            – keeping quiet about the investigation and waiting for the media to find out.
            – saying that Hughes didn’t need to resign or anything, and then a few days later reversing that position.
            – seemingly not informing people like Andrew Little, so that confusing and contradictory statements came out of Labour

            Of course, it is difficult to see a good way forward in such difficult events. But that’s what we want leaders to do.

            Any clown can muddle through when things are going well — look at Key — it’s making good decisions in difficult circumstances that make a good leader. The Hughes saga has not been a stellar example of good leadership from Goff.

            lprent: Just being involved in politics means that complaints are made against you.

            Of course, but the leadership issue is in managing those complaints in such a way that they don’t blow-up. And that’s the leadership failure here.

      • Lanthanide 1.1.2

        “This was the first time that Hughes has besmirched his party with poor judgement.
        You don’t dump people because of a mistake. You dump them because they fail to learn from their mistakes.”
         
        Actually it was said at the time that this first came up, that Darren had made other questionable decisions in the past relating to bringing men home with him. Whether or not there’s any truth to that I’ve no idea.

    • PeteG 1.2

      Yes, both Key and Goff seemingly fumbled their response to Worth and Hughes respectively.

      One difference is that Key had a lot more margin for error then, no challenge to his leadersip, Goff was on shaky ground as it was, even amongst his own party supporters.

      If a Worth event happened now it would probably be quite different for Key – a) it should handle it better now and b) if he didn’t he’d deserve a bit of flak, which I guess is why Labourites are trying for all they’re worth to find an Akeylees heel.

      • mickysavage 1.2.1

        PeteG so being popular justifies a PM making a wrong decision?  Surely if the decision is wrong then it does not matter how popular the person who made it was.

        • PeteG 1.2.1.1

          I didn’t say it justifies it. Just easier to be relatively unscathed.

          I’ll put it another way – someone who’s 70% in the polls will probably not be as critically wounded as someone who’s at 6% in the polls. A drop of 6% to to 64% isn’t too drastic.

    • Tangled up in blue 1.3

      The fact that Key is useless doesn’t excuse Goff for displaying similar uselessness.

      I agree.

      Also Goff strongly criticized Key for not going public regarding Worth, then turned around and did the same thing himself.

  2. lprent 2

    I have been noting that Farrar blustering his way with this spin. It is complete bullshit and always was. 

    Many of the political main stream media were also trying to spin it like this. I wonder if they’re feeling a bit guilty and would prefer to blame someone else for their lynch mob mentality. You’d have thought by now they’d have had a good look at their bad habit of repeating the spinners like Farrar.

  3. Bunji 3

    The media are keen to blame Goff so nobody looks at them and says: Why did you hound this guy out of office, who now appears to be in the clear?

    The reason Goff didn’t go earlier was because he knew exactly what would (and did) happen. And if he’d gone earlier the police investigation would have been much further compromised, as at least the police had a while to gather evidence before the media were treading on everything.

    Goff of course hoped the police would be able to reach a decision before the media found out but somebody in the Beehive leaked, knowing they’d get away with causing a media shitstorm, even if they ruined police procedure.

    So the real questions should be about the leaker and about how the media handles such things. But it’s much easier to just blame Goff, like he had any other choice.

    Sometimes you have to do what’s right, for justice and for people (real human beings – both Hughes and the student involved), rather than just what’s best politically.

    • Lanthanide 3.1

      “So the real questions should be about the leaker and about how the media handles such things. But it’s much easier to just blame Goff, like he had any other choice.”
       
      Didn’t it go like this:
      Wednesday: Darren has offered to stand down and I have declined.
      Thursday: Darren is standing down.
      Friday: Darren has resigned and I accept his resignation.
      So yes, we can blame Goff for that bad display and dragging it out.

  4. Richard
     
    R0b is actually being charitable to Key.  Perhaps his decision to not give details about Worth was correct.  Certainly Goff has acknowledged that the situation is far more complex once he found himself dealing with Hughes.
     
    But there is one significant difference that Farrar and others have always tried to gloss over by saying that the situation is the same.  We do not know what Worth did or why he was fired.  We do know generally about the allegations surrounding Hughes.
     
    Key should release the allegations surrounding Worth and the reasons for his being fired.
     

    • Richard 4.1

      Sure, you can argue that Goff may have handled Hughes a bit better than Key handled Worth. I would agree with you.

      However, Goff still did a bad job with managing the crisis around Hughes.

      Key is a terrible leader…being slightly more competent than Key is a pretty damming assessment.

    • PeteG 4.2

      Key should release the allegations surrounding Worth and the reasons for his being fired.

      Do you really think that?

      Should Goff release the allegations surrounding Hughes? He must know more than what is publicly known.

      I don’t think either should be expected to release any details. Both incidents are history, we should move on. People are fallible, it’s an issue when they’re refallible.

      • Lanthanide 4.2.1

        “I don’t think either should be expected to release any details. Both incidents are history, we should move on. People are fallible, it’s an issue when they’re refallible.”
         
        We deserve to know more about what happened to Worth, though, because he was a paid minister of the crown.
         
        What we know about Darren is that it was an allegation by a young man of a sexual nature after Darren took him back to his flat. We don’t know anything at all about what Worth did except for all of his other salacious and incompetent failings around the same time, but we have no idea if the straw that broke the camels back was the confluence of those events, or something else.

      • Colonial Viper 4.2.2

        Both incidents are history, we should move on. People are fallible, it’s an issue when they’re refallible.

        Perfect excuse to let war criminals and Enron style fraudsters go scot free huh? I mean, after the war has ended or after the company has collapsed it’s all just “history” and we should then “move on” and not pursue the truth, right?

        • PeteG 4.2.2.1

          Just a slight difference – the police didn’t see fit to proceed with charges for both Worth and Hughes, war criminals must have been convicted and there were convictions with Enron too. There’s another slight difference, of scale.

          My guess is that most people beyond a few frantics will have virtually forgotten Worth and unless Hughes makes a quick comeback his event will fade quickly too.

          There reaches a point where you just have to move on or you’ll end up bitter and twisted.

          I doubt Goff’s handling of Hughes will figure much if at all in the election.

          • mickysavage 4.2.2.1.1

            PeteG

            You are such a windup.

            Worth got sacked for doing something really bad while he was a Minister.  As a taxpayer (I presume you pay tax) and essentially an employer of him don’t you want to know what he did?

            Besides the lack of an explanation lets many speculate about what he actually did.  I have heard speculation that his sacking involves his requesting the Malaysian Government to reimburse him for expenses that were, well, not  usual.

            But as a taxpayer I have not has this confirmed.  Why not?  Did not I help pay his wages?

      • mickysavage 4.2.3

        Should Goff release the allegations surrounding Hughes? He must know more than what is publicly known.

        But he has.  He said that Hughes was stood down because of the investigation and Hughes then resigned as his position was untenable.

        Why was Worth stood down and why was he fired?

  5. Peter 5

    Who in the eyes of the public is the most trustworthy leader?

  6. Rodel 6

    Actually it was all the fault of Prince Phillip.

  7. ianmac 7

    Farrar’s column in the Herald declares that there is no big news this week apart from Darren’s story and that a Rugby jersey was not allowed in the House. However the comments section did have the large majority contesting that choice, including such things as the false 170,000 jobs prediction, asset sales, exchange rates and so on. David must find it refreshing to not be surrounded by the spiteful comments that are his usual fodder.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10731376

    • Colonial Viper 7.1

      Farrar reckoned the biggest political news this week for relative trivia? (Not that Hughes’ predicament was trivial in of itself).

      I personally thought the massive setback to National’s polling lead in the Roy Morgan would have been up there, as well as the loss of so many NZ jobs from Dunedin and Taranaki.

      But maybe he meant the big news that National wanted people to focus on.

  8. Tom Gould 8

    Sadly, the facts do not matter now that the gallery have decided that Goff screwed it up and are saying so out loud. Just another way for them to spin their own story and put the boot in. They turn up on TV and on radio and in print and over drinks and for money briefing the big business boys saying that Goff CANNOT win. So they need to make it so, or give the money back I guess? Besides, that nice Mr. Key wouldn’t tell lies to journalists, would he? But as for that tired old retread Goff …

  9. burt 9

    rOb

    So if there are far more similarities than differences in the Hughes/Goff and Worth/Key affairs and you also think it’s ‘The Right wing gutter of politics’ to tarnish Goff. Then would you go so far as to say it was ‘The Left wing gutter of politics’ to tarnish Key over Worth?

    • Colonial Viper 9.1

      If it’s so similar, lets have the police release an account of the allegations against Richard Worth.

      It’s easy to tarnish Key over Worth because Key hasn’t revealed what Worth did to deserve removal.

    • r0b 9.2

      The right wing gutter of politics is Farrar, Slater and the like.  Gutter because they photoshop their opponents faces on to porn, run national billboard campaigns comparing their opponents to dictators, and the like.  They run blogs that are breeding grounds for racism, sexism, homophobia, and a sad little spectrum of disturbed and dysfunctional behaviour.

      As far as I’m aware there is no equivalent left wing gutter.  If there is, I’d condemn them too.

  10. burt 10

    CV

    I think a naked 18 year old running around the streets calling the police put the details in the media.

    • Colonial Viper 10.1

      And the parallel event with the Worth case is?

    • Lanthanide 10.2

      There’s been no confirmation by anyone that:
      1. The naked 18 year old even existed, or
      2. The naked 18 year old was some-how linked to Darren Hughes (we don’t even know if the alleged naked person was 18 or not)

      Sure, they are likely to be related. But there’s no confirmation of that.

  11. Blue 11

    The Right desperately need to spin this against Goff. That’s their whole election strategy – plant the ‘Goff can’t win’ meme and sow it as widely and deeply as possible.

    Plant the idea that Goff and Labour can’t possibly win, so you may as well vote for Key and National and not bother with all that talk about asset sales, KiwiSaver cuts and increasing the ‘flexibility’ of the labour market.

    I don’t think the Hughes saga really damaged Goff in the eyes of anyone other than political journalists, however. I think a lot of people felt sympathy for Darren and identified with Goff over the struggle he faced between standing by a friend and colleague and doing what was best for his political career. I think people liked the fact that Phil didn’t behave in a cold, ruthless manner for political expediency.

    The Key/Worth affair was the really shameful affair. Key and Worth weren’t friends, and Key’s behaviour in that was solely motivated by political expediency. So much so that he didn’t even want to tell the public what Worth did, obviously for fear of what scandal would result. And of course our lazy fourth estate gave up asking questions about it and let Key get away with not fronting up.

    • Lanthanide 11.1

      “I don’t think the Hughes saga really damaged Goff in the eyes of anyone other than political journalists, however. I think a lot of people felt sympathy for Darren”

      I agree.

      I do find the apparent big lack of homophobia somewhat unexpected, though. Sure, there is some, but not nearly as much as I would’ve thought.

  12. Anne 12

    I read somewhere recently three anonymous letters were sent to media outlets (the item didn’t specify which ones) immediately following the complaint to police by an 18 year old teenager. The police investigated the claim/claims made in the letters and found nothing to substantiate them. I get the feeling a developing situation was used by someone to discredit Darren Hughes and destroy his political career. That would suggest to me the incident has more similarities to the 1976 Colin Moyle affair than it does with Richard Worth.

    If I’m correct, then it is deplorable and I don’t accept the notion that nothing can be done about it. It is incumbent upon someone to ‘out’ the culprit (or culprits) and ensure some form of justice is seen to be done.

    • Chris 12.1

      Sorry but do you hve any kind of link to this? You say if I’m correct then it is deplorable and you are right but it is very easy too say that I read this somewhere and spread rumors that way.

      Whereas I didn’t hear about this anywhere and would be very interested in reading about it. Would be very handy in providing a difference between Worth and Hughes…

      • Treetop 12.1.1

        Chris I have a condensed version of the December 1976 inquiry (4,500 words) into the breach of the Colin Moyle file. Until it is referenced I cannot have it placed on the internet. I have had some excellent feed back from some academics on it.

        I require help to have it referenced to go onto the internet.

    • Carol 12.2

      The letter was mentioned in a few news articles in various news outlets:

      http://www.3news.co.nz/Hughes-looks-forward-to-future-with-optimism/tabid/419/articleID/214292/Default.aspx

      Mr Johnson also made reference to further allegations against Hughes contained in an anonymously written letter.

      “Some media outlets received an anonymous letter about Mr Hughes whilst police were investigating this complaint. I can confirm those allegations contained in the letter have been investigated and there were no matters which arose that required police attention.”

      Also mentioned in this press release from the police:
      http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=35437

    • Treetop 12.3

      “That would suggest to me the incident has more similarities to the 1976 Colin Moyle affair than it does with Richard Worth.”

      Anne my immediate thought was Colin Moyle revisited. I have to be cautious not to shoot myself in the foot because of future litigation as I have no choice other than to take litigation out against the police for not adequately investigating my police complaints in relation to the Colin Moyle affair.

      I am prepared to disclose that in 1976 for the first six months I dated the cop who was involved with the Moyle incident 17 June 1975, I was age 16 and the incident was disclosed to me by him in March 1976.

      My message to Key is that I still want a barrister assigned to do a comprehensive investigation or Marshall too can have a barrister assigned to do a comprehensive investigation.

      Have I been to Goff and King about the police? Yes I have. They both had my concerns forwarded onto the police in 2005 and 2006 without any delay. Broad is a bozo and I will prove him to be a bozo.

      • Anne 12.3.1

        Hi Treetop
        Your comments are very interesting. In the event you succeed in getting an investigation underway, I would love to submit some information that is not only relevant to the Colin Moyle Affair, but could solve a few other historical political ‘mysteries’ that occurred during the 1970s and the 1980s. I have sat on this information for more than ten years waiting for an opportunity to pass it on to an appropriate body.

        • Treetop 12.3.1.1

          I hope that you get an oppertunity. Having a barrister assigned to do an inquiry is now my number one focus in life.

  13. BR 13

    Here’s what happened:

    Hughes plied an 18 year old boy with booze at Annette king’s house
    rendering him comatose. He then removed all the boy’s clothing and
    sodomized him.

    The boy woke up, turned around, looked in horror at what was behind
    him, and in a blind panic ran out into the street naked where he was
    picked up by a police patrol.

    It is quite reasonable to assume that this is close to the truth in the absence of an explanation from Hughes.

    Bill.

    • The Voice of Reason 13.1

      Except the Police could find no evidence of your fantasy despite having the man in their care shortly afterwards. Try doing your thinking with your big head, Bill, you’ll get better results.

      • lprent 13.1.1

        VoR, I am not sure that I really want him doing that on the site. Remember that the perception of size is in the mind. The smaller the mind, the bigger that they compensate.

        Bad enough when he tried to use his brain to write words as I think that he did. Bills scenario would have had the police charging virtually immediately, so it evidentially (and obviously) that did not happen.

        I suspect that you are assuming that Bill has a even lower level of intelligence than he actually displayed. Within his limitations he did display some imagination in his description, albeit somewhat diminished by his repitition of the middle ages slur against the citizens of Sodom. It was just that he either failed to draw the relevant conclusion, or that he has an very low opinion of the police that I wouldn’t hold.

        So it is reasonable to believe that if he starts to use what he thinks is his bigger head, then the resulting comment could get quite messy.

    • Tangled up in blue 13.2

      It is quite reasonable to assume that this is close to the truth in the absence of an explanation from Hughes.

      Reasonable? Assuming Hughes raped the guy based on Hughes not making a public statement about what happened – is NOT in accordance with reason. Not to mention it ignores the results of the police investigation. Ridiculous is a more suitable word.

  14. marsman 14

    The Dom had Darren’s news front page with a smear piece by National’s Tracy Watkins tacked on.

  15. BR 15

    “Except the Police could find no evidence of your fantasy despite having the man in their care shortly afterwards.”

    What other possible scenario is there? I said that it is reasonable to assume that what I said is close to the truth. That doesn’t mean that it is necessarily accurate down to the minutest detail. He might have merely attempted to sodomize the boy and not succeeded.

    The point is that something extremely sordid happened that night at Annette King’s house. It is known that Hughes and the boy were drinking together earlier on, and that the boy accompanied Hughes back to Annette King’s house. It is also known that the boy was subsequently seen naked in the street covering his genitals by a passing motorist and was later picked up by a police patrol in a distressed state. The whole affair was initially covered up by the Labour party, but as soon as it became public, Hughes resigned. A police investigation into the affair was launched in response to the resulting complaint. The police eventually decided not to press charges as the level of proof was deemed insufficient to gain a conviction (not surprising when it is only Hughes’ word against that of the boy). However, the boy was not charged with wasting police time, nor was he charged with making a false complaint.

    So why won’t Hughes fill in the gaps? If there is a perfectly innocent explanation for the whole affair, let’s be having it. There is now talk of Hughes getting back into parliamant now that the charges have been dropped.

    If Hughes does get back into parliament, he owes the NZ taxpayers, i.e. those of us who pay his salary, an explanation. People that are paid high salaries on the NZ taxpayer and who also have the power to make laws which restrict and regulate the behaviour of the citizenry should be held to a higher level of accountability than the minimum level of proof required to convict a common sex offender.

    Bill.

    • Colonial Viper 15.1

      So why won’t Hughes fill in the gaps?

      You’re a dirty little man, aren’t you. You probably also have a subscription to Womans Day, from how much you love tattletales and gossip. Why not have Darren act in a reality TV show re-enactment of the night in question or provide us with photographs?

      But actually this is all a distraction from the main event: this Government’s appalling conduct. Your pleas aren’t in the interests of helping this country move forwards from NAT destroying industry jobs, sending work overseas, bashing benes, enriching the already wealthy, making money from imprisoning our neighbours, granting dollars to their corporate mates and church mates, buying BMWs in a recession, borrowing more money than they need to from the Chinese, etc. You even have a NACT MP who gets supplemental income from a brothel, and where were the detailed explanations from Wong and Worth after the National coverup?

      If Hughes does get back into parliament, he owes the NZ taxpayers, i.e. those of us who pay his salary, an explanation. People that are paid high salaries on the NZ taxpayer and who also have the power to make laws which restrict and regulate the behaviour of the citizenry should be held to a higher level of accountability than the minimum level of proof required to convict a common sex offender.

      Here’s a startling idea mate: just because you pay someone some money, it doesn’t mean that you own their life .

    • marsman 15.2

      ” the point is that something extremely sordid happened”
      The point is BR you were not there, you do Not KNOW what happened! The point is also that your assumptions ARE NOT facts!

    • Lanthanide 15.3

      Please stop referring to an 18 year old man as a ‘boy’. Thanks.

  16. BR 16

    “The point is BR you were not there, you do Not KNOW what happened! The point is also that your assumptions ARE NOT facts!”

    You people are all in denial. Hughes resigned immediately once the affair became public. What is that if not compelling evidence of a guilty conscience? Hughes is obviously a very grubby pervert. I know it, you all know it, and the entire Labour party knows it too, that’s why they don’t want him back, at least this side of the election.

    “You’re a dirty little man, aren’t you.”

    Hey, I’m not the one who has naked boys running from my place of residence in a blind panic in the middle of the night.

    “Please stop referring to an 18 year old man as a ‘boy’.”

    He is a minor. request denied.

    Bill.

    • seeker 16.1

      Bill

      “You’re a dirty little man, aren’t you.”

      Hey, I’m not ………”

      – but you are. You are the one that is trying to smear someone by selecting a few random “facts” and spinning them together to create a ghastly perverted outcome of your own inner making . You do not seem to be a pleasant or clean individual when you can pen such horrible spin.

      P.S. The young man was a man by law . Minors do not vote. Get a grip Bill.

  17. BR 17

    The boy got drunk, and took of his clothes and went to bed in the spare room. He got up in the night to go to the toilet. He was still very drunk and staggered naked to what he thought was the toilet, but had mistakenly opened the front door and staggered outside when the door clicked shut behind him, locking him out. Banging on the door in an attempt to wake the occupants proved fruitless, so he staggered out on the street into the night stark naked.

    I DON’T THINK SO, AND NEITHER DOES ANYBODY ELSE!!!

    Everyone knows that Hughes committed, or attempted to commit some act of extreme debauchery on the boy. That is why there was a complaint to the police, that is why Hughes resigned as soon as the whole sordid affair was made public, that is why the boy wasn’t charged with making a false complaint or wasting police time and that is also why the Labour Party don’t want anything to do with Hughes until after the election. The fact that they would consider taking him back even after the election demonstrates what extremely low standards of behaviour they are prepared to represent in their desperation.

    “You do not seem to be a pleasant or clean individual when you can pen such horrible spin.”

    I have tried to be as delicate as possible in describing the situation. However, some things are just too disgusting to explain with any degree of decorum in polite company. Not that I ever thought that “polite company” was descriptive of most of the participants in this discussion, of course.

    Bill.

    • Colonial Viper 17.1

      Wow BR, you must have been there with a camcorder recording the “debauchery” and following the naked young lad around.

      Can you please also tell me what brand of mouth mints were being used. You know how good that is.

      (Right Wing brains really love this stuff lol)

  18. BR 18

    “Wow BR, you must have been there with a camcorder recording the “debauchery”

    Come on! You and I both know that Hughes is a very depraved sexual deviant. Hughes knows it too, that is why he resigned.

    “and following the naked young lad around.”

    Careful. Your pal Lanthanide will be coming after you with a hammer for calling him a “young lad”.

    “Can you please also tell me what brand of mouth mints were being used. You know how good that is.”

    You’ve got me there. I haven’t a clue what your talking about.

    (Right Wing brains really love this stuff lol)

    Most of the perverts come from the left side of the political divide.

    Bill.

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  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 hours ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    8 hours ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    9 hours ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    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’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    12 hours ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    14 hours ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    20 hours ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    21 hours ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    21 hours ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    22 hours ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    22 hours ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    22 hours ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    22 hours ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    22 hours ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    23 hours ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    24 hours ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    1 day ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    1 day ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    1 day ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    1 day ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    1 day ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    3 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    4 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    5 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    6 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 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
    35 mins 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
    3 hours 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
    3 hours 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 hours 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 hours 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
    5 hours 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
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
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  • 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 ...
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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    2 days ago
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    2 days ago
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    2 days ago
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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    3 days ago
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    4 days 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 ...
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    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 ...
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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    4 days ago
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    4 days ago
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  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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    5 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
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